Surfers festivities already underway.
With just three weeks to go until the Lexmark Indy 300, Indy Fever is already taking hold in Surfers Paradise with more than 50 events on the official off track calendar.
Some like the annual 'Sing your way to Lexmark Indy 300' karaoke competition and 'Lexmark Indy 300 Daytona Competition' are already underway, adding to the colour and excitement of the whole Indy carnival, which will grip the Gold Coast from October 21st to the 24th.
With just three weeks to go until the Lexmark Indy 300, Indy Fever is already taking hold in Surfers Paradise with more than 50 events on the official off track calendar.
Some like the annual 'Sing your way to Lexmark Indy 300' karaoke competition and 'Lexmark Indy 300 Daytona Competition' are already underway, adding to the colour and excitement of the whole Indy carnival, which will grip the Gold Coast from October 21st to the 24th.
With the Champ Cars and Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge set to highlight the main show on the track, there will be numerous opportunities for fans to catch up with their racing heroes off the track.
Two of the most popular annual off track events are the Champ Car Driver's Breakfast at Conrad Jupiters to be held on Thursday October 21 - the first day of the Lexmark Indy 300; and the Gillette V8 Supercar Driver's BBQ to be staged in the Broadbeach Mall from 4pm that same day.
The Champ Car Driver's Breakfast at Conrad Jupiters always whets the appetites for racing fans before the drivers actually hit the track, and is traditionally the first opportunity for the public to meet the drivers off the plane in Australia.
Past Gold Coast winners such as Jimmy Vasser, Paul Tracy, Mario Dominguez and Ryan Hunter-Reay will feature alongside other current day stars Sebastien Bourdais from France, Bruno Junqueira from Brazil and Patrick Carpentier from Canada. All have many stories to tell in what is a great insight into the life of these speed merchants.
Then following a day at the track, fans can venture to Broadbeach Mall to meet the 32 drivers in action in the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge.
Ford's Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall, Paul Radisich and Steve Johnson, and Holden's Jason Bright, Steven Richards, Mark Skaife and Greg Murphy will be a handful of the fan favourites at the BBQ.
These two events highlight the 2004 Official Off Track Events Calendar which also includes a multitude of Bartercard Miss Indy judgings and events; high-powered and prestige car shows; dancing; horse racing; family days; polo; rallying; Shooters nightclub parties; entertainment at Mano's Restaurant; automotive innovations; corporate functions; bands at Troccadero; the Surfers Paradise 'Carnivale of Colours'; golf days; Chris Isaak concert at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre; cocktail parties and luncheons; an etchells regatta and the Lexmark Indy 300 Gala Ball also to be held at Conrad Jupiters.
Lexmark Indy 300 General Manager James O'Brien said the variety of events on the off track calendar have really transformed Indy into an entertainment carnival encapsulating all of Queensland and broader.
"Some of the official off track events are national in their own right including Bartercard Miss Indy and Sing your way to Indy, with their respective finals held during the Lexmark Indy 300," said O'Brien.
"There is certainly something for everyone, for all ages and interests. The off track program is a vital component of the whole Lexmark Indy 300 carnival, adding to the colour, excitement and entertainment.
"It is great that there are opportunities for the public to interact with the drivers at events such as the Champ Car Driver's Breakfast at Conrad Jupiters and Gillette V8 Supercar Driver's BBQ at Broadbeach Mall - it adds to the appeal for fans."
