While the Repco Supercars Championship opens this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park, it traditionally ended some 35km south at Oran Park.
The venue opened in 1962 near Narellan and closed 48 years later to make room for housing, but the memories of Oran Park live on through the likes of YouTube in addition to the many thousands or millions to flock to the venue during its lifetime.
Although nothing remains of the circuit today, the history remains through the street names now sitting on the land of the former circuit.
Australian racing legend Peter Brock holds pole position in these stakes as the main drive through the estate is named in his honour, while The Straight runs parallel with, well you can only guess.
Others in this area include Formula 5000 stars Kevin Bartlett, Bruce Allison and John McCormack, while touring car ace Dick Johnson also has a significant drive names after him.
Other touring car champions include Jim Richards (or is it Steven), Mark Skaife, Marcos Ambrose, Garth Tander, Rick Kelly (or again, Todd?), Glenn Seton and Colin Bond are names to be found among the suburban setting.
David ‘Skippy’ parsons, Mark Larkham, Paul Morris, Craig Lowndes, John Goss, plucky privateers Trevor Ashby and Steve Reed, Norm Beechey, Fred Gibson, George Fury, John Leffler, the Geoghegan family and many more racing luminaries are sprinkled around the estate.
Michael Dowson has a street named after him to represent Oran Park’s string motorcycle racing history, former circuit manager Allan Horsley and long-time driver trainer Peter Finlay cap off an impressive array of historic figures to play a role at the circuit.
James Courtney is one modern name to feature and in the lead-up to the opening Repco Supercars Championship round at Sydney Motorsport Park visited his street on what is his final season before retirement.
Make sure to head down to Oran Park and soak in what is left of nostalgia or maybe sick the ball at Doohan Park then sizzle a snag at Grandstand Park while visiting.
