GOLD COAST INDY

What is it about motor sports and water that has an attraction all its own? The Monaco Grand Prix, by the resplendent Mediterranean, remains the jewel in the Formula One crown. Hollywood’s A-list turns out in force to soak up California’s Long Beach Grand Prix. Albert Park Lake is rimmed by F1’s Melbourne circuit. And the Gold Coast hosts one of international motor sport’s annual high-water marks - the Lexmark Indy 300, which pulls a crowd of more than 300,000 over four days of racing.

With the surf practically lapping at the base of the back straight stands adjoining the Surfers Paradise Esplanade, the Gold Coast Indy boasts one of the world’s great street racing circuits. It’s not only a feast for the eyes and ears of motor racing fans; the event tempts you in so many other directions too. Indy Carnival week has become a wickedly indulgent moveable feast that runs the length and breadth of the Coast, via its multitude of first-rate restaurants, sidewalk bistros and cafes, and bars and clubs that cater for all tastes. The panoramically designed 4.47km circuit winds through the city streets of the northern Main Beach end of Surfers Paradise, past a plethora of major hotels and resorts and all manner of gaudy high rise towers. It then comes together magnificently on the long Esplanade back straight.

The Indy race first roared around the streets of Surfers in 1991, and while it was something of a political football in its early years - when it was mainly conceived as a means to flog Queensland tourism to the world via TV sportscasts - these days its main tourist target is the rest of Australia.

WHEN’S IT ON?

While the racing stretches from October 20-23, the Gold Coast puts on its best party dress for a week or so leading up to the climactic Sunday 23rd.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

This year’s event comprises round 13 of the 2005 Champ Car World Series and round 11 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. While there is only the one major Sunday (October 23) afternoon race for the champ car series plus earlier qualifying sesssions, the V8s stage three individual championship races - a 140km Saturday race and two 100km events on Sunday either side of the Indy 300 itself. There are other supporting race categories as well as a special Friday night session which includes a Royal Australian Air Force F-111 doing spectacular low-flying “dump and burns” - whatever that means.

The Champ Cars: Would you believe the actual Lexmark Indy 300 Champ Car race is raced over 57 laps for a total distance of … 254.79 kilometres? Go figure. The open-wheel Ford Cosworth XF turbo-charged V8 engines supposedly provide a top speed of 380 km/h, but close to 300 clicks will sort the men from the boys at Surfers. Amazingly, no driver has managed to win the race more than once in the past 14 years.

The V8 Supercars: Holden vs Ford is what it’s all about. With a claimed top speed of 298 km/h, the big V8s can go from 0 to 100 in four seconds. Don’t expect to buy one of these monsters off the showroom floor.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH RACE TICKETS?

While you can select individual days, most visitors plump for either four-day Reserved Grandstand or General Admission (GA) tickets.
Individual day GA adult tickets are $29 (Thur); $48 (Fri); $70 (Sat); $76 (Sun). A 4-Day GA adult ticket is $150. A Weekend GA adult ticket is $120. Family GA ticket for two adults and two children costs $230. This ticket will cover the key days and nights of racing (Friday from 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday).
Naturally, grandstands offer differing quality in vantage points and come at prices to suit all budgets. Ticket pricing grades grandstand seating as Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. You can start at the basic $210 (Bronze Stand); $280 (Silver); $430 (Gold); and $525 (Platinum Club). All GA and Grandstand tickets can be purchased with or without on-track accommodation access.
You can pre-purchase through PhoneCharge on Ticketek National Network – 1300 303 103 or visit the website: ticketek.com.
Alternatively, go via a Ticketek agency. There’ll be three Ticketek booths outside the circuit during the event, located at Main Gate South, Ocean Avenue and Main Gate North.
There’s free public transportation via the city’s main Surfside Buslines and Queensland Rail’s Citytrain network from Brisbane to the Coast for all Indy ticket holders.

WHAT ABOUT EXTRAS?

Among the high-profile Indy-associated events is the black-tie Bartercard Indy Gala Ball (Thursday October 20) held at Conrad Jupiters; but of greater interest to race fans are such functions as the official Champ Cars drivers’ breakfast and the V8 Supercar drivers’ auction in the lead-up to the weekend action.
Indy also offers fans a chance to get their memorabilia signed by drivers from both elite championships at specially organised trackside autograph sessions. With the razzamatazz of the “Miss Indy” contest and more than 50 other off-track events such as the Surfers Paradise “Rio” Carnivale Of Colours street parade (October 22), the tourist strip is revving on full throttle.
Pit tours of about 20 minutes for both Champ Cars and the V8s are run separately at regular intervals. Tickets are available from the Pit Walk booth on MacIntosh Island behind the pit area, but numbers are very limited. Tickets can only be scored at the track and cost $22. You can get a combined tour ticket for both Champ Cars and V8s for $30.

GETTING THERE AND GETTING AROUND

If flying from interstate you have the choice of Coolangatta airport or Brisbane, which offers a direct rail link to the Coast. However, rail travel is restricted to the main Robina-Brisbane line, which at any point along the hinterland route puts you a considerable distance away from the track at Surfers. By far the most economical and practical mode of local public transport is bus.
Hire cars – The usual suspects.
Limo hire – We’re told Prestige Limousines are very dependable. Phone (07) 5588 1288.
Taxi – Regent Taxis on 131 008. Indy taxi ranks are just outside Main Gates North and South, but they’re for extreme optimists only.
Water Taxis – Gold Coast Water Taxis, (0418) 759 789.
Helicopter anyone? Try Ocean Air, (07) 5529 4744. A landing pontoon is located at the track on Macintosh Island behind the pits.
Airship? (Just kidding.)