Mount Panorama
Mount Panorama at Bathurst NSW
Mount Panorama is one of motor sport’s most challenging and spectacular race circuits. After driving around the track at the legal speed, the challenge that it poses to Race-car drivers can only be imagined by anyone else.
HISTORY
The Aboriginal tribe, Wiradjuri, that inhabited the land before Bathurst was settled, called Mount Panorama area Waluu, which means to watch over.
During The Great Depression of the early 1930s, Mayor Martin Griffin and Bathurst City Council played with the idea of a scenic road to the crest of the Bald Hills, a few kilometres south west of the city.
The old Vale Circuit had reached its use-by date as a racing circuit and the opportunity existed to create a new, challenging circuit, under the guise of ‘a scenic road’. The construction of the new road was to be funded by a State Government grant in the form of an unemployment work scheme. Months of planning by the Council, with the help of experienced members of the NSW Light Car Club, saw the Home of Motor Racing come to life. The Mount Panorama Scenic Drive circuit was first opened on 17 March 1938 and was approximately 4 miles long.
Walter J. McPhillamy and family generously donated a large area of parkland at the top of the scenic drive, which was named in their honour.
Mount Panorama was unique, mainly because it was not flat and rectangular like Phillip Island or Victor Harbour. It was a challenging track with sharp hills, hairpin bends and a fast downhill straight.
On 16 April 1938, Mayor Alderman Martin Griffin opened the racing circuit with the Australian Tourist Trophy held for motorcycles.
Competitors raced on an unsealed track in front of over 20,000 excited spectators. Leo Tobin won the inaugural 100 mile bike race in 1hr 36mins and 50secs. Two days later the first car race, the Australian Grand Prix, was contested over 38 laps or 147 miles on the dirt surface, with drivers reaching an average speed of 60 miles per hour. The winner was Peter Whitehead in a time of 2hrs 36mins and 50secs.
The outbreak of World War 2 brought a temporary halt to motor sport on Mount Panorama; however, the racing recommenced with the NSW Grand Prix for cars in October 1946. The Australian Grand Prix for cars was held 1947, 1952 and 1958 and the Australian
Motorcycle Grand Prix returned on New Year’s Day 1949.
Racing on Mount Panorama during the 1950s was a nerve-racking, hair-raising and teeth-rattling adventure.
Not much construction had been carried out on the track since 1938.
There were no safety guards, just simple wire fences with rotten wooden posts separating spectators from the action on the track.
Prior to each race meeting a Hessian tent city would appear at Murray’s Corner at the bottom of the mountain, to act as the pit facilities for drivers and officials.
The Mount Panorama Racing Committee was formed to improve the services and facilities available during race meetings. The committee was responsible for the construction of a number of structures around the track, including the original Control Tower on Pit Straight, and proper safety fences.
MOUNT PANORAMA – HISTORY AND LEGENDS
LEGENDS OF THE MOUNT
Mount Panorama has produced a lot of motor racing champions over the years.
Cars
Allan Moffat has been a household name in Australia for over 30 years.
He was born in Canada in November 1939 and started racing in America before coming to Australia in the 1960s. He made his Bathurst debut in 1969 going on to win in 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1977.
Throughout the 70s Moffat was Ford’s main man.
Since Peter Brock was able to drive he has been destined for greatness. Brock made his debut at Bathurst in 1969 and had his first
win in 1972. He went on to win 8 more times and became one of Holden’s greatest assets.
Peter Brock holds the record for most wins and most starts at Bathurst and is arguably one of the best racing car drivers Australia has ever produced.
Bikes
The first lap time recorded at Bathurst for motorcycles was set by Leo Tobin in 1938. Tobin got around the slippery gravel track in 3 minutes and 42.4 seconds. This record however was smashed by Bat Byrnes the following year with a time of 3 minutes and 14 seconds.
The difference in time was a result of the track being tarred after the 1938 race.
Ron Toombs was known by his friends and fans as ‘Toombsie’ and was a great favourite at Mount Panorama in his era. He won 4 out of the 5 races at the Mount in 1966.
Despite the fact that Ron had won at Bathurst a number of times riding different bikes, he is remembered as being synonymous with the lime green Matchless G50. Ron Toombs lost his life (1979) on the circuit where he had achieved so much.
THE MOUNT TODAY
Mount Panorama is the only motor racing circuit in Australia that is a public road outside major events.
The track itself is 6.213 kilometres long, and is 870 metres above sea level at the highest point, with grades of up to 1 in 6:13. It is 174 metres from the bottom of the circuit to the top, as the crow flies.
One of Mount Panorama’s biggest races is the Bathurst 1000. This event has been known to attract well over 100,000 spectators for the four days of racing.
The Supermoto KTM Cup is the latest exciting addition to the racing line-up on the Mount – bringing motorcycles back to Bathurst for a challenging circuit & off-road race.
Mount Panorama is also known for its spectacular views over Bathurst and the surrounding regions. It is home to many private residents, and the Bathurst Light Car Club (BLCC), Gun Club, Rifle Association, Sporting Shooters Association, the Panorama Motorcycle Club, Bathurst Goldfields Museum, a winery, two vineyards, a restaurant, luxury accommodation and the National Motor Racing Museum.
The BLCC conducts short distance race events, such as Hill-climbs and Super-sprints, throughout the year.
Car and bike clubs from around the country are welcomed for rallies, social events and motor sport activities.
The National Motor Racing Museum complements the motor racing activities with a fantastic collection of racing cars and bikes, video footage of past races and a wide variety of memorabilia.
