We had been planning this trip for a while now, and finally, last weekend was one where everyone was free……
So we set off on our big drive weekend….
Our plan for the weekend was simple: A fun weekend with the guys, do a bit of driving, and take a few laps around Mount Panorama. We had planned some other activities along the way, but the main aim was the driving.
So the 6 of us met up at the servo early Saturday morning… it had been raining all week and it was WET.
Our group was a diverse mix of vehicles; we had a Liberty sedan, a Polo GTi, an RX7, S15, and two Lotus Elises.
Unphased by the rain, we began our trip.
By the time we arrived at Leura for a late breakfast/mid morning snack, the sun had come out and we thought we were in luck. We weren’t…. soon after we had eaten our gourmet pies, the clouds rolled in and once again it was wet.
We had booked the plug hole cave tour at Jenolan Caves so set off in that direction; there are some scenic roads leading up to Jenolan, and despite the rain we all enjoyed the drive there.
We even stopped off for a break and to take a few pictures:
The plug hole cave tour was really worthwhile! Its unlike your typical tour; this one involved getting into overalls and helmets, and then crawling, sliding and squeezing in through some really narrow and dark caves. The tour guides gave us some really interesting history about the caves too.
Coming out of the tour a bit bruised and battered (I managed to slip while squeezing though a cave hole known as the “windows” and ended up slamming my ankle into the cave floor… OUCH!); we leave Jenolan for Bathurst. It was an uneventful drive to Bathurst and we arrived just on sunset.
The Mount Panorama race track is actually a public road; it is two way, and has a speed limit of 60km/h. Important things first! we head up to the mountain for a look around the famous race track before heading into town to find a motel for the night.
While one of our group had lived in the area and was familiar with the track, I had never been on Mount Panorama before. The straights seemed to take a long time at 60km/h but up at the top of the mountain the circuit is quite tight. Its amazing how fast race cars can go around here and I can see how one mistake can result in a crash into the concrete walls.
Lining up by the pits:
Brock’s Skyline: beautiful view.
The beginning of the Esses:
It was quite dark by the time we got to the top of the mountain, so shortly afterwards we headed into town, checked into a motel, then went in search of dinner. After dinner we had some male bonding (a few drinks at the local pub!) before heading back for some shut eye.
The next morning, we woke to find a dry Bathurst and the sun well and truly out… over a big breakfast down at the local cafe, we decided to go and check out Mount Panorama again as it was quite dark the evening before. We drove around to various parts of the track and took a few pictures.
S15 by the start / finish line:
Polo GTi coming out of turn 1, Hell’s Corner:
Tyre wall and ripple strip:
The journey home involved a stop over to watch some go karts at the Lithgow track:
This was funny!
After Lithgow, we headed back to Sydney via the Bells Line of Road..
Our last pic of the trip, in the afternoon sun on the BLOR…
Not sure where we will go next time, and not sure when next time will actually be… but I can’t wait!