Reaction To This is Mount Panorama | This is Bathurst 

Mark Larkham, former driver, Bathurst Podium finisher, team owner and now pit lane expert commentator for Fox Sports. What a legend!

To my late husband Bathurst Weekend was sacred he took no phone calls no visitors, I kept him supplied with food which I am sure he ate but would have had no memory of. I would watch the last few laps with him my interest was to se if any of the Kiwi drivers were in the top 3 but for him it was the cars themselves that interested him. That lovely man passed away 12 years ago on Bathurst Weekend.

Mark Larkham is a great commentator for this series. His passion for educating his audience and the lengths he goes to to achieve that ends, is unmatched anywhere

presenter is mark larkham (larko) ex racer turned race commentator who usually does the pit lane interviews and technical side of things like race strategy, car setup, track conditions, rule explanations etc.

Bathurst is a town and these are the roads, that's why you have all these anomalies. Once a year, since 1963, they block them off, put up the barricades and get 'touring cars' to race around it for 1000 km. It's a gut wrenching, mind blowing marathon of madness. If you like exciting motorsports, it's a must. The guy doing the video is Mark Larkham, legendary Aussie driver with a diverse career in motorsport, but he competed at Mt Panorama at least 10 times I think, hence the knowledge and detail. ❤

Im not a petrol head at all....but Bathurst is special! Get together with IWROCKER & get along to it👍🙃

I have raced this track 6 times now in real life, you never get used to it, it’s an absolute rollercoaster that puts your stomach in your mouth. It’s so punishing and tough you gotta remind your self to breathe. Feeling the car skip and jump down the mountain is one of the best feelings. Putting together a lap here is an emotional ride. Racing on the Bathurst 100 weekend is unreal, the fans and atmosphere is insane. You gotta come down and be apart of it.

Always watch Bathurst. Even if I watch no other races in the year, I always watch Bathurst.

Bathurst the most exciting race in Australia, and the World, only for exceptional drivers with exceptional driving skills, they are the best in the world. Even the Americans say we Aussie's are crazy, and don't forget you also have to look out for the kangaroos jumping onto the race track,nothing like this race in the world. Proud to be an Aussie

All the old timers like me will remember the "60's, 70's and 80's when Bathurst wasn't just V8 super cars. In the old days it was cars of different engine capacities and sizes competed in the same race with different classes. So for example a Ford Cortina might race in the same class as a Mini. We've had Minis, Nissan Bluebirds, Celicas Camaros Jags, Toranas, all kinds of cars over the years. But the crazy thing was, used to be, they didn't stop the race for crashes. When a car crashed or broke down the tow truck drivers used to remove it while the race was going, or they would just push it to a "safe" place on the side of the track. As good as Bathurst is now, I miss those days a bit. Another thing that has changed from the old days is Conrod straight. It used to be a straight run all the way to Murray's Corner. The Chase was added because it was supposed to make it safer by forcing the drivers to slow down. Nowadays they take the Chase at full throttle, so it didn't really work.

Mark Larkham is a former driver who raced at Bathurst and in the corresponding championship and when he retired he became one of our great commentators his knowledge and enthusiasm is engaging and contagious He typically calls the race from the pit lane and his insights combined with the access he gets as a trusted former driver makes his commentary first class

This is a public road as well and anyone can drive on it at any other time. (within the road rules of course. )

I watched the race from it's first televised airing, and then married a man who raced at Bathurst coming 4th at his best. He took me around the track at about 200k's and it's at the same time exhilarating and terrifying. Being airborne at that speed feels like Russian Roulette. I'd love to do it again though.

Scariest crash for me was when Bill Brown rolled his GTHO along the McPhillamy Park fence in 1971, narrowly missing a marshall who ran for dear life. The car was virtually cut in half at the B pillar

You asked about a grate being on the track, it’s actually a regular street in Bathurst. You can drive it and many do when the race is on. - following the road rules of course, people live on that street.

I recall one year, there was a car that blew an engine late on practise day - a no brainer for the mechanics - they had a complete engine/transmission swap done in about 30 minutes. They wanted to go back out on the track to "bed the engine in" - but it was late in the day, and the crowds at the top of the mountain go about Drunk and crazy. The local police offered to escort the car for a run on the normal highway to dubbo - multiple big V8 police pursuit cars, front and back, lights and sirens. When they got back, I hear the team manager talking to the driver, asking how it went - "Not bad, didn't manage to get into top gear, though" - the police drivers were visibly shaken from driving that hard, and fast for that amount of time....

