Perfect weather over the weekend, combined with record fields of competitors, ensured the Bathurst Motor Festival was one of the best places in Bathurst to spend the Easter holiday.
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The three-day festival attracted 323 entrants from across the state to compete in seven categories.
This is the first motor festival since Bathurst Regional Council resurfaced the iconic Mount Panorama circuit.
Event director James O’Brien said it showed in the lap times.
One of the highlights of this year’s event came when the outright lap record tumbled – which, Mr O’Brien said, was another good marker of the success of resurfacing work on the track.
“This is a very difficult track to resurface and council did a great job,” he said.
“It has been a really good weekend with everything going to plan. We have good racing, fantastic weather and a record number of competitors.”
He said the objective of the event has never been to increase it in terms of spectator numbers, but to maintain a traditional Easter racing event on Mount Panorama.
He said the aim is to boost the economy of Bathurst and provide opportunities for categories of cars that would not normally get to race at Bathurst.
He said as long as it remains economically viable, and it is, he is happy.
Mr O’Brien said of the 323 competitors this year, each brought an average of at least six people with them.
“That’s around 1900 people staying in Bathurst for a minimum of four nights, not to mention officials and spectators,” he said.
The event co-ordinator said it was a pleasure to see so many families at the circuit.
The Bathurst Motor Festival is often thought of as a drivers’ event.
However, local team mechanic Matt Negus feels that it is very much a spectator event.
“People just love to see the old cars racing where it all began for this sport – in Bathurst,” he said.
“A lot of people come back to hear the sound of those cars on the mountain.”
Mr Negus is race mechanic for Michael Anderson, who came second in the Group N Historic Touring Cars race.
One of the visiting teams this year was Glenn Kerry Racing.
Mr Kerry, of Marsden Park, said this was his first time competing in the festival.
He usually races in the Bathurst 12-Hour event.
“This seems a lot better,” he said.
“We get more track time and we even have a garage this time around.”
He said the event had impressed him.
“If the budget allows I will definitely be back.”
