WELL known Bathurst driver and engineer Matthew Windsor will fulfil a boyhood dream when he competes in the Bathurst Real Estate 2012 Australian Hillclimb Championship at Mount Panorama this weekend.

Windsor purchased a car known as the Envoy Sportsracing car from Western Australia almost 20 years ago and it has been painstakingly restored during the past 12 years.

"I have always wanted to compete at Bathurst in what they call a shed built special, just like they did in the early days of motor racing in this country," Windsor said.

"The late George Reed was always a hero of mine and that's how he built his cars, as Ford specials, with all the bits from wrecking yards, and that's what I like about Australian specials.

"Hillclimbs have also been dominated for a long time by home built specials, like Peter Gumley.

"He won 10 championships with his car, a special called the SCV [super charged Volkswagen].

"It had been used in Western Australia hillclimbs when I heard about it. It was sitting in a chook shed and as I'd always wanted an Australian special I grabbed it. Peter Dawson bought it home for me in the back of a furniture truck.

"It's taken so long to build our car because being a special, you can't just go and buy parts. You have to chase bits that will do the job or alternatively manufacturer them yourself. John Kitchen has helped out with fabrication."

Windsor will drive the Envoy in the over 1600cc Group 2A Open/Closed Sports Cars category.

"I really love this car; it reminds me of the old sports cars like the Matich cars from the '70s," Windsor said.

"The engine is a four litre 302 Ford that we played with ourselves and it's got around 400 horse power with a Volkswagen Kombi gearbox. We've also got a new set of AVONs from England for the hillclimb."

The event will be conducted by the Bathurst Light Car Club on the 1.7 kilometre Mountain Straight course over three days.

Practice gets underway on Friday with Saturday and Sunday seeing the official runs.

Admission is by gold coin donation, with all money going to the Centre for Kidney Research.