Before the era of regular street circuit events in cities across Australia, there was one destined for a regional Victorian town and remains stillborn close to 40 years on.
The Adelaide Grand Prix through Victoria Park arguably started the revolution for Australian motorsport as later Surfers Paradise, Albert Park, Canberra, Homebush, Townsville, Newcastle in addition to Wellington and Hamilton for the New Zealanders, but a plan in the early 1980s was to bring the touring car circus to Geelong.
Just like Newcastle and Surfers Paradise, the Geelong circuit planned to be along the waterside featuring the landmark Cunningham Pier in the background.
Located in some of Geelong’s busiest areas, the circuit travelled along Eastern Beach Road as it looped back on Brougham Street before turning left along the since disappeared section of Cunningham Street. Linking up with Mercer Street, before zi zagging through Corio, Bayley and Smythe Streets before returning to run along Western Beach.
There was significant support from the Geelong City Council, CAMS and sponsors for the 500km touring car race as support from Peter Brock was unwavering with confirmation of entering two Holden Dealer Team Commodores, while rival Allan Moffat declared his interest in entering a Peter Stuyvesant Mazda RX-7.
Planning was well advanced as Easter 1984 had been earmarked as the date for the duly dubbed Geelong 500 as it was expected 30,000 fans were to attend the event as a 15,000 seat grandstand and 10 further sites around the circuit provided viewing positions.
It was estimated the event was to cost $1 million as re-surfacing and the removal of a roundabout began to take place, merchandise was made, a contract for the ABC to broadcast the race was signed in addition to more than 400 barriers being purchased by local companies for advertising at $500 a pop.
But things started to go awry as the event drew closer and eventual the promoters of the event, Motorvation declared the race had fallen over.
However, two decades later Geelong was again entering the conversation to host a Supercars event, but this plan also came to nought.
Now of course, the Geelong Revival Motoring Festival and the associated Speed Trials conduct an event using the Western Beach precinct.