Lakeside Park, formerly known as Lakeside International Raceway is a motor racing circuit located in Kurwongbah, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. It is north of Brisbane, and lies adjacent to Lake Kurwongbah.
The circuit was known as the spiritual home of Queensland motorsport and was built by volunteers and borrowed machinery in the 1960s. The circuit opened on 19 March 1961 and was closed in mid-2001. The circuit reopened on 5 April 2008, with a race meeting held the following day.
History Lakeside was built between 1959 and 1960 by the Queensland Motor Sporting Club. The opening meeting was staged on Sunday 19 March 1961,Keith Thallon, Lakeside Opening by Sporty Governor, Sports Car World, June 1961. pages 46 & 47 and the first international meeting was held the following year, with the feature race won by Jack Brabham in a Cooper-Climax. 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 contributed to the development of several 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.
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 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.
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 motorcycle aficionados from 17 to 70 years old who come from various motoring fraternities and niches.
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' 70 dB noise restrictions.
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