28 replies to this topic

[terry mcgrath]

I heard a rumour someone is putting a book together on Warwick Farm does anyone know anything about this project?

terry

[Porsche718]

Look forward to it though! There's many like me who have virtually every programme (bar some short circuit dates) who would love to see it!

 

Like Catalina and Amaroo, there's a lot of untold truths as to why some of these circuits close that would make interesting reading.

[Ian G]

Look forward to it though! There's many like me who have virtually every programme (bar some short circuit dates) who would love to see it!

 

Like Catalina and Amaroo, there's a lot of untold truths as to why some of these circuits close that would make interesting reading.

Yeah,not sure about the first two but lots of conspiracy theories as regards WF. The former caretaker that lived at Homestead retired to the Central Coast(NSW) and i played some Golf with him at Terrigal during the late 1970's.He said once the Creek Corner Estate opened it was just one problem after another which wasn't helped by GS spending his days flying around NSW/Qld in the Clubs Planes..

Short story without naming persons was the AJC decided they just wanted the AARC gone,Cams had a meeting with the AJC and stated they would take over control but that was rejected as well.

Interesting to see how the Book handles the closure.

[Porsche718]

Ian, I was at the July 1973 ATCC meeting. The September meeting was planned and advertised. Then all of a sudden, one single paragraph in Racing Car News. Warwick Farm closed.

 

Wonder what was better. Closed overnight, or the long drawn out rumours, promises, more rumours, "definite" plans, and then final, painful days of Oran Park.

 

Maybe Warwick Farm's style was better.

[Torston]

It is just now at the publishers!

Hopefully out first half of 2017

[cooper997]

Good to hear there's a book on the way.

 

Stephen

 

PS - Mods, WF thread already exists 

http://forums.autosp...-circuit/page-3

[bradbury west]

I still there likely to be a UK distributor or should we plan to source it via Simon Lewis as we have previously? You have at least one sale in the U.K. with me. Ray, with his lovely pal Malcolm Smith, was kind enough to give us the full 30 bob tour of WF when we were over in 2006.
Roger Lund

[Ray Bell]

There is more than one book on the way...

We have some marvelous information in 'behind the scenes' stuff gathered, currently we're planning the format but this book is still a year or so away.

[Gary Davies]

Ah, good memories, the scene of my first visit to a motor race in Australia - 11 February 1973. Rain, rain, rain. I took a good picture of Steve Thompson winning in the wet. It's in my large collection of yet to be scanned 35mm slides. Note to self: get scanning.

[Ray Bell]

I'll bet you're still trying to get your shoes dry!

Many people were walking around in bare feet that day.

[DanTra2858]

If my memory is correct the first meeting at the Farm was a wet meeting with the late David McKay winning the Touring car race in a Fiat.

[Porsche718]

About that first meeting. Torrential rain. I've always wondered why if any competitor spun, that were instantly "black flagged" and not allowed to restart.

 

Was through lack of tenders, tractors, etc to get errant cars out of the quagmire on that particular day, or did that rule continue into other meetings?

[SJ Lambert]

I'm still searching for a shot of Phil Hotchkiss, a New Yorker in an Elfin Mono who practiced but didn't race in the '66 Hordern Trophy

Edited by SJ Lambert, 18 December 2016 - 03:57.

[Stinky]

Hullo All;

Just a little story about wet meetings at The Farm.

It was that VERY wet Tasman round and we were all waiting at the window in Mary's office to sign on.

All the regulars both girls and fellas wearing Wellies or thongs.

There were three or four models or such wearing clothing which was totally unsuitable for the conditions.

One of the ladies walked past in the dress of the day (Wellies etc.)

One of the models said in a very sarcastic manner "Is that the height of fashion for today?'

The lady , I think, was a drivers wife.

Her classic comment was " No dear they are called SLUSH Puppies!!)

You can imagine the comments from the guys waiting to sign on.

Net result a couple of VERY red faced models.

Ahh memories.

Cheers.

Roger.

.

[terry mcgrath]

its funny that this Warwick Farm book is almost top secret! you would think that people would want to promote it and spread the word

terry

[DanTra2858]

I hope that the book also covers the CLUB CIRCUIT where many started their racing life, there were many great days on the Clud Circuit not forgetting the Club Practice days. Surly this was the birth of Club Racing in Australia, For me it was a huge jump from Hill Climbs & Sprints.

