when was the first bathurst race Page 394

Trick question, because “Bathurst” wears a few hats. The first race at Mount Panorama was in 1938, when the circuit opened and locals promptly went berserk on it. The endurance event that became the Bathurst 1000 started as the Armstrong 500 at Phillip Island in 1960, then moved to Bathurst in 1963. In 1973 the distance changed to 1000 km, birthing the Bathurst 1000 proper. So: 1938 for the first race at the track; 1963 for the first Armstrong 500 at Bathurst; 1973 for the first 1000 km edition. Neatly confusing, gloriously Aussie.