My father-in-law was a dedicated Bathurst enthusiast. So, many years ago on a visit I took him to Bathurst and did two laps of the circuit in my Holden Commodore. He was absolutely thrilled and talked about it to his mates at the pub for years.

Go back and have a look at the early races in the sixties and seventies. It was called the Hardie Ferodo 500 back then. Have a look at the crashes. The battles between Peter Brock the king of the mountain and Alan Moffat to win the race. Dick Johnston's green Ford crash was a shocker. You will be amazed. Cheers from Nev in Australia.

Couldn't have picked a better video to explain the mountain. Larko (Mark Larkham) is the V8 track guru.

I think you would love watching some of the Peter Brock clips of him talking the commentators around a lap during a race. Peter Brock was known as the King of the Mountain for how much he dominated Bathurst.

You should check out Peter Brock - King of the Mountain. The man was absolutely amazing. R.I.P Brockie

Now that you understand just how difficult this track is, it's time to watch 'The King of the Mountain' - Peter Brock. There's a great video where he drives with a camera in the car and takes us all for a Lap of the Mountain - Peter Brock 1979 Last Lap in the A9X. Or for amazing speed - Peter Brock "On it" at Bathurst. Brock Mastered the Mountain.

I've travelled from the Gold Coast 5 times for the race, absolutely awesome, however in November last year our family relocated to Bathurst, so this year it will be a 5 minute drive, I cannot wait

As a family we've watched Bathurst for years, the males making the annual trek to trackside, weddings and other events being scheduled around it. As the boys reached a certain age, they'd join the tribe. The result is that we now we have two nephews, a cousin and his son all racing at Bathurst.

I’ve watched Bathurst every year since 1969 there’s no race like it

Mark was a V8 supercars driver, then he retired and became one of the race compares. On Conrod straight back in the 70s, it went all the way from the top to the last left-hand corner to go and take the checked flag. In the 70s some of the drivers drove the whole day on their own in cars that were 10 times as physical to drive than these modern cars. The greatest was Peter Brook in his Torana's.

The circuit opened in 1938 and was done to help employment during the Great Depression. It's all public roads which you can drive, at 60 km/h, and is a lot steeper than in looks on screen. The elevation change is approx 190m. Back in the day open wheelers, sports cars and motorbikes have also raced at the circuit. Currently Mt Panorama also hosts the Bathurst 12 hour and 6 hour races, with GT3/4 type cars. It has hosted the Australian Grand Prix 4 times, 1938, 1947, 1952 and 1958. It is currently rated as an FIA Grade 3 circuit, which limits what is allowed to race there. While it would be great to see F1 here, the changes needed to make it a grade 1 circuit would ruin the character of the track, though Jenson Button ran a 2008 McLaren around there in 2012 and this year Liam Lawson ran a Red Bull (pre hybrid car) during the 12 Hour weekend. There'll be vids on youtube of it. Jenson did a 1m 48.8 btw. PS, Also check out Greg Murphy's pole lap for the 2003 Bathurst 1000. It's called the Lap of the Gods, and he did a time no one thought was possible, truly awesome footage.

Bathurst - an Aussie institution 💥

I’m not a big Motorsport fan, but I never miss Bathurst. I love it!!! I get as excited as you just did, and, in fact, I have a few chills now! Although, it won’t be the same anymore without Holden. The Ford v Holden rivalry has been the essence of Australian supercar racing.

This is hands down the best video to watch on mount panorama! (As far as explaining what it's all about goes) As far as worst crashes: The have been a few fatalities of the years. Quite a few video compilations around on biggest Bathurst crashes, if you want to check them out 😊

Have not missed this race since we migrated to Australia in 1974. Used to start in the near dark and finish in the near dark as a multiple category race. But now a single category race lasting around 5.5 hours. But the 1000 is just one of the races run here. There is also GT racing, a 24 hour race and many others. This isn't a dedicated race track either. When not being used as a track, it is a public road.

