I rarely ever use the word Wow, however this is a triple exception.
I spent a few hours at The Bend Motorsport Park with Dr Sam Shahin this week.
It was not the first time I have been to The Bend as I have been invited several times before, but this time I was with the man who is making it all happen.
Since my last visit about five weeks ago the race circuit has transformed from a barren land space with a bitumen track to a sea of green with a clean and sleek race circuit winding through the open space.
In preparation for the first motorsport event at the circuit there is no expense spared in getting the venue ready.
The extended period of drought has been met head on with a huge installation of 25,000sqm of instant turf, millions of litres of water, seeding of over a hundred hectares and then spraying with dust inhabitant compound to ensure the best racing surface possible.
Sam was gracious enough to give me the drivers seat of a Ferrari 318 Superfast for a few laps of the GT circuit.
Compared to five weeks ago there was absolutely no dust rising off the circuit as I made my way around the track.
I confess that I was nervous about driving such a great car, but I was definitely faster than the RAV4 hire car I drove weeks ago on the same circuit!
The GT section of the track is not as aesthetically pleasing as the International circuit section however I don’t think the GT race drivers will be looking at the off track area much.
The GT section is both fast and tight with banked corners, tight S corners and flowing curved sections – it is really interesting for drivers.
Coming back onto the International circuit is a highlight and one of the corners is going to be a definite favourite with a big sweep to the right, up over a crest and a flowing corner to the left following.
I found myself in driver mode in this section, forgetting about the value of the car I was in!
Coming back into pit lane (unfortunately) I drove through the large 12m x 12m garage that is repeated down the lane.
Each garage houses 2 or 4 cars depending on the event with plenty of power and data outlets on the walls.
Above the garages are the control tower with the biggest wall of monitors I have seen, the timing room with extended viewing bay window, corporate rooms, restaurant and the 200 room Rydges Hotel.
Wow.
Out back of the pit lane building there is a bank of colorbond garages and carports.
The scrutineering bays are being built and will be finished by the time the CAMS Australian GT Championship arrives in a few weeks.
A huge hardstand area for transporter parking and garage marquee construction is already available.
Further out is the new go-kart track, the 500+ “man cave” apartment unit development (mental note: got to get one of these!), the camping and caravan park, the drag strip and off road circuit are all under construction.
Of course there is a big “On The Run” petrol and food stop within walking distance along what will be more than 20kms of paved walking paths in the huge venue.
For the spectators there is a 2,000 seat permanent stand being built along the main straight which is adjacent to the “hill” grassed section overlooking the straight down to Turn 1.
Additional spectator stands are being planed in future.
Maybe I have already said this, Wow, Wow, Wow.
By Ken Collier
