Lakeside International Raceway
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| Location | Brisbane, Queensland |
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| Time zone | GMT +10 |
| Coordinates | 27°13′40″S 152°57′54″E / 27.22778°S 152.965°ECoordinates: 27°13′40″S 152°57′54″E / 27.22778°S 152.965°E |
| Opened | 1961 |
| Former Names | Lakeside International Raceway Lakeside Raceway |
| Major Events | Tasman Series Australian Grand Prix ATCC |
| Circuit Length | 2.40 km (1.50 mi) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Lap Record | 0:46.66 (Paul Stokell, Reynard 91D Holden, 1994, Formula Holden) |
Lakeside Park, formerly known as Lakeside International Raceway is a motor racing circuit located at Pine Rivers 30 km (18.6 mi) north of Brisbane and lies adjacent to Lake Kurwongbah.
The circuit is known as the spiritual home of Queensland motorsport was built by volunteers and borrowed machinery in the 1960s. The 2.41 km (1.50 mi) circuit opened in 1961 and was closed in mid 2001. The circuit re-opened on April 5, 2008, with a race meeting held the following day.[1]
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[edit] History
The circuit was the venue for a wide range of racing series including the Australian Grand Prix on two occasions, the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Australian Superbike Championship and the Tasman Series, playing host to such names as Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, Graham Hill and Chris Amon.
The fast and challenging nature of the circuit was an education for a generation of Queensland racing drivers and riders, from Will Power, Dick Johnson, Tony Longhurst and five time world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan. “If you can learn to race a motorbike at Lakeside, you can compete at any race track in the world.” Mick Doohan, 5 time 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion.[2]
Touring cars was a mainstay of the circuits popularity, first hosting the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1964. For much of the circuits life it was the largest meeting of the year and paid host to some brilliant racing, the highlight of which was the 1981 title showdown between local hard luck story Dick Johnson and touring cars brightest figure, Peter Brock. Despite a wounded car Johnson won the race and the title in front of his home crowd and secured for himself a future in the sport after almost 20 years of battling at times just to compete. Touring cars left Lakeside after the 1998 season, increasing the circuits decline as a venue.
Although national championship racing was still being held at the circuit in July 2001[3] declining revenues, mounting debts, court proceedings, an increasingly hostile local council and competition for event with the nearby Queensland Raceway led to the circuits closure in 2001.
The circuit re-opened during 2008 strictly as a local racing venue, and the new operators, the owners of Queensland Raceway, have no ambitions to hold national level meetings, preferring to use the better quality facilities at their sister-circuit for higher level meetings. Lakeside is presently closed again while QR staff and volunteers are refurbishing and widening the circuit.
[edit] Revival campaign
During the seven years the circuit was closed, several organisations and activist groups made up of competitors, fans and driver training advocates have campaigned to have the circuit re-open.
'Friends of Lakeside', led by Robert Hardacre and Trevor 'Shelby' Beutel compiled much data relating to the history of Lakeside and were able to initially have the circuit listed on the Queensland Heritage Register[4], which is the main reason why the local council were prevented from bull dozing the circuit in to the ground.[citation needed] Friends of Lakeside is a small group with the aims of preserving Lakeside as the home of historic and modern era motorsport for all.
'Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts' is composed of both car and primarily motorcycle aficionados from 17 to 70 years old and hail from all various motoring fraternities and niches conceivable.
On 18 December 2007, Pine Rivers Shire Council and Queensland Raceway (Wrexmere Pty Ltd) signed off on a 30 year long term lease (with an option for 10 years) to operate the facility, including both driver training and racing. Racing however will be limited to noise (95db) and time constraints as a means of ensuring neighbourhood management.
[edit] Major race results
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "Lakeside Park 06/04/2008 LIR Round 1". National Software. http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?06/04/2008.LAKE. Retrieved on 2008-08-22.
- ^ Neville Roberts. "Lakeside: Venue of the Lakeside International & the Australian Grand Prix". Tasman-Series.com. http://www.tasman-series.com/tracks/lakeside/lakeside.asp. Retrieved on 2008-08-22.
- ^ "Lakeside International Raceway 08/07/2001 Konica V8 Supercar Series - Round 5". National Software. 2001-07-08. http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?08/07/2001.LIR. Retrieved on 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Heritage lost - gone but not forgotten:Lakeside International Raceway". Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency. 2007-05-01. http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/cultural_heritage/heritage_places/heritage_lost__gone_but_not_forgotten/#lir. Retrieved on 2009-01-31.
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