Lakeview Hillclimb - Bungendore, NSW, Australia

Finally got around to walking this old hillclimb track after threatening to since 1984

The boys would have to have been brave...its a high speed track maybe 30 degrees first half steepening to 45 for the second half. Tricky camber changes. A 30 foot deep gully on the right that you would need a sky hook to rescue any cars that went that far off circuit. I now well and truly understand the comments about it being real dicey because of the trees, lots close to the track.

[its thenarrow track between the broader track paralleling the highway (ergh, goat track) - start is about 500 yards from Carlton Drive, Finish is before crossing the ACT/NSW border!]

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 17 December 2010 - 22:13.

what years?

I drive that road regularly, and always cast a glance over at the old section of the road which was used as the hillclimb.

I only ever went there once, to watch my brother, and just spectating made me scared for the drivers. 'Primitive' would sum it up, but it wasn't alone in that at the time.

IIRC my brother got a class win (u/2l sports, or was it 1600, the car was the Voodoo-Datsun), I remember him crossing the line sideways, and staying that way for some distance... he probably still holds that record as that was the last meeting there I believe - but haven't a clue about the date (early 70s?).

The finish struck me as hairy, they had to brake pretty heavily, or be out on the highway heading to Canberra , I can't remember what if any barrier was there to stop that happening.

OK gtb, you are not going to tell us you left the camera behind are you?

I remembered to charge the camera

Start View


Hook Left...otherwise you are in the gully!!



Near the finish...nice spoon of camber to hook into...

I believe the first hillclimb was held there 29 july 1962 whether it is the same track I am not sure. The event was reported in RCN sept 1962
my XK120 roadster 660851 the ex kevin Neal car minus supercharger competed with dave edwards at the wheel and recorded a 39.34sec time, he did a 36.1 at a later event in 1963.
If anyone has old reports, programmes newspaper clippings or photos of any of the hillclimbs up to 1966 I would love to know.
I will get my photo post it Ray Bell to post a photo
regards terry

To give Ray a break...

Terry's photo referred to in the post above

Originally posted by David McKinney
To give Ray a break...

Terry's photo referred to in the post above

Hmmmm great shot....but even with lens foreshortening etc it does not look like Lakeview...corner too tight and sweepy

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4


Hmmmm great shot....but even with lens foreshortening etc it does not look like Lake View...corner too tight and sweepy

I obviously can't say that it is the lake View being referred to I do know the pic was taken c1962/63 and I know it was an event in Canberra - what other circuits were around in the ACT at this time?
Hopefully someone else will post some action pics to be able to compare.
terry

Originally posted by terry mcgrath


I obviously can't say that it is the lake View being referred to I do know the pic was taken c1962/63 and I know it was an event in Canberra - what other circuits were around in the ACT at this time?
Hopefully someone else will post some action pics to be able to compare.
terry

Possibly Fairbairn Park...gawd, don't tell me I have to go climb another mountain

There are some good hills here and it may even have been a one-off road closure?
(in the non-PC days when people would allow that sort of thing for some fun and excitement )

PS If it is Lakeview, then it could only be the last corner at the top of the course (my third picture)

That drop off the lhs of the photo (car's rhs) looks like Lake View to me ...

Looks like Lakeview, long right hand sweeper in the middle of the climb - always had water seepage under/through the track, ready to pitch you into the trees.

This sweeper not shown in the pics, also the left before the climbing right over the finish.

Ran there in 1965, 69, record left at 28.3 on 10th May 1970.

I wish I had chased this up myself when I lived in Canberra... the lake presumably being Lake George?

I'll just have to have a look at it some time now, not that I go that way often these days. But 1962 to about 1970 sounds right, with Fairbairn Park starting up only after it closed IIRC. Possibly well after.

To think I used to drive right past this spot twice every second Thursday...

And I don't mind the King's Highway at all. Quite a good road to drive.

Originally posted by rms
Looks like Lakeview, long right hand sweeper in the middle of the climb - always had water seepage under/through the track, ready to pitch you into the trees.

This sweeper not shown in the pics, also the left before the climbing right over the finish.

