Lakeside International Raceway

Lakeside Park, formerly known as Lakeside International Raceway is a motor racing circuit located in Kurwongbah, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 30 km (18.6 mi) north of Brisbane, and lies adjacent to Lake Kurwongbah.

Lakeside Park
LocationKurwongbah, Queensland
Time zoneGMT +10
Coordinates27°13′41″S 152°57′54″E
OwnerMoreton Bay Regional Council
OperatorQueensland Raceways
Opened1961
Reopened: 5 April 2008
Former namesLakeside International Raceway
Lakeside Raceway
Major eventsTasman Series
Australian Grand Prix
Australian Touring Car Champ.
Length2.411 km (1.498 mi)
Turns8
Race lap record0:46.66 (Paul Stokell, Reynard 91D Holden, 1994, Formula Holden)

The circuit is known as the spiritual home of Queensland motorsport and 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 reopened on 5 April 2008, with a race meeting held the following day.[1]

Racing

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, including: John French, Dick Johnson, Gregg Hansford, Tony Longhurst, Will Power and five time 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world 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]
Spectators watching Round 1 of the 1981 Australian Sports Sedan Championship

Touring cars were a mainstay of the circuit's popularity, with the venue hosting the single race Australian Touring Car Championship titles in both 1964 and 1967. Following the change to a series format, Lakeside staged rounds of the ATCC in most years from 1970 to 1998. For much of the circuit's life these meetings were the largest of the year and played host to some brilliant racing, the highlight of which was the 1981 title showdown between local hero Dick Johnson and reigning champion 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.

2001 closure

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 circuit's closure in 2001.[4]

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 reopen.

'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, which is the main reason why the local council were prevented from demolishing the track and facilities. 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.

2008 reopening

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 was limited by noise (95db) and time constraints as a means of ensuring neighbourhood management.

The circuit reopened 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 was closed during the summer of 2008/2009 while QR staff and volunteers refurbished and widened the circuit.

During the refurbishment a tunnel was also added underneath the circuit just before the foot bridge. The circuit is now 12m wide on the exit of Shell Corner, previously it was 8m wide at this point. The Bus Stop was not resurfaced, and neither was a short stretch between Hungry and Eastern Loop. The majority of the bumps were removed during the resurfacing. Further upgrades following these works in 2011 involved removing the Armco barriers on the inside of the track on the exit of Karousel. A sand trap was added and the runoff area increased and concrete barriers installed. The track reopened after the refurbishment in early 2009 and has remained open since, although its ongoing operation is under threat due to repeated breaches of the venues' 70db noise restrictions.[5]

Major race results

Australian Grand Prix

Lakeside hosted the Australian Grand Prix in 1966 and again in 1969. These two races also formed part of the Tasman Series.

Year Winner Car Team
1966 Graham Hill BRM P261 Owen Racing Organisation
1969 Chris Amon Ferrari 246T Scuderia Veloce

Tasman Series

Along with the AGP in 1966 and 1969, Lakeside hosted a round of the Tasman Series in 1964 and 1967. Both races were won by World Formula One Champion drivers, Australia's own Jack Brabham in 1964 and Scotland's Jim Clark in 1967.

Year Winner Car Team
1964 Jack Brabham Brabham BT7A Coventry Climax Ecurie Vitesse
1967 Jim Clark Lotus 33 Coventry Climax Team Lotus

Australian Drivers' Championship

Lakeside hosted 17 rounds of the Australian Drivers' Championship for the CAMS Gold Star between 1963 and 1994.

