Queensland Raceway
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| Location | Ipswich, Queensland |
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| Time zone | UTC +10 |
| Major Events | V8 Supercar |
| Circuit Length | 3.12 km (1.95 mi) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Lap Record | 1:04.0661 (Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 1999) |
Queensland Raceway nicknamed "the paperclip" is a motor racing circuit located near Ipswich in Queensland, Australia.
The circuit plays host to V8 Supercars, the Australian Superbike Championship, Drifting, the Australian Motor Racing Series as well as club level racing and ride days.
Queensland Raceway is 3.12 kilometres (1.94 mi) long and 12 metres (39 ft) wide. Racing direction is clockwise. There are six corners. The circuit was designed by Tony Slattery with input from car and motorcycle racing authorities including CAMS circuit expert Professor Rod Troutbeck.
The circuit is licenced by Australian motorsport's two peak bodies, CAMS Limited and Motorcycling Australia, but generally sanctions its race meeting under the Australian Auto Sport Alliance. It runs its own championship series, the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship.
Spectator viewing at the track is excellent with the flat layout of the circuit and spectator mounds. However the flat layout makes racing less exciting for the competitors than undulating circuits like Phillip Island. The track is also very bumpy.
Queensland Raceway is located near the town of Willowbank, which is also home to a drag strip, a Kart track and a short dirt circuit. The track is also located near RAAF Base Amberley and shares the base's 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) noise exclusion zone.
There are also three Short Circuit variations of the track:
- Sportsman 2.15 km (1.34 mi)
- Clubman 2.11 km (1.31 mi)
- Sprint 1.89 km (1.17 mi)
[edit] History
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The circuit has a sordid history for such a young and purpose-built venue. A history that has left some very bad feelings in the hearts of some motorsport enthusiasts.
When the prospect was originally launched to build the track in the late 1990s, there were many people in favour of the project as the only other existing racetrack in Brisbane, Lakeside, was felt to be mismanaged as the then-owners chose against putting funds into the circuit (other than the barest minimum) and pocketing the difference. The plan at the time for Queensland Raceway was to sell 1,000 individual life memberships at $1,000 each and a further 500 family memberships (2 people per membership) for $1,500 each. This equated to $1.75 million that people would invest in the future of motorsport in South East Queensland which they would not see a return on for at least 3 years. They would then lose their "investment" thanks to the Labor/Beattie Government in power at the time.
It was 2002 when Queensland Raceway was holding its first major event, a non-descript race, where the organisers were completely overwhelmed with the response of motorsport enthusiasts wanting to, effectively, see the track for the very first time. What many did see was total gridlock that extended along the Cunningham Highway (running between Ipswich and Warwick) for up to 25 kilometres (15.5 mi). Many race fans went home in disgust vowing never to return. Those that persevered and made it to the venue were ecstatic a great *new* venue that, even though was in its infancy, would grow to be a definite boon to all. Life Membership holders swelled with pride at their good fortune for getting those years before.
Then the boom fell.
Due to the utter nightmare experienced on the roads near the venue on that day (the "practice run"), numbers attending the 500km V8 Supercar event were down on what was expected. The numbers weren't down a little bit either. The lack of people present was significant - so much so that many commented about the lack of people present.
This lack of people was to sign the death knell for the original investors in the Life Membership scheme.
The track had borrowed heavily to secure the V8 race and the return was nowhere near what was expected and, after a time, the receivers were called in.
What happened next still sits badly with a great number of those original investors as, out of the four receivers with vested interests in the circuit, the Queensland/Beattie-Labor Government made the decision to sell the circuit - even though it was their own Financial Advisor that recommended that the circuit be allowed to continue in their present form as they would be able to trade out of any difficulties that may be experienced. Once that decision was made, the other three interested parties followed suit and the circuit was sold.
Individual & Family Life Membership holders were invited to a meeting with the new owners - for a sale that should never have happened. All were informed at the meeting that their Life Memberships were no longer valid and that everyone must pay again if they wanted to retain those memberships. Many people forfeited their money in disgust at the treatment and have vowed to never set foot in the circuit again.
The parties that purchased the venue after this debacle caused by then-MP, Bob Gibbs, are still managing the site but there are many that believe that the facilities are still sub-standard for what was intended to become a world-class venue.
[edit] Dick Johnson Straight
Queensland's favourite motor racing son was honored on 16 August, 2001, when the front section of the Queensland Raceway was officially named "Dick Johnson Straight".
Johnson, a five-time national champion and three-time Bathurst winner, proudly unveiled a piece of pit-lane wall, which now bears his name and a plaque commemorating the ceremony and Johnson's motor racing achievements.
The unveiling was part of the pre-race build-up to the 2001 VIP Petfoods Queensland 500.
Johnson was joined by his son Steve during the ceremony as well as a host of V8 Supercar drivers and teams during what was a serious day of testing at the circuit.
"It's always a little humbling to be recognised in such a way," said Johnson. "The Queensland Raceway faced some tough times in the beginning, but I think the facility has really founds its feet in the last 12 months and is going from strength to strength. I might not be around in 50 years, but it would be nice to think this track will still be here and that the signing-writing is maintained on this wall."
Johnson was one of the driving forces behind the development of the Queensland Raceway and ironically made his last competitive drive in a V8 Supercar in 2000's Queensland 500 with Steve.
"I guess the fact that I had my last competitive drive here, makes it a little more special for me," said Johnson.
"It's a pity we could not go out with a win last year, but hopefully Steve and his co-driver can make up for that in 10 days time."
[edit] External links
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