‘An experience I will never forget’: How the Gold Coast 500 changed my opinion on Supercars

From barely a passing interest to an “experience I’ll never forget” - find out how this year’s GC500 changed sports reporter Jake Garland’s whole outlook on Supercars.

For three days I got the chance to observe, listen to car enthusiasts and soak in all I possibly could about Supercars.

It is something that I have never experienced, never really bothered with despite knowing so many people who are into cars back in my home state of Western Australia.

To put my knowledge of cars into perspective for you, my first four-wheel foray was a Holden Vectra, followed by a 2011 Hyundai I30, then a Hyundai Veloster, a Holden Cruze and now finally a Nissan Navara.

Hardly cars you’d associate with a revhead.

Large crowds gathered on the spectator viewing mound for the Sunday afternoon race of the Gold Coast 500 V8 Supercars race, held on the Surfers Paradise street circuit. Picture: Brendan Radke

Nevertheless on Friday and Saturday I ventured along to watch the Gold Coast 500.

I observed the crowd, watched them watching in anticipation of what was going to happen.

I watched drift cars, Porsches, high-powered utes, people on water jetpacks, jet skis, skateboarders on a half pipe, spectators glued to the action to see if a car might lose it around a corner and of course – the Supercars.

For someone who has never experienced anything like this (in fact, anytime I would see it on the TV, I would usually just flick past it) I have to admit it was the greatest weekend I think I have ever experienced.

I went by myself, knowing that a mate of mine was there but he was working. I knew I would eventually catch up with him and he introduced me to some of his mates who like me weren’t big car enthusiasts but just loved the atmosphere.

These blokes have all been coming to the Gold Coast 500 for about 20 years. They witnessed the Indy cars era. It was through them where I discovered a greater understanding of what these types of events mean to people.

In an AFL, NRL, or cricket game, everything is usually done within the a few hours, unless they are playing in a test match then you have five days of it.

But a test match doesn’t have the atmosphere that the Supercars have over the three days.

Sure if Australia is playing England or maybe India then the atmosphere is incredible. But Supercars are a completely different feeling.

Day one was practice runs, and despite the weather being horrible on Friday, there was still plenty of action among the crowd.

Day two had the races, it started with the Sport Sedans, then the drift cars, then the Porsches, Super Utes, Supercars qualifying then back to the start of those categories. The day finished off with the first Supercars race for the weekend.

Off the race track, the highlight was meeting Wayne Dennis, a massive motorsports fanatic who has got his checkered flag signed by every winner of Bathurst since 1963.

Wayne Dennis of Coombabah lined up for over 30 minutes to get Shane Van Gisbergen's signature on his chequered flag at the Gold Coast 500 V8 Supercars race. He now has every Bathurst winner's signature on the flag back to 1963 - 60 years of Bathurst winners. Picture: Brendan Radke

Day three – the final day of the GC500 – was by far the best of the lot.

A massive crash in the Sport Sedans started the action. Then in the Supercars it began with a crash on the first turn.

With 20 laps to go in the main race, I got to sit in pit lane and side-by-side were Dave Reynolds and Brodie Kostecki’s teams.

With about 15 laps to go, Kostecki made his move and took first place back after leading for the most of the race.

His team in the pits reacted with applause, high fives and a few fist pumps.

It didn’t last long though with Reynolds claiming back the lead just a few laps later. Again this was met with applause and cheers by his team.

The next 10 laps, you could cut the tension with a knife.

Pit crew were on the edge of their seat, with every move made by Kostecki to gain back the lead. Family and friends who sat at the back of the pit area were watching on, almost willing him to take back the lead.

A serious crash with seven laps saw the safety car rolled out and then the race cut to four laps – ramping up the tension for those watching on.

Kostecki tried to find his opening, he almost had it a couple of times but to no avail and Reynolds claimed the second day of the GC500.

David Reynolds wins the Sunday race of the Gold Coast 500 V8 Supercars race, held on the Surfers Paradise street circuit. Picture: Brendan Radke

It was bloody intense and so exciting to watch, especially from that position.

My mate who was working in the morning, he and his mates watched it from the roof Seacreast Beachfront Holiday Apartments.

I went and spoke to them after the race, just to express my excitement over what a finish that final race was.

One asked back at the apartment: “How good is that for your first race event?”

“I reckon you will be back next year now after something like that,” another added.

“F***ing unreal race mate, we had an awesome view from the roof mate.”

And as the excitement of the weekend begins to fade the experience has proven to me that you really do need to try things at least once in your life. Only then will you know if it is truly for you.

Now I’m not saying I am going to go out become a Supercars tragic who can tell you everything you need to know about them.

But I have already started looking at the dates for next year for the GC500 because I will definitely be back, possibly even covering it for work.

Bring on the Gold Coast 500 in 2024.

Originally published as ‘An experience I will never forget’: How the Gold Coast 500 changed my opinion on Supercars