State Championships - Queensland Raceway - April 13 & 14

[DAVID PATERSON]

Well folks, this will be the biggest meeting of the year so far in Queensland.

Round 1 of the state championship and round 2 of the club championship for Historic touring cars.

Round 2 of the state championship and round 1 of the club championship for Improved Production touring cars.

Round 2 of the state championship and round 2 of the club championship for Sports Sedans.

Also on the program are state rounds for Formula Ford, Formula Vee, HQ Holdens, Geminis, Saloon cars and sports cars.

Should be a great meeting, i'll be there, but it seems like my Torana won't.

[Crash Test]

...and I've got a flamin exam Saturday morning, so I should be out there in the afternoon for the racing.

[DAVID PATERSON]

err, how is the study going btw? Not well i'd expect, going by the quantity and quality of motorsport journalism you have produced over the last 12 months.

[Crash Test]

It's going very well this year actually.... i've really pulled by finger out for a change and filled up a few note books

But saying that, the next Grig Torque will be the best one I've ever put out

[Crash Test]

13-14 April- Queensland Raceway State Championship Meeting Preview

State Championship motor racing returns to Queensland Raceway on the 13th and 14th of April, with two action packed days of motor racing.

It is expected that there will be 150+ cars in 10 categories of racing, so there will be something for everyone who loves motor racing.

Headlining the race meeting will be the roaring Sports Sedans, Australia’s fastest circuit racing sedans. Many of these cars are lightweight, fibreglass bodied copies of popular touring saloons. Virtually anything goes; from 6 litre V8 Falcons, to Rotary powered Escorts and a Turbocharged Fiat, with everything in between. Picking a winner will always be tough, as many of the under 2 litre competitors will be right on the outright pace.

A similar story lies behind the Improved Production class, which will be contesting the first round of their club championship. Traditionally Rotaries dominate this class, with Mazda RX7s and RX3s the most popular weapons of choice. The racing will be intense, with many competitors in with a shot at victory.

The weekend will also mark the first round of the Historic Group N State Championship. At the most recent race meeting, which counted towards the Queensland Cup, Matthew Jackson in his Torana proved to be unbeatable. However, the competition is expected to step up a notch, with several V8 powered vehicles expected to be on the pace.

Formula Ford continues to grow in Queensland, with fields gaining in size and quantity over recent seasons. Last time out, nothing could separate Ash Lowe, Chris Gilmore, and Klark Quinn.

Formula Ford’s smaller cousin, Formula Vee, will also be out in force. The slower top speeds these cars produce simply equates to quality racing. Slip streaming battles of five cars for the lead is the norm, with many ‘young guns’ out to prove a point. Expect the battle between former State Champions Shane Hart and Trent Usher to be intense.

Even after all these years, the HQ Holden brigade continues to turn on some of the best panel rubbing action. At the last race meeting, the racing went down to the final corner in all races, with cars often going three abreast over the finishing line. Dave Blunt, Ben Simpson and Gary Marks will all be ones to watch.

Another one make class, this one unique to Queensland, the Gemini Series, always provides close and exciting racing. At the last meeting, 21 year old Kandice Walker became only the second female to ever win a Gemini race, and she will be looking to forward to challenging the likes of current State Champion Ron Lange and Benn Wilson. Wilson in fact made his debut in the V8 BRutes class recently at the demanding Adelaide Street circuit.

The Saloon Car class is the next big thing in Australian motorsport. After only a couple of season’s competition, they already have a National Championship, and are recognised as a feeder class for the V8 Supercars. The battle between the 6 cylinder Falcons and Commodores is getting fiercer ever weekend, with the mass of Australia’s best cars coming from Queensland garages.

And finally, one for the purists, the Sports Cars are back, with everything from Mazdas to Porsches, MGs and all manner of kit cars. Also expect to see some of Queensland’s fastest Sports 1300 cars compete. There is also the chance that the amazingly quick Super Kart class will return for the weekend.

Don’t forget, the kiosk will be open, and the facility is fully licensed.

Where- Champions Way, Willowbank
Practice Starts- 8:30am Saturday April 13,
Racing Starts- 1pm on Saturday, and 9am Sunday April 14.
Admission costs Weekend- $15
Admission costs Saturday- $10
Admission costs Sunday- $10, Children 12 & under Free.
Students/Seniors- $5

Other Upcoming Events
19 April- Friday Night Burnout Comp
20 April- Saturday Afternoon Sprints
4/5 May- Multi-Club Historic Race Meeting

Queensland Raceway Contact Details
Tel- 07 5461 9100
Fax- 07 5461 9111
Postal- PO Box 100 Amberley QLD 4306
Email- admin@queensland-raceway.org.au
Website- www.queensland-raceway.org.au