Hundreds of race fans stood with smiles on their faces, despite the warm weather, as they anxiously waited their turn to meet the V8 legends at the Kings Parade drivers signing.

The slight breeze that picked up every now and then provided little reprieve from the heat. Beneath the shade of two white tents sat the 13 star drivers and their co-drivers.

Craig Lowndes and Mark Winterbottom were the most popular drivers, with people lining up for hours to get their autographs. 

Brett Smith has followed the V8s for 30 years and has attended the off track events every year since he moved to Bathurst in 2010.

This year he went the extra mile for ‘Lowndesy’s’ signature. 

Brett took a week’s holiday from work to ensure he could be part of all the Great Race action.

Yesterday, he took his family out to watch the parade before the signing session at 12.15pm.

Brett’s son, Liam, is an outspoken Craig Lowndes’ fan and Brett was happy to wait “as long as it took” to make sure his little boy got the autograph he so desperately wanted.

The heat made the wait more difficult, but it was all worth it in the end when they got to see ‘Lowndesy’. 

And what did young Liam think about meeting his legend? 

“Awesome!” 

The Smith family was able to get clothes, phone covers and photos signed by Lowndes, while others who lined up got more creative and had model cars and iPads signed.

But they were the lucky ones.

The line was still winding through the barriers when the signing ended at 1.15pm and those remaining had to wait for the second signing, which featured different drivers.

Source: The Western Advocate, Bathurst