Thurs, 3rd Mar, 2016 Brownhill Creek Van Park, Mitcham, Sa (Clipsal 500 Practice)

  

Lazy start to the morning though the birds were up early singing their songs.

Down to Bus Stop 17 and into town. I had bought a program yesterday so had a good map of the track.

Into the track at Gate 4 near Turn 4. Watched the Dunlop Series cars whiz by.

Crossed over a bridge into the centre of the track. Chatted with two chaps, Paul from Mylor and Les from Sydney who were brothers. There Dad built a caravan and they have it on display with Paul’s Ford Galaxie. They said to call in and leave our chairs in the van tomorrow so we didn’t have to lug them around. We then walked past the Concert Oval – they have concerts here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights – will see how tired we are!!

Wandered up to Turn 9 where the boys have bought tickets to a platform there. Should be a good spot for crashes and close passing. Watched the Stadium Trucks zoom by. Checked out the 1862 Bar as it was near Turns 10 and 11. Chris had texted that he and Nick were in the Chicane Bar so I was trying to find them.

Certainly heating up today. Found a shady spot to relax – what’s Leanne doing with my husband!!

Great TV screen here, shame you can’t see the track though.

Showtime FMX had started near the Historic Grandstand so we wandered over for a look. I was glad to be taking the photos so I didn’t see how they landed – scary stuff.

Next was the Enduro-X with Toby Price who won the motorbike section of Dakar this year.

Nice and cool up in the beautiful old grandstand.

Kept wandering around through the merchandise area. An American bodybuilder was lifting Mark Winterbottom’s car up. Then he added two gridgirls and another guy and lifted it again – mind you he was lifting the back end!!

Thought of Dan watching the little RC cars zoom around.

Rick and Steve checking out the load rating of the tyres in case they can get a bargain.

Watched the Isuzu Summit thing.

Down to Turn 14 where it heads onto Pit Straight which is lined with grandstands.

The old Touring Car Masters were having their practice session.

Walked into the ‘Gold’ area where our General Admission tickets won’t allow us but no-one is stopping us today. This grandstand has a great view down Pit Straight and is for all the Clipsal employees. I think Lindsay came to this with Clipsal one year.

Found a great place to cool off – they have these scattered around the track. Just enough mist to cool but not wet.

Through all the corporate areas behind the huge grandstands on Pit Straight then out again to the General area to the Cars of the Screen display.

This is the genuine vehicle used in the movie of Mad Max 2. Some are replicas.

So many to check out from movies that I loved and others from movies I don’t know.

Of course Herbie was the favourite and he flashed his lights, beeped, opened his boot and wiped his windscreen too.

Back to the Future ‘DeLorean’ complete with hover board. Not the original but very good.

Bat Man cars.

New livery for the fire truck.

A display of speedway cars.

Dunlop cars out on the track again practicing through Turn 1 and 2.

Beautiful old buildings around the edge of the track near Turn 3.

Back over the bridge that we first went over. Lots of walks in this parkland where 30,000 olive trees were planted by 1875.

Across the parkland and over Back Straight bridge into the Oasis. An Aviation Museum had some engines on display. David Geck would love all this.

Checked out all the old cars and caravans.

I want one of these.

Found Paul and Les’ van and car.

This one was amazing.

A few fast boats for Steve to check out.

Found a nice spot under the trees with a view of a TV screen on Back Straight.

Brian, Lou and Ian arrived and we met them at Turn 9. Walked back over the bridge and had a drink at 1862 Bar and watched the cars whiz by. Grant Denyer was walking towards me so I said hi and he replied but Leanne missed him. After all the practices had finished we walked over the bridge into the ‘Gold’ area, past the V8 Pit area. Need to purchase a pit pass to go in. Since we have seen it heaps we gave that a miss. Had great signs though.

Headed out Gate 4 with the boys. Waited for a while to catch a bus then decided to walk into town to have dinner with them. Lovely buildings along the way.

Found another church then the Post Office and under the verandah of the Town Hall.

Went up to the boys’ flash room – well it has a bed, shower and toilet!

Walked down to the road and across to the Casino for dinner. Had a great time chatting. Left the boys to gamble and hit the night clubs. Unfortunately I didn’t look at the bus timetable and we had missed the 9pm bus and after that they only came every hour. Chatted with a couple and they said we could get the 190 into Mitcham Square then got back up to our 17 stop – thank goodness. Got home ok and sat chatting with a coffee.