GT Nationals 2003 Page 1

10th Falcon GT Nationals

The 10th GT Falcon Nationals were held over the Australia Day long weekend (24th to 27th January 2003) in Bathurst, NSW. Being the spiritual home of the great Ford Falcon GT this event was always going to be big. In the end it turn out to be huge beyond all expectations with over 320 entrants. From WA alone 6 cars were either driven or trucked to the event and over 40 people from the Falcon GT Club of WA made the trip east.

Another coup for the event was the unveiling of the eagerly anticipated new BA Falcon GT by Ford Performance Vehicles.

Registration was held on Thursday & Friday 23 & 24 January at the Bathurst Show Grounds. At registration, all entrants cars were scruitineered by the event judges to firstly validate each car as being a genuine GT Falcon and secondly to determine in which class the car should be judged. Classes ranged from Original Unrestored to Contemporary for cars that have had some modification from original.

The Nationals kicked off officially on Friday evening with an criuse around the track (at 60kph of course) and barbeque held in the centre of Bathurst. This enabled a sneak preview of the cars in anticipation of the main show 'n shine to be held the following day.

Eyeballing the talent while enjoying the barby.

The Show 'n Shine event was held on Saturday at the Bathurst Show Grounds. It was a hot event in more ways than one. Apparently the mercury toped 42°C. The same day Melbourne got its second ever highest recorded temperature of 47°C. Smoke from a burning Canberra some 400kms away restricted visibility to a few kms.

However, if you thought the heat might keep people away you would be wrong. People came in their droves to pay the $2 entry fee to see such a large number of the most collectable Australian cars in one place. A nice touch was that all gate proceeds were donated to charity.

With such a large number of cars entered in the event any GT lover was bound to be blown away by the whole experience. A big "thank you" goes out to the judges who selflessly gave up their whole day in the searing heat to judge cars. Were it not for these people due recognition could not be given to the best cars who's owners have sunk truck loads of money and time into their cars to make them the best examples in existence.

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