History Of Calder Park Raceway

Calder Park Raceway was founded in the farming community of Diggers Rest and began as a dirt track carved into a paddock by a group of motoring enthusiasts who wanted somewhere to race their FJ Holdens.

The Australian Motor Sports Club hosted their first meeting on a bitumen track on January 14, 1962.

The track design back then was very similar to the existing Club Circuit, which is still in use today.

In the early 70s Bob Jane purchased Calder Park and from there it became a Victorian and Australian motorsport icon with international events drawing in international superstars and crowds to the facility. 
 

These events have included:

• 1980 to 1984- The Australian Grand Prix
• NASCAR
• AUSCAR
• Australian Motor Racing Series
• Unique Cars Muscle Car Nationals
• Australian National Drag Championships – ‘The Nationals’
• Victorian Motor Racing Championship Series
• 1987- World Touring Car Championship

The National Circuit’s long front straight also features a drag strip, which was the home of the Australian National Drag Racing Championship for many years. There are also Legal Off Street Drag Racing on Fridays and select Sundays during the colder months – check out our events page.

The first ever World Touring Car Championship round held in Australia was run on the Calder Park Grand Prix circuit in 1989.

This was the first and only time the Grand Prix Circuit (a combination of National and Thunderdome circuits) was used.

Calder Park was also the first to host Superbikes and Super Trucks; the trucks competing on both National and Thunderdome circuits in separate events.

National Circuit: Length 2.280 km / 1.417 miles

Check out the Events we have coming up on our Events Drop Down Tab, and also some information you may find handy under the Spectator Drop Down Tab as well.

We hope to see at the track soon, and as always – Have Fun!!!