Classic road trip for racing brothers

carsales Racing's Todd Kelly and brother Rick are going retro for their traditional Bathurst 1000 road trip, heading off to compete in the annual endurance event in a 'classic' Nissan Figaro towing a matching Jayco J-Pod camper.

For many years the Kelly brothers have made the 800km journey from their Melbourne base to Mount Panorama in, errr... interesting, vehicles.

This year’s choice, a Japanese domestic market Nissan Figaro convertible is one of the more left of field.

Adding to the flavour the diminutive Figaro will be towing a 'Bathurst Special Edition' Jayco caravan. And to ensure the caravanning road trip experience is authentic, the team will make overnight stops at Jayco ‘leisure parks’ en route.

Kicking the trip off in style, the Kelly brothers donned their finest ‘1950s’ threads, with the dress up theme now a staple of the yearly expedition. Once in Bathurst, the Kellys will join six other drivers in Nissan’s four car attack on The Great Race.

Todd will be paired with Brit Alex Buncombe in the carsales Racing entry. On track action is scheduled to commence on Thursday (Oct 8) with three practice sessions, before two further practices and qualifying on Friday, the top-ten shootout on Saturday, and the 161-lap Bathurst 1000 classic on Sunday.

“For Todd and me, the Bathurst road trip is a tradition. We’ve done it for 12 or 13 years now, and it all started back when Todd, I and Nathan Pretty drove a campervan up to Bathurst,” said Rick Kelly.

“The whole idea was to take a day and half to get there, and arrive in a good frame of mind. I think we certainly achieved that, and since then we have just carried on the tradition."

Said a slightly sceptical Todd: “The Nissan Figaro is completely Rick’s deal, so I can stand back and wipe my hands clean of the expedition if we get picked on. Or I can say it was half my idea if people like it!”

To ensure the boys make it to the track on time, they will be backed up by team co-driver David Russell in a slightly more sensible tow vehicle -- a new turbo-diesel Nissan Navara.