Mount Panorama
PMB 17 or 158 Russell Street
Bathurst
NSW 2795
Tel: 02-6333 6158
Fax: 02-6331-7211
Mount Panorama is really a street circuit, as when no racing events are being run this is a public road where many residents may only access their home directly from the circuit. The track has a huge 174 metre difference between its highest and lowest points, and grades steeper than 1 in 6. As a public road, on non-race days Mount Panorama is open to the public; cars can drive in both directions around the circuit for no charge, but a speed limit of 60km/h is strictly enforced, and police regularly patrol the roads.
Before it was a motor racing circuit, the Mount was an important part of the local Wiradjuri tribe's culture. The Mount was called ‘Waluu', which means ‘to watch over' and it was from the vantage points now known as Skyline & McPhillamy Park that young Wiradjuri men would watch over their land and the movements of travellers to and from the valley. Mount Panorama began as a dirt-track/tourist-drive carved out of the bald hills around the bustling city of Bathurst in the mid 1930s. Bathurst Council Mayor Martin Griffin had a vision for a premier motor racing circuit with the sharp hills, hairpin bends and a fast downhill straight that would inspire awe and demand respect from all who took up the challenge for years to come.
Strong support from the New South Wales Light Car Club, Auto Cycle Union and the Federal Government, through a national employment relief scheme, saw this vision become a reality. On 17 March 1938 the Mount Panorama Scenic Drive opened. The Mayor always knew that the road was going to be used for motor racing but Depression Era funds weren't easy to come by, so he had to create a ruse.
At Easter 1938 the first races were held and except for the war (WWII), have been run ever since. Mount Panorama is indisputably a Mecca for motor racing fans all over Australia and around the world. The first race held on 16 April 1938 attracted an 20,000 spectators - nowadays close to 200,000 come to see the Australian V8 Supercars race in the famous Bathurst 1000, Australia's biggest race. The Australian National Motor Museum is also located at the Murray's Corner, at the end of the pit straight and well worth a visit. www.nmrm.com.au/
DRIVE:
Bathurst and Mount Panorama are located roughly 2.5 hours west of Sydney. The fastest route is through the Blue Mountains on the Great Western Highway.Bathurst also has a direct route to the ACT via Cowra and Boorowa. It takes around 3.5 hours to get to Canberra.
N.B: Please note that the Blue Mountains do become busier during weekends, especially Sunday afternoons heading back to Sydney. At the end of the Race on Sunday, the roads are so packed that it can take up to 5 hours to return to Sydney.
FLY:
Bathurst has a medium-sized regional airport located at the outlying suburb of Raglan, roughly 10 minutes from the Bathurst CBD. Regional Express (or REX) services Bathurst twice daily. Flight time is approximately 40mins depending on weather.
Local buses and taxis are available to ferry passengers to a desired location. The airport also has rent-a-car companies based there for those booking a hire car for the duration of their stay.
TRAIN:
Countrylink has daily XPT trains to Bathurst from Sydney Central with selected stops in between. Travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.
CityRail trains travel to Lithgow numerous times during the day, and passengers can book to continue to Bathurst via Coach. Prior bookings for coaches are essential and seats do fill up.
Both train and coaches stop at the Bathurst Railway Station, located at the bottom of Keppel Street. Local buses and taxi are available ferry passengers to a desired location.
COACH:
Selwoods Coaches has a daily bus that travels to and from Sydney. The coach originates in neighbouring Orange, and does require passengers to pre-book their seats for collection in Bathurst. Travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.
2010 Event Calendar
Mount Panorama Racing/Motor events each year include:
http://www.mount-panorama.com/coming-events
* Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 - V8 Supercars Round - the annual V8 Supercar Race
* WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival
* A ProCar 24 hour event
* Annual meetings for some of Australia’s car clubs (of which there are over 250)
* Gravity Festival
Festival of Sporting Cars - 2nd-6th April 2010
http://www.fosc.com.au/
The inaugral event last year was a true festival of grassroots motor sport.
After an absence of 35 years, "motor racing as it used to be" returned to Mount Panorama, and with it came the the types of cars that were racing at the "famous mount" 35, and more, years ago.
In 2009 Shannon’s Celebration of Motorsport at Mount Panorama – the Mecca of Australian motor racing – is again over Easter, commencing on 10th to 12th April 2009
7th - 10th October 2010 -
Mount Panorama Racing Circuit
SUPERCHEAP AUTO BATHURST 1000
December 2010
- Bathurst Light Car Club:
? December - Supersprint Challenge
? December - Hill Climb Challenge
The Australian Hillclimb Championship at the Esses hillclimb, Conrod Straight, Mt Panorama.
Competition commences at 9am on each day and visitors can view the vehicles and watch the event from McPhillamy Park on Skyline. Entry is a gold coin donation which goes to Kidney Health Australia.
Visit web site - http://www.blcc.com.au/
FUTURE EVENTS:
Gravity Festival - November 2010
Mount Panorama welcomes the return of extreme sports to the circuit with the 2009 Gravity Festival. The previous event featured street luge, extreme stunts and motorcross as part of the calendar of action at the Mount Panorama circuit in 2008.
This event will cause partial track closures for the duration of the event, with the specific locations of the closures yet to be determine. Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2009 Mount Panorama Gravity Festival.
Drive Bathurst 2010: TBA
Drive Bathurst is an invitation only event utilising the entire Mt Panorama Circuit at Bathurst NSW. The event gives experienced club competitors and motor sport enthusiasts the opportunity to receive expert instruction from well known and respected race champions and then drive on the full Mount Panorama Circuit.
The Event comprises two categories: driveBathurst and sprintBathurst. driveBathurst is an untimed non-competitive event whilst sprintBathurst is a timed competition. Eligible competitors may enter either or both categories.
Visit web site - http://www.drivebathurst.com/
February 2011 - WPS Bathurst 12 Hour: Bathurst International Motor Festival
The WPS Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama - 40+ competitors and all top ten vehicle manufacturers by volume in Australia represented on the grid.
The 12 Hour Race will be supported by five race categories with an estimated 250 competing vehicles in total. In addition to the on track activity...
Ph: (02 ) 6333 6158 or visit http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au - for further information.