OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: firko on January 16, 2014, 10:10:42 pm
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Here's a nice little tour of what was a great little circuit. Watching full fields of Apendix J Holdens battling there in the sixties still sticks in my mind. One memory is watching Bob Jane roll his Mustang right in front of us back in 1965. My mates and I could be seen in the background of the photo of the crash that made the front page of the Sydney dailies.
http://zengarage.com.au/2014/01/catalinaraceway/ (http://zengarage.com.au/2014/01/catalinaraceway/) Don't miss the in car shots in the Datsun 1600 at what must have been at one of the club day lap dashes they snuck in under the radar there back in the 80's.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/bobjaneroll_zps23af8560.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/bobjaneroll_zps23af8560.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/bobjane_zpsd4e6a6e7.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/bobjane_zpsd4e6a6e7.jpg.html)
My mates and I are in the background of the above rolling photo...November 17, 1965
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/MustangsNov65_zpsd000b34f.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/MustangsNov65_zpsd000b34f.jpg.html)
Pete Geohegan leads Bob Jane and Norm Beechey seconds before Jane clipped Beechey and rolled
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Funny you should raise this topic Firko. I was going through some pics with a mate about Catalina Park the other day. Looking at some current pics she's a pretty run down old place. The last sought of club racing there finished in the early 90's and the place has been let go.
It's a sad way to end such a historic track. It makes me want to go up there and tidy it up to preserve something :'( It's probably the last piece of motoring history in the Sydney basin, with Amaroo, Oran Park gone to make way for bloody housing. Going back further I think there are remnants of the Warwick Farm track still there but not much else.
Here's a hot lap in a Datsun 1600.
http://youtu.be/YXSn_1oHM_Y
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What about the Auto cross
I mean SuperMoto
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5yIQAn7HXM
the future
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Hey Firko, I did that walk a couple of years back (well I think 4 years ago) when I was down for a look around Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
I looked up a bit of the circuit history and wanted to see it first hand. I believe the main problem was the weather (fog) and can see why when I went there. Sad to see all the old circuits going by the wayside.
We have been a bit lucky up here in that Lakeside was purchased by the local council and it is now enjoy a new revival due to so many club events.
In a way I blame the V8 Supercars for this as the older circuits did not fit their requirements and so cannot afford to say afloat (they can also get more single event people to the street events).
Catalina park sure is a great spot and would have been great to drive. I read in the history of the circuit that it so named due to a Catalina aircraft being parked in the lake!
Thanks for posting the footage also guys.
Just as a foot note I raced Superkarts back in the late 80's early 90's so have raced at most of the old circuits but was too late for this one.
Shane
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These are Catalina scenes I remember so well....fields full of hotted up grey motored Holdens duking it out for all buggery. Apendix J was like sedan car Roller Derby at times. Remember that these old cars were only 10 years old at the time, some brand new like the Studebaker. I ended up owning one of those Apendix J FJ racers after Cams dropped the category and the cars had become obsolete. It was a fast old car for the day.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Catalinafj_zpsfc6dddf9.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/Catalinafj_zpsfc6dddf9.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinaHiggins_zps743943c1.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinaHiggins_zps743943c1.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinalark_zps68f7c9f0.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinalark_zps68f7c9f0.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/fjholden_zpse06f91a8.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/fjholden_zpse06f91a8.jpg.html)
I purchased the FJ #75 and it became my daily driver road car in the late 60's and my first race car (drags) in the early 70's (colour photo). It still exists today with a 202 4/speed in Townsville FNQ.
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These are Catalina scenes I remember so well....fields full of hotted up grey motored Holdens duking it out for all buggery. Apendix J was like sedan car Roller Derby at times. Remember that these old cars were only 10 years old at the time, some brand new like the Studebaker. I ended up owning one of those Apendix J FJ racers after Cams dropped the category and the cars had become obsolete. It was a fast old car for the day.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Catalinafj_zpsfc6dddf9.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/Catalinafj_zpsfc6dddf9.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinaHiggins_zps743943c1.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinaHiggins_zps743943c1.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinalark_zps68f7c9f0.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinalark_zps68f7c9f0.jpg.html)(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/fjholden_zpse06f91a8.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/fjholden_zpse06f91a8.jpg.html)
I purchased the FJ #75 and it became my daily driver road car in the late 60's and my first race car (drags) in the early 70's (colour photo). It still exists today with a 202 4/speed in Townsville FNQ.
