What would you do it you had unlimites funds and could wander the world at your leisure? Catherine Pattison lists her 10-top must-see motorsport events.
You don't need to be a V8 nut to want to take a trip across the Ditch to witness Bathurst. The pinnacle of the Australian V8 Supercars calendar and the test of any true driver's mettle, it is 1000km of epic Ford v Holden battles held annually at the Mount Panorama circuit.
With aptly scarily-named sections, such as Mountain Straight, Skyline and the Dipper, the mountain also features blind rises and a 300kmh straight.
The camp grounds alone would be an incredible, petrol-head people-watching experience, as they attract over 30,000 campers hellbent on downing as much beer and witnessing as much on and off-track action as possible over the Bathurst weekend.
While grown men tipping a bottle of milk over their heads may not be a sight usually associated with motor-racing, this iconic action defines the winner of one of the longest-running and most prestigious races in the world.
The milk-pouring tradition was founded in 1936, 25 years after the first Indy 500 (as in 500 miles) was run in 1911.
The history and the sheer crowd size make a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infinitely appealing before you even add in the attraction of more than 30 highly horse-powered open-wheelers dicing their way through the qualification rounds before they take their grid positions on race day.
What I wouldn't give to be cheering along with the roughly 400,000 Indy fans, screaming for their teams.
3. Nascar- Texas Motor Speedway,Fort Worth, Texas, US
Nascar is the epitome of all-American professional racing, with its signature Dodges, Chevrolets mixed in with Toyotas and Fords. It is huge in the States and is only outdone in television ratings by American football. Forget watching it on the tele though - nothing would beat sitting in the stands listening to the tumultuous roar of 750hp stock car engines on the start grid.
While the drivers themselves are not adverse to some mud-slinging in the pits and some on-track revenge tactics, I chose Texas purely for the redneck crowd value.
Being American, they sure ain't going to hold back on their opinions - making the off-track spectacles almost as entertaining as what's happening on the circuit.
The Motocross of Nations is an annual team motocross race.
Participating countries nominate their top three riders, who battle it out over massive jumps and cut-up tracks, through three races, to find the winning team.
Dominated by the United States recently, it is an amazing avenue to watch how our Kiwi boys measure up against the best in the world.
Rally Finland is unbelievably popular and lays claim to being the biggest annually-organised public event and the highest-speed rally in the World Rally Championship and it has been voted the best of the year four times now.
I would just love to be nestled amongst the hundreds of thousands Finnish fans somewhere (safely) overlooking the most famous special stage Ouninpohja, with its spectacular high speed jumps.
Motor-racing legend Rod Millen has built the ultimate driveway on his Coromandel property, which at 1.6km incorporates some of his favourite corners from his illustrious hill-climbing career. And what better way to break it in than to invite his high-profile buddies and their mighty machines to a race weekend there in March?
The Leadfoot Festival will bring together a mix of classic cars, vintage motorcycles and motorsport luminaries.
Millen will have his stable of competition cars to choose from, including a Pikes Peak Toyota Celica and a Tundra stadium truck, and naturally his boys Ryan and drift star Rhys will be taking part.
Also known as The Race to the Clouds, this event is an annual car, truck and motorcycle 19.99km scorcher to the summit of Pikes Peak. The roughly 150 competitors each year must wrestle their way through more than 156 turns up a 1439m climb.
I'd book a helicopter seat to follow Nobuhiro (Monster) Tajima's mind-bogglingly fast Suzuki SX 4 and gain a birds-eye view on just how he managed to be so successful at our own now-defunct Race to the Sky.
8. Formula One,- Monaco, Monte Carlo
Glitz, glamour and a super-tight, twisty track make this my F1 destination of choice.
The race is on a narrow course laid out in Monaco's streets with numerous elevation changes and a tunnel, making it one of the most demanding tracks in Formula One.
While watching the race-bred Ferraris, Maclarens and Red Bulls roaring around, I'd be willing to bet there would be some seriously expensive roadsters parked up on the surrounding streets that would be well worth an ogle.
Held on the incredibly intimidating Nurburgring's Nordschleife (north loop) this is the definitive touring car and GT endurance racing event.
Run over 24 hours with lap lengths of over 25km it sees more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers fight the elements, fatigue and each other.
Campers arrive days early to build fortresses overlooking the track and vie for the best position to watch the exotic factory-entered teams, which this year included a BMW M3 GT2, a GT3-class Mercedes SLS, a new Ferrari 458, and an Audi R8.
The Dakar Rally, known simply as The Dakar is a super-tough annual off-road race, open to amateurs and professionals driving truly off-road motorbikes, quads, cars and trucks.
It is rough-going with the terrain much harder than conventional rallying and the competitors must negotiate and navigate their way across sand dunes, mud and rocks in competition stages, over a two-week period.
I'd love to travel its route with a camera crew, catching first-hand the drama, carnage and glory that millions watch from their couches at home.
