The Tonitto Cakes owner is one of the many people excited that the Port Kembla Billycart Derby will return to the Illawarra in November for the first time in 25 years.

As a teenager, Mr Tonitto won several races in the 1980s using a home-made wooden cart, and can still recall the stomach-churning feeling of launching himself downhill towards the finish line.

‘‘Just going down the hill and, because I was a local kid, being cheered on by my friends was such an adrenalin rush and so much fun. It can be a little bit dangerous, but that’s part of the adrenalin rush,’’ he said.

Attracting up to 20,000 spectators in its heyday, the derby was run from 1941 to 1987. It stopped after spectators, competitors and organisational support began to dwindle.

The Red Point Artists Association, which runs a gallery on Wentworth St, is behind the derby’s return and hopes the event will breathe life into businesses on the strip.

While organisers admit that safety regulations have changed since the ’80s, the November 17 event has support from Wollongong City Council, police and community groups.

Port Kembla resident Rick Murray is excited about the derby’s return. Mr Murray won five championships back-to-back in the ’70s and ’80s in his billycart Think Big.

‘‘Sitting about three inches off the ground, lying on your back, doing over 100 kilometres an hour is pretty thrilling,’’ he said.

Although supportive of the return of the races, Mr Murray won’t commit to hurling himself down the hill again.

‘‘I definitely will not fit into Think Big, but I can see there’s a lot of shop owners in Port Kembla trying to get the suburb boosted up again, so if it’s starting up again I think that’s an unreal idea.’’