There's no other motor-racing circuit in Australia that holds the same magic as Bathurst's Mount Panorama.

It's been home to the Australian Grand Prix, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and TT, the Australian Hill Climb Championship, the Bathurst 1000 and now a round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. To win on the Mountain is still the pinnacle of Australian motorsport achievement.

With the big race at Mount Panorama fast approaching, you are invited to come and hear the stories behind the legend from motor-racing journalist, John Smailes.

John has worked as a motor racing journalist and PR consultant for more than four decades and has had extraordinary access to the Mountain and to the leading motor-racing names — past and present.

When Jack Brabham celebrated his three world championships, when the Bathurst 1000 was born, when motorcycle greats Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner, Warren Willing and Gregg Hansford tested themselves, John was there.

He has reported on every victory by Peter Brock, Allan Moffat, Larry Perkins and Dick Johnson and he's covered the careers of contemporary stars Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Mark Skaife and the incredible father-and-son duo Jim and Steven Richards.

In his book Mount Panorama, John Smailes gives us the definitive account of the Mountain, taking us into the pits, the workshops and the boardrooms to reveal the stories behind the circuit's conception and the champions and legendary races that have made it so famous. It's the Mountain brought to life!

This Friday, John will be in Orange to talk about Mount Panorama and his more than 40 years association with this magic racing circuit.

The event will be held at Collins Booksellers in Summer Street, Friday 11 October at 5pm.