Three day 'Last Drag Race' to close Australia's longest running drag strip
Rumours of the impending close of Castlereagh International Dragway -- Australia's longest serving drag strip -- which had been sweeping Sydney drag racing circles for a week were confirmed by a shock statement from the board of directors of the New South Wales Hot Rod Association. The statement was issued to all Sydney racers, members of the NSWHRA and the press, and states:
The NSW Hot Rod Association Limited has received notice from Walter Properties to quit the land it currently leases at the end of April 1984. This, in short, means Castlereagh Dragway has to move.
This is not as bad as it first appears as we have known that the land had to have the subdivison well underway by October 1984 or lose the development approval. We have not been sitting around hoping that nothing would occur and have had discussions with the Penrith Council and have identified four possible sites (Crown land) in the Penrith area and are currently in the process of applying to lease one of these areas.
Actually we are applying for all four, giving them priority, so that if our first choice is rejected they already have the applications for the others.
Also we would like to point out that the major part of our racing season finishes in April and if all goes reasonably well and we have the support of the racers, members and officials in completing the move and the construction of the new venue we should not lose much of the new season, if any.
In the area of assistance from racers, members and officials we will need a small army over the period of the teardown and relocation. Further information will be sent to you later in this regard, and also when things get a bit more definite a meeting will be called.
What we ask you to refrain from doing is questioning the board or ringing the office for more information as no more is available and the board only has limited time available, being voluntary positions, and the time spent in discussions is time not spent on the new track. Remember that with your assistance at the right time we should be able to start again and build one of the best venues in the world.
Naturally things in the program have been changed to ensure that the Australian Drag Racing Series rounds and sponsorship commitments get completed and that the income is maximized. It is a fairly heavy program and we ask that our officials and their wives bear with us.
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| February 11 | Grudge Meeting |
| February 18 | Winfield Nitro Championships (ADR #2) |
| March 3 | Grudge Meeting |
| March 10 | Coca-Cola Ford v. Holden/GM |
| March 17 | LAST Amateur Open |
| March 24 | Grudge Meeting |
| March 31 | Gus Lui Interstate Bike Challenge |
| April 7 | LAST Grudge Meeting |
| April 13-15 | The Last Race (ADR #3) |
| April 20-23 | dismantle track and move |
| April 28-29 | complete move |
CID officials were unwilling to comment further at this stage, but it is to be hoped that the move to a new locale will not greatly trouble the racing community in Sydney. Certainly a new strip at a new site could be a great godsend to drag racing in New South Wales.
Castlereagh has been saddled with paying a very high percentage of their gate takings to the owners of their present site. This has been something they have been unable to avoid, as the stated percentage was the price of the lease, but it was one which constantly reduced the profitability of any meetings conducted at the Sydney track.
Depending on locales, the degree of publicity given to informing Sydney drag racing fans of the continuation of the sport in Sydney, and whatever lease arrangements are made for the future, the whole operation of drag racing in Sydney could become considerably more profitable. As the NSWHRA is a nonprofit body all surplusses are turned back to the racers and the track so the future could be a better one for everyone involved.
The continuing threat to CID's existence has done nothing to create an increase of interest on the behalf of racers in Sydney and the move when completed, should also underline the soundness of any decision to build a race vehicle.
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written by David Cook from DRAGSTER Australia page 1 - February 3, 1984 © DAVID COOK PUBLISHING PTY. LTD. 1984 |
