Calder completes successful comeback

The comeback of state level motorsport back to Melbourne’s famous Calder Park Raceway for the first time since 2008 has been hailed as a success.

After being absent for 5530 days the track, racing returned via the AASA Victorian Motor Racing Championship which fittingly hosted the previous event.

The 2 Litre Sports Sedans, Victorian Excel Championship, Australian Hyper Racer Championship, Victorian Super TT and Stock Cars Australia Championship were the categories on show.

The Stock Cars were particularly memorable with the cars doing some exhibition laps around the famous Thunderdome where AUSCAR dominated in the 1990s.

Benalla Auto Club Group General Manager Stephen Whyte saw the action first hand at the redeveloped circuit and said it was a great sign of regular motorsport coming back to its spiritual home in Melbourne.

“To have our own AASA Victorian Motor Racing Championship (VMRC) conduct the first Race meeting at Calder Park Raceway in 16 Years is an incredible achievement and a sign of great things to come”, said Whyte.

“We (BAC) have long held an association with the Jane family and it’s only fitting that we were able to put this together with Rodney Jane, Kim Jane and the Team on the ground led by Rowan Harman.

“Our AASA team and our Winton Motor Raceway events team have been working with the team at Calder for some time and were all on the ground at Calder on the weekend to make sure things were just right, as well as our forever loyal AASA Volunteer Officials. 

“It is just reward for all that the event ran like clockwork. We of course had the added bonus of the laps for Stock Cars Australia on the Thunderdome but the racing on the Calder Flat track was first class and the competitors can’t stop talking about how great it was to be back here. 

“We have big plans for next year and Calder is definitely a big part of that.”

One of the main men who brought racing back to the track was Calder Park track manager Rowan Harman who said it was another box ticked off the list.

“We have many more things to do but the list is getting shorter,” he said. 

“To get this first race meeting done (AASA VMRC) and work through some feedback from AASA post the event we know what to focus on and repay the commitment Rodney has to Calder Park.

“It is fitting that BAC and AASA conducted the first return event here and we look forward to a renewed partnership going forward with BAC.”

The event will be no flash in the pan as Whyte also confirmed a high-profile Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Finale is looking good to be staged at Calder Park later this year.

“We are already planning our return with our Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Finale here at the start of December, our competitors in that series can’t wait,” he said.

A full wrap up of the special event will be seen in the next issue of AUTO ACTION out next week.

Image by Geoff Colson

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

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