Each year thousands of motorsport enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000.
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They come with their mates, their husbands and wives. They come in cars, vans, buses, and on motorbikes. Some come for the first time, but many come with years of special memories.
A major sporting event such as the Bathurst 1000 relies on hundreds of officials – paid and volunteer – to ensure the race goes ahead smoothly, and Yass is sending its finest.
Administration Controller, Kimberly Hughes, has been volunteering at the Bathurst 1000 for the last five years. With husband Adam Hughes, they are the proud parents of Oliver (7) and Scarlett (5).
Kim comes from a family steeped in motor racing. Her mother Yvonne O’Mara was a champion stock car racer in ACT while her dad, Barry, was part of her pit crew. The racing genes has flowed through to Oliver who races a go kart on his grandparent’s property.
Oliver, like his dad and sister, will be sitting glued to the TV at home when the Bathurst 1000 is raced and Kim steps out as the event's official controller.
She is the first female to hold this position.
“I’m essentially in charge of the event officials, which are those who work with the public,” Kim explained.
“Looking after the gate keeping ushers, grandstand ushers and anyone that deals with the patrons on a one to one level.
“I organise allocations of where everyone is going to be and at the event I’m responsible for supervisors being in their appropriate areas - I step in if a supervisor has a problem or a problem with other volunteers.”
Kim runs the meetings, briefings, training and makes sure the events runs smoothly and it’s not just the Bathurst 1000 that she attends, but events all around the country.
The 31-year-old juggles work at Yass Valley Council, attends University studying Library Information Science and her two children. No matter what, though, she always finds time for the racing track.
“Since I was born I have been on the side of the track. I have always followed V8 Supercars,” she said.
Her parents heavily involved her in it from a young age as her mum was an ACT/NSW regional champion in stock cars.
“In 2011 my uncle got me involved. He volunteered and told me about it, and here I am five years later.
“For me I keep growing and growing, from a supervisor to a controller, I just love being a part of it.”
Joining Kim as volunteers at Bathurst are Yass Valley Councillor Greg Butler and his wife Leslie – giving the town strong representation in Bathurst.
Greg Butler, who is usually seen clad in his business best, dons his cap and racing shirt as the Deputy Pit Chief for the weekend.
“I’m second in charge of about seventy officials who are responsible for overseeing the grid and marshalling areas,” he said.
“Making sure that it's a safe place for all competitors; essentially we make it a safe place.
“It’s a bit like being Prime Minister, you have the title but when you get there it isn’t all that flash.”
Like on the race course, everyone on the team needs to function at top speed with absolutely no room for error. Fractions of a second in the pit can mean the difference between victory and defeat in an important race. To some, this might seem like a high pressured job, but to Greg, he is a factory-backed professional.
“I spent a few years as a crash detective safety investigator, we worked on major incidents,” he said.
“It’s the same in the pit, when you get to meet the drivers it’s just people doing their job.
“I have been involved in these events for 15 years now.”
Greg’s wife Leslie almost shadows his years of motor sports - almost - as she has been involved with V8 Supercars for the last 40 years.
“Leslie is in charge of the opening and closing of the guard gates.
“She started out driving a rally car, she is probably the most experienced person at the track.”
Leslie’s passion for the motor sport was the reason Greg got involved.
“We love the cars, the drivers, the competition and the people who put the work in and get rewarded,” he continued.
“Like Paul Morris who won in Bathurst last year. It was good to see him win after all these years.”
This year Ford’s Chaz Mostert will be hoping to defend the crown he won last year when coming from last to first in an incident-packed race.
He will be closely pursued by current V8 Supercars Championship leader, Mark Winterbottom, last year’s driver’s championship winner Jamie Whincup and the popular Craig Lowndes, among a host of other formidable race challengers.
To become a volunteer jump onto the Bathurst 1000 website and apply for next year’s event.