My First Bathurst Drive

BOON250 · 25-03-2010, 09:40 AM

Im going to throw this out there and see what happens. Im travelling to Sydney beginning of May and am going to drive out to Bathurst (of course) so I can finally see it with my own eyes.

My plan at this stage is to hire an FG probably from Avis/Thrifty etc. Already priced this and it seems reasonable.

My question is is there anywhere in Sydney to hire a GT/FPV something like that. Most places I can find only do weddings etc and they are not self drive.
Driving around Bathurst will fullfill a dream I have had since I was about 6 I keep imagining myself doing it in a GT or similar.

Or alternatively who wants to meet me there and drive me round a couple of laps if I spring for gas/lunch? :sm_headba

Thoughts?

Big Bird 17 · 25-03-2010, 10:38 AM

http://www.getprice.com.au/Performan...--37285576.htm

www.excapades.com.au/product.php?id=748

I just found these 2 on google but it looks lik they only have BA & BFs.I'm sure they're out there somewhere.
You will enjoy driving around the track & surprised at how steep the climb is going up the mountain.It gives you an appreciation of how good these drivers are.Be careful the police patrol the track regularly & you will want to go fast.

BOON250 · 25-03-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Bird 17

http://www.getprice.com.au/Performan...--37285576.htm

www.excapades.com.au/product.php?id=748

I just found these 2 on google but it looks lik they only have BA & BFs.I'm sure they're out there somewhere.
You will enjoy driving around the track & surprised at how steep the climb is going up the mountain.It gives you an appreciation of how good these drivers are.Be careful the police patrol the track regularly & you will want to go fast.

yes these would be perfect but they are only in Melbourne.

I have heard its very steep..can't wait to see it....

**ebxr8240** · 25-03-2010, 10:51 AM

Check local clubs ?? The NSW FPV Tickford club had just had a run out there...

dannyxm · 25-03-2010, 11:05 AM

I do hope you get something organised mate.

As Big Bird said the one thing that suprises you is how steep (and tight!) the mountain really is.

The cutting alone is like walking up a wall and through the dipper is very tight.

Geting my XC up there is certianly on the list of things to do before i die.

sgt_doofey · 25-03-2010, 11:54 AM

You do realise that Mt Panorama has a 60km/h speed limit around the whole track? Wouldn't matter how good or how crap the car you drive, you can still only legally do 60km/h around it.

XR6_661 · 25-03-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

You do realise that Mt Panorama has a 60km/h speed limit around the whole track? Wouldn't matter how good or how crap the car you drive, you can still only legally do 60km/h around it.

You'd think they'd at least lift the limit on conrod to 180

BOON250 · 25-03-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

You do realise that Mt Panorama has a 60km/h speed limit around the whole track? Wouldn't matter how good or how crap the car you drive, you can still only legally do 60km/h around it.

Yes I know. I'm not trying to set the lap record. Im trying to capture the emotion involved in doing it in a Ford. Im doing it so I can say to myself"I drove around Bathurst in a Ford" Simply as a personal thing to myself..

DBourne · 25-03-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny351

I do hope you get something organised mate.

As Big Bird said the one thing that suprises you is how steep (and tight!) the mountain really is.

The cutting alone is like walking up a wall and through the dipper is very tight.

King oath. TV really doesn't do the mountain any justice showing how steep it is.

I want to see how quickly I could ride a push bike around the mountain, just for poos n giggles. Although I think the climb up the mountain would be a fairly hard task.

xbrules · 25-03-2010, 02:23 PM

with regards to hiring an FG, go thru budget. it costs $78 to hire an FG XT or an extra $2 a day to hire an XR6. we did the same trip last year for the muscle car masters weekend. I have driven the track several times and as you said TV simply does not do it justice. it simply doesn't show the gradients, rises, crests and so on. watch out for Plod when you drive the track, every time i have driven the track i have always seen a "pursuit special" cutting laps. man that would suck huh? cutting laps all day around bathurst (*sigh*)

here's few pictures from when i drove it a couple of years ago in the old EB

Make sure you visit the museum too!!!

