Godzilla VS Walkinshaw at Lakeside Speed Fest

The stage is set for an epic showdown on August 7 & 8 when the original “Godzilla” takes on the very first Walkinshaw Commodore in a battle of the historic touring car titans.

The Lakeside Classic Speed Fest is the event, the fast, flowing bends of the iconic Lakeside Park raceway the venue and two of Australia’s landmark touring cars the lead warriors in retro stoush sure to have race fans pining for the “good old days”.

“Godzilla” of course is the infamous Nissan Skyline R32 GTR, driven to victory in the 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATTC) and 1992 Bathurst 1000 by “gentleman” Jim Richards. Now owned and raced by Hope Island resident Terry Ashwood, the mighty Skyline was dubbed Godzilla by the motoring press after it monstered all comers in the ’92 ATTC.

“I’ve had the car since 2001,” explained Mr Ashwood, “and it still runs its original Winfield livery and exact mechanical specifications.”

Considered by Nissan aficionados as a true “global” car, this R32 chassis number five, is valued at well over $1m but still competes with all its potent force when the green flag comes down.

The Skyline’s fierce rival on August 7/8 is the first ever Walkinshaw Commodore, now owned by New South Welshman Norman Mogg. Originally campaigned by Neil Crompton and Win Percy for the Holden Racing Team, this car took seventh place at the 1989 Bathurst 1000 and has recently been completely restored following a 2007 Phillip Island smash.

Starting life as a 1988 Brock Commodore the car was taken to England by Tom Walkinshaw who designed the love it or hate it body kit. After extensive wind tunnel testing Tom Walkinshaw brought the Holden back to Australia as the first ever Walkinshaw racing car and the prototype for the road-going (and now highly collectable) Walkinshaw Commodores.

In the Lakeside Classic Speed Fest’s Group A/C Touring car category Godzilla and Walkie will also be up against Rod Markland’s 1991 R32 Nissan Skyline (in original GIO livery), Carey McMahon’s 1988 Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R (as raced by Mark Skaife), George Nittis’ ex-Damon Hill British Touring Car Championship Ford Sierra and Chris Bowden’s Mazda RX-7, to name just a few.

Held over two action-packed days, the Lakeside Classic Speed Fest is a multi category event featuring racing, sprints, regularity, a mini hill climb and the Shannons Show and Shine.

Other touring car classes to take you back in time include Group N and the ever-popular Australian Trans Am Championship. Group N will see titanic tussles between Aussie legends such as Falcon GTs, XU1 Toranas, Ford Escorts and Holden Monaros, while the Trans Am series unleashes the fattest group of American muscle this side of Detroit.

The Lakeside Classic Speed Fest also features trade stalls, the Shannons Super Rig and the Queensland Motorsport Museum. With entry at just $20 per day and free entry for kids under thirteen the Lakeside Classic Speed Fest is one family event not to be missed!

What: Lakeside Classic Speed Fest
Where: Lakeside Park – Lakeside Road, Kurwongbah
When: Saturday, August 7 & Sunday August 8, 9am – 4pm
Cost: Entry is $20 Saturday, $20 Sunday, $30 weekend pass, children 12 and under free, students 13-16 and pensioners $10 each day, payable at the gate  

Lakeside Park is also only 10 minutes walk from Dakabin railway station