Morgan Park

Crash Test · 22 Sep 2002, 11:12 (Ref:385808)

Three thumbs up for the newly refurbished Morgan Park Raceway, a couple of hours out of Brisbane.

This weekend just finished, they held their first ever State Championship meeting. The track is fantastic. Lots of twists and turns and fiddly bits, that provides something completely different to QR.

They've done an awful lot of work to bring it up this level, and I heard someone say that "the track is at the same level it took for Lakeside to achieve in 40 years". The place will only get better with a few more trimmings, but the first event was a cracker... I hope they manage to get the Konica series back in QLD for 2004

DNQ · 22 Sep 2002, 11:21 (Ref:385817)

As good as Lakeside?

One thing I'd like to see is a track map - anyone got one they can scan in/point me to?

Crash Test · 22 Sep 2002, 11:25 (Ref:385818)

yep, will be doing that during the week- scanner not hooked up ATM..

DNQ · 22 Sep 2002, 11:27 (Ref:385819)

Okay, looking forward to it

Crash Test · 22 Sep 2002, 23:25 (Ref:386209)

Some driver reactions can be found at http://www.qrda.asn.au/shedtalk/newsarticle.asp?id=483

RaceTime · 23 Sep 2002, 23:15 (Ref:386956)

Are any results going to be made available from the meeting or will these be a closely guarded secret?

How was the timing done?

Crash Test · 24 Sep 2002, 00:29 (Ref:386975)

The timing was done from a caravan, and subsequently there wasn't a telephone availble. Put it this way, they have done sooo much work to the track in recent months, they can hardly be blamed for not having all of the bells and whistles completly finished. I've posted the top three results and lap records on Accelerate.

darrenmason · 24 Sep 2002, 00:52 (Ref:386982)

Good fun track, Really enjoyed the back section leading on to the straight.
Kept us fairly busy for most of the lap as most of the lap is quite tight.
A few of us took our NSW spec Formula Vee's up (1600 motors, disc brakes, steering rack etc) and had a ball in the Racing Car category.
Different to most tracks I have driven at as there is not as much of the traditional slip-streaming effects that Formula Vee's usually get. In racing it was usually a lot of work to get past another car which kept it close and exciting.
I'm not sure how they did the timing. We had Dorians on but I'm guessing that most of the timing was manual as a few of our times seemed to get mixed up in Qualifying.
A great thing for spectators would be a grandstand near the tower next to the bridge as you would see most of the track.
Had a great weekend.

Darren

Crash Test · 24 Sep 2002, 00:57 (Ref:386984)

Welcome aboard Darren! It was great to see you guys come up for the weekend!

I must admit I was a bit sceptical about the wiggles coming onto the straight, but that is a cracker piece of road (to spectate on, and ride a bicycle around

)

RaceTime · 24 Sep 2002, 01:34 (Ref:386996)

Crash - How was the timing done though (I worked in a caravan all weekend at Murray Bridge as well but we still managed to get results on the web - mobile phones have that capability now).

But, that wasn't what I was asking - how was it done? Manually or electronically as per the CAMS manual and NCR for State Championship meetings??

Crash Test · 24 Sep 2002, 01:39 (Ref:387000)

I believe it was manual, for most of the weekend.

RaceTime · 24 Sep 2002, 01:58 (Ref:387009)

That conjures up the sight of a dilemma <sp?> - 'most of the time' - does that imply some other form was used or that at times none was used

Crash Test · 25 Sep 2002, 01:15 (Ref:387757)

Circuit map etc can be found at www.qrda.asn.au

spook · 29 Sep 2002, 09:29 (Ref:390965)

I've read the book Racetime - which NCR do you mean?

spook · 29 Sep 2002, 09:34 (Ref:390970)

Does that mean it wasn't a "valid" State Championship Race Meeting.

Would all the trophies have to go back?

Where are the results?

On the web? Or still in that Caravan?

Sounds like an episode of Fawty Towers or Abbott & Costello (I know they didn't have "episodes")

spook · 29 Sep 2002, 09:37 (Ref:390971)

Do CAMS in Melbourne know about these shenanigans?

Do they surf these pages?

shaner · 29 Sep 2002, 11:33 (Ref:391012)

Quote:

Originally posted by spook
Do CAMS in Melbourne know about these shenanigans?

Do they surf these pages?

Did somebody say shenanigans?

Do CAMS in Melbourne surf these pages? In general No. I peronsally monitor a selection of what goes on (in my own time, I have better things to do during the day!) in various places on the Internet, mainly to ensure relevant people at CAMS get a feel for whats happening out in competitor land. Contrary to popular opinion, CAMS do give a damn about what you think!

In the CAMS Manual, Page 2-14,2-15, It says:

"GENERAL REGULATIONS
TIMEKEEPING AT SPEED EVENTS
(2) TIMING EQUIPMENT
2.1 Race Meetings and Speed Events
(iii) State Championship, National and National Championship levels: must register times to 1/100 second – by computer with manual, semi-automatic or automatic operation.

From 1994, various categories will progressively be required to use the fully automatic Dorian DATA-1 system,in which case the accuracy will be at least 1/1000 second."

Not being qualified to make a judgement on behalf of CAMS, I won't. My *personal opinion* on the facts so far presented is that they are OK.

Shane Rogers
IT Administratior
Confederation of Australian Motor Sport
shaner@cams.com.au

RaceTime · 30 Sep 2002, 06:49 (Ref:391830)

Quote:

Originally posted by spook
I've read the book Racetime - which NCR do you mean?

That all State level championships and above are to be electronically timed as from 1994 (although some dead heads in SA and QLD decided they would wait longer).

Oops - just read Shane's reply - thanks Shane - manual and light beam timing cannot produce the required accuracy of timing require, therefore the only available method is electronic - usually DATA-1 unless the track is able to provide all competitors with an AMB transponder and that system could then be used (coming soon to a track near you

Crash Test · 30 Sep 2002, 11:33 (Ref:392076)

a huh

Seton_5 · 30 Sep 2002, 14:00 (Ref:392210)

Sounds the Upgrade of Morgan Park is great and First Class

The Tool Man · 30 Sep 2002, 14:47 (Ref:392247)

Crashy - In which direction from Brisbane is Morgan Park and what major place ( other than brisbane - DUH ! ) is in near. ?

spook · 30 Sep 2002, 23:08 (Ref:392639)

It is just outside Warwick (5km)- Which is (around 150km) 2 hours drive South West of Brisbane on the inland highway (Cunningham/New England) between Brisbane and Sydney. On the western side of the Great Dividing Range - not sure of height above sea level. It is 100km to Warwick from Queensland Raceway (which is on the same highway out of Brisbane). Maybe Crashy could scan in a locality map?.

Crash Test · 1 Oct 2002, 00:04 (Ref:392666)

I've got some maps on my old computer that I'll try to resurect today.

Some maps can be found at: http://www.warwick.qld.gov.au/shire_region/maps.htm

The Tool Man · 1 Oct 2002, 00:51 (Ref:392680)

Yeah Thanks I know where warwick is - I go that way to Toowoomba - just never heard of Morgan Park Raceway before.
You learn something every day.

Crash Test · 1 Oct 2002, 02:04 (Ref:392710)

The funny thing is that the circuit has been in existance since 1967, so it isn't something new. But the place really came of age when it was sealed and extended originally top 1.2km in the late 90s.

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