Bathurst has been going for ages - I was part of the team, that set up the first computerized lap scoring back in 1984. If you think a lap is scary - it's a 1000 km race - that is 167 laps. Back in those days, I managed to score a passenger seat in one of the race cars, which is a bit of a misnomer - they don't have passenger seats, normally, they had temporary ones, that they would bolt in so that mechanics etc, could be in the car for testing, . Coming down from the top of the mountain is Sphincter-clenching time. IN many parts, you literally cannot see where you are going - the drivers are working on muscle memory of where they know the corners etc will be, even they aren't all that visible.

Larko is an Aussie motor sport icon and his insights are legendary in terms of how precise they are. This is one of the most iconic motor races on the planet. Grew up watching this race with my Dad every year.

I’ve never missed a Bathurst 1000. One year we we’re going to miss it because we were travelling but the car broke down

Bathurst weekend, been watching since I was a kid. Great race, even my Mrs watches Bathurst.

Bathurst is a magical race. For australian motorsport fans, that day every year is a gathering in front of the tv, in the man cave, at the pub, wherever. Your friends, drinks, racing, the pit strategy, the crashes, the safety cars, the weather. Its great. Some make 'the pilgrimage' to the track and experience it in person.

This is a great video and very well produced. 1,000 kilometres is a long race.

Best thing about this vid is you describing it in your accent. 🙂 Glad you like it and find it interesting. As an "old bloke" myself, back when I started watching it, (1970's) the cars were more like what we drove on the road, so we identified a bit more closely. But while it has evolved, it is still a spectacle. Mark is a good commentator, and does have a passion for explaining it. Conrod is a very long straight, in the 70's we used to go up there (as you can drive on it/public road - or was then) and obviously can't do the speeds they do, but back then (before the dog leg they have now) it was a long downhill run, and you can imagine how hard the brakes work. There is a vid somewhere of Darrel Waltrip at Bathurst going for a lap. Humorous, and he raves on a bit. Mark Larkham interviews him afterward. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kLkLtBkUVuo.html We take it for granted a bit, but the aerial coverage was/is very good. Australia pioneered the "in car cameras", to the point where overseas drivers would come here and not believe our drivers could talk/commentate while driving. Glad you enjoy it, and cheers from Western Australia.

I have such good memories of this race. As a kid my poppy, uncle and dad would not move and just watch it all day.

As an Aussie with Glaswegian parents - I approve This track is my favourite behind original Adelaide street circuit in video games too

The main thrust of this video is to highlight the very REAL DANGER and DIFFICULTY of mastering Bathurst. Many overseas drivers have tried without success.

The best motor car race in the world. As a kid I would get up early with dad we would sit from 8am til 5pm and watch the whole day. 6 hour race. Spectacular. I’ve watched this video several times and gets me every time. You will have to watch it in October this year 👏👏

This was the greatest introduction video to this race ever produced. Mark Larkham, retired driver now commentator. How excited and pumped up it made you is how all Australian motor sport fans feel for week’s leading up to the great race. It is the drivers grand final. It is the spectators grand final. It is like the World Cup, Super Bowl, the Melbourne Cup… The race course was first a scenic drive (dirt road) to get views of the surrounding area. A previous mayor of the town applied for a government grant to seal the road (tarmac) but did not include in the proposal he intended it to be a race track. The NSW government gave him that grant and he built Bathurst. Parts of it have always been a public road, obviously closed for the race. I was lucky enough to drive this track in 1995. Paying $300 for insurance, ambulance and tow truck back to pit lane in the event of a crash. I did 10 laps in my 1983 Holden Commodore VH Brock SS Group 3. I have never seen a video that truly shows how steep the mountain is on the way down. It is absolutely crazy. Four wheel sliding my way through the corners on my last 3 laps, pushing as hard as I dare coming so close to writing my car off. The needle of my speedo bouncing on the max speed of 200km an hour down conrod straight. I have no idea how these drivers do what they do. The anticipation for this race builds more on the lead up to it than anything else in our calendar. In most Australians opinions the years where it was V8 Supercars after it had been the Touring car championship, it was Ford vs Holden. Ford Falcon vs Holden Commodore were the best. From 1999-2017. Probably 2000-2014… What makes it so relatable for us is that they were racing cars we could buy and drive. VT, VY, VZ, VE, VF Commodores. AU, BA, BF, FG Falcons. The successes of Australian produced muscle cars on track gave manufacturers higher sales country wide. It’s part of our lives. Watch any of the Bathurst races from 2000-2014 but type in “the Greatest Great Race” as it was one of the craziest races in its history. Enjoy brother 👍🏼

Everything he says X 160 laps!!! Every single time! Right on the money! 😎👍🏻 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1:05

a definite bucket list…. i volunteered there and it was the best thing i ever did. WHEN you go….. book the helicopter ride….. best viewing position of all.

