Orange might not get the attention Mount Panorama does each year, but the former Gnoo Blas racing circuit is just as important to Australian motorsport.
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That history is celebrated by the Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club and its annual classic car and bike show which attracts up to 500 cars every February.
For the annual event next year organisers are rolling out the red carpet to Phil Brock, Peter Brocks’ brother.
A racer in his own right who started 60 races, Phil Brock co-drove at Bathurst with his brother in a Holden Torana in the 1970s.
Outside of car racing Phil Brock had a career as a stunt driver, featuring in the first two Mad Max movies.
Phil Brock will be joined by racer Spencer Martin, a winner of two Australian Gold Star Championships in 1966 and 1967 driving Brabham Cars for Bob Jane.
Mr Martin first raced in Orange in 1960 before going on to race for Holden.
In 1965, he won the Six Hour Le Mans race with David McKay and a Ferrari 250LM.
Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club member Denis Gregory said the circuit was the first track to have an average speed of 160 kilometres an hour (100 miles).
Club member Robert Gazzard will be bringing his 1972 HQ Kingswood and said it was the club’s camaraderie which he enjoyed the most.
“It gives people a lot of pleasure to see an old HQ in good condition,” he said.
“I’ve always liked the HQ, they were a revelation when they came out.”
Orange’s mayor John Davis said the Gnoo Blas car show was a big benefit to the city’s economy, with people traveling from around the region.
While car clubs from around the state make travelling to the Gnoo Blas Show an event over the weekend, there was there was also a surprising collection of cars in the event.
“There’s an enormous among of cars in Orange, and there’s only 25 per cent of cars which out each year,” Councillor Davis said.
“You’d be surprised by what’s in people’s garages.”
Cr Davis encouraged car enthusiasts to bring their favourite wheels out, “it doesn’t have to be worth $100,000”.
“A lot of the cars are in better condition the older they get.”
FAST FACTS
- Gnoo Blas Classic Car and Bike Show
- February 18 and 19, 2017
- Sir Jack Brabham Park