The air is filled with the smell of high octane fuel, the roar of high powered V8’s fills the air. Such an assault on your senses fills you with the thrill of anticipation. The intensness of this race is increased with drivers mannipulating their powerful sleek machines, at incredible speeds, around this most challenging Motorsport track, Mt Panorama.

Every year Motorsport fans flock to the mecca of Supercar racing. All with one aim in mind, to support their chosen driver or team and have them crowned, King of the Mountain. Hold over 4 days, there is so much to see and do, you will wear yourself out with excitement. Shootouts for grid placements, all different types of races, eventually culminating on the Sunday with the gruelling 1000km race.

Campers fill the camping spots, some have family traditions of attending every year. Others decorate their camping site with signs, banners or anything they can find.

We were lucky to secure a house for our group a mere half hour from the track. Bathurst Tickets for our group included the paddock pass. If you’re a fan, be sure to make the trip worthwhile and add on the paddock pass. You never know who you will rub shoulders with!Bring in your own deck chairs and set up your camp for the day wherever suits. This year the return trip up to the top of the mountain on the continuous bus service was a mere $5. It’s worth it. You haven’t really been to the mountain unless you have been up the top. The atmosphere is surreal up here, staunch supporters have their own generators and TV’s to keep up with commentary.

The views from up here, back down the mountain, are phenomenal. Watching the race year in and out not the TV, does not do it justice. If you’re a fan, you need to schedule at least one trip to the mecca of Motorsport.So many view points to watch this epic race. Helicopters constantly circle, some TV crews, others give you a birds eye view of this incredible experience. In between the first and last two laps, you could score a trip in the chopper covering two laps for a fairly reasonable $90.00. Each lap covering a touch over 6km. Quite the experience. For me though, the top of the mountain was enough for the view.

Marvel at how the drivers handle those corners at such impressive speeds. Not only that their distances between each other are so close. They complete each lap in around 2.5 minutes. Pretty amazing when you see this track in real time.

Souvenirs, food, drinks, everything is available here. Sometimes those lines are long, but pick your moment and you can be served quickly. A little note here regarding the Red Rooster food van inside the Coopers Complex. The staff in here were amongst many at this venue, under the pump, yet held it together in noteworthy style. Well done to all the staff on the Bathurst site. Without your dedication to the cause this great event would come to a standstill.

Cleaners are constantly circulating the huge number of portable bathrooms, to ensure they remain at a reasonable standard of hygiene. Not sure what their schedule is, but these guys need a medal. Seriously, I saw some of the bathrooms they would have to deal with.

So many photos so many stories, yet this was the last year of Ford Falcons, the last year for Craig Lowndes driving as the main driver and possibly the last of the V8’s only. To witness Lowndes win this race was a truely heart pumping experience, no matter which team you follow. After 25 years, he deserved to go out as The King of the Mountain. Don’t forget the F18 who puts on the most impressive flying display, pre race. I was sooo lucky to be right place right time!

Would love to hear your feedback! Are you now keen to visit this Australian annual epic experience?

And for the record if you visit Mt Panorama during the off season, the speed limit is 60km. With around 40 residences on this mountain, I’m sure they dont want to have any of you chasing stars in your eyes and exceeding their speed limit and peace. Please respect that.