Here it is, my guide for Newton’s. Almost everything you need to know, plus a bit more.
Newton’s Playground is the Australian leg of the IGSA World Cup. This year it is the World Championship race, so who ever wins their category is crowned World Champion. This is the one of the main reason you should get to Newton’s this year as a spectator. We have a high proportion of overseas competitors, all of the top racers from around the world standing on top of our mountain, thinking of all the possibilities and dreaming of glory.
Maps
Camp ground map of facilities on Mt Panorama.
Click Here or on the image above to enlarge this map of Newton’s Playground
Mount Panorama Race track Map
Map of Bathurst
Click Here or on the image above to enlarge this map of Bathurst
How to get there?
Best way to get to Bathurst is by car. It is a 3 hour car trip from Sydney to Bathurst. The only two roads you need to know are Western Motorway and the Great Western Highway. Drive to the Western Motorway which will take you west out of Sydney to the Blue Mountains. From there it connects to the Great Western Highway, which will take you all the way to Bathurst, passing over the Blue Mountains, through Lithgow and then to Bathurst. Police patrol this road, please observe the speed limits.
Other modes of transport are trains. Train via CountryLink on the NSW Central West Line takes 3 hours and 30 minutes from Sydney Central. Trains run every day, between 1 and 2 trains.
You can plan a train trip here
Daily train timetable here
Where to stay?
You can camp on the mountain. There is a camp fee of $20 per car. You must have a camp sticker to get past security at night in McPhillamy Park.
Hotel accomodation is listed on the ASRA website
We recommend Wotif for online hotel bookings
Car access to Newton’s Playground
If you are driving, entrance to Mt Panorama is via Murray’s Corner. The only vehicle access to the top of the mountain is turning right and driving around Hell’s Corner, up mountain Straight and driving up to McPhillamy Park. You can park for free at McPhillamy. There is no parking on the road. Please note that Mount Panorama is a public road. Normal road rules apply. You can not speed or race your car on this road. This road is a two way road. Do not cut corners, you will run into on coming traffic.
This year the rear entrance to McPhillamy Park is closed. There will be no vehicle access.
Please be considerate to the residents on Mount Panorama.
Conrod Straight will be blocked for general public road traffic from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Where is the best place to watch all the racing?
Forest Elbow now known as Rayne Corner is where all the action happens. This is the most exciting part of the track, racers have to negotiate speeds of up to 70kmph and a tight left corner. The best vantage point is called Fox’s View. You’ll meet Fox, he’ll be the one on the track coordinating the resetting of haybales when there is a crash.
There is now a tarred access road down to Fox’s view from Skyline (start line). There are various places along the way to watch the racing and get a different perspective.
Another good vantage point is at the start line. This year spectators have access to the grass hill over looking the start line. This is also where the food and trade market are located. The ASRA tent will have festival merchandise and a plasma screen with live racing video.
We are allowing spectator access past Fox’s View and down Conrod Straight.
Essential items
It will be hot this year on the mountain. Already the long range forecast is 30 degrees.
Water water water water. Bring lots of water. Sunscreen, hat and a big smile.
Food
There will be food vendors on the mountain. Located at Fox’s view and also in the trade village at the start line. Everyone is allowed to bring their own food and drink. There is no restrictions on food and beverage. Bathurst City is not a far drive away to buy extra supplies.
Please be kind with your rubbish, we have to clean up after you.
After Party
McPhillamy Park will be a big party spot. All the crazy antics happened in the camp area last year.
Most of the riders will be at the Uni bar at Charles Sturt University every night. This is the official ASRA after race chill out area. UniBar has plenty of space, bar area, lounge, BBQ, and outdoor area. The equipment accreditation will be here on the Thursday. There are plans for a bus service to run from the Unibar to McPhillamy Park at night to help riders and spectators to get off the mountain, to the Unibar and back again at night.
UniBar are running a bistro service that will serve hot food most of the night.
The general public are welcome to drink and chill out with the competitors each night at the UniBar. Location is on the maps above.
If you can only make one day
If you can only make one day of racing, get there on Sunday. Sunday is final day. All the top competitors, most intense racing, and maybe new World Champions created.
Awards and Ceremony Night
After party and awards night starts at the UniBar at 7pm on Sunday night. Riders will start to arrive around 6pm.
General public welcome and encouraged to attend. Competitors must attend … especially if you won 
How much are ticket prices?
Newton’s is FREE this year. That’s right, you can come and watch the fastest skateboarders on this planet, racing down Australia’s most famous mountain. All for nothing. Bring your kids, bring your dad, bring your wife or mum, pack the car, get travelling. SEE YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN !
I can not make it this year Hop, I promise I’ll poke my eye with a hot poker as punishment, but where can I find all the live results?
I’m glad you asked.
There is going to be video on the ASRA website this year. We are planning to post up all the days racing, probably a 1 to 2 hour delay. It will not be a live stream. It will be available to watch over and over again. We like that, it makes us feel popular when you watch it more than once.
Paulus will be taking photos all weekend of the racing and posting them up each day on the ASRA website.
Hop will be twittering all weekend on HopkinSkate account.
Marcus has internet access at the finish line this year, so he will be twittering on the IGSA twitter account.
Marcus will be posting results on IGSA World Cup website.
ASRA will be updating the ASRA website will all the days results.
This has been your captain speaking … brace yourself for take off
hop
