Ultimate SpeedwayThe Birth of an Australian Racing Icon
Richard Petty, a renowned figure in motorsports, once set an unofficial lap record at the Thunderdome track. NASCAR legend Neil Bonnet clinched a race victory at this high-banked speedway, designed to emulate a famous American Superspeedway. But where is this track located? North Carolina, Alabama, or Tennessee? Surprisingly, the Calder Raceway Park Thunderdome, Australia’s historic American-style stock car racing track, is near Melbourne, located at 377 Calder Freeway, Calder Park, Victoria.
From NASCAR to Melbourne
The story of how a track modeled after Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, ended up near Melbourne, Australia, begins with a group of Holden FJ car enthusiasts in the 1960s. Among them was Patrick Hawthorn, a petrol station owner who owned land in Diggers Rest, just west of Melbourne. This small community, named in the 1860s, served as a rest stop for miners traveling between Melbourne and the Bendigo gold mines.
Hawthorn and his friends, including racing names like Bob Jane, Norm Beechey, John Wood, and Peter Manton, cleared the land and built a basic dirt racecourse. The track officially opened on January 14, 1962. It quickly became a success, evolving from a playground for motorsport lovers to a renowned racing destination due to its excellent design, which closely resembles the road-course track still used today.
Bob Jane’s Vision
In the 1970s, Bob Jane, a prominent figure in Australian motorsports and business, purchased Calder. A four-time winner of the Australian Touring Car Championship and a successful businessman with a chain of tire stores, Jane was fascinated by American NASCAR racing. After befriending Bill France Jr., the son of NASCAR’s founder, Jane returned to Calder, investing millions to build the Thunderdome.
The Thunderdome, a scaled-down version of Charlotte Motor Speedway, was constructed with the help of American engineers and workers, as no one in Australia had experience building such a track. Despite delays, the first racetrack opened in 1962. The inaugural race on the Thunderdome surface was a Class A Touring Car event won by John Bowe and Terry Shiel in a Nissan Skyline, the only Japanese car to win at the Thunderdome.
Historic Races
The 1988 AUSCAR 200 marked another historic moment when 19-year-old Terri Sawyer won, becoming the first woman to triumph on the Thunderdome surface. Next up was the 1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500, featuring 280 laps and drawing drivers from the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Notable NASCAR figures like Neil Bonnett, who won the race, Bobby Allison, and Kyle Petty participated. Richard Petty set an unofficial record during test laps, showcasing the track’s potential.
Australian drivers Dick Johnson and Allan Grice, both prominent in local and international racing, also competed. Despite several crashes and cautions, the race saw Neil Bonnett win, with Bobby Allison second and Dave Marcis third.
The Thunderdome’s Legacy
The Thunderdome’s glory days have faded due to the rising popularity of the Supercar Series and road course racing in Australia. Today, the track, visible from the Calder Freeway, is a shadow of its former self. While it still hosts some track days and private events, major races have moved on.
For many fans, Calder Park and the Thunderdome ignited their passion for motorsports. Although its future remains uncertain, the legacy of Bob Jane’s dream to bring NASCAR excitement to Australia endures. This historic track, once a beacon of Australian motorsport, now serves as a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era and a hope that its thunder will resonate once again.
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