247 replies to this topic

[Paul Hamilton]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ray Bell
[B]


When the ARDC took over Eastern Creek. They committed themselves to so much expensive development etc that they were forced to sell up all their (very valuable) properties to stay afloat. About 1996? Uh? 1998 I'll edit in as Torston has posted that while I've been composing this response.



Ray,

I would suggest that the ARDC's need to clear substantial debts incurred in development works at Bathurst and in losses sustained in the 2 litre touring car event there were the real motivation for sale of Amaroo. The opportunity to take up the Eastern Creek lease provided them with an ability to stay in business despite the need to realise on their valuable real estate assets at Amaroo and Bathurst.

Their mismanagement related to getting themselves into that debt position in the first place. Once they were there the Amaroo sale and the move to Eastern Creek were their only realistic way forward.

The real tragedy of the sale was that there were other potential purchasers of Amaroo who were prepared to allow the circuit to continue but were precluded from doing that by an ARDC imposed covenant on the terms of sale preventing the continuation of motor racing there. My undersatnding is that ARDC built that into the Amaroo transaction because of a commitment given to the NSW government as part of their tender for the Eastern Creek lease. The question we will never know the answer to is whether that commitment was really required or whether they simply wanted to reduce the competition for their new facility at Eastern Creek!!

[Ray Bell]

What about the massive amount of money they were committed to spend on a World class go-kart track, Paul?

I'm sure they had Eastern Creek before they sold Amaroo. But you could well be right, I was in Queensland by then wondering how Lakeside was going to survive and how Queensland Raceway could possibly be any good built on the land they had to build it on.

[Len Okell]

Originally posted by Catalina Park
Hi Len, I raced at the meeting in the video. I lent Peter Brock a tow rope to get his car up the hill out of the pits, then the buggers didn't want to give it back! It was one of those meetings when private practice on Friday was a bit of a free for all and I was on the track in my HQ amongst all the V8s and production cars.

I knew Ray Johnston back when he was a a school mate of my eldest brother! Then Ray and Norm got into Vees. (as I did for a little while)

great Stuff mate ! My Girlfriend at Surfer s paradise pinched his coffee after holding it for him while he signed her shirt Was living at Tweed Heads at the time.


Ray, my brother working for a unamed bank at the time had a big hand in lending the ARDC the money to buy eastern creek , and i ended up with A VIP pass at Bathurst that year because of it , which was pretty cool.

Those before and after pic s of Amaroo are amazing, good work Torston ! Much appreciated.

[Paul Hamilton]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Len Okell
[B]


Ray, my brother working for a unamed bank at the time had a big hand in lending the ARDC the money to buy eastern creek , and i ended up with A VIP pass at Bathurst that year because of it , which was pretty cool.


Len,

The ARDC has never purchased Eastern Creek. They still lease it from the NSW Government having been the successful tenderer for the lease at around the time of Amaroo's demise.

I would suggest that the loan your brother arranged was most likely used to build the massive pit row complex at Bathurst which your VIP pass no doubt gave you access to. It was the need to repay those borrowings without the revenue they expected from events at Bathurst which created the need to sell both the Bathurst property along pit straight and Amaroo Park.

[Catalina Park]

The ARDC took over running Eastern Creek about 18 months (or more) before Amaroo was closed.

The ARDC didn't run the last Catalina meeting (Jan 1970) It was run by the BMSDC alone.

[Len Okell]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Paul Hamilton
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Len Okell
[B]


Ray, my brother working for a unamed bank at the time had a big hand in lending the ARDC the money to buy eastern creek , and i ended up with A VIP pass at Bathurst that year because of it , which was pretty cool.


Len,

The ARDC has never purchased Eastern Creek. They still lease it from the NSW Government having been the successful tenderer for the lease at around the time of Amaroo's demise.

I would suggest that the loan your brother arranged was most likely used to build the massive pit row complex at Bathurst which your VIP pass no doubt gave you access to. It was the need to repay those borrowings without the revenue they expected from events at Bathurst which created the need to sell both the Bathurst property along pit straight and Amaroo Park. [/QUOTE]

yeah could be ! I never asked as it wasnt my buisness , was just happy to be there !

