The Festival of Speed was held last weekend at the Sydney Motorsport Park in Eastern Creek.

Eight-time world champion Phil Read was the guest of honour as well as competitor in some events.

Dobson was riding in the Period Five class for bikes from 1972-82, and finished sixth overall from four races.

From all the different classes 40 riders qualified to ride in the feature Barry Sheene Memorial with Dobson making the cut.

Perennial favourite Robbie Phillis was also in the class, as was Michael Dibbs and Cameron Donald.

Dobson finished just behind these pro riders and had the best seat in the house to watch them fight for the lead with some great racing.

“It was my best result and the best race I have been in so far,” Dobson said.

“I was up there with the top blokes on much better bikes.”

Dobson finished sixth in his class and then 12th in the Barry Sheene.

The result is not bad for a bloke that only took up racing two and a half years ago.

The forester has been a mechanic for top teams and riders for many years.

“I just decided one day that I wanted to race,” Dobson said.

“So I built a bike.”

Dobson built his Kawasaki two years ago out of pure passion for the style of the bike and the era.

It is known as “the forgotten era” in racing circles.

Dobson rates the experience alongside the Trans Tasman International he rode in at the start of the year.

He now has his sights set on the Gregg Hansford Memorial in Warwick later in the year.