GALLERY: Dads doing cart wheels for race day

Now, inspired by the success of last year's Port Kembla Billy Cart Derby, the Oak Flats community will host a billy cart derby of its own along Central Avenue on Sunday, October 27.

Oak Flats Dads Committee president Lloyd Powell said the initial idea for the Oak Flats derby stemmed from a group of dads, keen to get involved with their kids at the local public school, who wanted to highlight what a great place Oak Flats is to grow up.

The Oak Flats Billy Cart derby became a reality after the Oak Flats Lions Club and Shellharbour City Council lent their support and the Oak Flats and Shellharbour Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank came on board with sponsorship.

Mr Powell said the event would bring local businesses, emergency services and local families together through a fun event.

The day will focus on local kids aged five to 12 with traditional billy cart racing starting at 8am.

There will also be an open section that will feature emergency services, local businesses and older family members battling for the Jack Shield - created in honour of Jack Inderwisch, a former Oak Flats Public School student who died in 2005.

On Saturday, students, parents and special guests attended "a billy cart build day" at the school where dads, mums and helpers came together to put some kit billy carts together.

Demand means entries for the junior section are now closed, however entries for the the open category will be taken this week. More information on entries and the races is available on the Oak Flats Billy Cart Derby Facebook page.

For some drivers, the Oak Flats derby will serve as a practice event in the lead up to this year's Port Kembla derby, to be held three weeks later on Saturday, November 16.

Last November, an estimated 15,000 people flocked to Port Kembla for the Port Kembla Billy Cart Derby which was the first time the event had been held in 25 years.