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Catalina Park
.....The ARDC didn't run the last Catalina meeting (Jan 1970) It was run by the BMSDC alone.

Interesting, I don't remember that... and there's nothing I could readily find in the RCN report about it. However, there is a Bits & Pieces item in the August '69 issue to say that the August 24 Catalina meeting had been cancelled because 'negotiations between the Club (the ARDC) and their co-promoters, the Blue Mountains Sporting Drivers' Club, had fallen down.'

There was a suggestion that all would be well for the planned November meeting, but the year ended without another meeting.

No surprise, really. The July issue had an item in Bits & Pieces that read:

ARDC Signs for Amaroo
The Australian Racing Drivers' Club last month officially took over the 180-acre Amaroo Park motor sport complex. Included in the complex are the 1.3-mile hot mix racing circuit, the ½-mile dirt short circuit, the hill climb, motor cycle scramble course and many miles of roads which can be used for closed rallies, or even rallycross. The Club has signed a 20-year lease, and will immediately begin a $40,000 expansion programme. A feature of this programme will be an ultra-modern three-storey Rothmans control tower. Other plans include new spectator areas, water and power supplies, toilet blocks, new access roads and spectator entrance gates. Club Secretary Jack Hinxman said that all facilities of Amaroo Park are now available for Club use, or private practice, and enquiries should be directed to 628-1268 (circuit) or 56-8287 (office).

So Amaroo Park was in the ARDC's control from June 1969. They never conducted a race meeting at Catalina Park after June 15 that year, hanging the BMSDC out to dry.

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


Interesting, I don't remember that... and there's nothing I could readily find in the RCN report about it. However, there is a Bits & Pieces item in the August '69 issue to say that the August 24 Catalina meeting had been cancelled because 'negotiations between the Club (the ARDC) and their co-promoters, the Blue Mountains Sporting Drivers' Club, had fallen down.'

There was a suggestion that all would be well for the planned November meeting, but the year ended without another meeting.

No surprise, really. The July issue had an item in Bits & Pieces that read:



So Amaroo Park was in the ARDC's control from June 1969. They never conducted a race meeting at Catalina Park after June 15 that year, hanging the BMSDC out to dry.

There was a Bits & Pieces in early 1970 saying that the ARDC was going to run (I think) 4 meetings at Amaroo and 4 at Catalina but nothing came from it. The January meeting was run by the BMSDC and then it all fell apart. I don't know the real reasons, I once asked Harry Hammon about it but he wouldn't talk about it.

The ARDC did a fair bit of work to Amaroo before their first meeting. They built the control tower and some other work before racing started again.

[Russell Burrows]

Originally posted by Paul Hamilton
I certainly agree with the view expressed by our pist-n-broke ten quid immigrant about Oran Park.

I have equally fond memories of Amaroo from a slightly different perspective but Warwick Farm was, for me, on something of another plane altogether. My generation grew up at Oran Park and learnt the trade there before graduating to the 'farm and starting to venture further afield. I drove my TC at all the early Amaroo meetings but by that time I was better established in the sport and it could never have made the impression Oran Park did on a virginal youth in the early sixties!! After my initial forays at Amaroo the circuit then went into a period of hibernation in the late 60's before the ARDC took over and by that time I had advanced a step or so further, driving quicker cars in more serious events at the 'farm and other places and inevitably I tended to see things from yet another perspective. I guess for most of us some of the strongest and often the best memories are those developed in our formative years where ever they were spent!!

Incidently, the first of Harley's photos in post 177 is, I beleive, a shot of the start of the famous 'fixed' last single seater race ever run at Amaroo. Without mentioning names the ultimate winner is out wide in about 5th place at this point so there was quite an effort devoted to his promotion to the lead in a credible manner!!

Hey Pist-N-Broke, fortunately, not all Australians are numpties like this character. Good luck mate.

[cheapracer]

Originally posted by Paul Hamilton
I Incidently, the first of Harley's photos in post 177 is, I beleive, a shot of the start of the famous 'fixed' last single seater race ever run at Amaroo. Without mentioning names the ultimate winner is out wide in about 5th place at this point so there was quite an effort devoted to his promotion to the lead in a credible manner!!

