22 replies to this topic

[Shiney005]

I haven't been there for six years or so, but even back then it was fairly quiet up on the mountain at night. Not like 20 years ago.
I spent the thursday around town, friday around the museum, pit area and merchandise, (they can run out of certain things by sunday morning) and then relaxed with the esky for the next two days. I believe there are restrictions on how much alcohol you can bring in these days, but if you arrive mid week and are fairly inventive with how you load the camper it shouldn't be a drama.

Edited by Shiney005, 26 September 2017 - 11:00 PM.

[fx48_eh64]

think the limit of a case a day these days,  the museum is in my opinion definately worth a look, 

the track will probably be closed by the time you get there, but for me the best part was doing laps 

coming out of forest elbow at 120kmh in my FX and passing a commodore on the straight is something i will never forget. 

[LC69GTR]

Watching this a 1st time for me this year as well

[hanra]

Can you gain access to the track earlier so that you could go to your camp site and bury a few extra cartons so that you could retrieve them later? 

[CI 0308]

Yes at 54 its going to be my first time as well. Cant wait. just got 4 day pass and my son and I are itching to get there. pick up a hire car at Sydney airport Thursday and head out.

[Pop's-SS]

T'was there in 2002 with a 4 door LJ and watched the "XU-1's on the Mountain" then again in 2004 when I had an LC GTR and was in "Torana The Great"

 

2002 was the race weekend Jason Plato crashed the Dunnydore he was co-driving with Brocky

 

 

 

Sorry but I do not go much on Freight Car Racing and was more interested in the Historics and our lap on the race Saturday

 

If you want to grab a spot at a certain part of the track, what I did was place a rug/mat/ on the spot I wanted and that marked my territory

 

Most people will respect that and not take it or move it

 

In 2002 I had my youngest son Eric with me and we wandered all over the track viewing area including the top of the Mountain

The top was in that year very "rough" and we didn't stay there long

 

2002 Brock and Baird

 

 

Going up the Mountain in one of the buses I noticed a car on the right side just before we reached the top

About 1/2hr later on the way back I noticed it had been stomped on and the windows broken, we did not go back for the rest of the weekend

 

 

 

Now, it is more spectator friendly

 

As said, not interested in freight car racing and would probably attend again only if there is another event run in conjunction with the race weekend like "Torana The Great"

 

 

Our parade lap was great in 2004

 

 

 

There was other interesting things at the Mountain

 

 

 

2004 was the start of my 10 relationship with Harry

 

 

AND whilst in the Bathurst area I renamed the nearby town of Tarana 

 

 

RegardSS .................. Barry

 

PS. you will be passing through my town of Cootamundra on your way there as it is on the Olympic way from Wagga to Bathurst

 

Be very aware of the number of Police in the area at Bathurst

Edited by Pop's-SS, 27 September 2017 - 09:29 AM.

[a9x868]

Hello to all, 

 

At 53 this will be my first time at the holy grail of Australian motorosport  and would like some tips, tricks and ideas on how to survive the weekend, YEEEHAH.

 

I hope to leave ( S.E Melb ) with camper trailer in tow on either Tuesday or Wednesday depending on work load and will be camping at Reid and Sulman ( boy was that a battle to get.) head home Monday.

 

I have red the faq,s and blah blah, but would like advise on use of gensets to charge 12v batteries (will have to borrow one) , food , alcamahole , showers , getting around etc.

 

Is it worth while going into town , museum , walking the track , look in paddock , best time and places to watch events.

 

Stuff to do at night as I will be there solo.

 

All crazy ass info will be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers Harro

harro you will have a blast

i,ve been 8 times

can access camp site from wed on

museum is a must allow plenty of time and watch the whole video in the cinema as it details the history of the tracks beginnings

and its a revolving video just plays over and over

alcohol is one carton per person per day

no glass and no fireworks were the only 2 rules

can walk the track and it,s a must on a nice evening after the track closes at 6pm nightly

hard work but very rewarding gives you a whole new perspective on how hard it is on the cars

can catch the bus from the top of the mountain that takes you down to behind merchandise alley and it will cost you 5 bucks to get back

bathurst township is fantastic for evening meals etc and a truly beautiful joint

buy a program this will detail every event on the track

make sure to use wed thur fri &sat to watch the action from every vantage point around the track as sunday if you move you lose your spot

very family friendly these days not like days of old cops every where now

have a great time

cheers 

a very jealous dave mc

[Max's SS]

Been there twice....1984 and 1993. Camped on the mountain (at no cost) set up your camp where ever there was a spare spot.

