Ford fanatic Tony Hawton back for his 45th Bathurst 1000 after missing last year's due to COVID-19

Mr Hawton had been coming to Bathurst in NSW's Central West every year since 1977, but missed out on camping at last year's race because of COVID-19.

He was one of the first fans at the track on Sunday morning, leaving his native Penrith, in western Sydney, at 3.51am in the morning.

While he's always been a fan of the blue oval, it was when he saw Dick Johnson racing at Mount Panorama in 1980 in his Ford Falcon XD that his passion intensified.

He's also put in considerable effort to his campsite and rarely will you find anything red, even his tomato sauce bottles are blue.

"I've done this up over the years and I always bring it to Bathurst," the 71-year-old said when showing off his Ford tent.

"This is my 44^th trip to Bathurst in 45 years, missing out last year because of COVID but I set up in my backyard at home and I had a backyard Bathurst.

"It's good to be back at Mount Panorama.

"This is what it's all about, it's coming up here and watching the race on Sunday and everything in between."

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The trailer he brings up turns into his bed, with an extensive range of car stickers decorating the inside, while the back of the trailer is decorated with a painted image of two Fords.

Over the years, he's also had a few guests pop into his campsite including Mark Winterbottom, Dean Canto, Todd Hazlewood and Garth Tander.

Mr Hawton is also a Penrith Panthers fan and he's hoping he can add a Ford Bathurst 1000 win alongside his NRL premiership.