Cantrell says he was looking forward to attempting to claim another title during Sunday's race.

"I am a bit worried about the weather conditions but hopefully the rain will clear and we can get a still day," he said.

"I've been competing in this event since 2004 but had a bit of a setback with my back. I only had it screwed back together 18 months ago.

"There's a few vertebra joined together now ... but that won't stop me from competing.

"A former co-driver Paul Kucera now runs one of my old carts - What The - and he has changed a few things up. I know he wants to go faster and is concentrating on beating his own personal times.

"That's what's good about this event, it is the closest thing to racing you can get on a budget."

Cantrell says the family fun aspect of the event is also a great draw card for him and many other returning competitors and visitors.

The cart racer will be running Devil's Apprentice, a cart he has spent considerable time perfecting.

"There is some science behind building a cart and this one took me a few years to build," he admitted.

"I built it to try and break the race record (Bob Johnson and Steve Johnson set the race record of 5:48 in 2010).

"There is some aerodynamics involved along with weight ratios and all the sciences behind that."

Devil's Apprentice was first run in 2012 with Cantrell at the wheel before his brother Nathan Madden took over the controls for one year.

"The cart has only run in about four races so far," he added.

Cantrell has a solid working knowledge of the track and has pinpointed a couple of sections where crucial seconds can be shaved off.

"You can't really go much quicker at the top of the mountain so you have to identify some areas at the bottom of the course to make up time," he added.

The Beechwood Billycart Classic is on Sunday October 21. The fun starts at 9am, with the main race starting at 11am. Kids races are held between 11.30am and noon.

The road remains closed from 11am until 12.30pm.

Also read: Flashback to 2017 event