Lakeside Raceway - Photos of the Circuit Today

[DNQ]

I went for a 5 minute drive down the road to Lakeside today to inspect the circuit's conditions and take some photos. Thought I'd share some of them. Here are a few of the best:


Control Tower overlooking the start/finish line


Graffiti on the Pit HQ building


Looking back towards the kink on the front straight


The last corner


The grid

More photos: http://cfm.globalf1.net//?page_id=169

A few notes about the circuit condition:

• The track surface appears to be in an acceptable condition. Only the pit-lane entrance is badly broken up.
• The control tower, scrutineering building and pit-HQ have all taken a battering from vandalism. The control tower's glass windows have been smashed. The rooms have been bordered up to stop further damage.
• "Lakeside Room" and the pit-garages appear to have been well-preserved. There was a bin just outside the pit-garages that was full of new-looking empty soft-drink cans and bottles.
• There was no sign of any recent lawn-mowing, construction, development or maintenance of any kind.
• The Grand Prix Jaguar bridge is now home to pigeons.
• The circuit is in fairly bad shape - what you'd expect after 6 years of neglect. The pit-garages, track-surface, and armco are all in decent nick, but pretty much everything else would need major repairs or re-construction.

I hope John Tetley's plans come to fruition.

[Armco Bender]

Judging by all the rubber layed on the grid someones been having a good time.
Wouldn't hurt to phone Jims Mowing either.

[gcalvert]

Originally Posted by DNQ

I hope John Tetley's plans come to fruition.

So do I. I will certainly load up the trailer and bring my historic car to any historic racing event that he can run at Lakeside. I wouldn't want to miss that opportunity. I will never travel that far north for QR, or Morgan Park.

[TheTaipan]

Thanks for that DNQ - I grew up not far from there and Lakeside will always have special memories for me - I hope it will still be there when my kids are old enough - but somehow I doubt it.

SL

[Chatters]

I'm amazed how saddening it is to see such a great track like that in such a bad condition... It truly is a shadow of its former self.

[DNQ]

Well at least it's still there in some form, unlike Amaroo, Warwick Farm, Oran Park (well, soon), etc.

[888_Fan]

Does anybody know if Lakeside is open enough to have a look around - like you did DNQ? How easy was it to get in and take some photos (all I want to do as well)?

[Wrighty05]

So many memeroies there. Thanks for posting them

[DNQ]

Originally Posted by 888_Fan

Does anybody know if Lakeside is open enough to have a look around - like you did DNQ? How easy was it to get in and take some photos (all I want to do as well)?

Very easy.

I did not see any signs saying No Trespassing, and there were no fences more than 2 feet high. There's obviously been lots of people hanging around there, as there was lots of fresh rubbish, etc.

[mountainstar]

I don't think it looks that bad. If the place is cleaned up, the grass chopped down and everything painted it wouldn't look that bad.

[Jeff 8]

I heard talk of it reopening later this year, then next year. Looking at the entry to the main straight the armco looks very close for bike racing, maybe they'll move it back or use heaps of air fence.

Jeff

[roverboy]

The track is currently being used as a training venue for local cyclists and tri - athletes.

As most people already know, QLD Raceway is currently negotiating with the local council for use of the facility. Rumors suggest the council is doing everything possible to delay the signing of the lease agreement.

[pete55]

Lakeside Hostage to Land Cartel

16 April, 2207

Brisbane, Australia - A Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts' insider source confirmed that the Pine Rivers Shire Council is being bullied by a small group of wealthy landowners using a publicity campaign of misinformation to delay the successful tenderer from opening Lakeside to the community.

The anti-Lakeside faction has acquired large holdings of lake-front acreage and wants to continue to prevent public access to the facility until the deal with the State Government, preserving the site's motor racing heritage, expires in 2010.

It is also being reported that some councillors are resisting heavy pressure to circumvent the spirit of the South East Queensland Regional Plan with a strategy to re-zone the former Australian Grand Prix circuit after 2010, or write-it-off as a multi-million dollar ratepayer donation to the local golf club.

President of LMRE, Ian Milton said,

"If one of Queensland's rare public motorsport venues can be re-zoned, then this well-healed minority will continue to bully Council into permitting subdivision of their estates. This will be a lotto win for them, but opening up the water front to another 1000 houses would be an insane burden on the Shire's fragile water supply. Conversely, Lakeside has a proven record over 40 years with its own water supply, has never had a pollution complaint lodged against it and no-one has ever provided one shred of scientific evidence that it has any impact on Lake Kurwongbah."

"Even if one was to accept the arguments of these selfish individuals at face value, how do they balance them against life saving public benefits to the majority of the Shire's population, such as educating our young drivers? Currently, Dakabin High School students are forced to pay higher costs and waste over 2 hours travelling to Ipswich for driver education courses when there's a vacant facility within walking distance of the school!"

"For each one of these wannabe developers complaining about Council process, LMRE has a member who moved to the area specifically to be closer to Lakeside, not to mention the fact that this gang represents less than one tenth of one percent of the ratepayers of the Shire and yet they're holding everyone east of Narangba Rd to ransom."

"The core of LMRE membership are Pine Rivers Shire residents and they are sick of hearing the childish cries about a lack of consultation even though the issue has been publicly debated in the media for nearly five years. How much credibility can you give someone who lacks basic knowledge of the local community issues and fails to do their own research?"