Maybe but Amaroo was a great passing track considering its size and I seem to recall a number of times good passing moves at Honda and sometimes multiple cars being passed at Stop N Go. I remember a number of cars stopping very suddenly at Stop N Go too, he he (although not funny on a bike there). Amongst others I remember the Masterton XF Falcons getting pinged there for the flip up section in their front bumper to let more air in to the radiator, you would have thought they would have painted that area black instead of white A lot of Triumph TR7's became rather 2nd hand there too, Dick Johnson rolled one there I think.

[eldougo]

Amaroo Park was a good club track,and you had to treat it with respect in places like over the hill into the sunlight.The kink before Honda and Into stop go corner, the rest was a blast when your running in a pack of Vee. The hillclimb was very tight but too short for my mind ,the dirt track was blast in a road/club car great for learning .

[Lee Nicolle]

Originally posted by Len Okell
found this on youtube , i went there in 85 , was a awesome track. I went there with Ray Johnston , another katoomba boy who was racing formula ford ? 2 litre open wheelers.



Amaroo

Note that they are actually racing, broken down cars on the trackside, no pace cars for a flag on the track. In fact flaggies picking bumpers up off the track in gaps between cars.
How bad has motor racing got!
I gave up in 2000 because of all this garbage, stop goes for alleged jumped starts, pace cars in 6 lap championship races for cars broken down off the track. GGrrrrr

[MJR28]

I have just discovered this forum and thread and have been totally knocked out by it.

Having raced at Amaroo a couple of times in the mid 80's I felt compelled to post my thoughts on this fabulous circuit. I had a rotary powered 1970 Escort. The circuit needed a car that was nimble, with good performance, that was well driven. It required a lot of commitment and was a technical and rewarding place to race. It still gives me tingles thinking about it.
Amaroo was an interesting place as it was one of the first race tracks in Australia that had its own industrial park on site, from as far back as I can remember. In fact in the early days of the Craven Mild team owned and run by Frank Gardner was based there, along with other machine shops and preparation shops. As noted in an earlier post it was run by the ARDC who had their offices on site.
It is such a shame that NSW has lost its early race tracks in Amaroo and Catalina Park, next is Oran Park at the end of this year, again, destined to be another housing estate just like its great rival, Amaroo, what a great bloody shame!


Lee, did you have a Torana Sports Sedan?

Regards Mike

[Lee Nicolle]

Sure did, there is a picture of it on p2 of the Bob Jane racecars thread as it is now with its new owner in Perth

[MJR28]

I am still finding my way around here and can't believe the threads and subject matter, looks like I have a lot of catching up to do!

[Bondy]

Mike as in Coonara heaters Escort, Blue and White? or some kind of Heater sponsorship anyway.... Was driven very well

[MJR28]

Thats the one, yes it was blue and white and at different times had red or yellow around the sills.

[Bondy]

Good stuff Mike and welcome

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by MJR28
.....looks like I have a lot of catching up to do!

Too late... you'll never do it...

But you're welcome to try!





With 418352 posts and 18432 threads as at right now, you'll certainly struggle, anyway!

[fines]

Ray, does that mean you have contributed 10 % of all TNF posts?

[Ray Bell]

No way... I've also 'contributed to' other fora...

The Technical forum, Paddock Club and Readers Comments (where I don't any more) and a few on the Atlas F1 forum.

In my response to Mike, however, I was referring purely to the reading he has to do, not to posting.

[fines]

Yeah, I know.

Still, I find it baffling that you spend so much time here, and then some new poster comes along and Ray's the first to greet him: "Oh, I know you from the XYZ forum, or was it the ABC bulletin board..." How many hours do your days have down under?

[Ray Bell]

There's always more when the wife's on the MIA list...

As much of my work is at the computer, I can come and go all day long.

[MJR28]

Ray, I am not that much of a reader and don't have that much time on the computer but I will certainly be enjoying my time here.

Thanks for the welcome guys.

Regards Mike

[racer69]

Originally posted by MJR28
[B]next is Oran Park at the end of this year, again, destined to be another housing estate just like its great rival, Amaroo

How great was the rivalry.

