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Published on 20 February 2026
What a huge race last weekend! The Mount certainly came to life last week with a record crowd of 55,231 attendees across the three action packed days. We had 35 cars with 115 drivers tackle the circuit and it brought all the excitement and drama Mount Panorama is famous for. 35 cars is in fact our biggest 12Hour contingent since 2020, proving the ongoing popularity of the annual 12Hour race and the international acclaim it has garnered. It was also a delight over the past few weeks leading up to the race to see so many businesses take part in our ‘Dress Up Your Window Display’ challenge, donning race flags, car paraphernalia and 12Hour posters to brighten their storefronts and amplify Bathurst’s racing spirit. Plus, the Track to Town drew enormous crowds last Thursday, with eager fans flocking to the CBD for a glimpse of their favourite drivers’ cars and secure autographs. It’s always great to see everyone getting behind this brilliant event.
Over the weekend we also had BARC’s wonderfully successful Valentine’s Day Adoption Drive at PetStock. This was a truly lovely initiative, with one family even meeting their forever match on the day! Long termer Izzy, a dog who had been at BARC for a year, met her new family and has been successfully re-homed. The day was an absolute triumph, with an amazing turnout from the community, four adoption appointments booked, and so many thoughtful questions asked about our beautiful dogs. It is so heartwarming to see so many people interested in giving rescue animals a second chance.
Coming up, next weekend is Clean Up Australia Day and Council has organised a community clean up to get everyone in the region involved and in the spirit. On Sunday 1 March at 10am, head to Bicentennial Park to get some fresh air, meet fellow community members and make a positive impact on the environment. Plus, a free BBQ lunch will be provided for participants! This clean up event is a great way to meet like-minded people and play your part in bettering our region.
Robert Taylor
Mayor of Bathurst