The annual celebration of fathers is upon us again. Instead of getting your dear old dad or better half an amazing set of socks to show your appreciation for his ultimate BBQ skills, why not opt for an action-packed, fast-paced, fuel-powered present to unleash the man’s man within?
Here are six rocking motorsport events spread across the country to inspire you, some with no wheels, two wheels, four wheels and massive wheels with 3m flames!
1.V8 Supercars
The premiere motorsport category in Australia and New Zealand. With over 15 races a year, there are plenty of opportunities to attend an event.
Vroom!
However, instead of attending just any V8 Supercar event, why not have the ultimate V8 Supercar experience at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000? Held every October in the small town of Bathurst, the race is a 1000km endurance event that is so punishing it requires two drivers per car.
Watching the cars climb the mountain at speeds approaching 260km/h is incredible, but seeing them hug the apex at 180km/h and become seemingly weightless as they pass over the crest and float to the right (narrowly missing a solid concrete wall) is unbelievable!
Want to get Dad’s heart racing? Send him on an exciting V8 experience!
2. Formula 1
The pinnacle of global motorsport, Formula 1 showcases engineering marvels designed and built with nearly limitless budgets. The top teams can burn through over $400 million a year!
Australia is lucky enough to kick off the Formula 1 calendar each year in Melbourne, where the streets around Albert Park come to life unlike any other time. The speed and agility of the open-wheel category is like nothing else, with drivers accelerating to 100km/h in under two seconds and engines running at a peak of 18,000RPM. Wowzer!
Formula 1 – Melbourne gets even more exciting!
3. Drag Racing
Probably not the most obvious choice, but drag races certainly put on an awesome display for your senses. High-tech eye candy, ear-ringing noise, and that smell – ohh, that smell!
The challenge in drag racing is straight-line speed over a quarter-mile stretch of road. To get a taste and see all the different types of vehicles, an event like the Winternationals (held just outside of Ipswich near Brisbane) is highly recommended. It boasts the ultimate drag racing category – the one you really, really want to make a point of clapping your eyes onto – Top Fuel.
You’ll have seen them on the TV at some point: massive tires at the back, long bodies with tiny front wheels. They look a little odd, but they’re at the cutting edge. Powered by 500 cubic inch V8 engines and burning 8L of nitromethane per second at full throttle, the average race only takes 4.5 seconds line to line and reaches top speeds of nearly 500km/h!
As if you needed another reason to visit Brisbane!
While the speed of Top Fuel acceleration is quite bewildering, more incredible is the noise. Even standing more than 50m away, you can literally feel the sound as the cars roar down the track. Guaranteed to be the loudest thing you’ll ever hear, unless you attend a space shuttle launch!
For more information about your nearest drag racing event, check the ANDRA website.
4. V8 Superboats
If you’re looking for something quite different, V8 Superboats are an excellent option. They’re jet-powered boats (ie: no propellors) with a driver and a navigator, just like rally driving.
There are different classes of boats with varying speeds. While they’re all very fast, the top category moves through the water so ferociously that you’ll wonder how a boat can turn so fast without flipping over!
There is an excellent V8 Superboat venue located on the Tweed Coast in Northern New South Wales. While you can stay closer to the action, Salt Village at Kingscliff is a few minutes up the road and provides a string of great restaurants and fantastic accommodation. I recommend Peppers Salt Resort & Spa.
Come for the V8 Superboats, stay for the views: Tweed Coast.
Think your dad would love it? Give him an extreme jet boat ride in Queensland or New South Wales.
5. MotoGP
Motorbikes – very, very fast motorbikes. That’s what MotoGP brings to the table. MotoGP is the premiere world motorbike racing series, with 18 events spread around the world. Australia snapped up one of them, which is held at Phillip Island every October.
MotoGP – the ultimate for bike fans.
The Phillip Island MotoGP is a pilgrimage that all motorbike fans must make at least once, especially if you’re in a position to ride your own bike down to the event (as many people do!). The views overlooking the ocean around the race track are spectacular, and the added benefit of having Moto3 and Moto2 on the same weekend is a massive bonus.
Does your dad love bikes? Treat him to an awesome motorbike experience.
6. Australian Rally Championship
If bitumen and water aren’t quite your thing, the Australian Rally Championship has you covered with their off-road madness. With events held in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, and Western Australia, chances are there’s one near you.
Australian Rally Championships – tearing it up all over the country.
What’s unique about the Australian Rally Championship is the confidence drivers place in their navigators. Why is that so important? Well, the pair only get one chance to view the racecourse and it’s at normal driving speed while the navigator takes notes about road conditions, how sharp the corners are (and how fast to drive through them), and any obstacles the driver will need to be aware of.
On race day this translates into some sort of magical connection between driver, navigator and the road. The duo will speed along dirt roads, often with trees, rocks, or steep cliffs immediately beside them as they slip, slide and dance their way towards the finish line!
Sound like your dad’s cup of tea? Get him a rally driving experience!
Have you got an extreme present for Dad? Tell us about it in the comments!