THE NOSTALGIA OF 35MM FILM // CIRCUIT CLUB ORAN PARK GP

A few weeks back I was cleaning up my ever growing magazine collection and i came across a local motorsport news magazine which displayed a preview for last year’s V8 supercar round at the Historic Oran Park Raceway, the last V8 race to ever be held there. I didn’t really care about the story, it was the old film photography that inspired me. With Oran Park Raceway closing down at the end of this year to be turned into a housing estate, I thought it would be a perfect reason to use the film camera that I purchased late last year and to pick up some film from the local camera shop. With the initial purchase price and cost of processing being so expensive when using film, I had to learn to respect the shutter button with each roll of film offering only 36 exposures... [read more]

The track day began like most others with a general walk around pit lane to see what cars were on offer. To my surprise there were some really nice cars, I guess everyone is trying to make the most of any track time at Oran Park due to it closing down.
 
This Porsche GT3 is a regular competitor in the Shannon’s Nationals series. I think the driver was enjoying the relaxed environment of track days compared to race meets with a new face in the passenger seat being driven around for a hot lap every session.

There was also a selection of older race cars in attendance with two nice Datsun race cars painted up in team colours.  Both had nicely worked, naturally aspirated SR20's.

There was an unusual amount of Lotus' present as well. Although there such a perfect track car, most owners actually don’t drive them on the track. There was a nice selection of different models from a supercharged Elise S to fully decked out Exige race cars.

One of the race cars had a very expensive interior decked out with a carbon dash with all the best bits Motec has on offer.

It was also refreshing to see some hardcore looking 180sx adopting the JDM time attack style. This 180sx was equipped with Voltex rear wing and front canards and it defiantly went as well if not better than it looks.

Jayne, the Circuit Club events manager was out doing the girls proud in her very nice Nissan 180sx. She defiantly tries her hardest to keep the guys honest. She is a real inspiration for other girls who have thought about driving their car on a race track.

A car that most of the US readers know nothing about is Scott Buctons IPRA Spec Holden Commodore who was taking a break from competing in IPRA to do some testing for next year’s season.  This car is sporting the drive train from a V8 supercar with a motor producing almost 600hp.

The mighty yellow MX5 that you may have seen in some of my previous post was out again sticking it to the Lotus and Porsche race cars. This shot defines the day for me with the sun setting in the background. It’s defiantly the end of an era and its going to be a very sad day when they finally shut the doors on this almighty circuit. Oran Park you most certainly will be missed.

To see more photos from the day click on the following links:
 
Film
 
Digital
 
To find out more about track days in Sydney, Australia check out circuit clubs website here
 
Photo/Editorial: Matthew Mead