Ran there in 1965, 69, record left at 28.3 on 10th May 1970.

By george (you have to careful how you type that!) I think you are right...its before they put those killer curbs in preceded by a yard of ripple strip..

rms...did the car become light (even get some air!) as you went past the finish and down the escape road?

I have a feeling that it run into the early 80s.
Where did the Mike Sullivan crash the Bowin Hay? It was either Fairbairn or Lakeview.

Back in the 70s they used to run a triple header hillclimb on a long weekend. Huntly at Dapto, Fountaindale at Robertson and Lakeview at Bungendore on three consecutive days.

Mike crashed at Fairbairn... I think that was 1982...

And you're right, I'm probably crossing my decades here, probably about 1980 for the changeover.

The Lakeview hillclimb was still listed in the CAMS manual up to at least 1990 but was then shown as having been closed in 1984. The outright record remains forever the 26.89 sec which I did in my Elfin 600 on my final run there in September 1976. That was a memorable day as I had quite a battle with Garry Cossar in the SCV which he was then driving for its constructor, Jack Wortmeyer. My first run was a mistime but my next two were both in the 27s and set new outright records on each run. Unfortunately for me Garry was running after me and beat my time on each occasion so between us we set 4 new outright records on those 4 runs!! On my last run I managed to scramble around the final right hander a gear up on what I had been using and crossed the line a little out of shape to take a fair lump off my previous best. Garry was pretty wound up to try and better that but lost it about half way up the hill and did a 360 spin amazingly without hitting anything which was quite a feat!!!

It stands strongly in my memory as one of the best hillclimb events I ever contested but I must concede that it was diabolically dangerous as a quick single seater leaving the road at the speeds we acheived to do those times would have inevitably ended up wrapped around a quite stout tree. The surrounds then were pretty much the same as in those more recent photos. We were a lot younger then and had not yet learnt to value life so much !!!

Originally posted by Paul Hamilton
The Lakeview hillclimb was still listed in the CAMS manual up to at least 1990 but was then shown as having been closed in 1984. The outright record remains forever the 26.89 sec which I did in my Elfin 600 on my final run there in September 1976. That was a memorable day as I had quite a battle with Garry Cossar in the SCV which he was then driving for its constructor, Jack Wortmeyer. My first run was a mistime but my next two were both in the 27s and set new outright records on each run. Unfortunately for me Garry was running after me and beat my time on each occasion so between us we set 4 new outright records on those 4 runs!! On my last run I managed to scramble around the final right hander a gear up on what I had been using and crossed the line a little out of shape to take a fair lump off my previous best. Garry was pretty wound up to try and better that but lost it about half way up the hill and did a 360 spin amazingly without hitting anything which was quite a feat!!!

It stands strongly in my memory as one of the best hillclimb events I ever contested but I must concede that it was diabolically dangerous as a quick single seater leaving the road at the speeds we acheived to do those times would have inevitably ended up wrapped around a quite stout tree. The surrounds then were pretty much the same as in those more recent photos. We were a lot younger then and had not yet learnt to value life so much !!!

Fabulous report Paul....do you recall where the the finish line was? how far back from the brow of the hill? beyond the final right where you straightened up? or up on the flat?

I also noticed evidence of what looked like a Flag Pole mount in concrete, drivers right, about 50 yards from the top of the hill.

From memory the finish line was around the crest of the hill, had to keep your foot in it over the crest and the owner was very adamant that the rev limit was 6800 even though the tell tale was on 7400 (wheelspin as the car went light over the crest).

Have to more than agree with Paul, Lakeview along with Robertson and Dapto were extremely dangerous at the speeds the openwheelers were achieving.

Never saw the flag pole - probably had eyes shut !

[QUOTE] originally posted by 275 GTB4: 'Fabulous report Paul....do you recall where the the finish line was? how far back from the brow of the hill? beyond the final right where you straightened up? or up on the flat?

I also noticed evidence of what looked like a Flag Pole mount in concrete, drivers right, about 50 yards from the top of the hill.'




