Parramatta Park 1952 GP 2 Mile Circuit...
Heya Folks, more of a lurker on the forums than an active guy, but may I say a massive thanks to all who have helped build the resource of info here, and also to those who directly assisted me in my various teething problems, and other issues as I slowly put this tracl all together...
Basic story is this is a track based around the 1952 GP Circuit that once ran around Parramatta Park in Syd Australia. The central feature of this Australia-Botantical type of park is the original Old Government House in the centre of the park that was one of the first settlements in Sydney outside of the camp on Sydney Harbour.
Around this Government House was a large agricultural acerage that was then developed into a public park, and at some point in the early 20th century even housed a private zoo and botanical gardens. Anyway, also within the grounds was a large 2 Mile public walking path/road around which a proposal was put forward in 1951to run a Gran Prix, with the auto club offering funds and manpower to develop the track and infrastructure into a 'world class' facility.
Only one major GP race, from what I can establish, was run in 1952, as well as likely a few minor club level races were also run before the police responded to the public concerns regarding noise, pollution and safety (heard that before!) closed the track and prohibited further races to be run.
The full circuit still exists today as part of the public (one way) road around the park. there have obviously been a few modifications to the number of adjoining roads, carparks and fences etc, but the basis of the original circuit still exists.
now theres a few different opinions on the old motorsports websites as to the exact course of the original track, but i think theyve all got it wrong, and have all been following the leader with a wrong impression of the course layout. having lived in parramatta for some years and knowing the layout very well, as well as finding evidence from a few old newspaper articles from 1951/1952 i think we've got the genuine track layout sorted.
Anyway, i dont have lidar, nor any mega fancy equipment, just a GPS tracker/data logger and some good maps. i went out and physically walked, rode, drove, god, LOTS of laps around the circuit, and gatherd an assload of data which i edited down and finally comiled into an accurate 3d map of the circuit. as best as that kind of equipment was going to offer anyway.
Similarly i took a lot of texture photos from right around the course, the brick walls, the verge on the tarmac, the leves and grass, the old sandstone etc etc, and i reckon its all blended together pretty damn well into a tight, blind, fast circuit with lots of altitude changes, good vegetation, and nice textures.
Ill upload a VERY beta version for folks to try out tonight. there are still some sections of ground that do not exist (not many but if you find them youll know about it!) and Id REALLY look forward to some feedback and criticism (constructive). This was ALL done by hand, all in BTB, by a complete noob at this modelling stuff. Its been great fun to build, and is by no means finished, but i think its at a stage where a test drive by folks other than myself would be of benefit in the finishing touches
ill upload the beta tonight, and lookforward to folk's impressions
cheers
ed
Heya Folks, more of a lurker on the forums than an active guy, but may I say a massive thanks to all who have helped build the resource of info here, and also to those who directly assisted me in my various teething problems, and other issues as I slowly put this tracl all together...
Basic story is this is a track based around the 1952 GP Circuit that once ran around Parramatta Park in Syd Australia. The central feature of this Australia-Botantical type of park is the original Old Government House in the centre of the park that was one of the first settlements in Sydney outside of the camp on Sydney Harbour.
Around this Government House was a large agricultural acerage that was then developed into a public park, and at some point in the early 20th century even housed a private zoo and botanical gardens. Anyway, also within the grounds was a large 2 Mile public walking path/road around which a proposal was put forward in 1951to run a Gran Prix, with the auto club offering funds and manpower to develop the track and infrastructure into a 'world class' facility.
Only one major GP race, from what I can establish, was run in 1952, as well as likely a few minor club level races were also run before the police responded to the public concerns regarding noise, pollution and safety (heard that before!) closed the track and prohibited further races to be run.
The full circuit still exists today as part of the public (one way) road around the park. there have obviously been a few modifications to the number of adjoining roads, carparks and fences etc, but the basis of the original circuit still exists.
now theres a few different opinions on the old motorsports websites as to the exact course of the original track, but i think theyve all got it wrong, and have all been following the leader with a wrong impression of the course layout. having lived in parramatta for some years and knowing the layout very well, as well as finding evidence from a few old newspaper articles from 1951/1952 i think we've got the genuine track layout sorted.
Anyway, i dont have lidar, nor any mega fancy equipment, just a GPS tracker/data logger and some good maps. i went out and physically walked, rode, drove, god, LOTS of laps around the circuit, and gatherd an assload of data which i edited down and finally comiled into an accurate 3d map of the circuit. as best as that kind of equipment was going to offer anyway.
Similarly i took a lot of texture photos from right around the course, the brick walls, the verge on the tarmac, the leves and grass, the old sandstone etc etc, and i reckon its all blended together pretty damn well into a tight, blind, fast circuit with lots of altitude changes, good vegetation, and nice textures.
Ill upload a VERY beta version for folks to try out tonight. there are still some sections of ground that do not exist (not many but if you find them youll know about it!) and Id REALLY look forward to some feedback and criticism (constructive). This was ALL done by hand, all in BTB, by a complete noob at this modelling stuff. Its been great fun to build, and is by no means finished, but i think its at a stage where a test drive by folks other than myself would be of benefit in the finishing touches
ill upload the beta tonight, and lookforward to folk's impressions
cheers
ed