While this weekend will see the PremiAir Nulon Racing pair of Tim Slade and James Golding pounding their team Chevvy Carmao Supercars around Mt Panorama in the 161 lap 2024 Repco Bathurst 1000, the two race drivers found themselves piloting a very different machine around the 6.2 km mountain circuit last week, joining up with the line marking crew to lend a hand in painting the famous track ahead of the Great Race, this week.
The PremiAir Nulon Racing duo joined the team from Dubbo’s Central West Linemarking, who have been engaged to paint the track boundaries and other important linework around the circuit.
The two drivers swapped their helmets and Chevrolet Camaros for high-vis and a seat in an Isuzu F Series dual control truck—an FVD 165-300 Auto—with a customised road painting platform from Core Equipment in Canada.
Getting an altogether different view from the cab, the Supercars drivers said it was an eye-opening experience to witness the level of preparation required in bringing aspects of the race together.
“I have turned a few laps of Mount Panorama in racecars, but this was a very different perspective!” Golding commented.
“My Supercar is a special piece of kit, but the process and accuracy of the customised dual control Isuzu truck from Central West Linemarking definitely gives it a run for its money.
“The circuit and the track limit lines need to be up to the highest standards for Supercars racing.”
“What I can say for certain is that the track is ready for us to race on next week.”
Supercars veteran Tim Slade also acknowledged the massive undertaking of preparing the track for The Great Race.
“I’m used to turning up on race week and seeing it pristine, so to see the effort from the Central West Linemarking crew and the Bathurst City Council overall is really impressive,” Slade said.
“The Bathurst 1000 is a showpiece in Australian sport. To see the crew take such enormous pride in ensuring the track is presented in the best possible way is a credit to their skills and professionalism.
“I have a new appreciation in what it takes to mark out Mount Panorama, but beyond this, the work that goes into marking roads across the country.”
For Central West Linemarking’s Adam Walker, the opportunity to have the Supercars drivers join the crew was a thrill for all involved.
“It was great to have both James and Tim join the crew and get their feedback on the circuit and how important the track markings are during the race,” said Walker.
“We might not lap the circuit at the same speed as the Supercars stars, but we need to be incredibly accurate with the marking, as going outside the circuit limits can quickly see things come undone.
“Our company works everywhere west of the Blue Mountains and out to Broken Hill and up to the Queensland border, but I must admit this is a very special piece of road for us!”
The PremiAir Racing team and other 2024 Repco Supercars Championship teams competing will arrive from Tuesday 08 October on Mount Panorama, with practice getting underway on Thursday 10 October. The 161-lap Bathurst 1000 starts at 11.30 am AEST on Sunday 13 October.