No limit on the amount of booze and bonfires.

Action a plenty at night time and not a cop in sight. Some very damgerous antics with the donut ring, especially with a Volvo prime mover having its turn. Then the burning dunny rolls being thrown.

On Sunday set ourselves up against the fence at Skyline with a big screen on the other side of the track. The broadcast had no commercials.

You can't beat the sound as the cars come up the mountain on Sunday morning...the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Some of the large camp sites eg bus camps are something to look at.

 

Today things are a lot more regulated and more family friendly.

[slr5640]

my first trip was in 84 and was told to make sure I went and had a look at the dipper from the bottom looking up.

Glad I did ...

So my advice is get and do that !!!

You will be amazed at how steep the incline is the TV just doesn't show it !!

[purrlx]

Will be my my first tripp at 44 as well this year. Can't wait.

[RallyRed]

harro you will have a blast

i,ve been 8 times

can access camp site from wed on

museum is a must allow plenty of time and watch the whole video in the cinema as it details the history of the tracks beginnings

and its a revolving video just plays over and over

alcohol is one carton per person per day

no glass and no fireworks were the only 2 rules

can walk the track and it,s a must on a nice evening after the track closes at 6pm nightly

hard work but very rewarding gives you a whole new perspective on how hard it is on the cars

can catch the bus from the top of the mountain that takes you down to behind merchandise alley and it will cost you 5 bucks to get back

bathurst township is fantastic for evening meals etc and a truly beautiful joint

buy a program this will detail every event on the track

make sure to use wed thur fri &sat to watch the action from every vantage point around the track as sunday if you move you lose your spot

very family friendly these days not like days of old cops every where now

have a great time

cheers 

a very jealous dave mc

^^^^ Just about nails it.

 

Been there most years since about 1978....track has changed heaps, its still a buzz......you will love it.

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[Max's SS]

my first trip was in 84 and was told to make sure I went and had a look at the dipper from the bottom looking up.

Glad I did ...

So my advice is get and do that !!!

You will be amazed at how steep the incline is the TV just doesn't show it !!

 Got to drive my HiLux 4x4 around the track in 1984. As said...you don't realise how steep the track is until you get to drive around it. Going over skyline and going down through the dipper is another experience. At race pace you realise any driver in any class of racing must be brave.

[Shiney005]

Got many more of those old photos Col? Is the black three wheeler the Tim Slako car?

[RallyRed]

Got many more of those old photos Col? Is the black three wheeler the Tim Slako car?

yeah Laurie...its the 3 wheel Slako car.

( it was a while ago, but I seem to remember that a few years later, in a pink Rover, he did the same thing??...reckon the bloke on the tyre change detail needed further training?)

 

I have a few more, but in those days, without a tele lense, most of the cars are just dots in the distance.

[Shiney005]

Can you scan the Slako one separately for me? I'd like to give him a copy. 

[RallyRed]

OK...and sorry for the thread steel Harro

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Edited by RallyRed, 28 September 2017 - 02:21 PM.

[Swarbs]

I Found practice and qualifying were the best times to walk the track when the V8's were out  - you get an appreciation 

Walk from skyline to forest elbow on the way down  - if you keep quietly on the move you can do it comfortably in 1 session - walk back up is a killer

 

Corner into the chase during qualifying  - fastest part of the track and funnily enough it is also seems to be the closest if you get right into the corner - if they are on the rev limiter into the corner you know they are pushing 

Amazing how the eye can pick the difference of a quick car to one who is off the pace

 

There is a $5 bus that will get you from top to bottom or visa versa if you are going between the top and bottom 

 

Race day find a spot with a screen and enjoy the race and a beer 

[rodomo]

Have fun and drive safe yoose!

[CI 0308]

Well Bathurst number 1 done and dusted. What an awesome 4 days. Did pretty much what Dave and others suggested. Got there late Thursday arvo and had a quick look down the bottom. Thursday did the museum and shop Alley and caught the bus up to the mountain. Saturday did the pits and got the legends autographs and a helicopter ride, watching qualifying from Suttons Park and walked from the top of the mountain down conrod to the bottom. Boy that is bloody steep. Sunday watched most of the race from various locations up the mountain then last 40 laps into the chase then with 10 laps to go went down to the finish line ready to jump the fence at completion and ended up in the pits under the dias for presentations. Sensational few days and rapped to add Richards, Harvey, Morris, Grice autographs next to Brocks on my glove box lid.

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[Redslur]

Definitely an event that every car nut should experience at least once in their life.  I have been twice and probably due for another visit. My last one was Torana the Great back in 2004.