galleycatcruising@gmail.com: V8 HEAVEN!!!

Tuesday 9 October 2012

V8 HEAVEN!!!

HEAVEN SIGHTED!

THE PEARLY GATES!

VIEW FROM OUR SEATZ

I now know what Heaven's Like!
I've been there!
Well motor racing heaven that is.
I've stood on "Sacred Ground" Where the hero's of my life stood B4 me.
I am truly HUMBLED!

G'day All, I've now returned to Galleycat after my pilgrimage to "THE MOUNTAIN"
What a trip, What a place!
This was a "true" once in a life thyme event. Never again could I stand on the mountain during the 50th year of Bathurst!

CAR OF THE FUTURE

Never again will the event be the same!, as next year see's the move away from FORD V's HOLDEN.
with the introduction of "The Car of the Future".
Myself and 207 thousand other fans made the journey to Bathurst expecting sumthing special and we were not disappointed!
I'm in awe of the drivers more so now than ever B4 after visiting the top of the mountain for a walk around. These guy's are "GODS", I wouldn't manage 1 lap without putting the car in the wall, let alone 161 laps at nearly 300km's / hour.

STARTING GRID

The atmosphere at the ground was unbelievable, people everywhere and all for 1 reason only. To experience just what I was there to experience, to be able to say "I was there!"
50 years of history had gone into this day. Legends had been born and a few had died in the quest to conquer this place, none more so than the master himself Peter Brock.
His spirit was felt as I first saw that iconic sign on the side of the mountain, "goosebumps"!
The thrill of being trackside for this event will stay with me forever! Our Grandstand seats were level with the starting line, I doubt you could find better. Watching over the proceedings during the 4 days of this event was made possible by Mum, a gift I'll remember 4ever.

PROOF OF LIFE

Brother Andrew was to be with us, but unfortunately his visit to The Mountain was interrupted by his need for brain surgery back in Perth, not a choice I would of liked to make. (I'd of probably still come.) The group of guy's we were with have done this many thymes before. Brother Mark acting both as tour guide and designated driver.We had a Bed and Breakfast in the town of Orange about 50 km's from the track. Some do it tougher than us as a few of the foto's from the top of the hill will show.

THE BIG RACE STARTS

This is proving 2B a very difficult blog to write as I'm struggling to portrait the immenseness of the event and the emotions involved. There was a thyme in my life when I truly thought I wouldn't be around for this event. I see this past week as the "highest point in my life!"
I can only hope to hold onto the euphoria within me as I set sail towards the Whitsunday's.
The race has be part of my life 4 as long as I can remember!

CAMPGROUND

Waking before dawn to sit in front of the television for the entire day to find out just who will B "KING OF THE MOUNTAIN" In recent yearz this day has been my "Religious event" with days of catering preparation (wkoa). Chicken ceasar sushi, Fruit and yoghurt platters, homemade KFC, cheese and biscuits plus many platterz of nibbly bitz.

HOTEL???

RETRO BUS

This year I swapped all that preparation (wkoa) for $50 bills. The prices inside the track were in line with the significance of the event. We carried 4 litres of Jack Daniels bourbon with us and it still cost the bomb. 50th anniversary merchandise sold out quicker than the organisers could get it there. $25 for a cap, $100 for a T shirt and $300 for a jacket. Drinks were our biggest cost at $4.50 for a 450ml buddy bottle we realized the 4 litres of bourbon were worth nearly a thousand dollars as a pre-mixed can was $11. Still if I put my cost phobia aside it was worth every penny. Brother Mark proved to B more than up to the task of keeping everyone fed and watered. For this I'll be eternally gr8ful. He even defied the oddz and got me back to Sydney airport with just 15 minutes to spare for my flight back. The 4 hr road trip only interrupted for a MUCH needed piss stop (sorry Maddie).
Our trip up to "The Mountain" held a special surprise as we unexpectedly ventured through a small town called Lawson, this is the town Miss Mermaid is currently spending her thyme in, alas her phone was switched off and she didn't get the textz till the next day by which thyme we were 250km's away. Better luck next thyme!

The race is now over and done with and life is returning 2 normal for several hundred thousand race fans. Our hero's are now heading 2wards the Gold Coast event in a couple of weeks. The memories however will last a life thyme.
The top of the mountain has 2B seen 2B believed, and we merely walked it! These crazy people drive round it at speedz that need specialized camera equipment just to capture it. I have not been able (with my dinky camera) to capture the "steepness" of the crest and run towards "Conrod". Itz absolutely amazing!

The organisers once again managed to keep us entertained for the entire race weekend with the support categories worth every penny of the ticket price. The touring car masters bought back SO many memories of years gone by, while the Legends parade had everyone showing their admiration. I'm not sure "The Roulettes" flew high enuf to comply with civil aviation rules as they passed level with the grandstand and I'm damned sure the F18 jet would fail any noise level test the cops chose to use. Damn that thing was loud!
The sights, sounds and sensationz were more than anyone could hope 2 feel, or experience.

TOURING CAR MASTERS

V8 UTES

The work on galleycat has now begun again (in earnest) with the new bow rail and mesh gridwork the plan 4 this week. It won't be long B4 I'm heading towards the reef and Whitsundays after my "holiday".

ITZ CROWDED

My plan to spend the next few months out on the water look well in hand, as just a few small jobs are all thatz keeping me from setting sail for the reef.