Going to Sydney 500 (V8 Supercars) tips/experiences welcome

[jamesvxr8]

Evenin' all,

As per the title, I am finally getting to see the V8 Supercars in December as I will be in Sydney to watch the race around the Olympic Park. Has anyone been there that has any tips for places to watch/things to do etc? I have already sorted out my Holden Commodore car hire and will be driving to Bathurst to take a (slow) drive around the mountain.

Many thanks in advance,

James

[El Capitano]

Not much help here at all, but I went to Adelaide, my only advice is to get ear plugs! - I didn't...

It really is great racing and if it's anything like Adelaide with the other entertainment/racing/shows, also a brilliant day out.

Enjoy.

[chevronb37]

I did Bathurst and Surfers last year but sadly not Sydney. If you're off to Bathurst from Sydney, leave enough time to call in at the Blue Mountains. Quite incredible. Oh and make sure you visit the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst. Otherwise, take loads of photos and tell us all about it when you get back. The spectacle of V8 Supercars in the confines of a street circuit is just unreal. They're savage things to behold at close quarters.

[jamesvxr8]

Thanks for the advice so far both. I will try and stop at the Three Sisters on my way back but if not I will have time to go back and explore the Blue Mountains.

Can't wait to see the cars up close. Debating whether to get a paddock pass for $25 anyone had one of those before? It seems too cheap to be up close and personal with the drivers and cars.

[chevronb37]

I wrote fairly extensively on both Bathurst and GC600 so you might find a few more answers buried in here somewhere.

Bathurst: http://www.motorcardiaries.co.uk/2013/supercheap-a...

GC600: http://www.motorcardiaries.co.uk/2014/gold-coast-6...

We got paddock passes for Bathurst and found them thoroughly worthwhile - the access is amazing considering the size of the event. There are twice as many people as the British GP, for example, but there are signing sessions regularly over the course of both weekends.

[sjtgeray]

I will be at Winton in a couple of weeks so will checkout the paddock access option and let you know. Am lucky enough to be getting crew tickets as a friend works for the v8 organisers so I should be able to see what the paddock pass gets you.

While in Sydney get the ferry to Watsons Bay and have fish and chips from Doyles or a beer in the pub next door.
If you get to the Blue Mountains check out the Hydro Majestic Hotel. If should have reopened by time you get there....has a spectacular view while you have a coffee and cake (just turn up, no need to be a hotel guest)

[jamesvxr8]

chevronb37 said:

I wrote fairly extensively on both Bathurst and GC600 so you might find a few more answers buried in here somewhere.

Bathurst: http://www.motorcardiaries.co.uk/2013/supercheap-a...

GC600: http://www.motorcardiaries.co.uk/2014/gold-coast-6...

We got paddock passes for Bathurst and found them thoroughly worthwhile - the access is amazing considering the size of the event. There are twice as many people as the British GP, for example, but there are signing sessions regularly over the course of both weekends.

Thank you, I am just about to start reading your Bathurst post.

sjtgeray said:

I will be at Winton in a couple of weeks so will checkout the paddock access option and let you know. Am lucky enough to be getting crew tickets as a friend works for the v8 organisers so I should be able to see what the paddock pass gets you.

While in Sydney get the ferry to Watsons Bay and have fish and chips from Doyles or a beer in the pub next door.
If you get to the Blue Mountains check out the Hydro Majestic Hotel. If should have reopened by time you get there....has a spectacular view while you have a coffee and cake (just turn up, no need to be a hotel guest)

Thank you to you to sir, please let me know. And thank you for the other pointers too, I have plenty of time to go but want to have everything I want planned and booked (with a couple of extras in case I am unable to do something) by the summer. I am also seriously debating the V8 experience at Eastern Creek, 6 laps in a V8 race car for £150. Just need to find out if they'll let poms do it!