You don't understand how steep climb to the top of the mountain & again how much it fulls away coming down, it's literally a difficult walk going down or up the track. Larko is so passionate about racing & truely lives the sport.

October long weekend is when the Bathurst race is on live for the whole day

I lived in Bathurst - and The Dipper feels crazy even doing the road speed limit. It blows my mind how fast they go down there during the race.

I have seen this clip many times and it sends shivers over me every time.. larkos unreal as is bathurst..

Mate! I went and camped up the mountain from 1990 to 2000. It’s was the best racing ever! Nothing like it. Plus a night the campers on the mountain had a rally pad and burning toilet paper throwing game. Madness

I'm a kiwi who once took a borrowed ute around the circuit as a public road. Gawd, what an eye opener that was, and my respect for the drivers is boundless. The section that really floored me was the dipper. As you drop into it on the left side of the road, everything vanishes on your left side, just open air with no reference points, with the car unbalanced by the awkward drop and camber change. It was hairy enough at legal speeds, but mind-blowing considering the entry speed the racers use. I believe these days there is more curbing there, but back in the day, it was a high-speed, virtually blind corner requiring balls of steel to handle the reduced steering and braking as the front left tire is torqued off the road surface. Feckin amazing.

You will love Darrell Waltrip's hotlap, he is a Nascar champ who came over and went for a lap as a passenger and had alot to say. There is also onboard footage somewhere of an F1 car doing a lap.

This is the best Bathurst video ever made. And yes, the race is amazing

I live about an hour away from this track... whenever I head over to Bathurst, I go and do a lap around the track....and it is legal to do so... when it is not being used for racing, it is a public road. However, there are very strict speed restrictions to abide to... To actually drive around the track is awesome... the television cameras do not show the true extremes there is on it. The dipper and the esses off the top of the mountain are frightening... even at restricted speed. There is no other racetrack like it.... and to actually be there on race day and feel the ground vibrate as these beasts hurtle up and down the mountain, is an experience you will never forget.

Best track in the World. And Mark Larkam has driven HUNDREDS of laps of Bathurst.. he never did win it but got third.. He did it 10 years in a row 1995-2004 The levels and heights of this track are hard to show on a camera.. Every Aussie kid grows up watching and knowing this track.. Only thing that matters is being top 10 in the last 10 minutes, after 6 hours and close to 1000km.. They put the last S bend (The Chase) in, at the end of Conrod Straight, to shorten it slightly, to slow down the top speed, and comply with FIA laws.. Do watch the docos on what happens on top of the Mountain during the Race, its a bit of a riot/party!! haha

If you loved that, there’s a couple who walked Bathurst, and it really gives a brilliant perspective of the track. I think it’s called “walking on Mount Panorama”.

If ya get the chance, come and see the great race, it's the pinnacle of touring car racing anywhere in the world.

Bathurst resident here! I work with St John Ambulance, and we provide the health services off the track (crowd etc.) My dad was also the Intensive Care Paramedic on-call with NSW Ambulance when Chaz Mostert had his massive wipeout in 2015 (7:18) Bathurst 1000 is always a massive part of the year!

Bathurst 1000 the only day I wake and sit on the lounge all day to watch my wife brings me food and drinks every minute is excitement and to watch Larko talk about it the way he did in that video sums it up perfectly there is no other race more exciting go Bathurst go Australia 🇦🇺

The grate is there because when it is not a race track it is a nice slow country road. There is also a video game where you can race the Bathurst track.

