You could say it was cool while it lasted. But it’s more accurate to declare ‘it was cold while it lasted.’

Canberra joined the V8 Supercar schedule in 2000, after the ACT government saw what the Adelaide 500 achieved for South Australia. It was a unique event with a demanding racetrack around the Parliamentary Triangle, held at the start of winter just as the Federal politicians were breaking from their slumber and heading back into their electorates.

The driving force behind the event was ACT chief minister ‘Can Do’ Kate Carnell. In announcing the ‘National Capital 100’ in 1999, Carnell’s political spin included the absurd notion that Canberra had edged out bids from Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand to secure the staging rights for the race. Oh please...

This article appeared in Australia MUSCLE CAR Magazine Issue 105