[sjtgeray]

Flew in from Heathrow Friday morning and headed to Winton. The paddock access seems to give you freedom to go anywhere up to the back door of each pit garage. With the pits being small here each team also has a tent structure 3m behind the pit which you can have a look in. With Sydney being a non permanent track I would imagine they may have something similar.
The team trucks all parked up are quite impressive to see, and most drivers seemed pretty happy to sign autographs (being Friday, there were not many folks around).
I was lucky enough to have pit lane access....the cars really do sound good as they pop and bang down the pit lane....a few folks who were at Melbourne for the F1 said that it was a nice reminder of how good the Supercars sound !!

Nice story coming out of that crash/rollover for Jason Bright at Adelaide. A young lad watching on TV sent the contents of his piggy bank (sub £20) to the team to help fund a replacement car. They invited him here as a guest and team crew member for the weekend and sent him out Friday for a hot passenger lap.....well done Team BOC !

[jamesvxr8]

[jamesvxr8]

Thanks for getting back to me. Hope you enjoyed race 1! Was amazing to watch on tv. I'm looking forward to seeing them up close in Sydney. Apparently they have an expo hall where the cars are kept, so hopefully I can get in there.

That's a good story too! Good lad, he has his allegiances right haha. I'm amazed they got a car turned around for Brighty for Melbourne.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend mate.

[retrobob]

Sydney is usually massively hot and there isn't that much shade so prepare for that. If that doesn't happen then there will be a thunder storm so be ready for that.

Best thing to do is get on to the website for the circuit and see if you can find a seat in the shade and opposite a big screen.

The pits are in big halls/warehouses type of buildings so allow yourself time prerace to get in there and have a good look around.

They usually have a lot of displays of car stuff so if you think that might interest you allow time for that.

Driver signings etc should be listed on the website or on twitter but if you want someone like Lowndes to sign something there will be a big line up.

When you go up to Bathurst resist the temptation to speed > the police are regularly there waiting for tourists to do their lap.

Check out the museum while you are there.

If you are at the 3 sisters there is a very old circuit nearby which is closed now [Catalina Park] > the aboriginals wanted it unfortunately > might be worth a drive by.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalina_Park

[jamesvxr8]

retrobob said:

Sydney is usually massively hot and there isn't that much shade so prepare for that. If that doesn't happen then there will be a thunder storm so be ready for that.

Best thing to do is get on to the website for the circuit and see if you can find a seat in the shade and opposite a big screen.

The pits are in big halls/warehouses type of buildings so allow yourself time prerace to get in there and have a good look around.

They usually have a lot of displays of car stuff so if you think that might interest you allow time for that.

Driver signings etc should be listed on the website or on twitter but if you want someone like Lowndes to sign something there will be a big line up.

When you go up to Bathurst resist the temptation to speed > the police are regularly there waiting for tourists to do their lap.

Check out the museum while you are there.

If you are at the 3 sisters there is a very old circuit nearby which is closed now [Catalina Park] > the aboriginals wanted it unfortunately > might be worth a drive by.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalina_Park

Thank you. I definitely want to see as much of the Blue Mountains as I can. Looking at the beaches too it appears Bondi isn't really all that.

Looking forward to the V8 Supercars for sure. I wanted to do an experience day at Eastern Creek but it isn't running whilst I'm there.

Got my SV6 Commodore sorted too! And definitely aware of the boys in blue keeping an eye on the circuit too, I will also be popping into the museum too. Probably going to have a look around the town of Bathurst too.

[retrobob]

Everyone stops on the grid and takes a photo so you will/should be okay there > if you have a video camera have it running as you come over the top and down into Forest Elbow as the TV doesn't show the true elevation there.

Here's a couple of things that just came to mind >

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katoomba_Scenic_World

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenolan_Caves

[jamesvxr8]

retrobob said:

Everyone stops on the grid and takes a photo so you will/should be okay there > if you have a video camera have it running as you come over the top and down into Forest Elbow as the TV doesn't show the true elevation there.

Here's a couple of things that just came to mind >

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katoomba_Scenic_World

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenolan_Caves

I had seen Katoomba but not the Jenolan Caves, they are going on my list! Also looking at surf schools too for some lessons but, as you can probably imagine, the market is a tad saturated!

Thanks again for the pointers.

[chevronb37]

jamesvxr8 said:

Thank you. I definitely want to see as much of the Blue Mountains as I can. Looking at the beaches too it appears Bondi isn't really all that.

