21 replies to this topic

[Terry Walker]

This is the only air photo I found of "Dunedoo" circuit, taken c 1964, well after it closed. It was never fully surfaced: the start line area, and esses only, were sealed; the back straight was oil bonded dirt.

Operated Circa 1956-1959.

[Ray Bell]

A circuit I'd like to have a look at... I've not seen it yet...

My uncle lived at Dunedoo and was a part of the team that built the circuit. He raced there in a motorcycle powered device, I seem to recall.

And seeing as I might well be going through that way on Saturday morning with perhaps seven or eight minutes to spare, where might I find it?

[Terry Walker]

Ray, I think there's nothing left at all. By 1980 it was very hard to pick up from the air, and twenty five years on it has vanished. To get there, leave Dunedoo heading east to Craboon, then bear right through Birrawa towards Mudgee. It was in a paddock, about a quarter mile from the road, about 5 km north of the Birrawa siding. If you look at the pic, you can see what was then a new road veering off to the right as you travel south, and the old road going straight on. The old raod has probably faded away by now. The property is "Wahgundy", and I suppose the current owner might know where it was exactly. You might try a 1:100,000 map of the area to compare with the pic and with the Fast Tracks map.

[HistoricMustang]

I am betting we can find some trace of this one on Google Earth!

Henry

[Terry Walker]

Last time I searched it was at very poor resolution, but coverage has now improved. You have to stare hard, and use the isolated trees as reference points, but you can just make out faint traces of the esses. Thee paddock has been ploughed many times since the late 50s.

[HistoricMustang]

This facility is not too far away in Gulgong. Can anyone identify?

Henry

[Ray Bell]

The road leading to it is 'Racecourse Road'...

It's a fair bet it's a local horse racing track. They abound in this country.

[Catalina Park]

Speaking of nearby circuits, how about the one at Merriwa? (at least I think it was Merriwa )

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Catalina Park
Speaking of nearby circuits, how about the one at Merriwa? (at least I think it was Merriwa )

Would this be it?

Henry

[Ray Bell]

I expect you'll find that's another horse race track, Henry...

They're just everywhere in this country.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
I expect you'll find that's another horse race track, Henry...

They're just everywhere in this country.

Damn!

[Terry Walker]

Merriwa was an airstrip. There are four of them near Merriwa, all disused, all barely visible.

[Ray Bell]

Also airstrips in that general direction were Tomago (now half-covered by a factory, I believe) and Ringwood, just near Raymond Terrace...

Ringwood you might find, and nearly opposite that, across the Pacific Highway there's some other circuit/hillclimb area that never reached completion.

[gtsmunro]

Both airstrips are still there (Ringwood and Tomago) though Ringwood isn't as easy to spot due to the new freeway. It is basically still complete the last time I was there 3 years ago.

Tomago is partly obliterated by an access road, bush, a business and the Aluminium Smelter. Only a small section remains accessible off Old Punt Road by keeping left after entry to Old Punt Road. As you drive along the road, your actually on the edge of the runway. It eventually widens out before you get to business that now occupy's part of the runway. The rest has disappeared behind the smelter.  However many people confuse the long, wide and cleared grass section seen from the highway which heads east between Old Punt Road and the Hunter Valley Gardens as the former Tomago airstrip.

 

The hillclimb you may be thinking of maybe Ringwood Park which is owned and operated by the Newcastle MG Car Club. It's located just off Italia Rd, Balikera, 10k's north of Raymond Terrace. It's on the opposite side of the freeway from the Ringwood airstrip. There are plans for expansion to a full circuit but they are having difficulty with council and and a handful of residents. The hillclimb has a number of meetings a year.

[Paul Hamilton]

Also airstrips in that general direction were Tomago (now half-covered by a factory, I believe) and Ringwood, just near Raymond Terrace...

Ringwood you might find, and nearly opposite that, across the Pacific Highway there's some other circuit/hillclimb area that never reached completion.

 

Ray, the Ringwood hillclimb was certainly completed and has been in regular operation  for many years now!!  It is located on a site almost directly across from the old airstrip on the opposite side of the Pacific Highway.  There has been a lot of recent development work undertaken there and it will host the Australian Hillclimb Championship in November this year.

[Ray Bell]

I realised that the hillclimb was in use, Paul... John Kierath took me there in the eighties...

But the whole project hadn't yet been completed.

[Dale Harvey]

As Paul has indicated the hillclimb has recently been extended and other works are being carried out in readiness for the Australian Championship in November.

The hillclimb is now separate from the proposed circuit. With different owners. Work has commenced on the construction of the circuit which will be approx 3klms in length. As far as I know at this stage all the land has been cleared, but I am unsure of any other progress.

Dale.

[Ray Bell]

My quoted post is nearly six years old, Dale...

All of the advances of which you speak have been more recent.

[Dale Harvey]

That's fine Ray. I am simply giving an update.

 

Dale.

[gtsmunro]

Is there anyway to view the pics in this thread as they're not loading at all. I'm having problems with being able to view some pics loaded on here but not others.

Edited by gtsmunro, 12 September 2014 - 06:18.

[Duc-Man]

Could you guys please repost the pictures? I can't open any of them.

 

Ray, I think there's nothing left at all. By 1980 it was very hard to pick up from the air, and twenty five years on it has vanished. To get there, leave Dunedoo heading east to Craboon, then bear right through Birrawa towards Mudgee. It was in a paddock, about a quarter mile from the road, about 5 km north of the Birrawa siding. If you look at the pic, you can see what was then a new road veering off to the right as you travel south, and the old road going straight on. The old raod has probably faded away by now. The property is "Wahgundy", and I suppose the current owner might know where it was exactly. You might try a 1:100,000 map of the area to compare with the pic and with the Fast Tracks map.

 

1/4 mile from the road to the left or the right going south?

[Catalina Park]

The photos won't work because they were all hosted on Imageshack.