Pheasant Wood’s big plans
The stripling Pheasant Wood circuit at Marulan, 30km north of Goulburn, has already come a long way from its origins in 2009 as a Spartan driver training establishment, but there’s more coming – a lot more.
The facility is owned by Steve Shelley, a highly successful businessman whose Aerocare business supplied ground handling staff to the aviation sector. Steve sold that business, and now owns Deputy, a cloud-based employee management with worldwide clients. Steve is also a motor sport enthusiast, and when the Marulan facility became available in 2018 he grabbed it with both hands.
The existing training circuit has been substantially remodelled, a Motard circuit added, the pit area greatly enlarged and buildings added. Recently Steve purchased a neighbouring 200 acre property to bring the total holding to around 340 acres, and is now in consultation with the local council to construct two circuit extensions; the first to 3.6km and ultimately 7.9 km.
Circuit Manager is Scott Hill, whose background is motocross and enduro, sees a very bright future for the facility. “We want Pheasant Wood to be a pleasant place to come to”, says Scott. “There will be no “attitude” here, unlike some other circuits – just help and cooperation. We also want to make it affordable for clubs and groups to hire. Currently a one-day hire during weekdays is $4,400, $5,500 on Saturday and $6,600 on Sunday. Our Motard circuit is one of only three in the world with asphalt jumps, and we hope to hold an Australian Motard Series in 2022.
“We hope to begin work on the 3.6km circuit in April 2022 so there’s an outside chance that it could be up and running for our All-Historic meeting in September, which was cancelled this year due to Covid. Prior to that we will be hosting a Track Day on 29th January with motorcycles, sidecars and cars. Our aim is to create a world-class centre of excellence in the Goulburn district. Part of our expansion will be the building of Eco cabins, 55 garages and a brand new administration building.” The Pheasant Wood model is the shot in the arm that New South Wales motor sport has desperately needed since the closure of Amaroo Park and Oran Park. Two hours from Sydney and close to Canberra and the Riverina, the facility is ideally located and once fully operational in its enlarged form, should provide an affordable and practical addition that will service motor sport for many years to come. ■