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Oran Park's last hurrah


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#1 smithy

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:18

Took myself off to the V8's today to witness the final race at Oran Park. What a pity to see it go - from almost anywhere in the spectator viewing you could see the whole track and generally tight racing all the way around.

We were down toward the bottom of the circuit, after they come off the bridge and head down the hill. It was amazing to see how much the V8's wriggle around - nowhere near as rock steady as they appear on the TV. The were blasting toward us on the rev limiter and then hard on the brakes, the splitter scraping along the ground. Then they would crunch over the curb, sliding the rears and fire on up the hill toward the blind esses. Awesome stuff.

Despite the rain a top day was had by all. As you can see, the place was packed.

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#2 Dolph

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:24

Why was it the last race?

#3 smithy

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:25

The place was sold a couple of years ago to residential developers. I guess all the city/council approvals are now complete, hence the last race.

#4 krapmeister

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:28

Originally posted by smithy
The place was sold a couple of years ago to residential developers. I guess all the city/council approvals are now complete, hence the last race.


It was the last time the V8's will be racing at Oran Park - I believe the track itself is supposed to remain open for a little while longer...

#5 GreenMachine

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:35

Yes, last race is supposed to be some time in 2009 ... ): ... :( ... but it was also supposed to close in 2008 at one stage too!

I can't hear the fat lady, but I do know the houses are getting close...

#6 Rob

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:40

It's a cracking track, a shame to see it go. :cry:

#7 johnap

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 10:44

The owners are planning to build a replica version nearby.

#8 LB

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 12:48

Originally posted by johnap
The owners are planning to build a replica version nearby.


Why don't they just build the houes there...

#9 christoff

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 18:15

Originally posted by LB


Why don't they just build the houses there...


:up: :up: :up: :up:

#10 isport

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 18:18

i played on this track on toca race driver 3 and it was awesome

#11 SeanValen

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 18:37

SMITHTY LEGEND, it is a cool track, I remmeber playing it on GPL years back, eventually if you live long enough, you get to see everything Smithy.


Let the track rest peacefully, it gave us good memories, it contributed to our joys of motorsport, to those who got to know it and were annointed and chosen to grace it, the tarmac will always be apart of your souls, be proud Smithy Legend, the track of Oran Park now enters the LIGHT, time for it to ascend for Jim Clark, Senna, and countless drivers who have left us, who lived for the speed, it's their track now.

While we pitty the castration and modifcations of past great tracks like Spa who continue to live in this darkness of the 21st century, their health and layout living on the borrowed time of track designers and Bernie Billionstone , and the loss of tracks that withered away into the tarmac dust sunset that had memories of modifications while they took their last breathes in the hospital room of legendary tracks, they died on their hospital beds alone and without vistors, but Oran Park had it's army out in full force, to watch it's last puff of tarmac and smoke of rubber engulf it's track lungs once more, like a dying man's last wish of a cuban cigar, we gave Oran Park it's cigar.

Thank you everyone for your efforts.

Accending now to tarmac heaven, drinking a beer for Oran's Park Accession. Let us cheer the accession, and spare a thought of current tracks that continue to be left on life support systems, Spa, Suzuka, Montreal, or tracks that are born butchered like Valencia. :stoned:

Smithy Legend, hang on in there Sir.

:smoking: :smoking: :smoking: :up:


RIP definately Oran Park

RIP one day Spa so it can remember it's former self once again, hopefully some alian race were motorsport fans, and can re-create the great tracks on their planet, on this planet Bernie and co have failed us, but as I said before, if you live long enough, you get to see everything. Motorsport is dying slowly this century. Make the most of it before what we take for granted now, is gone forever.

#12 FPV GTHO

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Posted 08 December 2008 - 04:09

Originally posted by GreenMachine
Yes, last race is supposed to be some time in 2009 ... ): ... :( ... but it was also supposed to close in 2008 at one stage too!

I can't hear the fat lady, but I do know the houses are getting close...


I think it's been supposed to close every year since they announced the housing development, but every year they managed to put it off

#13 JACoz

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Posted 08 December 2008 - 05:47

Property developers :mad:

If Oran Park does close down that'll leave Sydney with 1 single permanent race track (Eastern Creek) won't it?
What a joke

#14 Lukin

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Posted 08 December 2008 - 05:57

The houses are pretty close, the run off for Turn 1 was modified from last year because a road into the new estate runs through it now!

#15 Lukin

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Posted 08 December 2008 - 08:44

It was a great track too and has lots of memories for me.

It was the first track I ever worked in V8's, which also marked the first round working with the driver and race engineer I have worked with for almost three and a half years. I guess it was strangely fitting that yesterday was the last round we would all work together. I guess that sounds weird but you do become pretty close knit through the highs and the lows of it all.

As far a track goes it's unique. From the time you turn into Turn 1 until you exit the final corner the steering wheel is never straight. The amount of time the car spends on the slide is incredible, a consequence of the track grip being so slow. The great drivers excel there, and the racing is always spectacular and the facilities always terrible (try finding a toilet that flushes come Sunday afternoon!).

But with some boring tracks added on the Calender (Willowbank, Winton, Homebush) it will be missed. I was only there in the recent V8 era (never saw the old garages/paddock) but from talking to a few of the good ol boys on the weekend it's got more history than I will ever be able to appreciate.

#16 ex Rhodie racer

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Posted 08 December 2008 - 11:22

So sad to see traditional tracks like Oran Park disappear.
I recall a similar traversty in South Africa when they shut down the home of Natal motorsport, the fabulous Roy Hesketh circuit in Pietermaritzburg. Like Oran, it was sold to housing developers by a very short sighted city council, who owned the land. It was a source of quite considerable income to the city, which was sorely missed when they realised exactly how much of a mistake they had made. By then though, it was too late to reverse the decision.
It´s only a faded momory now for those of us who were fortunate enough to witness the great racing that took place on that piece of holy asphalt. So sad. :(

#17 Alfisti

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Posted 08 December 2008 - 13:39

I used to live about half an hour from the track, it's a cool little circuit.

Slightly OT, you can't whinge about Sydney house prices then complain about developments.

#18 smithy

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Posted 09 December 2008 - 00:01

Originally posted by Lukin
It was a great track too and has lots of memories for me.

It was the first track I ever worked in V8's, which also marked the first round working with the driver and race engineer I have worked with for almost three and a half years. I guess it was strangely fitting that yesterday was the last round we would all work together. I guess that sounds weird but you do become pretty close knit through the highs and the lows of it all.

As far a track goes it's unique. From the time you turn into Turn 1 until you exit the final corner the steering wheel is never straight. The amount of time the car spends on the slide is incredible, a consequence of the track grip being so slow. The great drivers excel there, and the racing is always spectacular and the facilities always terrible (try finding a toilet that flushes come Sunday afternoon!).

But with some boring tracks added on the Calender (Willowbank, Winton, Homebush) it will be missed. I was only there in the recent V8 era (never saw the old garages/paddock) but from talking to a few of the good ol boys on the weekend it's got more history than I will ever be able to appreciate.

Can you tell us which team you're with? Come on... it'll just be our little secret. No-one else is reading in here...  ;) :)

#19 Turn 1

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Posted 10 December 2008 - 23:05

Originally posted by Lukin
The houses are pretty close, the run off for Turn 1 was modified from last year because a road into the new estate runs through it now!




I had to read that twice, LESS RUNOFF! Usually the other way around, isnt it.