IT was back in 1960, before the Armstrong 500 found a home at Bathurst, that the event which was to become the most prestigious on the V8 Supercars calendar made its debut. But just as that first race had a Russell amongst the field, so too will Sunday’s.

Back then it was Geoff Russell who lined up at Phillip Island with David Anderson and Tony Loxton in a Peugeot 403 and they went on to claim Class C honours.

This year, as Bathurst celebrates its 50th edition of the Great Race following the switch from Phillip Island to Mount Panorama in 1963, it will be David Russell behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore VEII.

He will share the #15 Jack Daniel’s Racing entry with Rick Kelly and like his father before him, he wants to stand on the podium in what will be a landmark endurance race.

“Ever since I was a kid I’ve always watched Bathurst, idolised Bathurst, wanted to win Bathurst,” David Russell said.

“My dad raced here for 10 years himself, so for me each time I come here it always has a very special part for me in my career and I always look forward to Bathurst.

“Every time I look at the calendar I can’t wait to get up here in October. It’s very special, it’s definitely one of those rounds which is full focus and you definitely want to do your best.”

Russell will certainly be hoping for a better showing than last year when he partnered Rick Kelly’s brother Todd Kelly. The duo were the second last of those cars that lasted to the finish and were seven laps down on the victors Garth Tander and Nick Percat.

But that result matters little now and tomorrow Russell and Rick Kelly will get their first chance to make an impression at Mount Panorama in 2012 when the V8 Supercars stage their opening practice session.

Certainly the pair had plenty of time to bond and talk strategy on their way to Bathurst’s famous track.

The duo joined Todd Kelly and Tim Blanchard in making the journey from Victoria in a 1960 FB Holden, the road trip having become something of a regular fixture for Kelly Racing each October.

“It is actually my second year with the team, but we didn’t have the road trip last year. It’s been awesome to be a part of it this year, the old FB did us proud. It ran faultlessly the whole way,” Russell said.

“It’s good camaraderie with all the guys and it’s been thoroughly enjoyed the whole way.”

And it wasn’t just an old car that the drivers used as a way to commemorate Bathurst’s 50 year milestone – they also decided to wear the appropriate retro attire.

Russell said it made for some interesting pit stops.

“It’s cool to have a bit of the get up and I tell you, every time we pulled up we didn’t know if we were going to get bashed,” he chuckled.

“All the locals loved it to be honest, we went to the local RSL club for lunch yesterday [Monday] and we didn’t know if we were going to get served or not but they loved it, it was well received.”

Given the pressures that await Russell later this week as he tries to push for the quickest lap times he can on what many rate as the most challenging track in Australia, the road trip was a relaxing way to start.

Still, when he arrived at Mount Panorama yesterday morning it was clear Russell could not wait to get behind the wheel of a more modern Holden.

“I think when we left this morning, the excitement builds as you get closer to the mountain. It is very special to come up here and lap around the track at your own leisure and take it all in,” he said.

“It is a good start to the week, it obviously gets, as each day goes on, more and more hectic and it all goes to a head on Sunday morning. 

“It’s been a great start and I’m very happy to be back up here for another year and can’t wait to get back to it.”