Between 1959 and 1977, the Hume Weir Motor Racing Circuit hosted some of Australia’s leading drivers and held a traditional race meeting during the New Year’s period.
Opened as a dirt track on November 2, 1959 and positioned right near the Lake Hume Weir at an original length of 1.2km, it wasn’t long until the track was paved as in 1960 this occurred in addition to an extension to 1.6km.
Highlighted by its tight nature, unique layout in regards to a squeezed section where a concrete wall split the track and a bridge built across providing a phenomenal spectator view provided by its location in a disused quarry.
Alfredo Costanzo holds the lap record at a 42.7s achieved driving a Birrana in the third round of the 1975 Australian Formula 2 Championship.
Highlighted by an international meeting in 1961, which was aided by sponsorship from Lukey Mufflers and welcomed Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori in addition to Australia’s leading open-wheel competitors.
The locals got around the events at Hume Weir, but the New Year’s meetings were memorable.
Peter Brock in his Holden-powered Austin A30 thrilled crowds in early Sports Sedan races, while Norm Beechey raced his Australian Touring Car Championship winning Holden Monaro at the venue on numerous occasions in addition to his brief run in a Shell-backed Ford Falcon XY GT-HO Phase III.
Bob Jane was also a consistent competitor when Hume Weir was at its height, whether it be in his Ford Mustang Trans Am or his Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 powered by a big Repco V8 in its big winged phase or even an Elfin 400.
In the end, the circuit was pretty much closed by CAMS as it didn’t meet improved safety requirements and the owners/promoters were unable afford these, leaving it to host its last race meeting on March 27, 1977.
Used consistently then on as a stage of the legendary Alpine Rally up until the 1990s and occasionally for sprint events, Hume Weir is unrecognisable now as the actual dam itself needed strengthening so the area was dug up destroying much of the circuit.
There remains some armco and a few amenities, but this is all of what’s left of a circuit regarded as one of this country’s forgotten gems.