13 replies to this topic

[Michkov]

I'm currently researching the evolution of Oran Park and most articles of the track mention a dragstrip. Now I've found plenty of videos and images of the main straight being used for drags but satellite images show what looks like a second dragstrip just south of the paddock. Which brings me to my question, was this a dragstrip. If so, during which years was it under operations. If not a dragstrip what was this straight piece of roads use? Second part of this thread concerns the dirt track on the north side, just outside of T9. Pretty much the same question as with the dragstrip, when was it build and was it used until the end of the tracks life.

[Dale Harvey]

The stand alone dragstrip was never completed.

Dale.

[Ray Bell]

All the earthworks were, however, completed...

I would think that was in the late seventies. So it would have been well-visible in satellite images up until ten or so years ago.

Some drag racing took place on the main straight, but as you'd be aware, that had a good fall.

Which is T9? Can you either send me or post the image from which you're working?

[Dale Harvey]

There was a dirt circuit on the slope behind Robin Orlando. I think it was used by a rally drivers school and also possibly for dirt sprints.

Dale.

[GMACKIE]

The VSCCA ran grass hill-climb events there, in the '50s. It was known as Windy Hill.

 

I put up a photo a while back, showing Geoff Goodman in his Mercedes.

Edited by GMACKIE, 03 October 2019 - 22:26.

[Michkov]

Thanks for the answers, that helps a lot. Re: drag racing is it fair to assume that it has been going on ever since the front straight was straightened in 64?

 

Right, picture below is what I'm working with. The area in question is circled in yellow. Cant really find anything pictorially that provides a good overview earlier than that. For some reason people focus on shooting cars more than panoramas

 

[plannerpower]

There would be older aerial photos of this area, back to the black & white era; if you haven't already followed this path you might contact Spatial Services NSW, located at Bathurst, to enquire whether access to those can be arranged.

[Michkov]

There would be older aerial photos of this area, back to the black & white era; if you haven't already followed this path you might contact Spatial Services NSW, located at Bathurst, to enquire whether access to those can be arranged.

 

Talked to them, access can be had but at quite some price. That closes that avenue.

 

 

 

Another thing I found this listing of racing pipedreams. It mentions a planed extension of 1.6km sometime around 1986. Any further information on this?

 

[Ray Bell]

I can't say I ever heard of it...

But I wasn't around much in that era.

[Catalina Park]

Talked to them, access can be had but at quite some price. That closes that avenue.
 
 
 
Another thing I found this listing of racing pipedreams. It mentions a planed extension of 1.6km sometime around 1986. Any further information on this?

I seem to recall that plan was to turn right on the main straight into the the unfinished drag strip and loop back using the return road to join onto the normal GP track at the kink at the end of the main straight.

I might have a map of it in a magazine somewhere.

[Ray Bell]

Terry Walker might well have an aerial photo of Oran Park from the eighties...

He used those to create his maps in Fast Tracks.

[Michkov]

Post 79ish it isn't really a problem finding footage. The earliest I found is this F5000 broadcast from 1979.






But earlier than that all there seems to be is on the ground Super8 footage. Not ideally suited to gain an overview of the track. I'd be really interested in seeing how the old kinked front straight looked prior the first modification in 64.

Edited by Michkov, 13 October 2019 - 04:15.

[Ray Bell]

The first meeting on the revised circuit was September, 1963...

As for a map of the original compared to the later version, I would once again suggest checking with Terry Walker if you're not prepared to pay for an aerial photo from the late sixties.

When I used to buy them they weren't real dear, but if you got them cropped in and/or enlarged the price soon went up. Straight contact prints should be available for a reasonable price, I think they're about 9" square and you'd be pretty unlucky not to find one with the whole of the old circuit on it.

[Daren W]

Try this www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9zKYdPXYgY Regards Daren