I don't recall just where the finish line was but I know that on that last run I was still well out of shape when I got there and I think that I had some difficulty getting it all sorted out so that I could stop before reaching the point where the old road rejoined the highway. The concrete flag pole mount you mention sounds like it could have been the base of a finish line banner.

I do not now remember just what gears I was using but I know that I found more than 1/2 sec on that last run by eliminating a downchange on the approach to the final corner and holding the higher gear all the way to the finish.

My record book shows that the times for my three serious runs up the hill that day were : 27.69, 27.45 and 26.89 each of which was a new outright record but with only the last one sticking!! I have no record of the times Garry Cossar did but it was clearly very close and a great days contest as were several others I had with Garry and the SCV although that one certainly sticks in my mind!!

It looks man-made

As it would be if it were for the post to hold the finish banner...

Did you find one on the other side of the road?

Chatting to a motoring enthusiast, photographer friend today...."I have lots of pictures from Lakeview...but they are just cars going up a hill!!....he has been told to get up in the attic and find those shots quick smart!!

It would be good to see some Lakeview photos, Mick......I can't remember seeing many.

Lakeview was a great hillclimb, although my Beetle didn't have enough power to make it too exciting, except for the slower corners.

There was a 'Finish' sign, on the right [I think]. The time-keepers were not amused when I managed to tear the black rubber hose out of its 'box', when I went side-ways over it! Still recorded a time, though, which got me a class win. The finish was right at the exit of the last corner [left-hander?], and on a crest......that's my excuse, anyhow.

Presentation of trophies, at the Bungedore Pub was a great way to round off the day.

Chatting to a motoring enthusiast, photographer friend today...."I have lots of pictures from Lakeview...but they are just cars going up a hill!!....he has been told to get up in the attic and find those shots quick smart!!

Hopefully there may be pictures of one of my Datsuns,i had several runs there around 1969-1972/3,great venue,we used to make a W/end out of it,staying at an old Pub near Bugendore(Captains Flat?).
There used to be a guy come out from Canberra and take photos of every car at every(apparently) meeting,I remember one meeting in the 1970's he became besotted/distracted by Chris Bauer's girlfriend and spent most of the afternoon taking photos of her on the back of a flat-bed truck and forgot about the cars.

The pub a Captains Flat still has the longest bar in Australia....???

Trust a snapper to be distracted by glamour!!

It would be good to see some Lakeview photos, Mick......I can't remember seeing many.

Lakeview was a great hillclimb, although my Beetle didn't have enough power to make it too exciting, except for the slower corners.

There was a 'Finish' sign, on the right [I think]. The time-keepers were not amused when I managed to tear the black rubber hose out of its 'box', when I went side-ways over it! Still recorded a time, though, which got me a class win. The finish was right at the exit of the last corner [left-hander?], and on a crest......that's my excuse, anyhow.

Presentation of trophies, at the Bungedore Pub was a great way to round off the day.

Bad Greg the amphometer vandal!! Do you remember what the Finish sign looked like?....the pole would have been about 4" diameter.

Bad Greg the amphometer vandal!! Do you remember what the Finish sign looked like?....the pole would have been about 4" diameter.

Geez Mick, that was nearly 50 years ago......and there were more important things to be looking at!

Originally posted by GMACKIE
Geez Mick, that was nearly 50 years ago......and there were more important things to be looking at!

You spotted the aforementioned girlfriend too?

Geez Mick, that was nearly 50 years ago......and there were more important things to be looking at!

bloody preverts! they are everywhere! Just for that, no Pobjoy until tomorrow

bloody preverts! they are everywhere! Just for that, no Pobjoy until tomorrow

Will not Stan for any more.

John Partridge was the editor of the Canberra Car Club's (not sure of the name) magazine and they had a lot to do with Lakeside of course.

John has posted a lot of Lakeview photos on Brian Darby's website ... I'm sure it will bring back a few memories guys ...

Paul, great report on your last run there, you guys doing hillclimbs in single seaters were very brave ...

