Australian Touring Car Chamionship 60th Anniversary

[Terry S]

This Saturday 15 Feb the 60th Anniversary of the very first Australian Touring Car Championship Race will be celebrated at the Gnoo Blas Circuit, Orange. This is in Central West New South Wales.

The circuit was then just out of Orange on country roads, but now it is suburbia. The circuit was of 6.03 km and roughly of triangular shape.

The circuit was opened in 1953 and closed in 1961.

The race was won by David McKay in a Jaguar 3.4. Second and third were Bill Pitt and Ron Hodgson also in Jaguars.

There were 50 starters and the race was over 20 laps.

The celebrations will be part of the annual Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club car show in Jack Brabham Park (inside the old circuit)which is a great event in itself.

In addition to drivers Special Guests will include Kevin Bartlett, Garry Rogers and John Crennan

Orange is about 3 and a half hours west of Sydney. It is about three quarters of an hour west of Bathurst..

Here are some links for extra info:

https://www.gnooblas.com/

https://www.gnooblas.com/history/

http://www.gnooblas....-entry-form.pdf

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Terry S

This Saturday 15 Feb the 60th Anniversary of the very first Australian Touring Car Championship Race will be celebrated at the Gnoo Blas Circuit, Orange. This is in Central West New South Wales.

The circuit was then just out of Orange on country roads, but now it is suburbia. The circuit was of 6.03 km and roughly of triangular shape.

The circuit was opened in 1953 and closed in 1961.

The race was won by David McKay in a Jaguar 3.4. Second and third were Bill Pitt and Ron Hodgson also in Jaguars.

There were 50 starters and the race was over 20 laps.

The celebrations will be part of the annual Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club car show in Jack Brabham Park (inside the old circuit)which is a great event in itself.

In addition to drivers Special Guests will include Kevin Bartlett, Garry Rogers and John Crennan

Orange is about 3 and a half hours west of Sydney. It is about three quarters of an hour west of Bathurst..

Here are some links for extra info:

https://www.gnooblas.com/

https://www.gnooblas.com/history/

http://www.gnooblas....-entry-form.pdf

Should be a great event, especially with the guest lineup

One assumes the current custodians of the “Australian Touring Car Championship” will be playing a part in the celebrations?

[Woolley]

What a fascinating piece of history, completely unknown to me. I'm especially impressed to find there's a town in the world which has

Originally Posted by Terry S

Jack Brabham Park

within it. Thanks for posting.

[Terry S]

Originally Posted by Woolley

What a fascinating piece of history, completely unknown to me. I'm especially impressed to find there's a town in the world which has
within it. Thanks for posting.

Here is outline of Brabham Park for interest


http://westernjuniorcarnivals.nsw.cr...Park%20map.pdf

The Forest Road and Huntley Road shown were part of the Gnoo Blas circuit.

Also in Orange is Max Stewart Oval.

[cavvy]

Link to the suburb of Brabham, out of Perth WA
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place....9692105?hl=en

Includes the old Caversham circuit at the southern end, scene of the 1957 & 1962 Australian GP, neither won by Jack. The WW2 airstrips clearly visible.

Back to Gnoo Blas it seems to have been well attended but the follow up reporting has been non existent. Hope I'm wrong.