One of the favourite on-track entertainment components of a Supercars weekend during the early-2000s was the VB Challenge.
Occurring in-between sessions during a Supercars weekend, the VB Challenge pitted Holden and Ford drivers against each other in a battle of motorkhana.
A slalom course was set up generally on the main straight using cones, while Supercars stars including Mark Skaife, Greg Murphy, Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall, Steve Johnson, Jason Bright, Larry Perkins and more competed in the VB Challenge.
Using modified Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons, the VB Challenge quickly became a fan favourite through the action, while the crowd did get involved as passengers were a feature.
Naming right sponsors Victoria Bitter was making a big push into Supercars at the time, which was the height of commercial arrangements in the category. The likes of Kmart, Pepsi, Pirtek, Mitre 10, Greenfield Mowers, CAT and Betta Electrical among others were invested in the sport at the time.
The commercial spend was matched by the personalities of the drivers and the coverage by Channel 10 highlighting a golden period for the sport.
In 2003 though, the VB Challenge unwanted attention when Greg Murphy was forced to pull out of the final race of the season where he was a title contender after a back injury flared up after participating in the activity.
The VB Challenge continues to be remembered fondly upon and discussions surrounding a return always occur, though the closest to this was the Boost Mobile version in 2022.