Year Winner Car Team
Formula Libre
1963 Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham Climax B.S. Stilwell
Australian National Formula & Australian 1½ Litre Formula
1964 Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham BT4 Climax B.S. Stilwell
1965 Spencer Martin Repco Brabham BT11A Climax Scuderia Veloce
1966 Spencer Martin Repco Brabham BT11A Climax Bob Jane Racing
1967 Kevin Bartlett Repco Brabham BT11A Climax Alec Mildren Racing
1968 Kevin Bartlett Brabham BT23D Alfa Romeo Alec Mildren Racing
Australian Formula 1 & Australian Formula 2
1970 Max Stewart Mildren Waggott Alec Mildren Racing Pty Ltd
1971 Kevin Bartlett McLaren M10B Chevrolet Kevin Bartlett Shell Racing
Australian Formula 1
1980 Jon Davison Lola T332 Chevrolet Lee Seeton
1982 Charlie O'Brien Ralt RT4 Ford Charlie O'Brien
1983 Andrew Miedecke Ralt RT4 Ford Miedecke Motorsport
Formula Mondial
1984 John Bowe Ralt RT4 Ford Chris Leach Racing
1985 John Bowe Ralt RT4 Ford Chris Leach Enterprises
Australian Formula 2
1988 Derek Pingel Ralt RT30 Volkswagen Ralt Australia Pty Ltd
Formula Brabham
1993* Mark Larkham Reynard 91D Holden Mitre 10 Racing
1993* Mark Skaife Lola T91/50 Holden Winfield Racing
1994 Paul Stokell Reynard 91D Holden Birrana Racing

* Lakeside hosted two rounds of the 1993 Australian Drivers' Championship (both held on the same day). Mark Larkham won Round 3 and Mark Skaife won Round 4.

Australian Touring Car Championship

Between 1964 and 1998, Lakeside hosted the Australian Touring Car Championship on 29 occasions. The first two in 1964 and 1967 were when the championship was only a single race before changing to a series in 1969. Lakeside also hosted two rounds of the championship in 1991.

Year Winner Car Team
Appendix J Touring Cars
1964 Ian Geoghegan Ford Cortina Mk.I GT Total Team
Improved Production
1967 Ian Geoghegan Ford Mustang GTA Mustang Team
1970 Norm Beechey Holden HT Monaro GTS350 Shell Racing
1971 Allan Moffat Ford Boss 302 Mustang Coca-Cola Team AMR
Group C
1975 Colin Bond Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Holden Dealer Team
1976 Colin Bond Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Holden Dealer Team
1977 Peter Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bill Patterson Racing
1978 Allan Moffat Ford XC Falcon GS500 Moffat Ford Dealers
1979 Bob Morris Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
1980 Peter Brock Holden VB Commodore Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
1981 Dick Johnson Ford XD Falcon Palmer Tube Mills
1982 Allan Moffat Mazda RX-7 Peter Stuyvesant International Racing
1983 Peter Brock Holden VH Commodore SS Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
1984 George Fury Nissan Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motorsport Australia
Group A
1985 Jim Richards BMW 635 CSi JPS Team BMW
1986 George Fury Nissan Skyline DR30 RS Peter Jackson Nissan Racing
1987 Jim Richards BMW M3 JPS Team BMW
1988 Tony Longhurst Ford Sierra RS500 Freeport Motorsport
1989 Dick Johnson Ford Sierra RS500 Shell Ultra-Hi Racing
1990 Colin Bond Ford Sierra RS500 Caltex CXT Racing
1991* Jim Richards Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Nissan Motorsport Australia
Tony Longhurst BMW M3 Evolution Benson & Hedges Racing
1992 Tony Longhurst BMW M3 Evolution Benson & Hedges Racing
Group 3A Touring Cars
1993 Alan Jones Ford EB Falcon Peter Jackson Racing
1994 Larry Perkins Holden VP Commodore Castrol Perkins Racing
1995 Glenn Seton Ford EF Falcon Peter Jackson Racing
1996 Craig Lowndes Holden VR Commodore Holden Racing Team
1997 John Bowe Ford EL Falcon Shell Helix racing
1998 Russell Ingall Holden VS Commodore Castrol Perkins Racing

* Lakeside hosted two rounds of the 1991 Australian Touring Car Championship. Jim Richards won Round 4 while Tony Longhurst won Round 8.

Australian Super Touring Championship

Lakeside hosted the Australian Super Touring Championship (known as the Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship in 1993 and Australian Manufacturers' Championship in 1994) 8 times between 1993 and 2000–01.

