A scenic drive through the area known as the Bald Hills of Bathurst was officially opened and named Mt Panorama.

Just a few weeks later, on April 16, the first official motor racing event was held on the 6.2km scenic drive.

A lot has changed over the past 73 years, but the track has always been revered as one of the most challenging car and driver will face.

Local brothers, and lifetime car enthusiasts, Keith and Robert Bridge have a special connection to the circuit.

Their brother Albert’s 1954 Peugeot 203A is a wonderful connection to Australian motor racing history.

Albert, the middle of the three boys, never received any formal engineering or mechanical training but he was one of those gifted individuals who just knew how to make things go faster, last longer or perform better, and motorcars were his specialty.

Albert’s Peugeot was purchased new from Kinghorne Street car dealer, Milne and Buchan Motors by local general practitioner, Dr Oldham.

When the doctor updated to a ’57 model in 1957, Albert Bridge purchased the car and almost immediately set about making it go faster.

Albert’s older brother Keith remembers the day the 203A was added to the families growing collection of Peugeots.

“Our father, Keith Snr, who was a motor mechanic at Barnes Garage where Dave Hill Marine is today, was once a Peugeot dealer in Moruya and owned a 1952 sedan,” he said.

“I had a 1954 ute, so we were pretty hooked on them,” he said.

Keith Snr did not approve of modifying cars but did offer guidance to young Albert along the way.

With money tight and parts scarce, 20-year-old Albert used his natural talent to engineer his own parts and modified the engine guided by Phil Irving’s book Tuning for Speed.

Race victories at Nowra Hill climb events and a second place at a one off sprint meeting held on Seven Mile Beach only increased Albert’s enthusiasm for the sport and he single mindedly set his sights on racing his Peugeot at the 1960 Easter Bathurst race meeting.

With just months to prepare and three signatures required on his racing licence to qualify, Albert and his brothers embarked on a road trip to compete the required racing events.

Two trips to a freezing cold Gnoo Blas circuit in Orange and one to Terrawingi near Wangaratta resulting in multi class wins did the trick.

“In those days you didn’t take the car anywhere on a trailer, you just drove it to the race track. Race it and drove it home,” laughed Keith.

With the three required signatures Albert and the Peugeot arrived at Bathurst ready to take on the GT class and the likes of Leo Geoghan in a fast FJ Holden.

The seats and bumper bars were removed to help lighten the car, and after a frantic eight lap sprint Albert placed first in class and third outright in his first race.

This was followed by fourth outright in the combined GT and sports car event, winning Albert a silver tray and £18.

The little Peugeot was also clocked at 117 mph (188 km/h) on Conrod Straight, not bad for a car that had a 70mph top speed in stock condition.

Upon their return to the Shoalhaven Keith said his brother was treated to a rock star’s reception.

“A picture of him standing by the car was splashed across the front page of the Nowra Leader newspaper with a wonderful back page story.”

Albert and the Peugeot 203A returned to Bathurst two more times before the temptation of building a Peugeot open wheel racing car took over.

Unfortunately Albert never got the chance to realise his full potential as a car builder and race driver.

At just 25-years-old he was fatally injured when a car he was a passenger in crashed.

“The 203 was passed onto me and my wife Hilma learned to drive in it,” Keith said.

“When we updated to a newer Peugeot I retuned the car to its racing roots competing at Warwick Farm and using it in club events until finally it was retired to the back of the shed.”

In 2005 Keith started a full restoration of the Peugeot with the hope it would be finished before the 50th anniversary of Albert’s first race at Bathurst.

“Unfortunately I didn’t have the car finished in time for Bathurst 2010, but I did make it to this year’s Kick Start rally and was thrilled to win the prestigious Peter Walsh Trophy, for best restoration,” Keith said.

These days the car sits proudly in Keith’s shed looking as spectacular as the day Albert stood next to it for the Nowra Leader front page photo.

“Keep an eye on the tracks, we’ll be back,” Keith said.