I've read many times that it was rumoured (perhaps expected?) that circa-1980 the ARDC would be moving into Oran Park with Amaroo being sold off.....

[MJR28]

How great was the rivalry.

It would seem the rivalry still exists even now, to see which is going have the most valuable land package.

Yes, the rivalry was quite strong between the circuits at the time.They had a friendly feud sort of thing happening, it was probably more healthy competition, but at the time it seemed like a bit of jostling for favoritism or similar.
In fact many competitors seemed to to be either Amaroo or Oran Park specialists. (or that was the way it appeared from down here in Victoria) Some guys would be competitive at one or the other of these two very different, but both very challenging tracks, there were a few that were competitive at both but not many, it was only the top level teams and drivers that had both venues truly worked out!
Even here in Victoria the rivalry between Sandown and Calder was quite healthy, although it never extended to the competitors as much as it appeared to in NSW

[Ray Bell]

For the most part, their markets were different...

Amaroo drew a larger slice of the northern suburbs crowd and the Central Coast spectators. Oran Park drew more from Wollongong, Campbelltown and southern areas. Of course, both got western suburbs spectators and both got people from all areas.

But there was a weighting of their spectator ranks towards one side or the other.

The way the circuits were run was distinctly different too. Oran Park was purely a commercial operation, Amaroo was very much run by a club with a commercial bent. But it was still a club, with club officials very much involved in the running of the meetings.

Don't forget they also shared commentators... Bernie King and John Cummins... for many years. And they shared some other lesser officials... scrutineers, flaggies and so on.

The greatest rivalry was between the impossible rivals... Oran Park and Warwick Farm. Warwick Farm had it, was it, earned it. Oran Park wanted it. Oran Park got it because the AJC pulled the pin on the Farm, but I'm sure that some people connected with Oran Park think they were the reason for the Farm's abandonment.

[Torston]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
For the most part, their markets were different...
The greatest rivalry was between the impossible rivals... Oran Park and Warwick Farm. Warwick Farm had it, was it, earned it. Oran Park wanted it. Oran Park got it because the AJC pulled the pin on the Farm, but I'm sure that some people connected with Oran Park think they were the reason for the Farm's abandonment.

Ray is absolutely correct - Oran Park was never "it" - and anybody thinking otherwise is sadly disillusioned and misinformed. In fact, I am amazed it was even a subject for debate by some people.

But Warwick Farm is another subject and perhaps we should start that as a new topic (except it could go on for ages & reminiscing ages). So to finish that subject, here are the relevant items from the AARC newsletter announcing the close of the circuit. I apologise for the discrepancy in the relative image sizes, but they are both from the same Newsletter - and not just very significant in our history, but very poignant.

You should read the front page before the following included letters:



By torston at 2008-08-12


By torston at 2008-08-12

[DJH]

Wasn't there also some noise complaints from residents in surrounding suburbs, the circuit predated their arrival, so surely they knew there'd be motorsport sounds now and then.

[Ray Bell]

There were noise issues, but they weren't a really big deal...

It was a financial thing. Declining income from the motor racing and increasing (and very secure) income from the horse racing via the TAB.

[haggis]

Originally posted by Lee Nicolle

Note that they are actually racing, broken down cars on the trackside, no pace cars for a flag on the track. In fact flaggies picking bumpers up off the track in gaps between cars.
How bad has motor racing got!
I gave up in 2000 because of all this garbage, stop goes for alleged jumped starts, pace cars in 6 lap championship races for cars broken down off the track. GGrrrrr

Yep...and how many people hit the parked cars...or were killed retrieving bumpers? These days, we are all considered to be idiots and incapable of rational decision making. Insurance companies have us by the balls. Money is god after all.

[Len Okell]

Originally posted by haggis


Yep...and how many people hit the parked cars...or were killed retrieving bumpers? These days, we are all considered to be idiots and incapable of rational decision making. Insurance companies have us by the balls. Money is god after all.

Yep and it s a real shame the newer generations will never experience anything but viable or unviable commercialism. I dont care too much for V8 supercars these days , the personalities etc , just dont cutt it like they used too.

