For many the Bathurst 1000 is more than a race meeting, it is an annual pilgrimage to sacred motorsport grounds.
The Great Race is 161 laps around Mount Panorama.
Without a doubt there have been some years when it has been less than enthralling, but it is the sentimental attachment to an iconic event that keeps many coming back year after year.
The first year I attended was 2014, the year Jamie Whincup was in the lead until he famously ran out of fuel on the final lap and handed the win to Chaz Mostert. While there are some parts of the weekend that are a blur of tent tangles and poorly thought out campfire meals, it has some moments that will stick with me forever.
I was hooked.
We have a campground on Mount Panorama and over the years we have been able to acquire four sites together that we share with friends and family.
When we can, we head over on the Tuesday, and our planning this year will factor in the new Fan Fest event that is scheduled in the town centre for Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday the Supercar Transporters do a parade into town that the kids especially love to watch. There is also a trek to town with the drivers and their cars to celebrate with the fans. The street party is free, very popular and so much fun.
The action on the track kicks off on Thursday. This is the best day to get along to driver signings as there are way less people around. There are also a lot more sizes available in the merch tents, including the sale tent which has items from different teams and events across a range of motorsports.
When purchasing your event ticket it is worth considering getting a paddock pass that gets you access to the Supercars pit area so you can see the teams working on the cars. There are also team signings across the event that will take place at the back of the pits.
We have been hiring a caravan for Bathurst since 2022, when after missing two years because of covid restrictions I wasn’t about to miss another because of having an 11-week-old baby. It has proven to be one of the best decisions we made and not just because that first year in a caravan there was torrential rain that I doubt our tent would have stood up against.
There are a lot of kids in our group and the extra gear you find yourself lugging around aside, it is a great event for them as well. There’s a kids area with different activities set up in merch alley, a Hot Wheels area, and out the front of the National Motoring Museum that is within the track precinct there is a small playground in a nice grassy area.
There are plenty of great spots to watch with a general admission ticket and we spend most of our weekend around the Chase, Pit Straight and Murry’s Corner, but do jump on the bus to the top of the mountain for some of the action at least once.
Come Sunday, the crowds flock in from the moment gates open. With the kids we prefer to set up in one spot, taking chairs and a picnic blanket over to the track and setting up a base. You can take in food and non-alcoholic drinks but be warned that security will check bags on entry.
It is a big week, with some long days and lots of walking, but the Bathurst 1000 is a non-negotiable on our family calendar and I highly recommended making it one on yours.
| The 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000 is on October 9 to 12, for full program and ticketing information visit supercars.com |
