The first weekend in September brought with it the penultimate round of the Queensland Improved Production Championship at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick. With the recently repaired new section of track open again for racing, the only thing hotter than the track temperature was the action on it. The first race saw 26 drivers take to the grid in what was to be a race where the top three would finish just over five seconds apart. David Skillender was out to show his dominance again at a track that seems to suit the V8 Commodore; however it was not a Sunday drive as in race one David Waldon, Mazda RX-3, and Troy Marinelli, Nissan Silvia, stuck with him for the seven lap dash to the chequed flag. Justin Wade in his BMW M3 was in a battle for fourth with the hard charging James Peck, Mazda RX-7, and fellow Mazda driver Adam Uebergang, RX-3, on his tail. The battle lasted the race and they finished in respected positions. A mid-morning start for race two saw a few drivers not take to the grid for various reasons. Most notably missing was second place finisher in the first race Waldon who would not race again for the weekend. The eight lap sprint was owned by one driver who left the field in his wake as he put a 20 second gap between himself and second place. Skillender destroyed the field with Ubergang pushing his RX-3 to the limit to try and catch him and to stay ahead of Wade who finished in third only 0.126 seconds behind. Marinelli was off the pace in the second race and fell to fifth behind Peck but was able to fight off Tony Isarasena, Mazda RX-7. A good battle which lasted the race was further back in the pack with Dean Rice, Paul Redman, Ford Focus, and Gavin McAlpin, Mini Cooper S, all fighting for 16^th place. Rice was able to put almost a two second gap on Redman by the end of the race as McAlpin was fighting to pass the focus driver which cost Redman time with defending. The last race of the weekend for the Improved Production drivers once again saw Skillender drive away from the field. He finished the race just over 11 seconds ahead of the field. The third race also brought the third different second place finisher with Peck edging out Ubergang. Wade drove a solid race to finish forth ahead of Isarasena. It was a weekend to forget for the normally consistent Marinelli who finished just inside the top ten, only 0.149 seconds in front of 11^th place getter Trent Spencer in his Mini Cooper S. By the end of the weekend only 20 cars started and 19 cars finished race three. The racing was hard fought and hard on cars and drivers but well and truly entertaining for spectators and officials. The last round of the championship will be at Lakeside Raceway just north of Brisbane this weekend, September 22-23. For more information and a full list of results and championship points visit http://www.ipraqld.com Photos by Phil Melvin

On the weekend of 31st March1st April, Queensland Raceway played host to Round One of the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship. Drivers and spectators from as far as Sydney gathered to compete and watch nine individual racing categories including Touring Cars, Production Sports, Gemini’s, Saloon Cars and even the mighty Excels. Crowd favourite, the Gemini Series provided thrills and spills as Paul Butler, the 2011 Gemini Champion, took the win from Smallwood with Boyle in third. In the Saloon Car category drivers kept control of their machines on the new track, setting a host of personal and track best times. On a scorching April afternoon, temperatures in the mid 30s made drivers work for every point in the championship. From V8 Supercars with support teams numbering into double figures, to a one man team singlehandedly rebuilding an engine overnight between events, the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship showcases a unique blend of skill, budget and ingenuity. The humbleness of the entrants, the thrills and spills on the track, and the willingness of drivers to engage with spectators, has made this a unique addition to the racing calendar. “This is the first major event at Queensland Raceways on the newly resurfaced track,” Keith Lewis, General Manager commented. “Feedback from drivers is very positive, although much to the crowd’s amusement we’ve seen a few drivers loose it on several occasions as all the braking points have changed!” Round Two of the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship is at Lakeside Park on 26th and 27th May. Gates Open: 7:00am Racing Commences: 8:50am Entry: Spectators $30.00PP or $40.00PP for the weekend Children under 12years FREE . Photos by David Gallagher