Off subject , so sry if your offended ! but was thinking the other day how , when i was young ( 4 or 5 ) and my dad was a firie in Katoomba , we d ride the big red truck with santa at christmas parties , past Catalina parks house ! & those Atlas trucks . They dont do that anymore & havent for years because of insurance problems.

Indeed insurance companies have ruined all sports. Taken the humanity out of it , if you could say that.

Amaroo was a excellent venue , and although i never got to Warwick farm , the pics i ve seen speak for them selves and this thread along with it s information feed the picture, thanks fellas , great topic !

[Rxi11]

Hi guys new to this forum .. This is the long shot of all long shots [SIZE=1][SIZE=3][FONT=courier new][COLOR=royalblue]My name is Darren and i own an rx-3 sports sedan previously owned By Daryl johnston.
This is how it looks now ...
http://img352.images...ediumeg7zj6.jpg
http://img352.images...ediumao9dq6.jpg
Does anyone have anyold pic's of it from Ameroo park circa 1986 ??? it was white on white then .. Ive been in contact with daryl and we've struck up a friendship with him giving me a lot of infomation on the car , and old pic's would be great .
thanks Darren

[Quixotic]

Ahhh Amaroo........

I had my first ever race there on an old Suzuki X7, (except it was not old then), 250 improved Touring bike.

I finished second to last I think?

Dunlop Loop used to frightened the hell out of me till I learnt to "Hang" off of the bike a bit. I used to grind away part of my exhaust every lap till I learnt that trick.

Had my first crash there....... Stop Corner.

My style must have been very ropey. The photographers would all seem to focus on me each time I came around. I guess they were all awaiting a good crashing shot.

John

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Torston


Ray is absolutely correct - Oran Park was never "it" - and anybody thinking otherwise is sadly disillusioned and misinformed. In fact, I am amazed it was even a subject for debate by some people.

But Warwick Farm is another subject and perhaps we should start that as a new topic (except it could go on for ages & reminiscing ages). So to finish that subject, here are the relevant items from the AARC newsletter announcing the close of the circuit. I apologise for the discrepancy in the relative image sizes, but they are both from the same Newsletter - and not just very significant in our history, but very poignant.

You should read the front page before the following included letters:

Ummmmmm excuse me....but as a Liverpool resident for many years, I battled with my family in various Holdens along the over-extended goat tracks out to Oran Park with thousands of other enthusiasts for what turned out to be a fabulous day/evening/nights entertainment!

The Farm was a different kettle of fish...it would be elitist in the extreme to say that either was "superior"...FFS, I witnessed some of the greatest battles ever at Oran....and at the Farm? sure...a cut above the fields out at Cobbity with the internationals but to denigrate the spectacle of OP is just plain stupid

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Rxi11
Hi guys new to this forum .. This is the long shot of all long shots [SIZE=1][SIZE=3][FONT=courier new][COLOR=royalblue]My name is Darren and i own an rx-3 sports sedan previously owned By Daryl johnston.
This is how it looks now ...

Does anyone have anyold pic's of it from Ameroo park circa 1986 ??? it was white on white then .. Ive been in contact with daryl and we've struck up a friendship with him giving me a lot of infomation on the car , and old pic's would be great .
thanks Darren

Welcome Rx...ask Daryl if he was into Mini's at some stage ;) There are plenty of photo sites that may have pics of your car...check em out.

[Lola5000]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Yes, twice or three times...

The first one was about 1975, McCormack was still racing an Elfin and the Lola guys all had an arrangement. Whoever was at the top of the hill first would win, but along the way they did a lot of 'dicing'.

Later there was a race, I think for the Arco Graphite (?) series, won by Alfie in the M26 IIRC. I also have an idea that the Lola T430 ran there at some time.

Minogue ran in the Arco series and also did historics their,from memory pranged the T430 their.

[eldougo]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4


Ummmmmm excuse me....but as a Liverpool resident for many years, I battled with my family in various Holdens along the over-extended goat tracks out to Oran Park with thousands of other enthusiasts for what turned out to be a fabulous day/evening/nights entertainment!

