Touring car greats return to Lakeside
The halcyon days of the Lakeside circuit, when Dick Johnson ruled and the circuit was the scene of some of the greatest touring car battles ever staged, will be re-lived on September 19-20 at the inaugural Shannons Lakeside Classic Speedfest.
The highlights of the full historic programme at Lakeside Park will be the return of spectacular Group C and Group A racers, pitting some of the best-known touring cars of the 1970s and 1980s against each other on the picturesque, undulating circuit 30km north of Brisbane.
A highlight for Ford fans will be the sight and sound of Dick Johnson’s famous ‘Greens Tuff’ XE Falcon, which will return to the circuit a quarter of a century after its racing heyday.
Johnson’s famous No.17, 650HP Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 Group A touring car will also be doing demonstration laps at the meeting alongside the ex-Bob Morris A9X Group C Channel 7 Torana, while 1965 Bathurst winner Barry ‘Bo’ Seton while wheel out his Group C Capri.
Another interesting Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 at the meeting will be the car raced by F1 World Champion-to-be, Damon Hill, in a British Touring Car Championship round at Donnington, UK, in the late 1980s. Now owned by Sydney enthusiast George Nittis, the car is better known in Australia as the Eggenberger Texaco car that provisionally won the 1987 Bathurst 1000 race and was then disqualified, giving Peter Brock his ninth and last victory at Mt.Panorama.
Other confirmed entries in the Shannons Lakeside Classic are two of the most potent Nissans ever to compete in the Australian Touring Car Championship – the turbocharged six-cylinder HR31 Nissan Skyline campaigned in 1989 by Mark Skaife and the famous Winfield-sponsored Skyline R32 GT-R that Skaife and Jim Richards co-drove to victory at Bathurst in 1991 and 1992.
Other circuit events at the Lakeside Classic Speedfest, which is scheduled to become an annual event, include races for Group N Historic Touring and Sports Cars, Trans Am Tribute Cars and Open Wheelers.
The meeting will also include a big Shannons Show & Shine, the appearance of the Shannons Super Rig and numerous trade stalls, while enthusiasts will be able to travel to the meeting as part of a Sunday Cruise.
Dick Johnson’s Jim Beam merchandise truck will also be present, offering fans the opportunity to get DJR tee shirts, caps and other V8 Supercar memorabilia.
The Shannons Goggomobil Dart will also make history when Shannons Queensland Business Development Manager Phil Ross swaps from his 420 hp 1966 Trans-am tribute Mustang to the 1959- 10hp Dart to establish a novel Lakeside Lap Record. The main question is not the Goggo’s speed, but whether it will make the grade up the circuits two hills!
Now resurfaced, with a new tunnel under the track, Lakeside Park is just 30km north of Brisbane and is only 10 minutes’ walk from Dakabin Railway Station
Entry to the Shannons Lakeside Classic Speedfest costs $20 on both Saturday and Sunday, with a weekend pass $30. Children 12 and under are free, with students 13-16 and pensioners $10 each day.
For further meeting information visit www.qldraceways.com.au
Image Captions are:
Photo 1
This turbocharged six-cylinder HR31 Nissan Skyline campaigned in 1989 by Mark Skaife is one of the great Group A touring cars that will be seen at the inaugural Shannons Lakeside Classic Speedfest from September 19-20.
Photo 2
The famous Winfield-sponsored Skyline R32 GT-R that Mark Skaife and Jim Richards co-drove to victory at Bathurst in 1991 and 1992 will be one of the famous former touring cars that will be seen at the inaugural Shannons Lakeside Classic Speedfest from September 19-20.
Photo 3
Dick Johnson’s famous No.17, 650HP Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 Group A touring car will be doing demonstration laps at the inaugural Shannons Lakeside Classic Speedfest from September 19-20, alongside the ex-Bob Morris A9X Group C Channel 7 Torana.
Photo 4
Bob Morris A9X Group C Channel 7 Torana.
