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1 Jul 2009, 05:03 (Ref:2494265) | #26 | ||
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Probably the F5000 days, attended plenty of races there in the 70s for the big banger open wheelers.
Have attended plenty of V8 Supercar Rounds there in recent years and enjoyed the track but I must be one of the odd ones that prefer Eastern Creek, probably because of the better facilities and fast corners. But it would be nice if Mr Perich could spend some of the money he is probably making from property development on a replacement circuit. Sydney needs it but the V8 people have probably made it a bit harder and a bit less viable with the silly Homebush event. |
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1 Jul 2009, 09:43 (Ref:2494358) | #27 | |||
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Quote:
I was there, wasn't Merkel the hotshot who was expected to win but got a lesson from Doohan and went home with his tail between his legs? I was stunned to see how fast they popped up over the crest of the dogleg and how savagely the forks were compressed under breaking just a second or so later as they went in to Momo Speedline. The polystyrene pads seemed so inadequate against the wall for protection. |
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"The past is knowledge, the present our mistake, the future we always leave too late" Paul Weller (The Style Coulcil) |
1 Jul 2009, 11:04 (Ref:2494410) | #28 | ||
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One of my first visits was watching the Pepsi enduro and meeting my hero Dick Johnson and getting a photo taken with him after I snuck into the pits. Then watching the race and seeing the mustang in the lead going for a win and the wheel falling off.
I went to the last Castrol 6hr bike race there and got Wayne Gardners autograph on one of his helmet brochures, which I still have, before he was really famous. I can still remember the sound of the moto guzzi in last place comeing over the dogleg every lap. Watching the 2lt super tourers at night time, what an excellent race. Nascars on the short circuit under lights in the Valvoline corporate tent on pit straight. Sitting at suttons watching a truck coming straight at me brakes locked and never going to stop. That was a huge hit. Another classic was Wayne driving the 300zx pace car at the trucks pulling off into the infield and spinning on the wet grass The best memory is of my very first race meeting in 1992 in my rx3 street sedan. I can still remember my first laps of private practice on the friday with cars blasting past in every direction. The first race start with my left leg shaking like crazy holding the clutch down. The worst memory is probably last years IP nationals after the best preparation of my car, we had everything go wrong that possibly could. |
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I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good, either |
1 Jul 2009, 11:49 (Ref:2494435) | #29 | |||
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Quote:
BTW Doohan broke the Oran Park lap record 39 times on that one day. That in itself must be some sort of record. |
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Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same. {Oscar Wilde} |
1 Jul 2009, 16:21 (Ref:2494577) | #30 | ||
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Oran Park is as rich in bike history as it is in car history.
John Kocinski graced the circuit with his precence in the Castrol 6hr, and as mentioned the Oran Park World Superbike rounds seem unbelievable these days... Wayne Gardner on his works Rothmans Honda, beaten to the flag by Mal Campbell on a 3-cylinder Honda during the 1985 Swann Series must be a track highlight I first went to Oran Park in 1988 as a youngster, for saturday practice for the ATCC. We went most years, i remember after qualifying we'd always head to the Shell tent where the press conferences would take place. One of the saddest bits will be when the 'Pavilion' on pit straight gets pulled down |
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"The Great Race" 22 November 1960 - 21 July 1999 |
1 Jul 2009, 20:07 (Ref:2494695) | #31 | |
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Or as was told to me the other day - working between the fence and track on BP corner and having Moffat's Brut 33 Mustang hit hard enough to stop it dead in its tracks.
Or having a truck roll on its last lap near the dog-leg after the chequered flag had been given to the winners and then causing an immediate red flag which caused an uproar because the winner had only become the leader on that last lap and, with the red flag, results were taken back a lap! The way it was stated to me 'there really isn;t much difference between a truck driver on the road and a racing truck driver' |
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2 Jul 2009, 08:39 (Ref:2494906) | #32 | |||
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Personally I'm trying not to think about life without Oran Park. It's been such a big part of my life from watching Dad race there when I was a baby, racing there myself and watching my brother take the Production Sports lap record earlier this year. I'm looking forward to our last race there later in the year and hoping for rain so Tim's record will stand forever. |
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David Mackie |
9 Jul 2009, 04:55 (Ref:2498094) | #33 | ||
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We've still got the Prod Sports 1hr to look forward to on Oct 31st/Nov 1st.
