Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit
 | |
| Location | Orange, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT +10 |
| Coordinates | 33°19′1″S 149°5′39″E / 33.31694°S 149.09417°ECoordinates: 33°19′1″S 149°5′39″E / 33.31694°S 149.09417°E |
| Opened | 1953 |
| Closed | 1962 |
| Major events | Australian Touring Car Championship |
| Length | 6.03 km (3.75 mi) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Lap record | 2:07.4 (Jon Leighton, Cooper-Climax, 1960) |
The Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit was a motor racing circuit at Orange, New South Wales, Australia. The circuit was formed from rural roads and highways outside of the town, around the grounds of Bloomfield Hospital and what is now known as Sir Jack Brabham Park. It was 6.03 km long. The name came from the Aboriginal name for nearby Mount Canobolas.[1]
The first race meeting was staged over the Anniversary Day holiday weekend of 24 to 26 January 1953 and was organized by the Australian Sporting Car Club, the former promoters of the Easter car races at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst.[2] The circuit played a crucial part in the growth of Australian open wheel racing in the post war era but faded before the peak created by the Tasman Series.
Gnoo Blas also held the inaugural Australian Touring Car Championship event in 1960 which was won by David McKay driving a Jaguar Mark 1 3.4-litre. Also racing in the ATCC race that day were the likes of Bill Pitt (2nd), Ron Hodgson (3rd), Bruce McPhee, Des West, Ian Geoghegan and Brian Foley.
Continuing battles with New South Wales Police Force who authorised motor racing through the Speedway Act eventually forced the track's closure October 1961.[3]
The locally based Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club hold an annual classic car show at the site.[4]
Gallery
-
A sign commemorating the Gnoo Blas circuit at its former location.
-
The run into Mrs Mutton's Corner.
-
Looking back towards Connaghan's Corner from The Sweep.
-
Looking down Bloomfield Straight from The Sweep.
-
Looking back up Hospital Straight from Windsock Corner.
-
A sign marking the location of Speet's Bend. Many signs similar to this appear at various locations around where the circuit was.
References
- ↑ "Gnoo Blas Fast and Furious". Tasman-Series.com : The 2.5L Tasman Series 1964-69. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ↑ Jim Scaysbrook, Gnoo Blas, Motor Sport (magazine), May 2006, pages 84 to 87
- ↑ Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks. Turton & Armstrong Pty Ltd Publishers. pp. 70 & 71. ISBN 0-908031-55-6.
- ↑ "Gnoo Blas Circuit - Sport and Recreation". Tourism New South Wales. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
| ||||||||||||||