Muscle Car Masters Announces Bathurst Grid Spectacular

The glory days of the Bathurst 1000’s colourful pre-race build-up will be recreated at the 2013 Australian Muscle Car Masters at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek this Father’s Day, September 1.

The ‘Bathurst Grid Spectacular’ is a new addition to this year’s Masters; the annual celebration of Australia’s unique muscle car and motorsport heritage.

The showpiece event is set to be the centrepiece of the biggest ever gathering of former Great Race machines in period livery.

Each car will be given its due as it forms up on the Brabham Straight grid, and the famous machinery will be joined by some of the legends who drove them. The massive grid will then set off on a series of demonstration laps.

“Many long-time race fans have fond memories of the traditional Bathurst pre-race spectacle of the 1970s and ’80s,” said Glenn Matthews, CEO of the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club at Sydney Motorsport Park.

“This was a time of pipe bands, baton-twirlers, corny mascots, best-presented car awards and grand marshals commanding drivers to ‘start their engines’. So we’re bringing this spectacle back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Great Race at Bathurst, the 1963 Armstrong 500, and the 75th anniversary of the Mount Panorama circuit’s opening.”

The hour-long grid spectacular will effectively be the half-time entertainment between morning and afternoon sessions of racing on Father’s Day.

The midday activity is open to all cars that competed in the Bathurst 500 or 1000 between 1963 and 2012. Owners of genuine cars – covering the Series Production, Group C, Group A, Super Touring and V8 Supercar eras – in period livery are encouraged to participate. There will be a dedicated static display area to show off these historically-significant vehicles before the Spectacular commences.

More information on the 2013 Australian Muscle Car Masters, including the full line-up of race categories and road car anniversaries, can be found at musclecarmasters.com.au.