Lakeside is not just a place for fast cars and history being relived; it is also about owners of something different shearing a passion. On Sunday April 1 2012 you’d be a fool if you missed the Hot Rods, Customs and Kit Cars Day at Lakeside Park. The cream of Queensland’s modified and hand built cars will converge for a weekend unlike any other on the motoring calendar. The day kicks off with an Open Cruise and a chance to pay homage to the many hours of blood and sweat that go into each unique vehicle.  It may look like an exclusive gathering of phenomenal cars, but in reality this is a truly laid-back, all-ages affair, where the true purpose is to share an appreciation of Queensland’s finest hot rods, customs and kit cars. The action starts early in the form of the ever popular Lakeside Challenge, featuring drags on the front strip and slalom at the back of the course.  All manner of clubs will then lead their charges around the track for the Club Cruises. The show’n’shine will be your chance to get up close and personal with the machines and their passionate creators.  Discuss the finer points of exposed engines, or weigh in on the debate on the distinction between customisers and rodders. There’ll be more than enough to keep the whole family entertained with popular bank Z28 blasting out the hits, plenty of refreshments on offer and traders ready to fill your motoring shopping list. Entry: $20 car & driver $10 per passenger to a maximum of $40 per car load.

Lap times tumbled like Labor’s seats last weekend during Lakeside Park’s Tribute event at the well-loved Lakeside Park. With a celebration of 51 years of motor sport at Lakeside – from its creation on an old dairy farm by passionate volunteers to the many famous names who’ve crashed and conquered its undulating course – the Lakeside Tribute weekend gave motoring enthusiasts a chance to experience the track in all its glory. Spectators saw everything from a Ford Anglia to a priceless Aston Martin DB4 pushed to the limit to ensure every motoring taste bud was tickled. One Motor sport photographer and Perth resident commentated, “Seeing rare sports cars used in the way they should be is very refreshing. The accessibility of motor sport in Queensland is better than Western Australia. This event has really made me want to move over to the East coast, I’ll be back for sure”. Hard racing was a feature of the weekend with tough battles fought across all categories. The big Yankee engines of the Trans Am group were a crowd favourite whilst the pre‘66 regularity saw some highly skilled competitors push their driving to the limit. In Group N Historic Touring Cars, it was the precision driving of Bruce Forsyth in his BMW 2002 versus the Italian flare of Phillip Simie’s Alfa Romeo with two very different driving styles on display.  Porsche enthusiast Iain Nowell reflected the relaxed atmosphere in the pits inviting onlookers to get ‘up close and personal’ with his road registered 1959 Porsche 356A. “All I do before each race is check the tyre pressure and take it for a few laps around the block,” Iain commented. “Lakeside is a great track and well suited to my Porsche, we have so much fun here”. The casual atmosphere at Lakeside Park afforded plenty of opportunities for families to get close to the action. On the far side of the track, 4 stroke Go Karts raced throughout the weekend.  Damian Cane from Aus Karting Racing commented, “We offer all the thrills any superstar of motor racing would expect to encounter on a race meet such as preparation, set up, racing and inevitably the failure of racing machinery, but as they say, that’s just racing!” . Photos by Phil Melvin

Lakeside Park has been an icon for motoring enthusiasts for more than half a century.  It first hosted the roar of race cars on 14 March 1961, back when trousers were tight and flared, and petrol was 6 cents a litre.  To celebrate its history – from its creation on an old dairy farm by passionate volunteers to the many famous names who’ve crashed and conquered its undulating course – the Lakeside Tribute weekend will give motoring enthusiasts a chance to experience the track in all its glory. Lakeside Park is truly a race driver’s race track.  After winning his first V8 series, Dick Johnson proclaimed, “Without any doubt, Lakeside is one of the greatest racetracks ever built”. The feature of the weekend will be a fine display of pre-1980 built race cars on the track to pay tribute to the original builders of the track and the racers who competed, as well as Group S, Trans Am and Group N Touring Cars to guarantee great racing action on the track.  Regularity events will also feature, giving racers a chance to test their consistency around this infamously challenging circuit. Off the track, spectators have ample opportunities to get up close and personal with some genuine Queensland motoring history.  This is not just a show’n’shine, it’s a feast of metal that built motor racing in the state up to what we have today. Spectators – 24th – 25th March $20.00pp SAT $30.00PP SUN $40.00PP for the weekend Children 12 and under are FREE