Bowe is one of only three Tasmanians - the others are David Parsons and John Goss - to win the Bathurst 1000.

Launceston racing legend Greg Crick has also been a strong competitor, competing 13 times.

The Tasmanian trio have all retired from the great race, although Parsons has recently decided he wants to give it "one last hurrah" next year.

Bowe said the reason the racing community loved the track so much and often returned to it, was because of its challenge.

"It's got quite a lot of elevation changes, it's got blind corners, lots of opportunities to make mistakes and crash," he said.

"It's a walk along the tightrope and I always come back here with a great respect for the place."

The first time Bowe, a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner, took to the mountain was in 1985.

"It was a bit of culture shock," Bowe, who claimed the 1989 and 1994 victories, said.

"Back in those days there was very little fencing.

"If you made a mistake you went through a barbed wire fence and into rock walls. It got my attention, that's for sure."

While the 61-year-old doesn't compete in the 1000 anymore, he still races the Mount Panorama circuit.

Bowe is on the mountain this weekend, competing in the Touring Car Masters, which is being held in conjunction with the Bathurst 1000.

Does he miss the great race?

"Not really," he said. "I'm happy I'm still racing, to be honest.

"I enjoy racing now more than I ever did because I'm much more relaxed about it.

"I don't want to (retire). I love doing it. I love the people. I love the challenge and as long as I can do it health wise and with the budget, I'll do it."

For good mate Greg Crick, this is the first year he hasn't been at Bathurst in a while. Crick retired in August, having competed in the 161-lap race as recently as last year.

He said people were always blown away by the track, including himself when he first raced in the Bathurst 1000 in 1989, in a Beaurepaires Commodore.

"I used to watch the RaceCam on the television coverage and I thought I knew my way around," Crick said.

"But the first time I ever drove out onto that track I thought, 'my God, how am I ever going to learn this'. It was totally daunting and you couldn't remember which ways the corners went, especially across the top.

"To go fast there you have to carry an enormous amount of speed and down through Reid Park, you are skimming the wall on the right hand side. You've only got to be six inches off line and you're into the wall.

"It's a very different place ... but every time you go back there, it gets better."

Crick said he felt comfortable with his decision to retire, but would not be leaving the racing industry completely.

"I've had a terrific career with what I've done and I'm looking forward to watching the fantastic coverage on Fox (at home in Launceston) ," he said.

"Retiring was something I had to do. I'm quite prepared to watch and be involved with other people and help the younger guys if I can.

"I want to stay involved in the sport because I love it."

David "Skippy" Parsons, 56, also still loves the sport and is keen to have another run on the iconic track in next year's Bathurst 1000.

"I've still got the fire burning inside me and it won't go away," Parsons, who claimed the 1987 victory with Peter Brock, said.

"I'm racing in a few races to get my foot back in the door ... I'm looking at racing the 12-hour race next year and I'll see what that feels like."

Some of Parson's greatest memories from Mount Panorama include running out of petrol in the 1984 Bathurst 1000 and having to jump five barbed wire fences to get back to the pits, then carry a 10-gallon petrol drum back to his car; having four kangaroos jump in front of his car along Conrod Straight; almost dying when his brakes failed in 1996 when he was going 292km/h; and of course, the 1987 win with Brock.

Parsons and Brock started the race is their number 5 car, but had to switch to the #10 Mobil Commodore that Peter McLeod started the race in, after experiencing a major engine failure.

Parsons said the car they won the race in was never meant to win and was made out of hand-me-downs.

Parsons, Brock and McLeod won on default, having finished third behind the 1-2 finish of the Ford Sierras. Both the Sierras were disqualified.

Parsons said Brock taught him a lot about Bathurst and life in general and that is why he had great respect for him.

Parsons said it was every young racer's dream to drive at Bathurst.

"It still grabs me and it still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck," he said.

"It's a very sacred place and there is nothing else like it."

Both Crick and Bowe said they want to see Ford's Mark Winterbottom win Sunday's Bathurst 1000.

But Bowe said winning really came down to fuel burn, tyre life and strategy.

Email: mdadson@fairfaxmedia.com.au

*An earlier version of this story said there had only been two Tasmanian winners of the Bathurst 1000, John Bowe and David Parsons. After being born in Victoria and moving to Tasmania as a young child, John Goss also won the event in 1974.