Gnoo Blas is a circuit full of history and although racing is not held there anymore, the history surrounding it is not lost.
Located in Orange, right near Bathurst in New South Wales, the Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit was formed using rural roads and highways outside of the town.
At 6.03km, the circuit was a triangular shape encompassing the grounds of the Bloomfield Hospital and what has since been named Jack Brabham Park.
The name Gnoo Blas came from what the local Aboriginal community called Mount Canobolas, the first meeting at Gnoo Blas was held on January 24-26, 1953 by the Australian Sporting Car Club.
Two years later, Gnoo Blas hosted its first FIA-sanctioned event and was the first of its kind in Australia when the South Pacific Championship for racing cars was held in January 1955.
Prior to the Tasman Series, Gnoo Blas played a big part in the development of open-wheel racing in Australia as it quickly became the top class of motor racing before the Australian Touring Car Championship came on stream in the 1960s.
In fact, Gnoo Blas played a role in the ATCC too by hosting the maiden event won by the Jaguar I 3.4-litre of David McKay.
It wasn’t long until the circuit came under the scrutiny of the New South Wales Police Force through the Speedway Act and due to this, Gnoo Blas held its last race meeting in October 1961.
Unlike many other circuits lost to housing estates or disrepair, an annual show is held at Jack Brabham Park and run by the Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club, which ensures the stories of the past are not forgotten.