Have a look at the crowd in the top left hand shot!!
Why can Europe still get crowds like this and we cannot??
Keep them coming Firko
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They didn't race bikes very much ay Catalina because of the lack of run-off and other safety deficiencies, not the least the permanent water run off on the track in the Tunnel of Love. Here's some shots from 1966, the bottom photo being of the late, great Ron Toombs, possibly on the legendary Henderson Matchless.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinabikes_zps3a5a57b8.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinabikes_zps3a5a57b8.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Catalinasidecars_zps282b9465.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/Catalinasidecars_zps282b9465.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinarontoombes_zpsbfa5b3c9.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinarontoombes_zpsbfa5b3c9.jpg.html)
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Please pardon my brief indulgence but Catalina and Humpy racing were synonymous with each other. The bottom photo shows one that's come to grief in 1960, early in the tracks life as you can see by the lack of foliage. Note the closeness of housing, also in the top photo, the eventual reason for its closing.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinaapendixj_zps132a38cc.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinaapendixj_zps132a38cc.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinaholden_zpsd4f6947c.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinaholden_zpsd4f6947c.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinaholdens2_zpsa0b415f5.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinaholdens2_zpsa0b415f5.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinaWarrenweldon_zps9fd5187a.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinaWarrenweldon_zps9fd5187a.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinahumpys_zpsb33cf6ad.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinahumpys_zpsb33cf6ad.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalnahumpylean_zpsd90a8d2e.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalnahumpylean_zpsd90a8d2e.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinsdeswest_zpsce42b186.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinsdeswest_zpsce42b186.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Catalina1_zps97ee0d76.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/Catalina1_zps97ee0d76.jpg.html)
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Brave men round that track on motorcycles.
I am a real car guy as well Mark so keep it coming.
Gee they are clear pictures Mark for a website or yours?. how many meetings did you go to at that circuit. Did you also go to Warwick Farm? and any other older tracks?
They had a write up about Des West awhile back in the muscle Car mag and on the humpy Holden's, they really did get into a bit of work with they in the day.
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Great stuff Firko. Didn't Channel 7 televise some rally cross just before the track shutdown? J
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I've been for a ride in a Catalina flying boat.....coolest plane I've ever been in. 8). Went to Lakeside and Surfers Paradise International Raceway a lot in the 80's.....last of the real cars....Group C....Moffat, Brock, Johnson....
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Great stuff Firko. Where in NSW was the track? All those old humpies are so cool and I'm glad to read your old beast is still alive...even if it has had a heart transplant. I know where there is a near new FX in Ararat Victoria with 1300 miles on the clock. All totally original right down to the tyres and number plates. Owned by one of the more affluent men in town and he will not sell it. He took it off the road when he got the new FJ which his son crashed when he fell asleep behind the wheel. The old bugger even has an as new LE 2 door monaro that sits in the same shed.
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Catalina Park is basicaly right in the middle of Katoomba. Would be prime location for a Classic Dirt type event with all the old FJ's and EH's and bikes going round(as would Mt Panorama at Easter). I doubt the resisdents that live between the park/GWH/Train line would complain the ones 5km away by crow fly would.
https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=catalina+park&ie=UTF-8&ei=BTXaUtPGMsnylAWgn4CgBA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg
Just look at what happened to Amaroo a grand total of 7 houses are on the entire site of the circuit, mx and hilclimb
https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=amaroo+drive+annangrove&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb&ie=UTF-8&ei=rzfaUrH0EMXZkAXF-4CgAg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg
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Thanks Lozza. I thought Catalina must of been in the mountains out west somewhere going by the climbs in the photos. Amaroo and Oran Park where the 2 circuits I used to go to as a young bloke. I absolutely loved going to Amaroo to watch MR Motocross and the like. It's a shame both circuits had to be closed for housing. Bloody urban sprawl! The same happened to Sydney Showground Speedway even though the showground was there before all the blocks of flats started springing up around it.