Larko is a retired driver. He’s been around the scene for a while now and is a great commentator. This track is a normally a public road so any can drive it. I’ve driven the track and was amazed how much undulating it is. There’s no other track like it in the world. Thanks for sharing this with everyone

Bathurst makes most other car races look tame

I have been driven around this track at normal road speed. 60klm . Some of those bends , we had the tyres squealing at 60 klms. I didn`t watch Bathurst until I had driven around this track. The TV makes it look fairly flat. Those uphill corners are steep and tight. I watch it every year now. Unbelievable drivers.

Bloody brilliant. I love this track and love the bathurst 1000. To many the race day is called Bathurst Day and after football and the Melbourne cup is an iconic Aussie sporting event. Come on down and enjoy it live. Plenty of videos you could review. Thanks heaps.😮

It was originally a public road. No road just gravel. It began then. Following that the motorcycles hit the track! Exciting and dangerous with no barriers. As vehicles got faster the bikes left the scene and 4wheels became the the formula to take on the mountain. The glory days saw Mini Coopers dancing through the turns, up against the new muscle of Holden and Ford conquering the longer faster sections. Fast forward for the next 60 plus years and the evolution of the Holden and Ford Supercars took centre stage on the mountain and immortalised the Bathurst 1000 in the hearts of Aussie racing fans, and eventually the world. ❤

Unlike most circuits that are designed for racing with driving lines, Bathurst is designed to F with you at every single point!

Bathurst local mate. Its not till you walk it that you can really appreciate it 😊

Its a public road and people live on it when its not raceday

You absolutely need to see it in person mate - I go every year now, but even after watching on TV all my life I never really got how steep and how big the elevation changes are till I went in person

Don't forget this is a public road when there are no races on !! Larko knows how to get your attention and how to get you interested, he has a wealth of knowledge and many years experience.........This pumps me up everytime I see it even in the off season !! Makes me proud to be an Aussie, best racetrack in the world 👍

My son has been an avid fan for many years, me not so much but I never get sick of watching this video it is so exciting.

5:17 - for the other days of the year, this is a public road, it's used as a race track only 6 days of the year, but soon the start of the championship will have the Bathurst 500. People live there and you also have accommodation mainly used for school camps because of the other famous things about Bathurst and the surrounding country towns/suburbs.

Mark Larkham is a former driver, team owner and now a pit lane commentator. He’s a fan favourite because of his passion for the sport Unfortunately he never won this great race

My brothers wifes wedding vows included a line about not disturbing him during Bathurst... As someone whose dad and brother love V8's, and myself going to races and watching it on TV, even watching this gave me a better understanding of the Mountain, downhill speeds and tonnage of the cars... Whole nother level of respect for Aussie V8 drivers. Sometimes just watching it on TV you forget its a mountain the are driving up and down for 161 laps.

Lap of the gods Greg Murphy. That is a must watch.

If you get to Bathurst, you will not believe the elevation change...TV does not do it justice..loved your reaction mate. Been there,each time I love it more,and more,and more. It's electric

There is no way to fully understand and appreciate this race other than being there. Worlds Best at there Best Aussie V8 supercars.🇦🇺❤🇦🇺

The noise of the start of the race is like nothing else I've every experienced... you can feel it in every part of your body... it is electrifying. It doesn't matter whether you love racing or couldn't care less... everyone should experience being at Mt Panorama for the race at least once in their life.

There is a vid where they took a famous Indy driver and he did a lap with one of the drivers and it scared the shit out of him...and they FILMED IT!!! awesome stuff!

Been going to this race most years since 2000 it never gets old and your first trip up the mountain is unforgettable television doesn't do it justice. Get a warm weekend there is nothing better BBQ and cold beers and good people who love having fun.

My friend's boss, Mike Burgmann, who was an accountant who also drove race cars, lost his life there in 1986. Sadly, there have been other fatalities over the years.

It’s the only car racing I watch all year. I have been watching it since I was a kid in the 70s. Got to go once in the 80s. AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, Boxing Day Test, Sydney to Hobart and Bathurst are the 5 biggest must watch events in a country passionate about its sport.

Larko is the best when it comes to explaining V8 Supercars. I don’t think there is any other commentator more passionate about the sport. Dick Johnson’ 1983 qualifying lap crash is one of the biggest crashes and considering he left the track and went flying through the trees, he’s lucky to still be with us. This and many other big crashes are on RU-vid.

