QUAD bikes, buggies and motorcycles might sound like lines from a Johnny Cash song, but for the Territory Quad Association they make for a historic combination in NT motorsport.
The staging of the first triple discipline lap sprint at Howard Springs near Darwin next month is all part of a whole new world. 
Quad Association spokesman Graham Murray said the concept had never been tried before in Australia, making the   July 3 extravaganza at Willard Rd in Howard Springs a historic event.
"It's the first time in this country that Motorcycling Australia has approved these side-by-side buggies to race with the quads and motorbikes," he told the NT News.
"We, as an association are pretty excited about it, mainly because you haven't been able to race these things up here before in any format.
"They are very, very popular, but we've never been able to race them, until now when they can compete virtually as they are.
"CAMS (Confederation of Motor Sports) race them, but with all their regulations and insistence on race cages, it can cost up to $70,000.
"Polaris, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, they all make them as you will see on any given weekend at Gunn Point and places like that." Murray said the racing format was very simple.
Quad bikes, buggies and motorbikes race against each other in a 2.4km lap sprint format.
"They take off one at a time and at the end of the day the quickest time wins, it should make for some great racing," he added.
"We reckon we'll get 30 buggies on the day, mainly because they are so popular as can be seen at Gunn Point and those places on weekends and days when people just want to drive.
"Add about 15 bikes, 20 quad bikes and kids quads and you've got a lot of things happening out at Howard Springs." Food and refreshment stands will be in plentiful supply to cater for the 9am start to an event expected to run until mid afternoon.
The Territory Quad Association has an active Facebook page for the lap sprint. People who want to enter the event can link up and register for the event on line.The entry fee for the inaugural lap sprint is $120, a figure that includes insurance and membership.