About Calder Park Thunderdome
Calder Park, in Melbourne's north-west, bills itself as "Australia's home of motorsport since 1962" and is one of the country's most historically significant racing complexes. The site brings together three distinct facilities: a drag strip, a multi-configuration road circuit, and the Thunderdome — a high-banked, NASCAR-style oval opened in 1987 with 24° banking through its turns. Today the venue runs a busy grassroots calendar of drag racing, drift, performance track days and super-sprint meetings rather than top-tier national series. It is the everyday driving and event opportunities — not the historic oval — that bring most people through the gate.
Home of motorsport since 1962Drag stripRoad circuitThunderdome banked ovalDrift & track days
FAQ
Can the public drive at Calder Park?
Yes. Calder Park runs performance track days, a drift academy and drift school, and open test-and-tune sessions that members of the public can enter, plus drag racing. Most driving is through scheduled events rather than walk-up arrive-and-drive, so check the calendar and book ahead.
Is the Thunderdome oval still raced on?
No. The 1.801km high-banked Thunderdome oval, opened in 1987, has not been used for racing since 1999. The drag strip and road circuit remain the active facilities for current events.
What events run here?
Calder Park hosts a grassroots calendar of drag racing, drift competitions and schools, performance driving track days, super-sprint championship rounds and open test-and-tune sessions.
Is there a drag strip?
Yes. Calder Park's long front straight is a full drag strip that was home to the Australian National Drag Racing Championship for many years and still hosts drag racing and test-and-tune nights.
Where is Calder Park?
It is at 377 Calder Freeway, Calder Park, in Melbourne's north-west, just off the Calder Freeway and a short drive from the city.