If you’re after an in-depth analysis of the facts, figures, and history of the Bathurst 1000 and wider racing community in Australia, then look away now.
You will not find it here.
What you will find is the backyard warrior’s guide to the V8 Supercars’ premier event in Australia, and introductory dummies’ guide to fast cars racing over a long period of time.
And a long time it is!
The Bathurst 1000 gets its name from the regional city at which it is held (that would be Bathurst) and the number of kilometres the drivers must complete.
1000 kilometres, I hear you ask? Yes. That’s about the entire width of New South Wales. It is a long, long way. Perhaps more importantly, it’s 161 laps of the track, Mount Panorama.
2013’s winners, Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards, completed the race in 6h 11m 27.9315s, maintaining an average speed of 161.5697km/h, or just a shade over 100mph. By comparison, Google Maps tells me it would take nearly 12 hours to drive from Sydney to Mildura (1010km), driving at the speed limit, of course.
Another important feature of the race is that last year was the first year in a long time that the race was opened up to other manufacturers, after previously being closed to all but Holden and Ford.
Holden fans will point to the 29 victories their drivers have amassed since 1965, and sneer at Ford’s paltry 19.
Early indications suggest that the deficit will only widen this year, with Holden heavyweight teams Holden Racing Team and Triple Eight sweeping the podium finishes at the Sandown 500 in mid-September. Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell took the honours that day for Red Bull Racing, flogging their Holden around the track and leaving some distance between themselves and their nearest rivals.
The Volvo S60 of New Zealander Scott McLaughlin and Frenchman Alexandre Premat finished eighth that day, quite a remarkable feat for the relative newcomers. Keep an eye on the Volvos, those Swedes make a nice car.
This year’s race will be held October 12, kicking of at 10:30am and wrapping up at around 6pm.
Tips for Bathurst 1000 rookies
• No boutique beers may be consumed while watching the race. It’s the Bathurst 1000, not your hipster mate’s birthday party.
• While we’re on the subject, make sure your Esky is in good working order, and sufficiently large. The old adage suggests the right amount is one carton per day, per person. That seems a little extreme for a social drinker like myself, but The Mountain changes a man.
• Learn the bigger-name drivers and which team they drive for. If you’re watching the race with a bunch of Holden Racing Team fans, don’t cheer a Ford Performance Racing driver by mistake. You’ll be banished to the pit toilets, and come Sunday, they’re a pretty grim place to visit.
• If you’re attending the race, be sure to check out all of the many different sideshows. For example, the RAAF is sending their elite formation aerobic display team, The Roulettes, to dazzle onlookers on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the event.
• The Saturday Street Fair on Kings Parade (Russell Street) is another excellent way to immerse oneself in the atmosphere of the event. There’s food, markets, entertainment, and lots of activities to keep the kids occupied.
• If you’re more of an armchair spectator, make sure you have all the supplies you need before the main event begins, so you don’t need to make a pit stop for more beef jerky mid-race.
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