[Ray Bell]

It sure will, Daniel!

And you are so right, Club Racing in Australia was greatly enhanced by the AARC's efforts. From memory these began in 1964.

Do you remember the free tickets given away by Radio Station 2GB and their '870 Club'?

These promotions brought thousands of spectators to Club Racing.

The Club circuit was also the setting for the only fatality at the Farm.



.

Edited by Ray Bell, 21 December 2016 - 22:38.

[Stinky]

Hullo Ray;

Only working from memory here,

That incident was in private practice was it not?

A Formula Vee from memory..

There were a couple of rumours circulating about the incident.

One was the driver did not have a CAMS licence and the other was it was one of the  Club  Vees.

The way GPF. and Mary ran things maybe number 2 may be right but the first one I would think was pure rumour.

Cheers.

Roger.

[Ray Bell]

Yes, in private practice...

If I have the circumstances right, he was there on his own and therefore there was nobody to help when he ran into the lake.

I doubt that it was a club Vee.

[DanTra2858]

The Driver I believe was Dave Carter from the Illawarra area,he had previously reaced a Cooper S, a very sad day for us in the Illawarra. Private practice if I remember?

[Tim Murray]

Here's his entry in Motorsport Memorial:

http://www.motorspor...php?db=ct&n=311

It says that there were some bystanders who tried to get him out, but couldn't save him before he drowned.

[Ray Bell]

There's some non-factual stuff there, however...

I would suggest that 'bystanders' would likely have been AJC groundsmen and staff working there, but it is altogether possible that he had people with him.

The car was borrowed, according to the RCN item on his death, but I do recall a lot of talk at the time about going out on the circuit with nobody else there with you in case of an accident.

The major error in the Memorial page is that it says Warwick Farm closed because the CAMS wanted the track to be lined with Armco and that the AARC did not carry out this work. I also have issues with it saying 'Graman near Warialda' as Graman's equidistant with Inverell, a way more populous town than Warialda and connected to Inverell by a direct bitumen road whereas Warialda is not directly connected and reached only by traversing dirt roads. People of Graman would regard Inverell as their shopping town.

It would have been almost impossible for the AARC to line the whole circuit with Armco, and it would not have been required at many points either. The circuit closed because of poor financial returns after a series of wet and otherwise poorly-attended meetings, the AJC, the property owners, were not prepared to put more money into it. The circuit was created to help the AJC justify keeping the property operating despite negligible returns from horse racing on the site, a site they needed as a training ground for their way more profitable Randwick racecourse. The advent of the Totalisator Agency Board in the mid-sixties led to a huge inflow of cash to horse-racing organisations and motor racing, profitable or unprofitable, was no longer needed.

We'll have much more on this in the book...



.

Edited by Ray Bell, 22 December 2016 - 23:49.

[Ian G]

The major error in the Memorial page is that it says Warwick Farm closed because the CAMS wanted the track to be lined with Armco and that the AARC did not carry out this work. 


.

 

Yeah,long time ago but IIRC our NSSCC CAMS delegate at the time(Nick Ledingham?) said that CAMS offered to take over running of the Circuit including a permanent underpass(may have been overpass) at the "crossing" and other maintenance issues but the AJC Committee were not interested,they just wanted Motor Racing gone.The Home Owners at Creek Corner had started a Residents Action Group and the AJC did not want their activities spilling over to the Horses,likewise a section of the AJC Committee wanted the whole area turned into an Equestrian Park,Polo Fields,Show Jumping etc.   

Again,.IIRC,the Armco issue was the result of a CAMS Track Inspection in 1972 but was lost in the mire after the AJC told Geoff it was over. 

[TerryS]

There is more than one book on the way...We have some marvelous information in 'behind the scenes' stuff gathered, currently we're planning the format but this book is still a year or so away.

Why is there more than one book?

[Ray Bell]

The book which has been done is a totally different kind of book to what we're doing...

[TerryS]

The book which has been done is a totally different kind of book to what we're doing...

So what is expected release dates of these books?

[Ray Bell]

We're looking at a year to produce ours...

Brian has stated the other one is due in the first half of 2017.

[TerryS]

The book which has been done is a totally different kind of book to what we're doing...

So which would you recommend, and why?

[TerryS]

Should this thread be merged also?