The wind blew, the rain was torrential, temperatures plummeted but it would take more than that to deter the 195,578 fans who made the pilgrimage to Mount Panorama for the greatest event on the Australian motorsport calendar – the Bathurst 1000!
The Bathurst 1000 is a four-day event of power, noise, adrenalin, entertainment & spectacle culminating in the iconic 161 lap endurance race on the Sunday that is the Bathurst 1000!
The track is 6.213 km long and peaks at 870m above sea level, being a public road Mount Panorama is open to anyone on non-race days and provides a scenic drive around the mountain.
We were staying in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains for a few days leading up to The Great Race, as it’s colloquially known to fans. We were aware that the carparks at the circuit were now closed to all but 4 x 4 vehicles due to the muddy conditions, so we planned to drive to Bathurst, park up at the showground and hop on one of the shuttle buses to the circuit.
The first race of the day on Sunday was 7.25am so an early start was always our plan, but we were woken in the early hours by the sound of rain lashing against the windows, wind howling, the Blue Mountains covered in a dense mist, and it was cold!
A decision had to be made; was it wise for two 60 somethings to attempt a drive over the Blue Mountains on unfamiliar roads in a hired SUV they had only picked up the night before to somewhere they had never been in such harsh conditions?
We had travelled almost 11,000 miles for this experience so against our better judgement armed with refreshments, thermals, hats, gloves & wet weather attire we set forth on our quest to arrive, safely at Mount Panorama.
In reality the journey passed uneventfully and a couple of hours later we stepped onto the somewhat muddy turf of Mount Panorama! As soon as you walk through the entrance your senses are bombarded with the sheer razzmatazz of this motorsport extravaganza as you feel yourself being caught up in the excitement! Everything is so loud, colourful, bright, busy, and vast!
Over the course of the four days there is so much to see and experience: Autograph Sessions / Merchandise Alley / Track Chat / Driver Parade / Heroes & Legends Displays / Helicopter Flights / Jeep Chrysler Activation / Armed Forces Display / Big Screen and Live Entertainment / Superkids Zone / Hot Wheels Stunt Team / Saturday Street Fair / Repco Bathurst Mountainside Store and so much more….this is not just a Supercar Race this is a show of immense proportions with something for all the family!
Our aim was to find a vantage point for Rich to capture the action with his camera which was not easy with such a huge crowd but after squelching around the circuit for a while we positioned ourselves in a relatively quiet area at Hell Corner…..within half an hour the crowd was about 10 deep behind us! It must have paid off though as Rich has since had two pics from the event published in Motorsport News!
As the morning progressed the crowd were delighted when the sun started to shine raising the temperature to an extent that layers of clothing could be shed! The weather gods were shining down for the Bathurst 1000!
The Silver Globetrotters have been fortunate enough to attend motorsport events all over the UK and Europe but never have we witnessed such theatre that led up to the start of the race:
The Red Beret Parachute team gliding down from the sky towing the Australian flag; the ear
splitting thunder of the F35A Lightning II Jet as it was displayed overhead by the Royal Australian Airforce; the heart stirring rendition of the Australian Anthem and the group of five helicopters hovering over the start line waiting for the roar of the V8 engines of the 19 Holden Commodores and 9 Ford Mustang GT’s lined up on the grid to do what they do best – what an adrenalin boosting spectacle….and the race hadn’t even started yet!
The Bathurst 1000 was to be the Holden Commodores final fight on the battle ground of Mount Panorama as the car was discontinued in 2020 and the Holden brand itself has been retired, so fans were ecstatic when Shane van Gisbergen with Garth Tander and Chaz Mostert with Fabian Coulthard took first and second place respectively, both teams behind the wheel of a Holden.
Scenic Helicopter flights were available at 100 AUD so an added thrill for Rich was his opportunity to
watch two laps of the race from his seat in a Bell 206 Jet Ranger which gave him a totally different perspective of the race and an appreciation of the sheer vastness of Mount Panorama!
Nothing you read in magazines or see on TV can prepare you for the ultimate racing experience that is the Bathurst 1000. Not until you stand on the iconic mountain yourself, hear the roar of the V8’s as they fight a hard battle which is inevitably won on the last lap, feel the excitement of the crowd, and witness the sheer spectacle of this the greatest of all Australian motorsport events at first hand can you even begin to understand what the Bathurst 1000 and Mount Panorama are all about!
Exploring Sydney’s CBD Getting Around in Sydney
Where to Eat in the Rocks Whale Watching
Kiama Blowholes Day Trip to The Blue Mountains
What to see in Circular Quay Shangri la Hotel
Chinese Garden of Friendship