30 July 2017

Before we moved to Australia, my son started watching the V8 Supercars racing series. Understanding we needed to travel light, he asked for experiences rather than things for his birthday. High on his list was going to a race. Today we went to the Ipswitch Supersprint races at Queensland Raceway. Coming from the heart of NASCAR country, I was not sure what to expect. In short, it was great fun.

The facilities at Queensland Raceway pale in comparison to even the oldest NASCAR tracks, but I really enjoyed the simplicity of it. They run a reasonably priced family event. We opted for trackside seating which means you bring your beach chairs or blankets and sit on the hill. Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult. Paddock passes where cheap and the level of access was amazing. They let you bring food and drink. They let you leave and come back. Getting in and out of the track was easy. Overall it was a fantastic experience. I can imagine the sport probably wants to build nicer facilities so they can draw larger crowds and charge more, but as NASCAR has experienced, be careful what you wish for. Facilities are nice but not if your grassroots fan can no longer afford to attend the races.

Supercars Championship (top) along with Touring Car Masters (bottom left), V8 Ute series (bottom right), V8 Touring series, and Formula 4 series races in a single day at the track.

Incredible access to the paddock area.

And a visit with some old friends.