Bathurst public calls for better Bathurst 1000 Race Week parade

In the wake of a poor showing for the annual transporter parade and driver signing during Race Week, a clear message is being sent to Bathurst Regional Council that the community wants a return of the old style parade with floats, bands and marching girls that was such a highlight of Race Week in years past.

The fact Race Week fell in school holidays did not help numbers, but even those who did attend were nonplussed, with a number heard to exclaim “is that it?” as they craned their necks to see if there was anything following the rigs.

When the Western Advocate posed the question “Is it time to overhaul the V8 Supercars transporter parade?” on its Facebook page, more than 100 people responded with a resounding yes.

Their comments were thoughtful, nostalgic and often quite detailed.

However, Bathurst mayor Gary Rush said there were no plans for a parade for next year’s event.

He said first there would be the cost and then council would have to ask a range of stakeholders, including V8 Supercars, businesses and community organisations, to be involved. 

“It’s not an easy ask,” Cr Rush said.

“We have tried to create a range of Race Week festivities to appeal to everyone. The drivers’ signing, the transporter parade, the legends dinner, and the street fair are still a significant part of the event.

“I have no doubt the transporter parade is still extremely popular, as evidenced by the many people who lined the street from Morse Park up to the Mount itself.”

Cr Rush said while having a parade next year is not on the cards, he would not rule it out in the future. 

He said council was also considering options for how it might create an opportunity for the city’s children to meet the V8 Supercars drivers. 

Bathurst District Historical Society president Alan McRae was heavily involved in the street parade back in the day.

He took the photos of the parade for council for 26 years.

Mr McRae said he loved the way the whole city got involved in the parade, which was held on the Saturday of race weekend. 

“Those were the good old days,” he said. “It’s a shame we have lost that. They were fun times.”

Mr McRae said throughout the race’s history the drivers would come down on the Saturday, either before the shootout or after it, and would travel the parade route in a convoy of convertibles. The driver signings would follow. 

Mr McRae said he remembers how people would pack in from the middle of the road right out to the walls of the buildings that lined the parade route. Children would sit on the shoulders of their parents and everyone would wave and cheer. 

“It was a sight to see,” he said.

Mr McRae said the race organisers, council, Western Stores or Grace Bros all entered big floats, many businesses had smaller floats, university students joined in the parade on stilts and unicycles, the car clubs were involved, and the scouts, guides and pony club all took part.

“The whole town closed down for the big parade,” Mr McRae said.

“I would close my business for a couple of hours so the staff could dress up and be involved, and then once it was over we would re-open.”