The Beginning - a very brief history.....

Mount Panorama was first used as an official race track in 1938, holding the "Australian Tourist Trophy for Motorcycles" on Easter Saturday. On Easter Monday the ‘Australian Grand Prix' for Motor Cars was held. With the beginning of WW2, racing was stopped until 1947 when races recommenced. Further Grand Prix meetings were held in 1952 and 1958. However, "The Great Race" (as we know it) didn't actually originate in Bathurst. Sponsored by Armstrong Shock Absorbers and known as the "Armstrong 500", a car race was held at Phillip Island for the first time in 1960.