ausauto News Article

Bathurst goes back to the future

I can't let it go past without mentioning it. Yes, after 35 years, club-level motor sport returned to the famed Mount Panorama circuit at Bathurst over Easter.

With a few moderns out there it wasn't quite historic motor sport, however, as the older cars outnumbered the new, there was enough to keep the true believers enthralled for the whole weekend.

The last true race meeting at Bathurst, where enthusiasts could bring along their MGB, Mini or early model Holden was back in 1973 when names like Leo Geoghegan, John Goss, and Bob Morris appeared amongst the results.

Yes, okay there has been the Bathurst 1000 kilometre enduro held every October, but there are very few enthusiasts who want to be involved in V8 Super Cars or can even relate to that style of motor racing.

No, Easter 2008 at Bathurst was for the average bloke and shelia who wanted to feel the true majesty that you can only experience at Bathurst.

Being Australian we all know what it's like. The moment we start to enjoy something, the politicians and their bureaucrats start to legislate to protect us from ourselves. Before you know it there are enough laws and hoops to jump through that it all becomes too hard.

With the Mount Panorama circuit being such an icon there is actually a piece of New South Wales state government legislation that governs its use.

For years the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Act stated that the circuit could only be used twice annually. Then last year, in what surely must have been a sensible rush of blood to the pollies' heads this was amended to five.

It certainly makes you wonder why we have all this bureaucratic red tape. Remember when the circuit isn't used for motor racing it's a public road and any Bruce Public is allowed to drive around the circuit, in either direction to their hearts content at 60kph.

I recall the last time when I was being that Bruce and honestly I was keeping to the speed limit. If I wasn't I am sure that it would have been a head-on with the gentlemen in blue, who was riding his BMW motorcycle very quickly on my side of the road in the opposite direction.

There have been attempts in the past to bring race meetings back to Bathurst, but each has been met by the brick wall of officialdom.

With two meetings increased to five, there looked to be a window of opportunity big enough for a racing shoe to slip through.

The Festival of Sporting Cars (FoSC) had its gestation as MG Racing, part of the MG Club that in itself has a rich history in organising club race meetings.

To give credit where it's due, the good burghers of Bathurst Council need a salute, as they, in conjunction with the officials of FoSC, managed to overcome the hurdles that such an event presents and the green light was given for the meeting to take place over the Easter long weekend.

To say it was a success would be an understatement. Due to the size of the grid and that the circuit was to return to road use at midnight Easter Sunday (shades of Cinderella) the number of entrants were restricted to just 450 plus 50 reserves.

In the lead up to the event expressions of interest were  called for and some 970 received. That presented a less than enviable task of culling by FoSC officials.

For the record there were 14 entrants from the ACT, 59 Victorians, some 14 from South Australia, 3 crossed Bass  Strait from Tassie, 72 travelled south from Queensland and understandably the vast bulk of 312 came from NSW.

Special mention must be made of the 11 enthusiasts who trekked across from WA and yes there was a Mazda RX7  from the Northern Territory.

With Easter approaching everything was under control, except for one thing - the weather. Driving Mount Panorama is challenging enough, but to drive it in the wet requires a big heart and more than a little skill.

Friday was wet and scary resulting in everyone tippy-toeing around the circuit, especially across the mountain. Thankfully the weather gods were smiling on Bathurst for the rest of the weekend.

By Sunday afternoon some 40 different events had been  held and everyone agreed that they had a tremendous weekend at the most iconic of Australian race circuits. Sure there were hiccups and more than a few had become just a little too enthusiastic, but no injuries and cars can be rebuilt.

The good news is that the FoSC meeting wasn't just a one off and plans are well ahead for Easter 2009.

For more information have a look at www.fosc.com.au