Event date: 25 - 27 November 2022

Thursday

An early start on Thursday for our convoy up to Bathurst for the Club’s first Challenge Bathurst.

Perfect day for driving, very easy drive until you turn off the Hume, then it’s spot the pot hole and try not to fall in. Great to see the countryside drying up a bit and they’re out working on the roads, but still lots to fix.

Fantastic travelling with a group, makes the journey so much easier and more fun.

The Mountain is looking beautiful now it’s dried out since the Supercars weekend. Very different without the throngs of people there though, but just the same with the sound of race cars zooming around the hill.

This will be a great experience for the club members, to be able to drive this track is something that anyone that loves driving aspires to. A real bucket list event. Can’t wait till the end of the first session to see the smiles on their faces and hear the stories.

I remember the first time I raced here, it never leaves you, as a driver it is one of things you just have to do.

Friday

Friday at The Mountain.

Was great getting up yesterday, means we can get set up and have the day today to look around, get the drivers and crews checked in, cars Scrutineered, then move into the pit lane garages once the ‘Sprint’ competitors had moved out.

A pretty relaxing day and great just taking it easy for a change whilst getting everything ready for the weekend’s fun.

By the end of the day all our lot have turned up, unloaded and have their cars tucked in the garages ready to go bright and early tomorrow.

The day starts off with a briefing then a familiarization session.

You can hear the excitement in some of their voices, tomorrow will be the realization of some people’s dreams, driving around the best track in Australia and one of the best in the World.

Got to say thank you to the organizers for inviting DCM to bring a bunch of people to the Mountain and of course all the officials that make this happen. For the average person that would otherwise not have the opportunity to drive around this amazing place, this is the best way to do it!

It is a great event and looking forward to the next two days of fun.

Saturday

Saturday at The Mountain.

There are some things in life you just cannot explain to someone until they have actually done it. There aren’t words to express some experiences until you’ve done it yourself.

Driving Bathurst at speed is one of those things.

The looks on the faces and the excitement and exhilaration in their voices after their first familiarization laps just explains it all. Then that only intensifies after more sessions and time on track.

Bathurst isn’t just another racetrack, it is the pinnacle of Motorsport in this country for a driver, and quite possibly one of the best tracks in the world.

It is so hard to explain what it’s like to drive here, and as much as you try and as many in car videos or sim sessions you do, nothing compares to driving here. The only thing that tops doing an event like Challenge Bathurst is actually racing here!

Today was just perfect, the weather, the track, the organization, the company… where else in the world would you want to be?

We have an awesome bunch up here with us, some great fun on the track and then some great fun sitting around telling stories of the day and other days here or elsewhere.

If you want to join us next year, when entries come out you need to be quick! Something not to be missed.

As always, thanks to the teams of officials and organizers for giving of their time to run events like this for those that love to drive. We can’t enjoy what we do without an army of volunteers, so, like some of us that came all this way to help others enjoy their fun, you too can join in even if you’re not driving. It is still almost as much fun.

One day to go then the long drive home on Monday.

Sunday

Sunday night and the end of a fantastic weekend of doing what we all love, driving, at the pinnacle of Australian Motorsport.

Everything was perfect, the weather was amazing, the track awesome, the event itself went off perfectly.

Well done to the organisers and officials and thank you to Greg Evans for inviting DCM to run a group of BMW Club Members from all over Australia to experience the best track in the country. Hoping we will be invited back to run a bigger event next year.

Most have packed up and headed off in different directions for home, our little convoy will head off in the morning back to Melbourne.

It’s been an awesome weekend and if you get the opportunity to come and do this event, take it!

Monday

Everyone safely home from an amazing weekend up at Bathurst.

Safe to say everyone had a ball, such a great event and such a great bunch to do it with.

So many pics and videos to go through over the next few days.

Just a few more tonight though.

Thank you for coming, thank you to the officials and organisers that make it all possible.

Graeme Bell | Member #1
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne