Leave drones at home

GC600 bans selfie sticks, tripods, long lenses

WHATEVER you do, don’t bring a drone to a car race.

Gold Coast 600 organisers have warned racegoers to leave their drones at home this weekend or risk having them confiscated at the gate.

Selfie sticks, camera tripods, monopods, digital recording gear and camera lenses more than 400mm long are also on the list of items banned at this year’s race, which swings into action on Friday.

Staff will be on the lookout for drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the wake of an explosion in their availability, affordability and popularity since last year’s event.

“Drones were prohibited last year but there is a heightened awareness of them these days at major events,” Supercars spokesman Cole Hitchcock said.

The GC600 warning follows an incident at this year’s Townsville 400 which saw a 17-year-old man charged for flying a drone over the event on July 9. Police said the case marked the first time anyone had been charged under the Major Events Act for operating an aircraft in airspace over an event in Queensland .

The GC600 banned items list is believed to have been upgraded after Supercars hired former NSW Police Superintendent Craig Sheridan to review security procedures at all races in the series.

Event staff will also be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour in the wake of recent anti-Adani protests.

Activists are advised to leave their ‘issues’ at the gate, with security able to confiscate anything they deem out of the ordinary or unreasonable including spray paint or items that could be used to damage or deface property, disrupt or interrupt the event or hinder, obstruct or interfere with drivers taking part in the race.

Chairs, lounges, benches and stools other than a folding chair or folding stool are also banned.

Ditto any items of clothing bearing racist, indecent or obscene language or images; prohibited or controlled weapons, firearms and dangerous goods; animals (other than assistance dogs); whistles, loud hailers, horns and bugles, flares, fireworks, laser pointers and distress signals; and public address systems, electronic equipment, broadcast equipment or devices that may interfere with Supercars equipment.

And don’t even think about bringing your own wheels along to scoot around the precinct – golf buggies, bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, roller blades and scooters won’t make it past the gates.

It’s not all bad news – clown hair, mohawks and electric blue mullets are all still permitted.