This is pictorial of my first and only appearance at the Bathurst Great Race.

Back in October 1981, we drove to watch the 1981 Bathurst Great Race "live" from Mt Panorama.



(As this was 40 years ago, my memory may miss some bits and pieces.. anyway, here we go.)

Back in 1981, I lived in Mordy. Marty and Carl were neighbours, Roscoe and 2 other guys were friends of Carls. This group would go to Sandown in the late 70s to watch the Sandown 400. In 1981, we decided it would be magic to watch Bathurst in person. So after a bit of organising, we decided to do it.

So on Wednesday 30th September, Marty and I took all our equipment including my blue & red tent, which was our Hotel Hilton, and drove in Marty's Kingswood wagon towing Carl's tandem trailer. We left very early Wednesday morning and drove the 800+kms to Mt Panorama, arriving late afternoon.
Thursday, Marty and I setup camp on the mountain and did shopping for the 7 of us. The rest of our guys were flying up and were to land on Friday.
Marty and I watched practice on Friday and Saturday from Murray's corner (end of Conrod Straight & Start of Pit Straight). Friday morning's practice was held in the rain, Saturday's was dry.

After a few chilled refreshers on Saturday night, we decided that to watch the Race, we would start at McPhillamy Park, and during the course of the race, we would slowly walk across the top of the mountain, passing Skyline, the Esses, The Dipper and finish at Forrest's Elbow (start of Conrod). When the race was stopped due to the prang, we were at Forrest's Elbow, so we didn't have far to walk to see the carnage.
Sunday night, all of us slept the night there and sat around drinking chilled refreshers, while watching a lot of the race goers heading home. From memory, on Monday, Marty and I drove the guys back to the airport. We packed up and left on Tuesday and arrived home late Tuesday.

It was magic to watch the race "live".

The prang happened on lap121
and the race was called after Lap 120.

1. Friday Practice - 2nd Oct 1981.
2. Saturday Practice - 3rd Oct 1981.
3. Our Camp on the mountain.
4. The Great Race - 4th Oct 1981.
5. 1981 Bathurst Results.

Sorry for the poor photo quality.



Friday Practice - 2nd October 1981.

Brocky & Jimmy Richards were awarded position 21 after completing 103 laps.
This photo is precious, because I got Brocky to sign it.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

Dicky & John French were awarded the win after lap 120.
driving a Ford XD Falcon.

Kevin Barlett & Bob Forbes were awarded position 13 after completing 111 laps.
driving a Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

Bob Morris & John Fitzpatrick were awarded position 2 after completing 120 laps.
driving a Ford XD Falcon.

John Harvey & Vern Schuppan Did Not Finish - on Lap 37.
driving a Holden VC Commodre.

Garth Wigston & Steve Harrington Did Not Finish - on Lap 53.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

Garry Rogers & Clive Benson-Browne were awarded position 4 after completing 118 laps.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

'Captain' Peter Janson & Larry Perkins Did Not Finish - on Lap 67.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

Allan Moffat & Derek Bell were awarded position 3 after completing 119 laps.
driving a Mazda RX-7.

Ron Dickson & Bob Stevens were awarded position 16 after completing 108 laps.
driving a Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

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Saturday Practice - 3rd Oct 1981.

Marty and I watched Saturday Practice from Murrays Corner.
Notice the esky and Marty was drinking Fosters.

Looking back towards McPhillamy Park on the Mountain.
A bit different back in 1981 compared to this year. Only 40 years ago.

Looking back towards The Esses on the Mountain.

'Captain' Peter Janson & Larry Perkins Did Not Finish - on Lap 67.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

Dicky & John French were awarded the win after lap 120.
driving a Ford XC Falcon.

The 'Captain' returning to the track after overshooting Murrays Corner and headed down the escape road.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

Alan Brown & Tony Edmondson were awarded position 5 after completing 117 laps.
driving a Holden VC Commodore.

Ron Dickson & Bob Stevens were awarded position 16 after completing 108 laps.
driving a Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

John Goss & Barry Seton - Did Not Finish - on Lap 73.
driving a Jaguar XJ-S.

Peter Williamson & John Smith were awarded position 12 after completing 111 laps.
driving a Toyota Celica.

Masahiro Hasemi & Kazuyoshi Hoshino - Did Not Finish - on Lap 66
driving a Nissan Bluebird Turbo.

Allan Moffat & Derek Bell were awarded position 3 after completing 119 laps.
driving a Mazda RX-7.

Car#44 Allan Grice & David Hobbs were awarded position 7 after completing 113 laps.
driving a BMW 635 CSi.

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Our Camp on the mountain.

Our Camp.

Another view.

Me enjoying a chilled refresher.

Ready to head Home.

Scenery.

More scenery.

The boys.

Marty watching everyone leave.

Enjoying ourselves.

Everyone is leaving.

Everyone is leaving.

Everyone is leaving.

Our camp.

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The Great Race - 4th Oct 1981.

The Prang.
#4 - Alan Browne & Tony Edmondson.

The Prang.
#9 - Kevin Bartlett & Bob Forbes.

The Prang.
#11 - Garry Rogers & Clive Benson-Browne.

The Prang.
#11 - Garry Rogers & Clive Benson-Browne.

The Prang.
#7 - Bob Morris & John Fitzpatrick.

The Prang.

The Prang.
#57 - David Seldon & Gary Rowe.

The Prang.
#57 - David Seldon & Gary Rowe.

The Prang.
#20 - Joe Moore & Christine Gibson.

The Prang.

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5. 1981 Bathurst Results.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the above results.

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