A great video to review. There is another one just as epic. But the build up for the Bathurst 1000 is always a great week. We love our motorsport in Aus and this is THE race.

YES!!! I haven't even watched this reaction yet, but I am sooooo happy that you have watched this! I have seen so many people comment about this clip. First time I watched it was on TV. I got goosebumps! I have now seen this over 100 times (I think!) and I have been patiently waiting for my favourite reactors to watch this one. Thank you! Okay, now I will watch your reaction, I have a feeling you will enjoy it! Cheers

Awesome reaction mate 👌 the best I've seen.And yes it's a great party atmosphere over a few day to a week. I live 2 hours away from Bathurst.And it's a public road also.

Bathurst was originally a standard production car race. The big manufacturers having a "race on Sunday, sell on Monday" mantra and there was no greater battle on the track and in the stands than that between Ford and Holden (GM). These companies had to produce a certain number of their "race bred" cars for the general public to be eligable, so Bathurst gave Australia some of it's greatest muscle cars. There are some great early videos of Bathurst, no safety rails, mimimum safety gear and one clip where a change over driver has a carton of mlk and a cigarette in the pits! Another great "gear head" documentary with a Bathurst connection is "Welcome to wherever you are" where a group of Mad Max fans build themselves an "interceptor" replica and drive it to the great race. The fan carnage at the end is hypnotic in it's horror.

Larko used to be a driver in the 90s so he's driven the track at speed and when the track was slightly different in parts. He's lived it breathed it and had quite a few of his cars not finish the race so yes his passion when describing the track is not just insightful but first person experience of those bad moments on the track. He's seen the kangaroos on the track the crazy crashes from brake failure the tyres coming loose after a pit stop. He's experienced the crazy weather of monsoon rain on top of the mountain and it bone dry down on pit straight in the sane lap wet weather tyres for the top coz slicks won't drive the wet up top but get ripped to piece's down the bottom coz there's no water on the track. It's a crazy track where anything could happen and it generally does either during the races abd practices before the main race or during the main race

I live in Bathurst, i can see the "Mount Panorama" sign from my front door, i've been to the race multiple times, i've camped at the top of the mountain and reid park, and i've raced amateur on sections of the track. i can promise you, It's as exciting, terrifying, technical and amazing as Larko makes it sound.

Great reaction!! Thank you for not pausing it every 3 seconds! Now that you have gotten through just ONE lap... you gotta do 160 more!!!!

I started watching this in the 60's when it was the Hardie Ferrado 500.

As a Motorsport fan, this event is a must! By far the best single race in the world!

Very early 80s, i think it was with Dick Johnson wrapping his car around a tree. In a green Ford, i don't remember what model. It was before they had the concrete barriers in certain places on the track for safety.

I will tell you how he is liked the bloke in this video is ( mark larkham ) he is on the commentary for all the Supercars event threw the year a couple of years ago he was sacked by the channel that broadcast the series for a bit of change and the v8 public was that outraged they were going to boycott what they could for him but it wasn’t long before he was reinstated the fans love him. He is such a good bloke he put out a video not blaming the channel for changing this up and told the fans not to boycott but within a couple of weeks he was back he’s passion for the sport is why fans love him and so do i

As an Australian who has watched this race for nearly 50yrs let me tell you this doesnt do it justice its that good. My son got his right of passage as learner driver 5mnths ago when he got to a lap at Bathurst.🇦🇺

One of the most insane tracks out of all races like he says later in the video you have to be a ballerina

Bathurst is with out question a pilgrimage every fan hopes to do at least once in their life, or give up everything else to be there every year. Bathurst is a world class event on a world class track. Magic!!! Being able to drive this street circuit before or after the event is overwhelming

I own a 1963 Studebaker lark . They did race them around Bathurst but used to break wheels because of the pressures put on them.

I've made it a personal goal to never pass through Bathurst without driving the track in my Corollas, Mazdas and Nissan over the years. I used to watch the Bathurst 1000 annual all day coverage with my father and it was special. Driving the track alone & to the speed limit is still exciting with decades of race day images & memories running through my head. My mother & grandmother used to enjoy it on road trips too. A very special place.

I'm 45. Been watching every year for as long as I can remember