Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit

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 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.[2]

Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit
LocationOrange, New South Wales
Time zoneGMT +10
Coordinates33°19′1″S 149°5′39″E
Opened1953
Closed1961
Major eventsSouth Pacific Championship for racing cars
Australian Touring Car Championship
Length6.03 km (3.75 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record2:07.4 (105.2 mph) (Jon Leighton, Cooper-Coventry Climax, 1960[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.[1][3] The January 1955 meeting, which featured the 1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars, was the first FIA sanctioned international race meeting to be staged in Australia.[4] 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 hosted the inaugural Australian Touring Car Championship event in 1960, the race being won by David McKay driving a Jaguar Mark 1 3.4-litre. Also competing were 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,[5] with the last race meeting being held on 22 October 1961.[6]

The locally based Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club hold an annual classic car show at the site.[7]

Results of major races
Jack Brabham during the 1953 New South Wales Grand Prix.
Year Race Winning driver Car
1953 New South Wales Grand Prix Jack Brabham Cooper Type 23 Bristol
1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars Peter Whitehead Ferrari 500
1956 South Pacific Championship for racing cars[8] Reg Hunt[8] Maserati 250F
1958 South Pacific Championship for racing cars Jack Brabham Cooper T43 Coventry Climax
1959 South Pacific Championship for racing cars Jack Brabham Cooper T45 Coventry Climax
1960 Australian Touring Car Championship David McKay Jaguar 3.4 Litre
  • A sign commemorating the Gnoo Blas circuit at its former location.
    A sign commemorating the Gnoo Blas circuit at its former location.
  • The run into Mrs Mutton's Corner.
    The run into Mrs Mutton's Corner.
  • Looking back towards Connaghan's Corner from The Sweep.
    Looking back towards Connaghan's Corner from The Sweep.
  • Looking down Bloomfield Straight from The Sweep.
    Looking down Bloomfield Straight from The Sweep.
  • Looking back up Hospital Straight from Windsock Corner.
    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 the former circuit.
    A sign marking the location of Speet's Bend. Many signs similar to this appear at various locations around the former circuit.

References
  1. Jim Scaysbrook, Gnoo Blas, Motor Sport (magazine), May 2006, pages 84 to 87
  2. "Gnoo Blas Fast and Furious". Tasman-Series.com: The 2.5L Tasman Series 1964–69. Archived from the original on 17 August 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  3. "Orange To Stage Motor Cycle And Car Racing". Lithgow Mercury. New South Wales, Australia. 15 January 1953. p. 2 (CITY EDITION).
  4. Gnoo Blas Classic, www.gnooblas.com, as archived at web.archive.org
  5. Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks. Turton & Armstrong Pty Ltd Publishers. pp. 70 & 71. ISBN 0-908031-55-6.
  6. Denis Gregory, October 1961: The last harrah, Chequered Times – A History of Gnoo Blas, Orange 1953–1961, pages 169–173
  7. "Gnoo Blas Circuit – Sport and Recreation". Tourism New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  8. Denis Gregory, Second South Pacific Championships, Chequered Times – A History of Gnoo Blas, Orange 1953–1961, pages 81–89
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