There are many anniversaries being celebrated at Bathurst this week, starting of course with the 10th anniversary of the passing of Peter Brock, and that is sure to help attract a huge crowd this weekend.
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There is then the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Gallaher 500 which was won by the now veteran racer Bob Holden with his Finnish co-driver the rally ace Rauno Aaltonen. Holden of course is in Bathurst this week with the Mini celebrations and among many other official functions he will be at a meet and greet at the Dudley Hotel on Saturday evening at 7pm.
On top of that there is also the 25th anniversary of Nissans first Bathurst win and the Michael Caruso/Dean Fiore Altima will be running the same livery as the GT-R R32 that won the 1991 Bathurst enduro driven by Jim Richards and Mark Skaife.
Former Bathurst resident, top line driver and manager of Oran Park Geoff Leeds is celebrating 50 years since his first Bathurst start, and 25 years since his last. The former Bathurst High School student won class B in the 1972 Hardie Ferodo 500 driving a 1600cc Ford Escort with Digby Cooke. That win was ironic, for it is 44 years ago and the Escort they drove was #44!
The 2006 race attracted the biggest crowd ever at Bathurst, and it also saw the final Bathurst 1000 start for six-time winner Jim Richards, leaving him with a record 35 starts. Sadly it also marks 10 years since the New Zealander Mark Porter lost his life following an accident in practice for the Supercar Development Series.
According to supercars.com 'Fast Facts', eleven different drivers have won the Peter Brock Trophy since it was first awarded in 2006. Nine of those drivers will be in the field on Sunday. Brock made 32 Great Race starts between 1969 and 2004 with a record nine wins, a record six pole. A total of 55 different drivers have won the race with 19 of them multiple victors. There are five Bathurst 1000 rookies in this year’s field – Shae Davies, Chris van der Drift, Matt Campbell, Richie Stanaway and James Golding.
V8 utes
Self indulgence time, and as most would be aware Nightingale Motorsport exists on a very limited budget, but we've received some great support for this weekend's Australian V8 Utes Racing Championship round with the #30 Sieders Racing entry. They included major sponsors Beecham Concreting, Beecham Concrete Pumping, Bathurst Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Gulf Western Oil. We were also lucky to acquire the support of Pit Stop Pies, Bathurst RSL Club, Bathurst Regional Council, VERTO, RJ Signs, Forest Reefs Tavern, Keppel Street Kindy, New Image Kitchens, and the Mad Bookie.
