Motor Racing: Getting in touch with one’s inner bogan

by Anne Fedorowytsch

Once a year for three days I let my inner Bogan out to play. The occasion, you ask? It’s the Adelaide Clipsal 500.

Hundreds of thousands of rev-heads pack into the eastern outskirts of the CBD to witness motor racing at its finest. The event offers the best from Australia’s racing scene including the GT Championship, the Aussie Racing Cars and the V8 Utes just to name a few. And who could forget the mighty battle between Holden and Ford in the V8 Supercars.

I first gained an interest in the occasion in my early teens. I wasn’t a huge motorsport fan but living only 5kms away from the track it was hard to avoid. I could hear the cars whizzing around the course from the back porch and nightly concerts rang loud around bedtime. I also used to love running outside and trying to spot the planes doing aerial displays seemingly dodging and darting between the backyard trees.

The V8’s slowly began to appear more and more frequently on the family TV until mum and I gave in and purchased some tickets for the 2007 race. We have gone every year since.

Our grandstand seats are located between turn eight, notorious for a high amount of prangs, and turn nine, a hairpin bend that is often used for overtaking. We are never short of action.

In between races we wander around the dusty parklands checking out the cars in their tents, where people can mingle with the drivers and crew, and often stop for a bite to eat at one of the many catering vans throughout the precinct.

The evening concerts have always been sensational and draw in a lot of non-race goers to the event. In the past I have seen the likes of Powderfinger, The Presets, The Living End, Shannon Noll, Wolfmother, Pete Murray, Sneaky Sound System and Jessica Mauboy put on wonderful shows.

My most memorable moment of the Clipsal 500 was being a winner of a hot lap in one of Murray Walker’s extreme machines in 2008. I got to meet the man himself and was taken on a hot lap in a Lamborghini Superleggera Gallardo during the luxury car parade. Sitting comfortable in the flashy and very expensive car the driver reached speeds of 210kms/h down the Brock straight.

At the end of each race day we head home with filthy dust-covered feet and without a doubt another piece of exciting action to share.

The Clipsal 500 is truly a race that stops the state. It draws thousands of people into South Australia during the marvellous mad March period. You’d be hard pressed to find a hotel room or a spare table at a Rundle St restaurant during this busy time but I’m sure most South Aussies wouldn’t have it any other way.

Comments

  1. Tim Ivins says

    Anne,
    I’ll try not to sound like a gushing fanboy too much, but what is the great man like in person?

  2. He’s very humble and was very co-operative with so many people vying for his attention. He made sure he got to everyone in his own time. Plus he loves the Clipsal so that can’t hurt!

  3. You’ve made my night Anne, I’m so glad to hear he’s a genuine person.

    What a legend!

Leave a Comment

*