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Bacca
Small Ford Guru
Australia
1240 Posts |
 Posted - 24/04/2013 : 22:21:55
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Meet at Penrith McDonalds, Panthers place, Penrith
7.30am for departure at 8.00am, heading to Catalina Park, Katoomba
We have planned an early morning run up in to the Blue Mountains of Sydney where we will cruise to Catalina Park in Katoomba. For those that don’t know Catalina Park is one of Sydney’s lost motor racing tracks and although no longer accessible by car you can still walk around this historic track.
We will meet at the Penrith McDonalds car park in the Penrith Panthers complex at 7.30am and depart for the Blue Mountains at 8.00am. We should then arrive at the track mid morning where we will take a self guided tour of Catalina Park before heading back down to Sydney.
The idea is to miss the heavy traffic of the afternoon when cruising back to Sydney but we will stop for a snack lunch at Mountain High Pies at Wentworth Falls.
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Bacca
Small Ford Guru
Australia
1240 Posts |
Posted - 15/05/2013 : 10:57:25
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Don't forget about this cruise which is also on this weekend, Sunday 19th.
Even though we will be meeting at 7.30am we wont head off till around 8.30am.
This is what the track looks like today.
And what it was like back in it's prime.
See you all bright and early.
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Neale
Small Ford Addict
Australia
889 Posts |
Posted - 15/05/2013 : 18:00:59
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| I'll be there. It will be a good way to finish off the weekend after the show on Saturday |
2006 LS Focus Zetec
1969 Mk2 Cortina 440L
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Mark
Moderator
Australia
963 Posts |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 18:08:14
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| How did the day go? |
1980 RS2000
2009 Mondeo XR5
2016 FGX XR6 |
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Laurie S
Small Ford Master
Australia
126 Posts |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 19:31:17
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It was a great day for a cruise and it was good seeing a track that I had the opportunity to race on in the late seventies. Good company as well. Although I couldn't have a pie later on a good cuppa was had. |
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geebung
Small Ford Addict
Australia
569 Posts |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 20:28:37
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Great day for a cruise. Beautiful road up into the mountains
from Penrith [Old Bathurst Road]. It would make a great hillclimb
venue.  We rejoined the Gt. Western Hwy. at Blaxland and then it was the usual traffic and 'roadworks' until Katoomba.
Good roll up considering the show the day before.
12 cars I believe. Then a walk 'round the now very run down and
overgrown Catalina Park Motor Racing Circuit.
Quite a shame really as some titanic battles were fought out here in the 60's and 70's between the likes of Leo and 'Pete' Geoghegan, Norm Beechey, Bob Jane, Bob Morris, Allan Moffat, Jim McKeown, Peter Manton and Peter Brock.
The original timber fencing and some very low and decidedly inadequate Armco steel fencing remains were very faint and bearly
readable sponsor's names can still be seen.
Names like Bosche, Craven A, Castrol, B.P., Girling, and various local businesses used to be regular supporters of events.
It was then back to Wentworth Falls for lunch at a very nice Pie shop
before heading home to beat the Sunday traffic.
Thank you all for coming and thanks Theo for organising it. |
Geoff |
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Bacca
Small Ford Guru
Australia
1240 Posts |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 21:00:55
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I'm glad you enjoyed it Geoff. It was a great day to cruise up to Catalina Park. The walk around the track was terrific. The lunch at the pie shop was pretty good too.
For those who may be interested about the track, here a just a few pictures from the walk.
The Start/Finish line. The control tower in the photo from my earlier post was between this sign and the Armco.
Some of the actual line across the track
Geoff on the starters platform dropping the flag!
The run up from the start. The gap in the Armco on the left is where the motocross part of the track begins.
These next photos give you a bit of an idea about the elevation changes to the circuit.
Looking back the other way from the climb up.
The famous Craven A corner is completely overgrown and unrecognizable.
But a little digging and you will still find traces of it!
There's also some other traces of what went on up there too!
Some parts of the track are in reasonable condition!
Out of the famous tunnel of love and back down to the Start/Finish line.
Walking around here a few times would get you pretty fit real quick.
Thanks to all who came out, it was an enjoyable day and as always great company.
And don't forget next month is our cruise to Mt Panorama, Bathurst.
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