It certainly wasn't the way to make friends. The Holden fans voiced in no uncertain terms that this vehicle was an intruder, besides being a "heapa shit". "Let's get out of here," said my passenger, with more than a little terror in his voice, expecting a rain of beer cans at any second.
"This is a one-of-a-kind vehicle," he panted, wiping sweat off his brow while preparing to leap out of the vehicle and repel the expected attack. Just for the record, to dispel anyone's doubts, my mother doesn't even know Malcolm Fraser, and she and my father were definitely married when I was born.
But if the Holden fans had knots in their knickers - which was undoubtedly the reason behind their hostility - the Ford fans were far more enthusiastic upon our arrival. "You f - - ken beauty," along with other terms of endearment, heralded our arrival.
They craned for a better view of this "bloody marvellous" vehicle, downing beer cans in a display of respect.
It could happen nowhere but at Bathurst where about 40,000 people show up each year to watch Australia's classic motor race, the Hardie Ferodo 1000.
Well, at least most people come to watch the race, but some come to watch the people who come to watch the race etc. etc.
But Bathurst isn't just a motor race, it's an endurance test for everybody who makes the annual sacrifice.
The first trick is to find a camping area which, in the middle of a dark (oh how dark it was), wet, and miserable night, isn't easy.
"Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to have a couple of bits of wood that I can borrow," --
''What for?"
"It's just that my caravan seems to be sinking." Of course you can always take a campervan - one of the modern wonders of holidaying. The only trick to campervan living at Bathurst is not to end up with the Quasimodo syndrome. Once settled, you can begin to truly appreciate the scenic wonders of Bathurst, which include the newly renovated toilets, concreted pit area and - how could anyone forget - the thrill of the new overhead bridge.
The Australian Racing Drivers' Club spent over $1 million on circuit improvements, somewhere or other. "Lend me five cents will ya mate," was a familiar line in the exclusive new shower complex.
In their infinite wisdom the ARDC installed a metering system in BOTH showers which, thankfully, only had to cater for about 600 dirty, sweaty men.
