Capturing the emotion of Bathurst's most emotional day

The 2006 Bathurst 1000 still holds a special place for official Supercars photographer Mark Horsburgh.

Horsburgh, who was honoured by Motorsport Australia for his outstanding work during the COVID-19-affected 2020 season, has been on the spot for hundreds of defining moments in Supercars history.

The veteran snapper was present at Mount Panorama on October 8, 2006, which marked the first running of the Bathurst 1000 after Peter Brock's passing.

Mount Panorama was awash with Brock tributes; posters lined the trackside, messages were inscribed along the walls, and a silver Holden Commodore VZ Supercar was signed from air dam to rear bumper.

The race duly won by Brock's protege Craig Lowndes, who combined with a young Jamie Whincup to secure a memorable victory.

Fifteen years on, Horsburgh - who will return to Mount Panorama to shoot this year's Repco Bathurst 1000 - explained why the 2006 race holds dear.

“It’s one of those races when you think back on it, all the emotions come flooding back,” Horsburgh told Supercars.com.

“It was an emotional day for everyone. Lowndesy was clearly upset, and rightfully so.

“I wanted to capture the moment, but as a human, I also wanted them to have their privacy too.

“Looking back on it, it was an emotional time for everyone.

“But for Lowndesy to come through it all and win it, it was very pleasing.”

The front row of the grid was left vacant in Brock's memory for the race, which began after Brock's cars were paraded around the circuit and a minute's silence.

Lowndes took the wheel of Brock's 1972 race-winning Torana, and cut an emotional figure before the race start.

“There were tributes everywhere you looked,” Horsburgh continued.

“Everyone had banners over the fence; it was a sea of Brock memorabilia. It was amazing.

“People had written tributes on the grid and on the wall on Skyline.

"There was no room left for messages on the silver Commodore.

“It was a day where it didn’t matter if you were a Ford or Holden fan. You just had great respect for Peter, and for the day."

Away from the emotion of the occasion, the race featured several defining moments, none as jarring as Paul Radisich's crash on lap 73.

Horsburgh was on the scene for the aftermath, and had to again regain composure to capture the moment.

“Radisich had a big accident at The Chase, and when I got there, the car was on its side,” Horsburgh explained.

“It took a while for him to be extricated, and again, I was conscious of his privacy.

“I knew I needed to get the photos - that’s my job - but I sympathised with the marshals and officials who were giving me daggers.

“It was a hard day to put the emotions aside, but the news-hunting side of me kicked in and I had to do it all justice.

“Because at the end of the day, if you don’t capture the moment, someone else will.”

After nearly seven hours of shooting, Horsburgh was on the spot to capture the podium celebrations.

There, Lowndes and Whincup accepted the Peter Brock Trophy from Brock's brother Phil.

The trophy has been handed to Bathurst winners every year since, Lowndes winning the trophy a record five more times.

However, Horsburgh acknowledged the very first awarding of the trophy will remain its most significant.

“Phil was there handing Craig and Jamie the trophy; Craig was clearly emotional then, too,” Horsburgh said.

“You look back on it - Peter’s brother handing Peter’s protege the trophy - you won’t see something like that happen again.

“Every time I look at those photos, it triggers the emotions of the day. That day touched everybody.

“Even if you didn’t know who Peter personally, or you didn’t follow motorsport, you knew who Peter was.

“He can never be replaced, but that’s why it was so special to see Lowndesy win.

“Being there to capture it still means a lot to me to this day."

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship and Dunlop Series seasons will conclude at the Repco Bathurst 1000.

Foxtel’s coverage will start on Wednesday 1st December at 8:25 am AEDT on channel 503 and Kayo.

The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event. Tickets for the event and camping are on sale now.