Fans revel in beaut return of Supercars
FROM Supercars super fans to returning Territorians remembering how good we have it, thousands turned out at Hidden Valley on Saturday to enjoy good company and the smell of burning rubber.
There was every chance the event-cancelling coronavirus pandemic could have broken Darwin River man Anthony James Hobden’s 22year streak of attending Supercars, something that would have been “devastating” for the Holden fan who’d already been hit by the exit of the iconic brand from Australia. “I was not happy at all (that the Supercars may not have gone ahead),” he said.
“Used to get here every y year, and suddenly not being able to come, though all I got this year was a piece of paper (ticket).”
Mr Hobden, who usually gets a three-day pass, has saved memorabilia from every Darwin Supercars he’s been to since 1998. This year, in light of General Motors killing off the Holden brand, Mr Hobden flew the flag alongside other car brands that have been discontinued.
Pandemic safety plan restrictions meant the usual 30,000 to 40,000-strong crowds were restricted to just 4500, though it is understood that limit was not hit on day 1 of the Darwin Supercars double header.
For Jason Hiscox and Debra Brook, Supercars was their first major outing since packing up their lives in
Cairns and moving back to the Territory.
Health workers by trade, the pair had spent a decade in Queensland and had owned a pie shop before the pandemic caused tourism, and in turn their business, to plummet.
The Territory’s border measures, which allow travellers not from hot spots to enter freely, meant Charters Towers boy Eli-Michael Hart, 4, could come to Darwin to watch the race.
The BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown, one of the most elusive trophies on the Supercars circuit, will be awarded to the driver with the most points after three 38-lap rounds.
Gates open at 10am on Sunday, with the last race scheduled to begin at 3.30pm.