The Farm was a different kettle of fish...it would be elitist in the extreme to say that either was "superior"...FFS, I witnessed some of the greatest battles ever at Oran....and at the Farm? sure...a cut above the fields out at Cobbity with the internationals but to denigrate the spectacle of OP is just plain stupid

You used you used your own words to shoot yourself in the foot Bro.....and at the Farm? sure...a cut above the fields out at Cobbity

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by eldougo
You used you used your own words to shoot yourself in the foot Bro.....and at the Farm? sure...a cut above the fields out at Cobbity

Yeah...where the hell did I get Cobbity from??...

[Ray Bell]

Doug, do you remember those 'Farm meetings where you stayed behind well into the night?

And the crowd were still working their way out onto the highway a long time after it got dark?

There were better spectator amenities, nice grass to sit on if you weren't in one of the three large grandstands. The commentary was intelligent and intelligible, the races presented well. And if you were a competitor, you felt like you were wanted there. Announcements in the paddock were clear and concise, help from the office was always given with a smile and Geoffrey was always on hand to smooth over problems.

Of course, for all of us, the circuit had a great deal more to it as well...

[275 GTB-4]

Halleson....ergh...halcyon days

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 16 April 2014 - 23:37.

[MPC78]

Hi all, for post on the Autosport forum. I've been reading through the Australian related Nostalgia Corum topics and spent quite some time going through the Historic Formula Vee blog (I have a decades long interest in Vee's but am only getting around to competing in that category this year as I hope to compete at the Eastern Creek (I can't say Sydney Motorsport Park) rounds of the NSW series this year. I've run in historic regularity, super sprints, Karts etc previously.

On topic however, Amaroo Park was my favourite place in the world growing up. I was born in 1978 so missed most of the first half of its life. I did attend regularly as a spectator from about 1982 through to 1998 for all sorts of meetings, historic, club, open, ATCC, Enduro's and AMSCAR and from around 1984 my father competed there initially in super sprints, hill climbs and the first circuit (including the Pentathlon a number of times combining circuit, dirt circuit, hill climb and motorkhana), 6 hour relay races and sport sedan events later on. I was lucky enough to have a day driving around Amaroo as part of a two day Peter Finlay driving school in 1997 (the second day was on the Oran Park South circuit). I must of did about 40 laps of each track over the two days. The first in my MK2 1600cc Escort and the second in an Alfa 33 Sprint which basically needed my class colleagues to push start me each time.

I've taken an interest in the positive Amaroo vs negative Oran Park comments in the thread and can completely understand the negative Oran Park comments. They are true let's face it. However, I was lucky enough to attend Oran Park as a spectator from the early 80's to its close and as a competitor initially in Karts and then in full size cars on all of the venues configurations. I did hundreds upon hundreds of laps of that place.

Here is my assessment:

Amaroo (despite the bullants) was a much more romantic place with a great atmosphere due to the natural amphitheatre and the nature of the circuit. The events we we'll run and as Ray Bell mentioned you could tell they were run by a club with a commercial bent. The racing was always fabulous and whilst having only driven it the once there were a number of blind and high commitment corners along with scenery that punished mistakes. What more could you want? I loved that place and I find it sad when I go there now ( I can't resist though if I am driving past).

Oran Park however, also has a very special place in my heart. It was located in a god forsaken area of Sydney (apologies but it was often boiling hot or freezing cold) and had terrible traffic issues both inside and outside the circuit. However, it also had good viewing with a natural amphitheatre and a layout that also followed the contours of the land as did Amaroo. As I mentioned I drove all of its configurations and for me the GP circuit was very good apart from a couple of Mickey Mouse corners in the figure of with extension (at least they were different to the other flowing corners). Turn 1 off the end of the straight was high commitment and then you had to get stopped for turn two. The right hander after the bridge was fantastic and I had a massive off there in my MR2 during private practice in about 2009. How I didn't hit anything I don't know. I was well into 4th gear. The esses were a great piece of road, Suttons/Yamaha/Flower Power or whatever it was called was another good corner and my father totalled a twin cam escort there by hitting the fence backwards and then barrel rolling down the fence (he still won FTD for his class that day). The dogleg was fantastic. Flat out in 3rd or 4th in everything I drove (I didn't drive anything really fast hehe). I think Oran Park was a good driving and viewing track and had some great races and big crowds. The rest probably deserves criticism but I loved it anyway.