Ed

Go to http://aussieroadrac...nPartridge.html

Originally posted by Paul Hamilton
.....My record book shows that the times for my three serious runs up the hill that day were : 27.69, 27.45 and 26.89 each of which was a new outright record but with only the last one sticking!! I have no record of the times Garry Cossar did but it was clearly very close and a great days contest as were several others I had with Garry and the SCV although that one certainly sticks in my mind!

Just thought I'd add this in (from RCN November 1976, P84:

Garry Cosser: Run 1 - 27.98; Run 2 - 27.52; Run 3 - 27.83; Run 4 - spun.
Roy Goodman: Run 1 - 28.03; Run 2 - NA; Run 3 - 28.34; Run 4 - DNF (broke axle).
Barrie Garner: Run 1 - 28.46; Run 2 - 28.44; Run 3 - 28.82; Run 4 - DNS.

Paul's first run obviously wasn't 'serious'... he did a 31.43. Other cars beating 30s that day were Brian Walker in the Proton (Gordini or Fiat at this stage, Paul?)and winner of the sports car class, Terry Gallery in the Manx Rover on 28.97

Just thought I'd add this in (from RCN November 1976, P84:

Garry Cosser: Run 1 - 27.98; Run 2 - 27.52; Run 3 - 27.83; Run 4 - spun.
Roy Goodman: Run 1 - 28.03; Run 2 - NA; Run 3 - 28.34; Run 4 - DNF (broke axle).
Barrie Garner: Run 1 - 28.46; Run 2 - 28.44; Run 3 - 28.82; Run 4 - DNS.

Paul's first run obviously wasn't 'serious'... he did a 31.43. Other cars beating 30s that day were Brian Walker in the Proton (Gordini or Fiat at this stage, Paul?)and winner of the sports car class, Terry Gallery in the Manx Rover on 28.97

Ray, I think Brian Walker would have been running a FIAT engine in the Proton.

My record book notes that the 31.43 was a 'dud time' but I don't recall just what that might have meant!! I would certainly have been taking it seriously and may have simply gotten it wrong somewhere or there may have been a timing equipment problem. The 31.43 was actually my second run for the day with the first run simply noted as 'no time' which probably indicates a timing failure. I also had three practice runs on Saturday with a best of 29.60 and one further 'no time'. I switched from B41 Firestones to the softer B36 'wet' compound for the last three runs which explains where some of the quicker time came from.

Having now seen Garry's times it would seem that my 27.45 on run 3 was good enough to win but as the SCV was running after me I would have needed to go for it on the last run and widen my gap on him. The 26.89 certainly did that and, although I ended up with a good winning margin, it was pretty tight up to that last run and would almost certainly have been a lot closer at the end if Garry had not spun. It was a great weekend!!

What ever happened to the Manx Rover? I assume it was the car built by Ted Proctor. The Rover engine was replaced by a Ford [Lotus] Twin Cam, and was owned by the late David Jenkins. Anyone know where it is now? That's a quick time for a sports car!

Will not Stan for any more.

Question for the initiated: did Stan ever run at Lakeview?

Stan's latest....1916cc Methanol Supercharged VW motor.. Running crazy amounts of boost drinking around 24 Litres of fuel in about 45 seconds.. .

Question for the initiated: did Stan ever run at Lakeview?

Stan's latest....1916cc Methanol Supercharged VW motor.. Running crazy amounts of boost drinking around 24 Litres of fuel in about 45 seconds.. .

That looks a bit neater than Rohrlachs supercharged VW monster that has won a couple of Aussie Titles. That is resting I believe at the moment.

Lakeview brings back fond memories. In 1978 I had just gained my road license and my worn out 2L low port TR3 did a stirling job of not disgorging it's crankcase components on the track or indeed becoming an armco ornament. Best time 38 sec - which is not very fast, however, as we all know, the fun factor is all relative. The tach needle approached the high beam indicator light on the faster bends and the 165 Vredestein's were chirping! Interestingly, the std TR was only 0.5 sec faster than my father's well driven 1937 3.5L SS100 and John Vaughtin's well driven 3.8L MK2 Jag. John's only error was that he forgot to remove the slab of beer from his boot before doing his runs!!
I believe that a Morgan with Lawrence Tune head was somewhat faster in the small banger sports car class in previous years.

ps In Canberra at the time there was a big push from motoring enthusiasts to build a proper local race track. There were several posters/ tee shirts with "Canberra Needs a Road Race Circuit" printed on them. A few enterprising motorcycle enthusiasts came up with their own tee shirt - "Canberra is a Road Race Circuit!" ...........all those lovely wide round a bouts etc!!


