Run Report ....
Historic Catalina Park Race Circuit Walk, Blue Mountains, 19 Feb 2023 ....
What a great start to this month′s run. The group met at Dolly Café, Glenbrook where they congregated and partook in idle discussion until departure time. Leaving on time, it was quite an enjoyable run up to Katoomba and to the Historic Catalina Park Race Circuit. Once we parked-up, we entered the circuit, and by all accounts, it was a walk down nostalgia lane. The circuit was opened in February 1961 where meetings were staged by the Australian Racing Drivers Club in association with the Blue Mountains Sporting Drivers Club. At the time of the track's ciosure inm 1970, the lap record was credited to Frank Matich (Matich SR4) at 53.4 seconds, an average lap speed of 141 km/h (88 mph).
Originally Catalina Park, also known as ′The Gully′, was used for top level motorsport including touring car, open wheeler, motorcycle and sidecar racing. The track was reopened in 1993 and used for lap dashes with single cars on track at one time and was used until its second closure in 2001.
Surprisingly, there is so much left of the old circuit still to see but most of it has deteriorated with grass growing through the track surface on what was Lockheed Straight and Dunlop Corner, and water seepage has caused part of the track to collapse between Craven A corner and Castrol corner.
The leisurely walk around Catalina Park took about one hour, after which, it was back into the Toranas and off to the Katoomba RSL Club for lunch. Such a great place to have lunch with good food, service and atmosphere. During lunch, we had a suprise visit from Darrin and Judith Kopp who were on their way to Forbes. We were all having such a good time at the RSL that no one seemed to want to leave. The last person hung on to 3:30pm.
A big thank you to everyone who attended and making the day such a memorable success.
Attendees: Pete, Rob, Leanne, Heath, Robyn, Ron, Robin, Steve, Annie, Val, John, Bob, Norma, Ivan, Prue, Ian, Mandy, Phil, Scott, Yvette, Darrin, Judith and Bob.
Apologies: Rose, Harold, Lily, Rob S, Michael, Gabrielle, Gary, Kerrie, Terry H, Peter and Helen, Mark H, Lance, Mark and Heather.
Many thanks to all who I hope had a great day.
Bob Byrnes.
Runs Coordinator.
Great Cars, Great Runs, Great People, Great Times ....