Drake, a photographer by trade, was watching an episode of Top Gear with a friend when they had the idea to organise a unique racing experience on the runway of an airport.

Two years and a lot of organising later, Temora airport will host the inaugural Temora 1000 in three weeks' time.

"It's been two years in the planning," Drake said from Sydney yesterday.

"I was watching Top Gear a couple of years ago and one of my mates decided to go over to the States and have a look, because they do it over the mile there.

"I thought we could do it over on the Salt Lakes, or we could do it on the tarmac of an airport.

"It started with the air force which had a base near where I live, but the guys in Canberra said we couldn't do it so we started to look at domestic airports.

"There are such strict regulations at domestic airports now that it would've been too hard to organise it all, so we sent a few emails out to rural airports."

Temora airport was the first to reply to Drake's email and a meeting was soon organised between the event committee, the airport and Temora council.

The organisers were rapt with what the town and the airport had to offer and agreed to hold the inaugural race at the Temora airport on October 22.

Whereas most drag races are held over 400 metres, Drake says the 1000m event has attracted a variety of circuit and up-hill racers who are all keen to try the unique track.

"Last time there was an event on this scale in Australia it was in Tamworth, and that was pre-9/11," Drake said.

"Because all the aviation clubs tightened their security after 9/11 it has been hard to use domestic airports for anything like this.

"And to have three to 400 cars racing on an airport is a logistical nightmare.

"It hasn't been marketed as a drag race, because the feedback we have received is people are not keen on racing next to another car over 1000m."

The cars will race one at a time over the course and times are expected to be clocked between 19 and 28 seconds.

Spectators will get to see the cars racing at speeds of up to 300km/h, and there will be public access to the pits.

Entries to race are already full at 120 cars, but Drake says organisers are estimating a crowd of anywhere between 2000 and 3000 people.

More information on the event is available from Adam Drake on 0410 367 613 or email temora1000 @hotmail.com.