THE SAD demise of the Oran Park Grand Prix circuit at the start of the year 2010 removed one of the great circuits from the Australian motorsport landscape.

Now an extensive suburb development, Oran Park Town retains some memories of the classic old circuit including a commemorative park located at the same place as the old Grandstand on the hill.

The streets in the suburb are all named after classic racers that succeeded at the race track over the years, while the main thoroughfare named ‘The Straight’ runs along exactly the same alignment as the circuit’s start-finish straight.

Otherwise, any semblance of the circuit and even its topography as it once was is almost impossible to spot in what is now just another suburban development filled with somewhat expensive looking houses.

Bridging the Divide

ONE OF Oran Park’s most most notable features was the fact it was the only circuit in Australia – and one of only a few in the world – that had a crossover.

The Oran Park Bridge was one of it’s most iconic features and added to the natural elevation changes of the circuit.

The fast right-hand corner coming off the bridge was noted for its driving challenge, while the right-hander at Turn 3, just after the cars exited the underpass, was a notable overtaking opportunity.

It was a classic feature and instantly recognisable for being uniquely Oran Park and has yet to be replicated at any other Aussie circuit.

But what happened to the bridge when the circuit was flattened?

The Race Torque has found out – and while it’s not the most thrilling story, it’s nice to get some closure on a classic piece of Aussie motorsport history.

Breaking it down

WE ASKED the question on our most recent On the Grid Podcast and as it turned out, a former Oran Park insider is a regular listener and was happy to spill the beans about what happened to the iconic bridge when the circuit was turned into suburb.

According to our Oran Park expert, the Bridge was much like Oran Park’s many fans – it didn’t really want the old circuit to go.

The massive steel superstructure that arched above the road – more often than not supporting sponsorship from a major tyre brand like Dunlop or Yokohama – was welded together and not bolted, which made it particularly hard work to remove.

Sadly, as it had to be cut apart rather than unbolted, it couldn’t be salvaged so was completely scrapped.

The road base, however, was removed in one piece.

Allegedly, the bridge was ex-Army Corps of engineering which means it was made of strong stuff and not prone to easy demolition.

Turns out, the bridge was relocated in late 2010 to one of the Perich families’ farms – which means there’s every likelihood that it’s now half buried in Cow dung.

So while it’s new home is far less glamourous than its use as a race track, at least it’s being used!

Other fun facts

DID YOU know that Morris and Larkham streets run close together but don’t quite intersect?

Appropriate given their famous shunt on the start-finish line!

Our OP insider also told us this classic yarn: when told that Seton Street runs into Gibson Street, Fred’s first comment was ‘Not for the first time!’.

Our thanks to the great man Jeff Boulous for getting in touch with such Gravitas.