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President - Production Sports Car Racing Association of Queensland |
9 Jul 2009, 05:12 (Ref:2498103) | #34 | |
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Always a very sad day to see any race track get closed, you think about all the blood, sweat and tears that the old guys would have put into building the thing all those years ago.
Always loved the flip flop and the bridge. The memories of Oran Park include the truck racing and that big prang and fire on the start of a V8 race a few years ago! Thanks for the memories Oran Park. |
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9 Jul 2009, 08:50 (Ref:2498183) | #35 | ||
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My memories of the track include the countless years spent watching the ATCC with my Dad (who used to be a volunteer fire marshal, Oran Park was always the round he didn't work). Being there for Brocky's final ATCC race was truly spectacular and something I can still remember even if it was nearly 12 years ago and I was only 7.
Being there last year was honestly the most awesome experience I have ever had at an ATCC race, excluding Bathurst. I travelled from Adelaide just for that event. I loved every minute of it, and had fun chatting to various drivers/team officials I met in my travels! Thank you for so many years of memories, it just won't be the same the next time I'm in Sydney and not being able to hear the sound of cars going round the track from my house. |
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"A lot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing’s important to men who do it well. When you’re racing, it... it’s life. Anything that happens before or after... is just waiting." - Steve McQueen |
25 Jul 2009, 06:08 (Ref:2507482) | #36 | ||
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The signs at the entry gate on The Northern Rd. have already gone missing, maybe someone got a good souvenir?
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"The past is knowledge, the present our mistake, the future we always leave too late" Paul Weller (The Style Coulcil) |
25 Jul 2009, 07:01 (Ref:2507487) | #37 | ||
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Does anyone know what the meeting on the 12th December, is as it is the very last one that will be held there. Classes or something.
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25 Jul 2009, 10:33 (Ref:2507549) | #38 | ||
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Quote:
Yeah I was at Oran Park last weekend for the V8 drive and ride day which was fantastic by the way and almost missed the turn off from The Northern Road because the sign is missing. Its a shame to see the place in less then perfect condition these days. Its still sacred and the atmosphere is there even without a race meeting. It was an honor and a privilege to drive and do hot laps around the place . Its sad to think I might never go back there again. |
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26 Jul 2009, 01:01 (Ref:2508121) | #39 | ||
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Toy Cars
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The good old days sure seem like a long time ago!! |
26 Jul 2009, 01:09 (Ref:2508122) | #40 | ||
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I love the references to the name, and the little tykes in the push racecars, if you have a block of land next to a race track,. it might get a bit noisy during operating hours. Same Same for airports!
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Racing or sport, Hmmmm, you decide?? |
26 Jul 2009, 01:18 (Ref:2508123) | #41 | ||
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I love the references to the name, and the little tykes in the push racecars
Yeah...I used to get angry at crass marketeering...like what Microsoft has foisted on the long suffering computer users of the world with the seemingly blind obediance from governments around the globe and of course, what BMW did for the Classic Mini....but I have moved on
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The good old days sure seem like a long time ago!! |
26 Jul 2009, 05:24 (Ref:2508158) | #42 | ||
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"The past is knowledge, the present our mistake, the future we always leave too late" Paul Weller (The Style Coulcil) |
26 Jul 2009, 05:47 (Ref:2508160) | #43 | ||
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I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good, either |
26 Jul 2009, 07:54 (Ref:2508180) | #44 | ||
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Posts: 196
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The sign was stolen a little while ago now. Either early this year or very late last year. Got a pretty big run in the local paper, not much else happens around the are.
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26 Jul 2009, 08:34 (Ref:2508196) | #45 | ||
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Gees, I', observant, I've only been past there 45 million times this year. I might try keeping my eyes open when I'm driving in future.
Thanks Glenn. |
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"The past is knowledge, the present our mistake, the future we always leave too late" Paul Weller (The Style Coulcil) |
27 Jul 2009, 09:57 (Ref:2508967) | #46 | |||
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Quote:
Jeff |
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29 Aug 2009, 01:06 (Ref:2530194) | #47 | |||
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linky
Quote:
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. . . »-(¯`v´¯)-»........................The retro report........................©®»-(¯`v´¯)-» ê¿~ Disclaimer; the above is pure speculation and only posted for entertainment purposes!!! |
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