Home to the Lee family from Culcairn over race week, it boasts its own hot water, in-house barbecue and TV.

Site manager Malcolm Lee said the family have been camping at the Mount for 32 years, and said nothing would stop them from coming. 

“One year we had to go back home for a wedding on Saturday, so we drove to Bathurst, set up the camp, left Saturday morning to drive back home, go to the wedding and drive back to camp Saturday night.

“We got back at 2am,” he laughed.

And while Mal has relatives living in Bathurst he has never considered staying anywhere but Mount Panorama. 

“It’s definitely not the same unless you’re on top of the Mount,” he said.

Apart from seeing all the action first hand, Mal said the week provides the opportunity to catch up with old friends.

“We know all our [camping] neighbours. We make it an annual event and all catch up with each other,” he said.

“There’s nothing like camping, the people you meet up here and the friendships you make, it’s great.” 

Mal is also full of praise for the family event the race has become.

“The changes they’ve made are fantastic,” Mal said. 

“It has made a massive difference this year, it’s the most family orientated it’s ever been. You don’t get the yahoos carrying on like you use to.

“Years ago I wouldn’t have brought the grandkids up here because of ferals, but now there are no problems at all.”

Fellow camper Dave Purtell, who has been at the Great Race 25 times, said camping on the Mount was the best part of the race.

“It’s like the barbecue of 1000 mates,” he said.

Both Mal and Dave said they can’t wait for the Great Race to start.

Mal said he and his family will be up early tomorrow to secure the best seat they can trackside.

“We’re there at 5am,” he said adding that the camp site TV comes with them, so they can see all of the action. “If we don’t have the TV we can’t see what’s going on in the pits,” he said.

A motor mechanic by trade, Mal has always loved cars, and has never swayed from his allegiance to Ford.

“I’ve been a Ford man all my life, but I have to admit we’ve been flogged a few times up here,” he said.

“I think it will be a showdown between Will Davison and Craig Lowndes.

“I’m a Ford man, but Lowndes is a master,” he said.