Sat, 10th October, 2015 Mt Panorama Volunteer Campground, Bathurst (Qualifying, Top 10 Shootout and other races)

Thunder, lightning, wind and heavy rain as we were getting up. It stopped by the time Steve headed off for his 5am start. I got organised and headed to the meeting room with Leanne and Rick at 5.30 to be told our supervisor got it wrong and it was a 7am start for us – not impressed!! Back to the van to lay down for an hour. Lovely sunrise colours though.

Apparently our supervisor wasn’t coping with the heat at our Gate so they gave him a different one which is in the shade. Our new guy, Simmo, is a lot more relaxed.

I got a break when it warmed up so I could strip off the layers. The Aussie Race Cars were on and one had just crashed on Conrod Straight. I could see a plume of dust and smoke coming from the crash site. Apparently it rolled end for end a few times and was just the bare shell when it went over the fence and then caught alight. Luckily the chap only suffered minor burns, a couple of broken ribs and a punctured lung – doesn’t sound lucky but when you saw the car you would have thought he would have been killed.

We finished our shift then ran up onto the Chase viewing mound to watch Qualifying as we ate our lunches. It rained up on the top of the mountain so those who hadn’t got the lap done in the first part of qualifying missed out on getting a good time. Amazingly Lowndes and Winterbottom didn’t make it into the Top 10. The FA-18 came over again with a blast and doing all kinds of turns etc. Amazing.

The sky is not looking very happy as we headed over to meet the boys at the chairs. Steve had put them out when he headed off this morning - he finished at 10.30 today.

The Dunlop Series race was 250km today with pit stops. They are trialling a LED light which shows their position in the race – great idea as it helps when there are lapped cars etc.

The helicopters were busily buzzing around. I put the TV on to record today’s telecast so I hope they don’t disturb the signal.

The temperature has dropped due to the rain and Nathan hadn’t brought a jumper – at all!! Steve went back and got all the jumpers and umbrellas as it looks like we are going to get wet.

Then down came the rain. The Carrera Cup Porsches’ race got cancelled. The first 5 V8s in the Top 10 had a better track with their wet tyres on and Reynolds held onto Pole Position as the rain got heavier for the next 5 cars. We all survived under our brollies. As I said to Leanne – we provide the full Bathurst Experience!!

Lou’s friend had arranged the Prodrive garage visit for 6pm. Brian and Ian didn’t want to go so I went with Leanne with Lou and Nathan. Nathan hadn’t been to Bathurst before either. We arrived as last V8 went around for the Top 10 and Reynolds was declared the Pole Winner – I got a photo of everyone cheering in their garage.

Great poster.

Mark Winterbottom came out so I got Leanne to get behind him for a photo.

 She put her hand on his shoulder and he straightened up and smiled – she was very excited though her brothers told her she had to go for Holden.

Called out to Jamie Whincup as he walked out of his garage and he gave me the thumbs up.

Paul Dumbrell was busy signing helmets.

Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards appeared so I got Leanne to get behind Craig too for a photo. Again she touched his shoulder and he looked up and gave a big grin. Now she has a good photo to show her brothers.

Waiting to go in for the Garage Tour.

The chap was nice and talked about Chaz’s crash and that they haven’t seen the car yet as the Police have to finish their investigations first. Chaz was doing well and watching everything on TV. He was in his race shirt to watch the Top 10 apparently. He has a pin in his leg which broke again the gear lever. He said we could take whatever photos we wanted.

Leanne and I chatted with him about the chassis and who will replace Chaz till he is better – he was very informative and happy to chat with us ‘ladies’. Then Nathan and Lou had a technical chat.

As we didn’t know we were doing the garage tour – I had my Triple 8 gear on so I kept my jacket done up and my hoody on to cover up my cap – such a shame I didn’t have my Ford gear on.

Lovely message for Chaz and each of the team cars has this sticker on it.

The mess on the hill and down a bit to where we were sitting – our bit was clean!!

Back to the van to pick up our dinner – leftover stew warmed up in the Ecopot. Up to the boys again for a drink or two. Big fireworks display at the top of the campground which was put on by the Council. Then a few smaller ones by the campers!! Into bed by 10 for the earlier start tomorrow – 4am for Steve and 6am for us.