Year Winner Car Team
1993 Colin Bond Toyota Corolla Seca AE93 Caltex Team Toyota
1994 Tony Longhurst BMW 318i Benson & Hedges Racing
1995 Paul Morris BMW 318i Diet Coke BMW Racing
1996 Paul Morris BMW 318i Diet Coke BMW Racing
1997 Paul Morris BMW 320i Diet Coke BMW Motorsport
1998 Brad Jones Audi A4 Quattro Audi Sport Australia
1999 Paul Morris BMW 320i Paul Morris Motorsport
2000–01 Paul Morris BMW 320i Paul Morris Motorsport

Australian GT Championship

Another national championship that Lakeside hosted was the Australian GT Championship. Lakeside held its first race of the championship in 1962, then had to wait another 20 years before the championship returned in 1982 for a 5-year run that ended with CAMS discontinuing the championship after 1985.

Year Winner Car Team
1962 John French Centaur Waggott GP Cars Racing Team
1982 Alan Jones Porsche 935/80 Porsche Cars Australia
1983 Jim Richards BMW 318i Turbo JPS Team BMW
1984 Allan Grice Chevrolet Monza Re-Car Racing
1985 Bryan Thomson Chevrolet Monza Thomson-Fowler Motorsport

Australian Sports Car Championship

The Australian Sports Car Championship raced at Lakeside on 5 occasions between 1977 and 1985.

Year Winner Car Team
1977 Alan Hamilton Porsche 934 Turbo Porsche Distributors
1978 Ross Mathiesen Porsche Carrera
1982 Ken Peters Auscam
1983 Chris Clearihan Kaditcha Chevrolet Canberra Sports Car Club
1984 Bap Romano Romano WE84 Cosworth Bap Romano Racing
1985 Chris Clearihan Kaditcha Chevrolet Chris Clearihan

Australian Sports Sedan Championship

The Australian Sports Sedan Championship raced at Lakeside on 9 occasions between 1978 and 1985.

Year Winner Car Team
1978 Allan Grice Chevrolet Corvair Craven Mild Racing
1979 Jim Richards Ford XC Falcon Jim Richards Motor Racing
1980 Allan Grice BMW 318i Turbo Craven Mild Racing
1981 John Briggs Chevrolet Monza John Roberts
1991* Mick Monterosso Ford Escort Mark II Chevrolet Mick Monterosso
Des Wall Toyota Supra Chevrolet Des Wall
1992* Kerry Baily Toyota Celica Supra Chevrolet Kerry Baily
Kerry Baily Toyota Celica Supra Chevrolet Kerry Baily
1993* John Briggs Honda Prelude Chevrolet John Briggs
John Briggs Honda Prelude Chevrolet John Briggs
1996 John Briggs Honda Prelude Chevrolet John Briggs
1999 Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet Basil Ricciardello

* Lakeside hosted two rounds of the 1991, 1992 and 1993 championships with both rounds held on the same day.

Australian Formula 2 Championship

Australian Formula 2 Championship raced at Lakeside on 7 occasions between 1970 and 1988. The 1971 and 1988 races were part of the Australian Drivers' Championship for the CAMS Gold Star.

Year Winner Car Team
1970 Max Stewart Mildren Waggott TC4V Alec Mildren Racing
1971 Tony Stewart Elfin 600B England Ford Paul England Pty Ltd
1974 Ray Winter Mildren Mono Ford Ray Winter
1985 Peter Macrow Cheetah Mk 8 Volkswagen Peter Macrow
1986 Jon Crooke Cheetah Mk 8 Volkswagen Jonathon Crooke
1987 Mark McLaughlin Elfin 852 Volkswagen Elfin Sports Cars Pty Ltd
1988 Derek Pingel Ralt RT30 Volkswagen Ralt Australia Pty Ltd

References

  1. "Lakeside Park 06/04/2008 LIR Round 1". National Software. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  2. Neville Roberts. "Lakeside: Venue of the Lakeside International & the Australian Grand Prix". Tasman-Series.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  3. "Lakeside International Raceway 08/07/2001 Konica V8 Supercar Series - Round 5". National Software. 8 July 2001. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  4. "Heritage lost - gone but not forgotten". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  5. "Racing 'suspended' at Lakeside due to noise breaches". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
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