The 80th anniversary of the first race held at Mount Panorama has been marked in the pit lane ahead of this weekend’s Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.
Mount Panorama hosted its first event over the Easter weekend in 1938, starting with a motorcycle race on Easter Saturday before the first car race there two days later.
Held over 40 laps, the inaugural race doubled as the Australian Grand Prix, which saw Peter Whitehead win in a 1.5-litre ERA.
“Let’s look back to 1938 – we’ve all seen the images from then. The track was all dirt and the pits were just a term for a bit of a garage on the side of the course,” said Graeme Hanger, Bathurst Regional Council Mayor.
“How far have we come since then? There’s been constant upgrades to the track each year and it gets better and better.
“We’re very, very proud of this iconic track and we are happy that it is here. 80 years is a long time – I don’t think many of us will be here in another 80 years, but I am sure this place will be.
“It progresses, its fluid and it’s a great place to be. It’s changing all the time and always changing for the better.”
Celebrations in pit lane were also part of this weekend’s Bathurst 6 Hour production car race, which is now in its third year.
The event will feature 62 cars representing more than 17 different brands, with Fox Sports broadcasting Sunday’s race.
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