The first Dunedin street circuit was 1.8 miles around the wharf industrial area and was known, predictably, as the Wharf Circuit. At this time there were no permanent circuits in New Zealand. Motor racing was held on temporary circuits set up on aerodromes (e.g. Ardmore and Wigram) or on public roads in rural areas. The idea of running races on a temporary public road circuit within the confines of a city, however, was unique. Dunedin’s harbourside industrial area was ideal for such a venture. The area was nicely separated from the rest of the city by a railway line and, unlike today when 24/7/52 operation is common, the area was virtually deserted at weekends (ironically, the use of this circuit ended after the 1958 race because of the disruption it was causing to the loading/unloading of ships by this time).
The start/finish line was on Fryatt Street near the present-day cement silos and the circuit ran in an anti-clockwise direction. Leaving the startline the first turn was into Halsey Street then first right into Jutland Street followed by a left turn onto Wickliffe Street. The circuit then ran up onto the railway overbridge on its Wickliffe Street ramp and back down the ramp onto Ward Street (so never actually crossing the railway line). It then ran the length of Ward Street. At the end of Ward Street the road layout has changed since 1953 and there is now a roundabout. However, in ’53 the end of Ward Street was a T-junction with Mason Street. The circuit turned right onto Mason Street then quickly left onto Thomas Burns Street, behind the railway station. It then arrived at another point where the road layout has changed. Rattray Street used to run right down to the wharves via a level crossing over the railway, right beside the current site of the Chinese Gardens. Today, behind the gardens, you turn left off of Thomas Burns Street into Fryatt Street. However, the 1953 map of the circuit that the cache owner has shows this part of Fryatt Street named as Lower Rattray Street. Regardless, the circuit turned left here into Fryatt Street/ Lower Rattray Street and stayed on here until the start/finish line. It’s possible to walk or drive the circuit layout today, taking into account the two points where the road layout has changed.
There is period film footage of the 1953 race on YouTube (search for ‘Dunedin Road Race’). Some of the buildings in the background are recognisable as buildings existing to this day. Also on YouTube is a documentary on the Dunedin street races. Although this focuses on the 2007 event the first ten minutes provides very good historical background (search for 'Southern Festival of Speed').
The circuit only ran in this form for the one year. For the 1954 iteration see the next cache in the series (Dunedin Street Circuit 1954-58).
The cache is almost on the start/finish line of the old circuit. You will need to BYOP and TWEEZERS TO REMOVE THE LOG WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE REQUIRED. NO OTHER TOOLS ARE NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE CACHE FROM ITS HIDING PLACE OR TO ACCESS THE LOG. SOME THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THE CONTAINER IS PUT TOGETHER WILL THROW UP HOW TO ACCESS THE LOG. IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS WHICH END TO REMOVE. PLEASE REPLACE THE END FIRMLY ENOUGH TO AVOID IT FALLING OUT BUT NOT SO TIGHT AS TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE NEXT PERSON TO REMOVE. Please re-hide carefully and as found. Muggles will definitely be a problem if visiting during working hours. Take care.
(Note: due to repeated muggling the cache that covers the 1954-58 races has been archived but can still be viewed at GC5TMCT. Similarly, the cache covering the 1960-62 circuit has been archived but the cache page, with its information about the circuit, is still available for viewing at GC5TPEA. The 1984 and '86 cache has also been archived but the cache page, with its information, can be viewed at GC5YF01. And the '89 to '07 cache is now also archived but the info on the cache page can still be viewed at GC5YEVE)