The best hearse I ever saw

And other tasteful delights from the Adelaide 500

This weekend, instead of doing noble pursuits like writing and thinking, I decided to do the opposite and check out the final round of the Supercars. My friend Brett — down a camera person on short notice — offered to fly me to Adelaide to film social videos. 

“Could you do it?” Brett asked.

“Absolutely,” I replied with a criminal amount of confidence.

I’ve had many jobs in the media, everything from vision mixing to producing and editing, but I haven’t really worked as a camera operator. In fact, the last time I took filming seriously I was at university using studio cameras that only recorded in 4:3. 

But potentially wasting a friend’s time with unusable footage wasn’t enough to discourage me from getting my grubby little hands on a media pass. 

I fucking love a media pass .

So for two days, we ran around the track, did some filming and ate party pies in corporate boxes not meant for us. 

When we weren’t digging into other people’s free food, Brett and I were quite busy. There’s a lot to see around the track. But perhaps my favourite car on display was this tastefully converted Holden hearse. 

I know what you’re thinking. If only it came with a matching custom-made Holden coffin, right?

Well guess what:

“Do you reckon Brock is in there?” Brett asked. 

This cute decal also caught my attention.

Inspired, I wrote what is easily my most divisive social media post of the year:

A lot of people reaaaally hated this.

But you know what really makes the Adelaide 500 such a great race? The friendliness of the fans. 

At one point, while I was reapplying my sunscreen, one bloke with an enormous, sloppy burger in his hand practically jogged over to ask if he could help. What an offer! I could hold his burger while he rubbed his greasy hands all over my bare shoulders and neck. 

I politely declined, prematurely ending what could have been a beautiful relationship. 

This shrewish behaviour is probably why I’m alone in my hotel room right now.

Anyway, it’s 1am. I have another gig in Melbourne tomorrow. So best I go to bed.

See you next Monday, same time.