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The lake in the middle of the Catalina track pre dated the actual race circuit by almost a decade. It opened in 1952 as a tourist swimming hole and amusement Park. An ex WW2 Catalina flying boat was berthed permanently on a concrete block in the lake in 1952 but because of vandalism it was removed and cut up in 1958. The race circuit opened in 1960. I love the photo below showing the speedboat whizzing by only metres from kids swimming. The lake's pretty small so the boat must have been a 'hot laps' joy ride attraction. Below the 'then' photo is a shot of the lake today taken from roughly the same spot....note rock...................http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/catalina-park.html (http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/catalina-park.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinalakeinmiddle_zps850bc6cf.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinalakeinmiddle_zps850bc6cf.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinalake_zps7a57781c.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinalake_zps7a57781c.jpg.html)
Below is the same corner in 1966 and 2009 showing how nature is slowly taking over the place.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/Catalinasidecars_zps282b9465.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/Catalinasidecars_zps282b9465.jpg.html)
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/catalinatoday_zpsa43b2c29.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/catalinatoday_zpsa43b2c29.jpg.html)
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they are clear pictures Mark for a website or yours?. how many meetings did you go to at that circuit. Did you also go to Warwick Farm? and any other older tracks?
Some of the photos are mine and others courtesy of Mr Google, Shane. I don't think I missed too many meetings at Catalina, before I got my licence and a car we used to leave home at 4am, catch a bus to Central Railway station and catch a train to Katoomba. More times than not, we'd then sit in the dense fog until it lifted at around 11am and they could start the races. We also rarely missed a Warwick Farm meeting, early on my Dad would take me and he'd flash his police badge to get us into the pits to see his mate Max Stewart who drove open wheelers and to me it was like meeting Stirling Moss, it was so glamorous and exciting. Later when we got our own cars we'd always end up at Creek Corner which was like being on the Hill at the SCG or Bay 13 at the MCG, it was the hoon capital of the world...the press called the Creek Corner spectators Creek Corner Cretins in an article and it stuck to the point that some had Creek Corner Cretin t shirts. My mate always took a large family sized Custard Tart just to throw at people and others would throw rotten fruit, eggs and even the occasional turd.....it was that kind of place ;D. Like Catalina, Warwick Farm is still essentially there but parts of it were built over for extensions to the horse race track a few years ago. Seeing F1 superstar Jochen Rindt equal Jim Clarks lap record in the pissing wet, full fields of top line Formula 1 racers in works F1 cars dicing for the Tasman Series, the great Beechey, Geohegan, Jane (and others) V8 touring car wars in the late 60's and a young Alan Moffat dicing with Jim McKeon in their Lotus Cortinas were brilliant sights that can never be repeated. It was genuinely one of the great tracks of the world and a tragedy it was closed before its use by date.
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/warfarmcreekcorner_zps683f8ea3.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/warfarmcreekcorner_zps683f8ea3.jpg.html)
Warwick Farm Formula One Tasman Series 1971 with 1000 Creek Corner Cretins in the background.
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How about memories of Parramatta Park.
I remember going to meetings there in the time of the early circuit which continued down along the river bank.
The later events cut out that section of the track after several drivers and riders came to grief in collisions with the trees along the river bank.
I got my first look at a new Allard sports car on the back of a track for display. Powered bu a side valve V8 Cadillac.
I remember combined car-bike meets there with the old names, Harry Hinton, etc plus in the cars Frank Klienig, etc. That was during the days while my ol' man was around, him being a petrol head and some time competitor in car events we often found ourselves at there or Mount Druitt with him knowing lots of the drivers and also lnowing riders like Tony McAlpine, Stan Ward, through his work as a motor mech.
I do have some slides I took at Catalina of bikes in the fog. One of the Merrylands riders there won an event there and I asked 'how could you see where you were going?' he replied ' there was a line a couple of inches wide I was following, turned out to be an oil slick'!
cheers pancho.
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http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18489345 (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18489345) Parramatta Park track
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k495/firko2/parramatta_zps780f9756.jpg) (http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/firko2/media/parramatta_zps780f9756.jpg.html)