For Ballarat V8 touring car driver Mick Pitcher, it is no different. 

However, despite being a self-confessed rev-head, Pitcher has never been to the mecca of Australian racing.

Until now. Pitcher, a member of the VicV8s club, this year received a special invitation to compete in the Bathurst Motor Festival at Mount Panorama.

Racing his VT Commodore, Pitcher will join eight fellow club members from throughout Victoria in competing in the combined sedans section this weekend.

“I’ve been to pretty much every racetrack in Australia, but I always had the theory that I would never go to Bathurst until I got to race there,” Pitcher said. “It’s a dream come true really.”

A diesel mechanic by trade from Cambrian Hill, Pitcher can often be found racing V8 touring cars around Victoria. He is now contesting the biggest race of his life.

He has done all the work on the car himself, reinforcing the rule that “nobody touches the car but me”.

In terms of performance, he is not overly worried about results – it is all about the experience.

Competing against 52 other drivers, he will go through practice, qualifying races and three races of eight laps.

“I’m a bit nervous because the biggest field I’ve raced in before this was 28 cars, but this is going to be almost twice as big as that,” he said. “It’s just exciting though really.”

Qualifying starts on Friday.

Pitcher thanked his sponsors R&J Batteries, Elaine Excavations and Doherty and Clark Tyres.