Got the fever

Zoom zoom: A champ car approaching at high speed hugs the corners with ease. Photos by Cpl Neil Reeves

A F-111 passes at low level with the trademark dump and burn.

Hot stuff: A champ car roars into the distance in the Queensland heat.

Cpl Neil Reeves captures all the on- and off-track action at the Gold Coast Indy 300.

Indy fever engulfed the Gold Coast and the City of Brisbane once again and I had been lured by the fast pace and thundering sounds of screaming cars and engines.

I was fortunate enough to be granted a photographer accreditation for the entire Indy 300 event.

I had never been to the event before and wasn’t quite sure what I was in for. The air buzzed with roaring engines and people cheering from all directions. It was like a giant party wherever you looked. Everyone was busy preparing cars, selling memorabilia, shopping, drinking, and moving from one side of the track to another. The track never stood still – there was always something happening.

The ADF had a strong presence at Indy, with the Defence recruiting van positioned close to the Holden memorabilia site. The new ASLAV was pleasing the crowds, belting around the circuit spinning its turret as it went. The Roulettes performed another flawless display, with running commentary on every manoeuvre.

The F-111 dump and burn stole the show once again. Three times the F-111 roared past at low-level. First pass was slower with all wheels down. The second was flat-out with the wings tucked back tight. And finally, the dump and burn was a truly awesome site – flames pelting from the rear of the aircraft, the crowd stood in silence as the F-111 lit up the sky.

It turned out to be a fantastic event for both the V8 super cars and the champ cars. The weekend had it all – rain, sunshine, crashes, fast cars, trucks, planes, bikes and, this year, night racing as well.