"Make no mistake, this argument over Lakeside is not about noise or water quality or any other public issue, it's about a handful of well positioned people attempting to sabotage the public process for personal financial gain."

LMRE has worked tirelessly for the past 5 years with the other committed stakeholders to develop a plan for Lakeside that doesn't exclude anyone, so now, we are not prepared to stand by and let a self-interested minority hijack the future of this community asset at the eleventh hour.

For more information - www.lakesideraceway.com


This is a copy of an email i recently received.

[Sultan]

Half the track is currently zoned as catchment for the lake - if you look at a map of the track, left to right, it's pretty much from Carousel, through the infield & paddock, then from Hungry corner & a fair chunk of the Eastern Loop - that's where the rain water comes from...

And I was led to believe at the time of it's closure, that it could never be zoned for residential for that very reason....

I wonder what info John Tetley has....

[Just Do It!]

Pete55, I only have 2 words to say about the procrastination. Sadly neither of them would get past the auto-censor.

There's moments in life that aggravate, and moments that just plain infuriate!!

[Jeff 8]

Originally Posted by pete55

Lakeside Hostage to Land Cartel


it's about a handful of well positioned people attempting to sabotage the public process for personal financial gain.

Sounds like Sydney Showground Speedway all over again!


Jeff

[mmciau]

And Rowley Park Speedway in Adelaide in the mid 1970s

[The Dart]

There is a Duathlon (run, cycle, run event) at Lakeside on the 22nd July run by Triathlon Queensland, spectators are admitted free, would be a good oppotunity for you all to have a close look at the facilities. I believe the event starts early morning and finishes at lunch time.

[mjt57]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Wouldn't hurt to phone Jims Mowing either.

Is that what he's up to now, since retiring last year?

Seriously, the whole thing irks me. Too often have I seen powerful and influential people get their way with local government that only benefits them, not the ratepayers as a whole.

For example where I live they're hell bent on tearing down any building that has any sort of historical significance to build carparks, office blocks or multi-dwelling units, or whatever.

However, something promising in a backhanded sort of way. They're about to rip up Morwell Hillclimb to give a local power producer access to the coal. In exchange they promise to build another "better and more exciting" hillclimb circuit and to provide all the facilities that the Gippsland Car Club has invested at the existing venue, for nix.

I'll hold my breath waiting...

[275 GTB-4]

Long Lease Locks in Lakeside

For Immediate Release: 18 December, 2007

Brisbane, Queensland - Supporters of Queensland's Lakeside Raceway received an early Christmas present this year with the Pine Rivers Shire Council and Wrexmere Pty Ltd (Queensland Raceway) signing off on a long term lease to operate the historic circuit on Brisbane's north side.

The agreement for 30 years, with an option for 10 years, obtained State Government Ministerial approval and will insure the facility celebrates its 50th anniversary on 19 March 2011.

Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts president Ian Milton said,

"We're delighted and relieved by the news, but if we want to get on the track, everyone will have to pitch in and do their part - there's no more excuses for sitting on the sidelines."

When asked what the major challenges were to getting club-level motor racing back to Lakeside, John Tetley of Queensland Raceway said,

"We have all the usual major project hassles including red tape, availability of scarce resources, etc."

Mr Tetley said that an initial $1.2 million has already been secured to invest on rebuilding infrastructure and,

"The rest will depend on how wisely we invest the initial capital input and how many people come and spend their money there."

"We're targeting and hoping to re-open the driver training in February or March next year. Racing, maybe June, depending on a lot of variables including re-education of competitors and neighbour management."

Pine Rivers Shire Councillor Mike Charlton was very excited to declare the situation as "all systems go!" He described the council's vision for Lakeside as,

"Preservation of an iconic motorsport site embracing historic, commercial and club motorsport activities, combined with life-saving driver and rider education and community events."

Cr Charlton said that a legal action in the Planning & Environment Court between the PRSC and Mr Ron Curtis is "unlikely to delay" and is confident in their legal advice because it is "tried and tested" law. Last month a local newspaper article revealed that people had been listed as co-applicants without their permission. The action has been adjourned until 23 January, 2008.

Mr Milton pointed out the significance of events,

"An historic moment is occuring for the people of Queensland, and particularly the motorsport community, because I can think of no other example of a motor racing circuit in Australia being brought back from the brink like Lakeside."

"On behalf of LMRE members, I would like to extend a sincere invitation to anyone who has a passion for motorsport to help us get this deal over the line by registering on-line to help reconstruct Lakeside. You don't need to be an engineer, just bring the right attitude. To be part of history, please visit this site and fill in the form - "

http://www.queenslandraceway.com.au/qrformlake.php.";

[deeks6]

Awesome ... jeeze, if I was'nt in Melbourne I'd go do some digging myself.

[ss_collins]

One off the Autodrome 2 list... good news though

[Falcadore]

There will be some very tight noise restrictions - about 95db IIRC.

[Matt]

Sounds good! I have seen video from this circuit from the past, and it seemed great! Maybe a future V8 round would be in the cars as well. The runoff doesn't seem to be to bad, since Sandown doest really have too much either, aside from the end of the main straight, and at T7.

[Sultan]

That's right Falc, so short of some serious mufflers, cars like sports sedans, rotaries etc won't be able to run..