The annual pilgrimage to the Bathurst 1000 draws race fans, young and old, to the Mount for a camping adventure with a difference.

Camp sites are loaded with huge piles of wood and decades-long commitment to the sport.

Oberon resident Richard Gear, 30, may live just down the road from Bathurst, but every year he joins the pilgrimage to the iconic Mount Panorama.

“This is my 31st year here,” he said.

“I’m 30 years old, but I first came here when I was 11.5 months old.”

When asked why he doesn’t just make a daily commute from Oberon to catch the action at the track, he had a simple answer.

“The atmosphere is good. The guys here are like my other family, but the ones you only see once or twice a year,” Mr Gear said.

He is among campers at ‘The Flag Inn’ site located behind the pits, and their set up is so extensive it takes three days to construct.

Gold Coast woman Kellie Evatt has travelled to the Mount with her father, Peter Evatt, and their friend Brett McDonnell.

Ms Evatt also brought two other friends – ‘Emily’ the XYGT Falcon and ‘Violet’ the GTR XU1 Holden.

Such is her love for the two muscle cars that she will drive Emily in the Muscle Car Marathon Mecca today.

“I’m so excited, I’ve got so much adrenalin,” Ms Evatt said.

Over at the Canberra Torana Club campsite, president Lawrie Reid is back for his seventh year at the Mount.

With a day to go until the winner of the 55th Bathurst 1000 is crowned, Mr Reid already has his sights set on the chequered flag.

“I’d like to see [Craig] Lowndes win it but, if not, one of the Erebus cars,” he said.

Tamworth man John Marengo is at the Mount for the 15th year running.

“My son Alex and I used to be flag marshals,” he said of the first 12 years.

“It’s Australia’s greatest race, it gets everyone in.”

He was at the track with a 1983 Holden VH Group 3 SS signed by the King of the Mountain himself – Peter Brock.