For all you petrol heads and die-hard car fans out there, this one's for you.
Calder Park Raceway, located next to the Calder Park freeway in Keilor, Victoria, is considered to be "Melbourne's home to street drags, drag racing, hot laps, and other car related outdoor events"....for good reason. On any given day and night of the week, including weekends, drag racing enthusiasts and die-hard fans can observe major events, as well as be allowed to test their own vehicles on the tracks under supervision of safety officials and an ambulance.
The track and events appear to be the main feature of this place. Food outlets are minimal at best and the food provided doesn't go far beyond the meat pie and chips level. However, this can be easily remedied by a pre-planned trip to Safeway.
Parking is reasonable, although on major event days it would be advisable to get there early in order to grab a spot.
Very few amenities provided, other than concrete seating or a grassy hilltop to sit on. The toilets (needless to say) are not clean. Furthermore, due to the rough nature of the ground, wear sensible shoes. Bring earmuffs if you are sensitive to loud noises - because there are LOTS of loud noises. Finally, don't wear anything you are particularly partial to. The odour of the tyre smoke, engine smoke etc hangs in the air rather like cigarette smoke, permeates everything.
Prices vary. Major events (understandably) are a lot more expensive, while some minor events are cheaper. Furthermore, on occasion, the off-street drag events during the evening have been known to be free.
Overall, an enjoyable time can be had.
