Visiting Birthplaces of Australian Motor Racing - Part 2 The Blue Mountains

[@flamingfrancis]

Went to Catalina Park a few times. One of the issues with it being a gully was that rainwater would seep across he track in several places for days after rains. It was a natural amphitheatre with little in the way of grandstands so fans had to sit amongst the trees. It operated while Warwick Farm and Oran Park were there so hat made two tracks closer to the big smoke. Loved Warwick Farm where we saw the likes of Jackie BRM-BRM, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, and other world class drivers. Surprised that Storming Norman had such an edge on the S's which were more suited to tracks like Catalina. I note lanky Phil Barnes running close to Foley and Manton here. For his limited operation Phil was one of the greats in his little Brick.

[@crunchytheclown9694]

I can remember watching handicap racing as a5 to6 year old from here, thanks

[@westaus666]

Great clear quality film for the era. Better than others I've seen. And well done with effects from 9:00, lol 👍

[@VirtualR]

What an epic race track, sadly wasn't around to see it running.

[@mazdaroadster-mx5]

Great video mate. Just went and checked it out myself. Being 20 myself I'm obviously far too young to ever know what this track was like, but it was an awesome experience walking around it

[@lesgaal4017]

Use to love Katrina Park as a kid we'd drive up on Friday afternoon with dad , then drive back home to Melbourne straight after the last race on Sunday. Thanks Bill.

[@falconhouseos]

Awesome thanks bill

[@BrettHart27]

I watched some Superkarts at Catalina. They were awesome, in the literal sense of the word. Any idea how often the karts came? I would like to know the year to assist my ailing father's memory. Thank you.

[@BillsBuildandRace]

I have no idea Brett. That question is best asked here: facebook.com/groups/131938003502806

[@angelsone-five7912]

Interesting, I would love to see some rallycross at Catalina, do you have any?

[@BillsBuildandRace]

No I don't, but if you search You Tube you will find 3 or 4

[@noelwebb6843]

The rallycross was brilliant, not much footage available which is a pity I would of thought Chanel 7 might of kept some.

[@noelwebb6843]

Catalina Park was just the race track not the area, which was Frank Walford Memorial Park. I'm not clear on details but i read on a sign that Frank Walford donated the land. In the 70's & 80's it was commonly known as the gully by residents of the surrounding streets but around town was Catalina or Cato. The video tells why the road circuit fell into disuse, the rallycross was killed off by propert developers arguing noise pollution.

[@sdjuxu]

It was called the gully originally...there are books written about it...

[@noelwebb6843]

@@sdjuxu I knew it as the gully growing up but can't recall any signage calling it the gully

[@sdjuxu]

@@noelwebb6843 yeah I don't think back then they wanted anyone knowing the real history of the area and did everything they could to erase the true history... I spent every weekend there as a child ,I'm pretty sure I've met you down there as a kid as I recognise your name.. Its sad to these pricks on here in compete denial about the history of the place.. Remember the coal slides or chutes?...where you could fly down the hill on old bits of tin? Had the best times if my life there...soon I will be scattering the ashes of a close friend there as that was his final wish before dying...that friends father grew up in the gully as a child and was there when they kicked people out..he's Gundungurra ..

[@noelwebb6843]

@sdjuxu I loved the coal slides, we would definitely have met if you slide down the hill on the bits of tin, do you remember the swings?

[@sdjuxu]

@@noelwebb6843 yeah I remember the swings...some of the best days of my life were spent at the coal slides and the swings...I was probably a bit younger than you I think,,,I don't want to say names..but I use to hang out with the 3 brothers who lived in the pool cottages and their dad use to run the swimming pool...I was younger than all of them, haven't seen them for years..we definitely would know a lot of the same people.

[@davidcarr2649]

How much for a copy of your book Bill?

[@BillsBuildandRace]

Best way to buy it is online. Just Google search "Buy Birthplaces of". Was $129, now about $105. Hardcover is best.

[@anthonyp151]

I drove it around 20 years ago. What a disgrace that politics has allowed it to fall into such a state of disrepair.

[@stevekeene2682]

Hi Bill awesome vid as usual sorry ina advance if this info is somewhere right in front of my eyes but. How can we order your book ?

[@BillsBuildandRace]

Yeah it was there - in the last shot of the video. :) Just Google search the title and "buy" and you'll get the best online deals. Just make sure they are selling you the hard cover, as a few have the paperback at a higher (ripoff) price.

[@stevekeene2682]

Thanks for the good oil on that bill much appreciated.

[@buildingscottbonnars4970]

Great video. Such a travesty that the true history has been distorted for the sake of the agenda. The people were never forcibly removed from their holiday camp made up of a few run down humpies. They were given homes and opportunity which most actually embraced and prospered from just like Katoomba did with the building of the racetrack. The facts are not what is told around the track just an untrue version of a much bigger story.

[@BillsBuildandRace]

Mate that is fantastically stated. Not a word wasted, and the truth concisely put forward. Couldn't have said it better myself - literally. Well spoken.

[@gregbroad3118]

Thankyou BSB..I went to school in Katoomba and had friends that were given homes and jobs because of the track building. Importantly it was private property before the council bought it. It was mostly swamp not like it is now. Correct the town prospered as well as the entire Blue Mountains.

[@gmcg28c]

I directly know some of the people who lived there. They were forcibly evicted they had to find a new place to live. They weren't given a home. Stop making shit to suit your own bloody agenda

[@gmcg28c]

@@gregbroad3118 You again, making up your own version of bloody facts.

[@buildingscottbonnars4970]

@gmcg28c you are wrong mate. Please do some real research and get your facts straight. I have family that were directly involved in the rehoming with the council. There are factual records if you look, relating directly to the rehoming of the few families that were affected by the building of the track. Don't be blinded by the wrong side of history that is being told. Always two sides to every story and it seems you have only heard or listened to one side.