Amaroo Park

Kingair · 1 Nov 2015, 00:52 (Ref:3587012)

Who misses this little ball tearer of a race track!

Watching John "Lucky Nuts" Bowe episode of Legends of Motorsport , showed a bit of open wheeler action, Nissan Pulsar series and some rounds of the ATCC.

Never visited the place, but loved that Better Brakes series that was run their during the late 70's and early 80's and shown live on TV, when motor racing was a rarity on the idiot box.

The Kevin Bartlett episode showed the Mitsubishi Starion series in full swing(probably opposite lock) at Amaroo.

Seemed to be a track that allowed for some unusual passing moves, plenty of panel rubbing and some sideways action.

Reload · 1 Nov 2015, 01:08 (Ref:3587013)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingair

Who misses this little ball tearer of a race track!

Watching John "Lucky Nuts" Bowe episode of Legends of Motorsport , showed a bit of open wheeler action, Nissan Pulsar series and some rounds of the ATCC.

Never visited the place, but loved that Better Brakes series that was run their during the late 70's and early 80's and shown live on TV, when motor racing was a rarity on the idiot box.

The Kevin Bartlett episode showed the Mitsubishi Starion series in full swing(probably opposite lock) at Amaroo.

Seemed to be a track that allowed for some unusual passing moves, plenty of panel rubbing and some sideways action.

I was a regular spectator there around the mid 80's as a teenager and loved the track. Always sat at the top of the main straight and unfortunately had the displeasure of sitting only a couple of hundred metres away from a spectator who was killed/badly injured when an open wheeler flew over the fence. I believe that Peter Hopwood may have been the pilot ? Scared the crap out of us and never returned

chavez · 1 Nov 2015, 03:33 (Ref:3587052)

You might enjoy this then. To be released next week.

http://cmsmotorsport.com.au/shop/awesome-amaroo/

Kingair · 1 Nov 2015, 04:31 (Ref:3587068)

Looks like another DVD to the collection.

Didn't they run some of the Super sedans or Grand Nationals from Liverpool Speedway(when it was asphalt) at Amaroo?

Hope no one from the PC brigade was offended by the ball tearer or lucky nuts!

Starion13 · 1 Nov 2015, 05:21 (Ref:3587093)

The track was built in a natural amphitheatre and provided really good viewing for spectators. Wasn't a fast track but some great racing and a great diversity of classes usually made for a great day out. The cars were close and the atmosphere was always good.

The ARDC were the promoters and did a great job of running the events and Channel 7 always provided excellent coverage. They were the times when privateers could race and get some reasonable value from the event.

Noise complaints ended its days.

one five five · 1 Nov 2015, 07:11 (Ref:3587107)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingair

Who misses this little ball tearer of a race track!

Watching John "Lucky Nuts" Bowe episode of Legends of Motorsport , showed a bit of open wheeler action, Nissan Pulsar series and some rounds of the ATCC.

Never visited the place, but loved that Better Brakes series that was run their during the late 70's and early 80's and shown live on TV, when motor racing was a rarity on the idiot box.

The Kevin Bartlett episode showed the Mitsubishi Starion series in full swing(probably opposite lock) at Amaroo.

Seemed to be a track that allowed for some unusual passing moves, plenty of panel rubbing and some sideways action.

Here is a great Group E race between Jones & Bartlett in their Starions from 1987

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC_AtcL-SU8

mayhem · 2 Nov 2015, 09:21 (Ref:3587428)

Aaaahhh, Amaroo, the place I was introduced to motor racing as a kid.
I remember collecting autographs from all my new heroes: Brock, Johnson, Longhurst and Medieke. I remember sitting on the cliff at the final turn with all the other ARDC members including sharing sandwiches with two people that would later be in Australias first reality tv show.
I remember Blast Dynamics blowing up the lake.
I remember bullants that bit harder than a shark.
I remember being amazed at the sight and sound of the OXO sierras for the first time.
I remember a million other things, but mostly i remember being shattered when they shut it down.

Casper · 2 Nov 2015, 10:17 (Ref:3587437)

Amaroo was THE motorsport venue in Sydney. I would say that the main track was a small part of what went on there as the other venues including a hill climb, dirt circuit and rallies run within its boundaries during the ban in NSW on rallies running on public roads. Club motorsport revolved around the place.

db120176 · 2 Nov 2015, 23:56 (Ref:3587683)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

Aaaahhh, Amaroo, the place I was introduced to motor racing as a kid.
I remember collecting autographs from all my new heroes: Brock, Johnson, Longhurst and Medieke. I remember sitting on the cliff at the final turn with all the other ARDC members including sharing sandwiches with two people that would later be in Australias first reality tv show.

Donahers?

old fart · 3 Nov 2015, 06:03 (Ref:3587727)

Having been around for a little while I can vouch for the fantastic atmosphere and quality of racing that Amaroo provided to the substantial crowd lining the rocks of the amphitheatre.
Many a sensational dice was witnessed and many a reputation was made or dashed on a regular basis.
I was fortunate to have started officiating at Catalina in 1963 and when tarmac races were ended in 1969 Amaroo was already running and had just come under control of the ARDC.The club operated Amaroo until 1998 and I missed officiating at only 2 or 3 meetings during that time - the public loved the place just like they did with Katoomba and it was common to see it full to overflowing with spectators.
Obviously lots of history and stories and I can still remember the final race, a butcher's picnic with trophies for not only the podium but for the last car to cross the line to bring the barrier down on what was a sensational track and era in motorsport.
As Casper has noted the venue was more than just a racetrack with other types of activities available including a mean dirt circuit that always provided plenty of action.
For a while both Amaroo and SMSP (Eastern Creek) were operating and it was a shock to go from a tight little track to the more open nature of the creek and the lack of spectators.
Now only EC/SMSP remains with Oran Park having been a casualty of the urban sprawl and hopefully with its zoning and State Govt ownership it will hang around for a while. Bathurst Regional Council is keener than ever to promote Mount Panorama as a developing motor sport hub so God's own country looks to be safe !!!

Casper · 3 Nov 2015, 06:43 (Ref:3587733)

Catalina, start a lap with good visibility and by the time you finished it you needed fog lights and a seeing eye dog.

old fart · 3 Nov 2015, 10:59 (Ref:3587773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

Catalina, start a lap with good visibility and by the time you finished it you needed fog lights and a seeing eye dog.

Another ripper of a circuit-some competitors would race at Oran Park due to its open spaces but would not race there as it was too dangerous-spin and you either hit a rockface, timber fence, fell into the swamp or got cleaned up by another car.
The fog was an interesting hazard and made flagging difficult - never really experienced bad fog at Amaroo but The Mount is renowned for it.

Once again plenty of history and stories and the start of some great careers for some notable drivers.

Could almost do with its own thread.

mayhem · 3 Nov 2015, 21:18 (Ref:3587922)

Quote:

Originally Posted by db120176

Donahers?

Indeed.

MattV · 28 Jan 2018, 03:38 (Ref:3795898)

Here's your chance to own a piece of Amaroo Park:

https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/land/...angrove/366549

Forda · 28 Jan 2018, 04:05 (Ref:3795908)

Doesn't look like decommissioning Amaroo park did much in the way of resolving the Sydney housing crisis.

How many homes did they fit in it's place - 2 or 3?