Looking forward to the V8 Supercars for sure. I wanted to do an experience day at Eastern Creek but it isn't running whilst I'm there.

Got my SV6 Commodore sorted too! And definitely aware of the boys in blue keeping an eye on the circuit too, I will also be popping into the museum too. Probably going to have a look around the town of Bathurst too.

I stayed with friends in Bondi (right behind the beach) for a few days. Incredible quality of life and really pleasant place to pass a few days. The beach is clean, there are some cracking places for food and the clifftop walk is fantastic. I loved the place.

Three Sisters is cool and the scenery is as epic as anything you'll see in the Alps; albeit different. The fires in the Blue Mountains broke out just after we passed through but looked awful. No idea how affected the place is now, though.

The £400 dent to the wallet I suffered at the hands of the Victoria State traffic police tells its own tale. Not worth speeding in Aus! Please do visit the museum at Mount Panorama. It doesn't rival the Schlumpf Collection but it's uniquely Australian and worth it for the Group C monsters alone.

I hope my reports from Bathurst / Surfers went some way to whetting your appetite and good luck with the trip! I'm busy planning my next one: Austin in November for the GP.

[jamesvxr8]

chevronb37 said:

I stayed with friends in Bondi (right behind the beach) for a few days. Incredible quality of life and really pleasant place to pass a few days. The beach is clean, there are some cracking places for food and the clifftop walk is fantastic. I loved the place.

Three Sisters is cool and the scenery is as epic as anything you'll see in the Alps; albeit different. The fires in the Blue Mountains broke out just after we passed through but looked awful. No idea how affected the place is now, though.

The £400 dent to the wallet I suffered at the hands of the Victoria State traffic police tells its own tale. Not worth speeding in Aus! Please do visit the museum at Mount Panorama. It doesn't rival the Schlumpf Collection but it's uniquely Australian and worth it for the Group C monsters alone.

I hope my reports from Bathurst / Surfers went some way to whetting your appetite and good luck with the trip! I'm busy planning my next one: Austin in November for the GP.

The appetite was well and truly whetted! Thank you for those, if I go back (and if I decide to live out there) Bathurst for a race day will have to be done.

I'm going to explore up the coast North and South of Sydney as much as I can, will definitely give Bondi a go for my own opinion

Thanks again everyone.

[chevronb37]

jamesvxr8 said:

The appetite was well and truly whetted! Thank you for those, if I go back (and if I decide to live out there) Bathurst for a race day will have to be done.

I'm going to explore up the coast North and South of Sydney as much as I can, will definitely give Bondi a go for my own opinion

Thanks again everyone.

No worries, mate.

We (GF and I) both loved Bondi. It's well worth doing the walk around the cliffs in either direction as well. Just a lovely quality of life - we were quite envious of our friends. Their flat is maybe two mins walk from the water with nice places to eat and drink in every direction.

[Google [bot]]

My free vantage point last round:

[jamesvxr8]

chevronb37 said:

No worries, mate.

We (GF and I) both loved Bondi. It's well worth doing the walk around the cliffs in either direction as well. Just a lovely quality of life - we were quite envious of our friends. Their flat is maybe two mins walk from the water with nice places to eat and drink in every direction.

That does look beautiful. Will be giving that a go!

Google [bot] said:

My free vantage point last round:

Nice view! Was that from an apartment?

[Google [bot]]

jamesvxr8 said:

Nice view! Was that from an apartment?

Nope. I'm not a big fan, so wasn't really arsed. The night before was qualifying, so after a few drinks at the local listening to them in the distance I had a cycle over to see if there was anything to see for free. Found the trackside gap in the fence there, which was great.

Next day cycled over again for some freeview and realised I could just walk up onto that balcony/bar.

Plenty more pics if you're interested but they're pretty much all the same.

ETA: One of the reasons it holds little interest is that as with most street circuits, on track level you've serious fences that give you a very narrow angle view. So avoid vantage points without elevation, especially if you're traveling half way across the planet for the spectacle.

Edited by Google [bot] on Friday 18th April 10:44