Dave_au · 25-03-2010, 02:37 PM

Try walking the track - takes about 1.5-2hrs from memory, did that in January.

Also the local coppers often have an unmarked highway car doing a couple of laps every so often in the opposite direction to race format (the road is a two way road).

GreenMachine · 25-03-2010, 02:44 PM

I highly recommend it - Try averaging 60kph around the track - I could barely do it over the top, but it was wet and I was an E-mutant...

spannerman · 25-03-2010, 05:51 PM

When are you coming to Bathurst? I live in Orange 50km away I might be able to take you for a lap, let me know aprox when you are comming and I can check my roster

XRGREIGHT · 25-03-2010, 06:00 PM

I passed the milkman down conrod

castellan · 25-03-2010, 06:42 PM

The museum was good.
But i was disappointed at the track, it did not live up to my expectations.
I always wanted to go and hook in, down their on that track.

GrimmReaper09 · 25-03-2010, 07:09 PM

I have been around bathurst once before back in.......1993 or 1994 as a teen. Was amazed at how different it looked from the TV. Would love to drive around there again.

nicco · 25-03-2010, 07:19 PM

mate i recently did this with my brother. He drives a VY commo, and I've got my EF.

drove the pair of them all the way from Townsville, and did 4 days worth of lappies there. Was awesome.

Just about everything went wrong, both the cars had mechanical dramas that started within the first 15minutes of getting to there, but we both made it back okay. had an absolute ball.

oh and a tip too, if you have time, go and ask the ladies at the info centre about the Old Vale racing circuit. Its the 1930's motorcycle racing track and runs behind some farms and then down onto the highway. Parts of it are still dirt... lots of fun to be had!! lol

Rodp · 25-03-2010, 07:45 PM

When I had my XW GT, I took it for a few laps up there many years ago. I've also turned a few leisurely laps in a BA XR8.

The XW lap was much better, particularly the dipper. It's a sight to see (as well as being very unnerving) your long bonnet infront of you and the road just disappear under you - and that was doing the speed limit! Not so much of an experience in a car where the bonnet is largely hidden...

It's certainly a lot narrower than you expect it to be after spending many years seeing race cars use every inch of the track. The elevations are also a lot more prominent. Just be careful, at least the last time I did a few laps, it's a 2 way public road.

TheInterceptor · 25-03-2010, 08:48 PM

Be sure not to go over 60 on conrod (or anywhere on the track for that matter), sneaky coppers like to hide on the left side on the tip of the hill midway..

**Giant Cranium** · 25-03-2010, 08:56 PM

best way to do it is have some mates watch for cops at all the entrances then at midnight go for a full pace lap in a ve gts. you do it a night because then you can see the headlights comming the other direction. best time i have ever had in a car

TheInterceptor · 25-03-2010, 08:59 PM

good idea!

BLKWDW · 25-03-2010, 09:16 PM

I can prob take you for a drive around. BUT it will be in a commodore.

**Peuty** · 25-03-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_661

You'd think they'd at least lift the limit on conrod to 180

It's not already?

Whoops.

tankclare · 26-03-2010, 01:10 AM

I have been around bathurst many times. In a bus, LH SLR torana, VH grp 3 Brock commodore, ba xr8, honda crv, ef fairmont ghia. Never gets boring. And as mentioned earlier it is very steep and tight. Also the police do lap there these days, the road is a public road and traffic is 2 way. Also I think there may also be a speed camera or 2 now put in place but could be wrong.

BOON250 · 26-03-2010, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spannerman

When are you coming to Bathurst? I live in Orange 50km away I might be able to take you for a lap, let me know aprox when you are comming and I can check my roster

Hi Spannerman

Im going to be in Sydney the week of 3-7 May but not sure yet which day Im coming to Bathurst. I would guess most likely the 4th or 5th..

wonk123 · 28-04-2010, 06:45 PM

Last week the coppers caught a coach doing 98 down conrod, the driver was not looking impressed when we went past