Well its official,Oran Pk Raceway is packing up in 3 years.....Whats your opinion on this?....We lost a great track of Amaroo years ago to other development....Will ther be another track built to replace Oran PK?JVLRacing

I think it is sad, all circuits are unique, but Oran Park was my favourite, many happy memories.

of course not ,just the price of land and urban sprawl taking over

Hi

Nice track, lots of runoff, damn shame.

Steve

what the? Why?

Apparently there is a new track to be built by the same owner of Oran Park.Hence the reason for the new garages being demountables.But like every piece of gossip it won't be true unless we're driving on it.:thumb

It's a sad day when things like this happen. Same for Amaroo. Why don't they just sell off that great big empty, shell ridden block called Holsworthy, and relocate that instead? Surely moving this sort of installation bush would be worthwhile?

Yeh! i heard the owner is going to build another track basically the same time of demolishment of Oran Pk. But where is this going to happen if Sydney is still looking for more urban sprawl.JVLRacing

ANYONE KNOW A VW GUY FROM THE LATE 60s who had a shed behind Parra David Jones Store

i used to buy bits off him FOR MY 55 OVAL .HE USED TO RACE AT ORAN PARK
dont know his name now. was areal pioneer in vws and may be say 60+ now

its a shame to see racetracks sold up just in the name of development for housing etc... relocation is not really that good either as they complain about the attendance if it is too far to travel to and a hassle to get there. People complain about racetracks that they live near, but forget that the racetrack was probably there 20 years before housing. Similar thing with speedway racing. Tracks disappear because of housing.

Amaroo was the best spectator track. When that was closed Oran Park became the best spectator track. Now that's going to close I wouldn't bother leaving the television to see the motor racing.

Eastern creek is a lot safer than Amaroo and Oran Park but it's horrible as a spectator.

If the owner of Oran Park wants to build a new track it's got to have undulations to make the driving exciting and enough vantage points so spectators can see at least 80% of the track.

CYA CT

Remember Castlereagh? Catalina raceway, and even old Mt Druitt. all gone the way of the developer! their taking all the fun out of our live's, no wonder young kids have to drag and race their cars & bikes on the street!
Rob...

Hi John

That was brikkies also known as Underwood Road, I must be old because used to race my yellow bug their. Brikkies was featured in the movie, the FJ Holden.

Steve

I used to work at CSR Rhode's. I used to go up the reactor tower with a pair of binoculars we had from the workshop and watch them racing on underwood road at night when I was on nightshift! good free entertainment! Another unofficial drag strip was out on Heathcote road, this was popular in the 50's, old Triumph tiger 100's and 110's, BSA's Nortons and Iindians. There was another place around Botany out near the oil refinery's, I only went there once in the late 70's. Good old days those!
Rob...nn[ Edited on 11-7-2005 by Robo ]

Steve & Robo, Was the concrete strip with skid pad at Oran Pk suppose to be a drag strip originally?....What i heard was the slab was moving around so they canned it is that true? JVLRacing

Not sure about that one! They used to have a skid pan at St Ive's police driver training complex, don't know if thats still there!
Rob...

A new track at badgerys creek is supposed to be the new site. On the land that was set aside for the 'new' sydney airport. Or so I heard..

bat69,The info i have is the same developer from Oran Pk has plans in discussion about a new track.It could be badgerys creek as the new site....JVLRacing

I rent some space at amaroo park and spoke to the original owners who told me the sad story behind amaroo.Karl's father built amaroo and tried to set up his own private club/ race track...he lost money and one day sublet it to the singer car club who ran an event and made heaps..this is where the ARDC[australian racing drivers club]stepped in and took out a 20 lease withan option to buy..guess what 2 years before termination whilst land pricesin this area started to rise the ardc exercised its right bought and then sold out to developers for 2.4 mil[ardc was in economic meltdown by then] area 70 acres...they in turn sold five acre blocks within 12mths between400-750k...work the math and you will soon see why it was sold....most of the original owners around amaroo lived with the understanding that noise was part of the landscape..still today you can see many parts of the old track..old machinery bearing the amaroo past..sob sob sob..sad to see oran travell down the same road cheers steve

Hi rhddlxbd Steve,:jesus do you think you could send some photos of the old memorys bearing amaroo track of what it looks like now?....I bet you not many people know that story!!!!Thanks JVLRacing

Reminds me of the story of lakeside in QLD. But it didn't get sold off, it got closed down and then heritage listed. All because the local residents complained about the noise.

I don't get it. the track was there all along, you buy near a race track, you have to expect noise :duh

http://www.maxlink.com.au/pinerivers/lakeside.htm 
http://www.savelakeside.org/ 
http://www.lakesideraceway.com/ 

Yeah its a very sad fact about ppl, it is like ppl who move into places in the valley (brissy) and then start complaining about noise. fair enough if the track was built after you got there, but it should be part of your due dilligence. ( i have done these for many developers, and these are the things a good consultant should also cover). I think the law and the way the council deals with these complaints is a amjor problem, as they will always seem to take the residents side. Hopefull with the new plan for Se qld, this thing should be a thing of the apst, as we will know where the extents of development will be for the next 30 years at least and can plan to have tracks and similar venues located away from major population centres.

jvl i will try and grab a couple of shots as it looks today..there is an old thames trader with amaroo raceway in faded patina sitting out back cheers steve