WHAT makes a successful motor racing event? Its popularity with the competitors, the volume of traffic through the gate or the amount of money it makes?
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The Bathurst Motor Festival held at Mount Panorama this Easter long weekend was a success in the eyes of event director James O’Brien, competitors and the small number of spectators who sat back and enjoyed some fine motor racing.
Entry was free, although people were invited to make a donation to the Cancer Council as they came through the gate, so it was never going to be a big money spinner, yet it gave an opportunity to drivers, who might not otherwise have had the chance, to test themselves against the mountain.
The event was very popular with family groups who laid out picnic blankets and enjoyed the autumn sunshine on the spectator mounds lining Pit Straight.
“We were very happy with the event. We only had four months to get organised and pull it all together,” Mr O’Brien said.
“We had five race categories and two regulation events. It was a nice balance and a good three days of on-track action.
“It was a low key event but I know the competitors enjoyed themselves.
“For spectators it meant easy access, it’s not often you can drive to the top of the mountain to watch an event,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said the fact that the event was free was very attractive to families because it meant they could get out of the house and go up to the circuit for a couple of hours and enjoy the racing.
He said seeing the 51 car field in the production sports cars event was a highlight for him.
“There were some beautiful cars,” he said.
“We wanted to provide competitors with an opportunity and we are getting great feedback.”
Mr O’Brien said he will now need to sit down with council to decide if the event should run again next year.
“I can’t see why it wouldn’t.”