The Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit was a motor racing circuit at

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, New South Wales, Australia. The circuit was formed from rural roads and highways outside the town, around the grounds of Bloomfield Hospital and what is now known as Sir Jack Brabham Park. It was 6.03 km long. The name came from the Aboriginal name for nearby

Mount Canobolas Mount Canobolas, a mountain on a spur of the Great Dividing Range, is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. With an elevation of above sea level, Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano, is the highest mountain i ...

. The first race meeting was staged over the Anniversary Day holiday weekend of 24 to 26 January 1953 and was organized by the Australian Sporting Car Club, the former promoters of the Easter car races at the

Mount Panorama Circuit Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is situated on Mount Panorama (Wahluu) and is best known as the home of the Bathurst 1000 motor race held each October, and the Bathurst 12 Hour ...

, Bathurst. The January 1955 meeting, which featured the 1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars, was the first

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sanctioned international race meeting to be staged in Australia. The circuit played a crucial part in the growth of Australian open wheel racing in the post war era but faded before the peak created by the

Tasman Series The Tasman Series (formally the Tasman Championship for Drivers)Tasman Championship for Drivers, CAMS Manual of Motor Sport with National Competition Rules 1974, pages 80 to 83 was a motor racing competition held annually from 1964 to 1975 ove ...

. Gnoo Blas hosted the inaugural

Australian Touring Car Championship The Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the Repco Supercars Championship awarded the trophy ...

event in

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

, the race being won by David McKay driving a Jaguar Mark 1 3.4-litre. Also competing were Bill Pitt (2nd), Ron Hodgson (3rd),

Bruce McPhee Bruce Alexander McPhee (11 February 1927 – 22 September 2009) was an Australian motor racing driver. He is most famous for winning the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 (now the Bathurst 1000), defeating both the Holden and Ford factory teams. Career ...

, Des West,

Ian Geoghegan Ian "Pete" Geoghegan, (26 April 1939 – 15 November 2003) was an Australian race car driver, known for a quick wit and natural driving skills. Sometimes referred to as "Pete" Geoghegan, he was one of the iconic characters of the 1960s and 197 ...

and Brian Foley. Continuing battles with

New South Wales Police Force The New South Wales Police Force (NSW Police Force; previously the New South Wales Police Service and New South Wales Police) is the primary law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Divided into Police Area Commands (P ...

who authorised motor racing through the Speedway Act eventually forced the track's closure, with the last race meeting being held on 22 October 1961. The locally based Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club hold an annual classic car show at the site.

Results of major races

Cooper Bristol of Jack Brabham (Gnoo-Blas, 5 October 1953)

Gallery

File:Gnoo Blas motor racing circuit.jpg, A sign commemorating the Gnoo Blas circuit at its former location. File:Gnoo Blas Mrs Muttons corner.JPG, The run into Mrs Mutton's Corner. File:Gnoo Blas Connaghans Corner.JPG, Looking back towards Connaghan's Corner from The Sweep. File:Gnoo Blas The Sweep to Bloomfield Straight.JPG, Looking down Bloomfield Straight from The Sweep. File:Gnoo Blas Hospital Straight from Windsock.JPG, Looking back up Hospital Straight from Windsock Corner. File:Gnoo Blas Speets Bend sign.JPG, A sign marking the location of Speet's Bend. Many signs similar to this appear at various locations around the former circuit.

References

Former Supercars Championship circuits Defunct motorsport venues in Australia Motorsport at Gnoo Blas Motorsport venues in New South Wales City of Orange {{NewSouthWales-struct-stub