The parade has drawn controversy in the past with some race fans saying it was not what it used to be.

But on Wednesday Lindy Fox, who had travelled with her family from South Gipsland in Victoria, gave the event the thumbs up.

“It’s the atmosphere, there’s just nothing like it,” she said.

“We arrived here on Monday, this is our third year, it took us 10.5 hours to drive here.”

Ms Fox and her family are camping at Mount Panorama for Race Week and she said the site and facilities were great.

“There’s nothing like waking up on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning and hearing the cars going around. It’s amazing,” she said.

“There is nothing else like it in the world. It’s been a dream of mine to come here since I was a kid.”

While Queensland couple Nevarda O’Brien and Mathew Wright said it took them two days to drive from their home in Rockhampton to Bathurst.

They had a prime spot to watch the parade, on the corner of Russell and William streets, and said it was an event they did not want to miss.

“It’s our first time here and it won’t be the last,” Ms O’Brien said.

“The atmosphere has been great.”

The couple are also camping at Mount Panorama for the week and said it was the best place to take in the action.

“You can see the Mount Panorama sign from our campsite. It’s fantastic,” Ms O’Brien said.

There were also a number of locals, including Amanda and Ben Selman from Napoleon Reef, who said the driver and transporter parade was not to be missed.

“We come here every year for it, it’s just amazing,” Mrs Selman said of the Bathurst 1000 festival.

However, the couple do admit to having one major dispute each year – Ford or Holden.

Mrs Selman is a Ford fan, while Mr Selman much prefers Holden.

“We have three boys – one’s Ford, the other’s Holden, but the last one’s yet to decide.