CANCER research will be the big winner when next month's RACV Great Australian Rally fills Mornington racecourse with a feast of fine machinery.

Motoring enthusiasts and the public will be winners, too, with the prospect of more than 800 heritage vehicles taking to the roads to gather for a massed display at the racecourse.

Planned for Sunday, January 17, the event is taking the theme "Rallying for a Cure".

Last year, the day raised $43,000 for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and this year's target is $50,000.

The event is sponsored by the RACV and organised by the All British Classics Car Club.

All entered vehicles must be 25 years or older.

They can be veteran, vintage, classic or modern cars, motorcycles or commercial vehicles.

The entry fee is $35, but late entries can be accepted on the day at $40.

Public entry to the racecourse is from 10am at a cost of $10.

The rally has three starting points - the Deaf Children Australia Centre in St Kilda Road, Stud Park Shopping Centre in Rowville and Westernport Marina at Hastings.

Innovations this year will be a "park and sell" section and a display in the centre area featuring Ford and General Motors special interest cars.

The closing date for entries is January 12.

For more details, phone rally organiser Colin Brown on 0408 345 176 or (03) 9739 4829.