Dad did a lap dash at Catalina Park around 1990 in his rotary Escort Sports sedan and won FTD. He then put the car on the trailer as he didn't want to tempt fate. Having walked the cicuit with him in the morning waiting for the fog to lift I'm surprised he went out there at all. My uncle is a rally driver and he walked it with us. Even he didn't want a bar of driving it in the condition it was in.

Dad was and is very pationate about Warwick Farm. He only ever watched and crewed there and I think he stood on a flag point during a club evet once. On our way to Oran Park during the 80's as we went past Warwick Farm he gave my brother and I a history lesson every time. During an All Ford Day Mum and Dad attended with their Mustang 5 or 6 years ago maybe longer at Warwick Farm we decided to go and see what we could see of the old circuit. The Tarmac over the old bridge in the infield was still there as we walked over that. There are some roads around near the homestead but I decided to take my VE Commodore as far down the old back straight (now all grass) as I could right along side the old spectator mound. Somehow after I went past where the old creek corner would have been I ended up on a small road running along the creek. I followed that and that took me to the exit of the facility down past the grandstand. So I drove half a lap of Warwick Farm and nobody stopped us. I just wish that venue was open longer for me to experience it.

Apologies for the length of the post.

Cheers,

Michael

[GMACKIE]

Amaroo was a great little circuit, Michael. I enjoyed racing there, especially grabbing the Formula Vee lap record in 1970...you just missed that.

[MPC78]

Yes just missed it...

Am I right in saying that over the ensuing 28 years to the circuits closure your lap record was only lowered by two seconds? Whilst two seconds might be a lot in Formula Vee terms that's pretty impressive given the car development that happened over the next three odd decades.

Well done!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by MPC78
.....Apologies for the length of the post.....

That's fine, Michael, in fact it's most appropriate...

You would also have been passionate about the Farm had you gone there. But you have nailed Amaroo in that it had a great atmosphere etc.

One thing that bothers me as you have caused me to read right back over this page for the first time in years... there've been so many who've come along and posted here and said they've just found the place and are looking forward to spending time here and so on. And they've all gone after just a few posts!

Please tell us you're a stayer!

[GreenMachine]

^^^ Likewise.

 

More noticeable is the phenomenon of the disappearing photos .  Please everyone, don't use services that rely on people viewing the thread to keep your photos alive, because obviously it does not work very well.  Just get a photo site that provides a permanent residence for them, even if it costs a few bucks a month.  Please.

 

Edit: spelling

Edited by GreenMachine, 20 January 2016 - 08:36.

[MPC78]

[Please tell us you're a stayer![/quote]

Hi Ray, yes I plan to be a stayer. The topics and quality of information and discussion on this Forum have very much caught my interest.

I am intrigued about the mention of a Go Kart track. I attended as a child spectator a number of events Dad ran in at the dirt circuit and some them use an adjacent paddock for motokhana's. How far was the Go Kart track from all this and was it a sealed one? When did it close?

I just remembered another story, my Dad was competing in a super sprint in either the late 80's or early 90's on the main circuit. For reasons that escape me now as I should have known better I decided to see if my younger brother and I could walk right around the outside of the track. We started out from the pits up through the Bitupave/Skyline/Loop spectator areas. We then kept going around the back of the loop down the back straight in the bush along side the creek. We got all the way down between Honda and the Sop Go before they stopped proceedings and sent out a course vehicle to retrieve us. The earful we got from Dad still rings my ears. I can only imagine his embarrassment that his two boys had stopped the meeting and it wasn't like we were new to it all. We knew better. Good fun though and we got some good viewing on the way around!

[Ray Bell]

GreenMachine, I've been paying Imageshack for a few years now and they still manage to lose the pics...

It was supposed to be that when you registered with Imageshack, instead of simply doing random uploads, they wouldn't require viewing. Not so, we learned.

So far Postimage haven't seemed to have lost any and there doesn't seem to be the problem I often face with Photobucket seeing the pics. Tinypic, by the way, lose them quicker than anyone.