UK6

Lakeview brings back fond memories. In 1978 I had just gained my road license and my worn out 2L low port TR3 did a stirling job of not disgorging it's crankcase components on the track or indeed becoming an armco ornament. Best time 38 sec - which is not very fast, however, as we all know, the fun factor is all relative. The tach needle approached the high beam indicator light on the faster bends and the 165 Vredestein's were chirping! Interestingly, the std TR was only 0.5 sec faster than my father's well driven 1937 3.5L SS100 and John Vaughtin's well driven 3.8L MK2 Jag. John's only error was that he forgot to remove the slab of beer from his boot before doing his runs!!
I believe that a Morgan with Lawrence Tune head was somewhat faster in the small banger sports car class in previous years.

ps In Canberra at the time there was a big push from motoring enthusiasts to build a proper local race track. There were several posters/ tee shirts with "Canberra Needs a Road Race Circuit" printed on them. A few enterprising motorcycle enthusiasts came up with their own tee shirt - "Canberra is a Road Race Circuit!" ...........all those lovely wide round a bouts etc!!


UK6

Interesting and nicely put UK...you may be surprised to know that the Triumph Club is still going strong here...and enjoying the surrounding roads from time to time.

Several attempts have been made to stir up interest in dedicated motor sport facilities for Can'tberra over the years but invariably failed due to NIMBYs and hick politicians....but the grass roots support here remains strong.

Search for the Macarthur Park car/sickle thread....

What about a fatal accident which happened on the Lakeview hillclimb in the early 1970s?

 

 

Do you have a date?

It would have been reported in Racing Car News.

If its the áccident i'm thinking of it wasn't a Cams meeting,local kids hooning up there late at night IIRC. 

If its the áccident i'm thinking of it wasn't a Cams meeting,local kids hooning up there late at night IIRC. 

 

Possibly it was Robert Lawrence Clark's fatal accident, on 19 February 1977 at Queanbeyan, NSW . Not clear whether it was a private test in sight of the hillclimb, or a traffic accident.

http://trove.nla.gov...ticle/110842291

That was likely the accident involving Len Heaney - it was a long time ago (1970?) but from memory his car left the track at the first corner and he sadly died from his injuries.    The Len Heaney Memorial hill climb was on the Canberra Sporting Car Club calendar.

Possibly it was Robert Lawrence Clark's fatal accident, on 19 February 1977 at Queanbeyan, NSW . Not clear whether it was a private test in sight of the hillclimb, or a traffic accident.

http://trove.nla.gov...ticle/110842291

 

People forget the horrendous Road Tolls back then,173 and it was only late Feb.,hope that was the National Toll and not just NSW.

Edited by Ian G, 03 December 2017 - 22:47.

No, that would be NSW only...

And Victoria would be similar. Both peaked at close to 1200, or maybe just over 1200, before mandatory belt wearing came in.

The year that was introduced it peeled a third off the numbers. 1980, with random breath tests, another third came off.

The National figures are now just a little higher than each of NSW and Victoria once were.

With regard to that newspaper report, that would have been pretty normal reading, though as it says it's a bit high for a non-holiday weekend. Some interesting figures can be found, for instance in Victoria about 1967 they announced there would be a big blitz on a non-holiday weekend, police were everywhere.

The result was a new record number of deaths for a non-holiday weekend in Victoria. The police and the minister were on TV and the radio making lots of noises and announced that 'something has to be done' and so they had another blitz the next weekend. With even more, one or two more, killed to set yet another record for a non-holiday weekend.

The next weekend was a repeat, more police leave cancelled, regular-duty police swung onto traffic duty, and with yet another record set. All of these were dry weekends.

The following weekend they didn't have a blitz, police were catching up on their leave and to top it off it rained.

Zero deaths!