Dunc Gray Velodrome

The Dunc Gray Velodrome is an Australian velodrome located at Bass Hill approximately 5 kilometres north west of the Sydney suburb of Bankstown. The cycling venue for the 2000 Olympic games, the Dunc Gray Velodrome was opened on 28 November 1999 and is named after Edgar "Dunc" Gray, the first Australian to win a cycling Gold Medal at the Olympic Games (Los Angeles 1932).At the time of its construction, the State Government owned the velodrome. Bankstown Council managed the velodrome under a sublease. In 1998, the council sublet the velodrome to Bankstown Sports Club, under a 21-year sublease. The council is scheduled to resume control of the velodrome in 2019.ConstructionCosting $42 million as a track cycling venue for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, construction of the velodrome, as well as an 800m Criterium Practice Track, commenced in May 1998 and finished in November 1999. It currently has a seating capacity of 3,150, but was expanded to 5,821 seats to cater for the 2000 Olympics.At 250 metres length, 60 kilometres worth of Baltic Pine (Finland) were used in its composition. The track bends at a maximum angle of 42° degrees, while the straights are at 12.5°. The Safety Track is 5 metres wide and the racing surface is of 7 metres width.EventsThe first major international cycling event ever held was the Oceania International Cycling Grand Prix from 8 to 12 December 1999 – an official pre-Olympic test event.