Lakeside International Raceway

Motorsport venue
Name = Lakeside Park
Time = GMT +10
Location = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Opened = 1961
Former_names = Lakeside International Raceway


Events = Tasman Series, Australian Grand Prix, ATCC
Length_km = 2.40
Length_mi = 1.50
Turns = 8
Record_time = 0:46.66
Record_driver = Paul Stokell
Record_team = Reynard 91D Holden
Record_year = 1994
Record_class = Formula Holden

Lakeside Park, formerly known as Lakeside International Raceway is a motor racing circuit located at Pine Rivers convert|30|km|mi|1|abbr=on 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 convert|2.41|km|mi|2|abbr=on 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.cite web | url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?06/04/2008.LAKE | title=Lakeside Park 06/04/2008 LIR Round 1 | publisher=National Software | accessdate=2008-08-22]

It was the venue for a wide range of racing championships including the Australian Grand Prix on two occasions, the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Australian Superbike Championship and the Tasman Series.

“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.cite web | url=http://www.tasman-series.com/tracks/lakeside/lakeside.asp | title=Lakeside: Venue of the Lakeside International & the Australian Grand Prix | publisher=Tasman-Series.com | author=Neville Roberts | accessdate=2008-08-22]

Since Lakeside's closure, a group of fans, competitors and officials, as well as Pine Rivers Shire rate payers and business owners, called Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts, Inc. have worked towards the goal of re-instating club level motor racing at the circuit.

LMRE is comprised of both car and motorcycle afficianados from 17 to 70 years old and hail from all various motoring fraternities and niches conceivable. They want to preserve Lakeside's history and ensure that it is available for future generations.

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 and time constraints as a means of ensuring neighbourhood management.

External links

* [http://www.qldraceways.com.au/lakeside/ Offical site]
* [http://www.lakesideraceway.com Lakeside Motor Racing Enthusiasts]

References