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Wakefield Park NSW 1994

Started by Terry Walker , Apr 11 2011 05:37

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49 replies to this topic

#1 Terry Walker

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:37

Hard to believe, but Wakefield Park, whicb was opened in 1994, is now a reasonable topic for nostalgia. I was there for both 1994 meetings - the informal shakedown in May, and the Grand Official Opening, attended by Jack Brabham, in November.

I think these were taken at the May meeting. All paddock shots, no racing.

#2 Terry Walker

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:42

Some more:

More to follow

#3 Terry Walker

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:47

Some more:

#4 Terry Walker

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:50

Few more:

#5 Terry Walker

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:53

Probably the last:

#6 Dick Willis

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 05:58

A great venue, we should be very grateful to its creators, Paul Samuels and John Carter for their foresight in building it, we would be in deep s*** in NSW today if we didn't have Wakefield Park. I was there for that official opening meeting and looking at Terry's pics we can see many of the improvements and additions to the facilities. What we can't see is the improvements to the circuit itself in which many of the former tight corners have been eased. The town of Goulburn too must be grateful to have Wakefield Park and they can now thumb their noses at those who tried to stop it all happening at the outset.

#7 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 06:14

Actually, there was a study done during Garry Willmington's tenure there about the income for the City of Goulburn...

They reckoned something like $19m per year is spent in or around the town as a result of race visitors.

#8 GMACKIE

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 07:00

Sure is a good thing to have Wakefiekd Park. I'll be there on Wednesday [13th] for the GEAR meeting.

Paul Samuels invited me to bring my 30/98 Vauxhall down for the Grand Opening of the circuit. It was a real treat to take Jack Brabham around the track, as I hadn't seen him for a few years. We lived a few doors down from Jack at Sylvania, and my two boys went to school with David.

Cheers,

Greg

#9 eldougo

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Posted 11 April 2011 - 07:11

Back in May 15th last year i posted this thread re the Opening Day at Wakefield may be we can have them linked together..

The inaugural HSRCA Wakefield Park meeting - 15th May 1994
http://forums.autosp...ld park opening

Edited by eldougo, 22 April 2011 - 10:55.

#10 ringers23q

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Posted 12 April 2011 - 03:09

Was there over the weekend... still a fantastic place for grassroots motorsport

#11 cheapracer

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Posted 12 April 2011 - 03:44

And should be ok for a few more years yet with the investment that has and is going in by the new'ish owners.

#12 GreenMachine

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Posted 12 April 2011 - 11:28

Post 2, first photo.

Terry, would you care to elaborate on what was happening there on the roadway ...

#13 D-Type

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Posted 12 April 2011 - 12:26

Is all racing at Wakefield Park for historic cars? Or is it pure coincidence that all the photos show pre-1994 cars?

#14 Ray Bell

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Posted 12 April 2011 - 12:47

Wakefield was created by an Historic racer (Paul Samuels... who had the 2.5 Climax-engined Lotus 15) and there was a strong leaning towards Historic racing.

However, regular club-level meetings were and are held there, with a high-level meeting occasionally like the V8Supercar secondary series and the Australian F3 Championship series meetings.

It was sold to a private partnership about twelve years ago after a problem arose between Samuels and his partner in the circuit. These people put Garry Willmington in charge. Then maybe four years ago the Benalla Auto Club (operators of the Winton circuit) bought it.

The GEAR days were a direct product of the Samuels influence when the circuit began.

#15 eldougo

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Posted 14 April 2011 - 09:41

The Cartoon says it all about John & Paul with the Flag in hand.....From HSRCA rag.

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#16 Terry Walker

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Posted 14 April 2011 - 11:19

With the programme for the November "Inaugural Historic Race Meeting" to hand, I can identify many of the cars in my pics.

Pic 1 No 16 Prad Holden, John Hall
Pic 2 No 3 Brabham BT23 FVA George Goodacre. I assume the one next to it is No 2, ditto, Brian Wilson. No 69 Morris Major Don Titcume No 105 Alfa GTV Brian Hammond
Pic 3 No 56 manifestly a Riley, but possibly Riley 9/14 of Rees Mackay
Pic 4: honestly, I dunno what is happening there in the lane.
Pic 5: No 5 Paul Armstrong's Morgan Aero JAP.
Pic 6: No 31 TR3a Geoff James, No 47 Austin Sprite John Bate, No 65 in distance looks like Ford A Spl, Russ Johnson (Vic)
Pic 7: No 1 Clem Dwyer's Plymouth Spl, Graham Reed (WA)
Pic 8: No 1 again, plus No 28 Ford T monoposto, Dean Whitehouse
Pic 9: No 17 Lotus Elan SE Keith Berryman; No 65 Ford A Spl Russ Johnson; No 29 BrabhamBT29 Jim McConville, Vic
Pic 10: No 32 Nedloh1 Mono, Peter Mohr; No 99 Monoskate, Mal Reid (ACT) I think I can see the tail of 71, Crowfoot Holden, Bob Larkin.
Pic 11: No 48 Sharp Holden, Roy Robinson
Pic 12, dunno why I put it in twice, 28 Ford T Mono, 32 Nedloh, No 222 (blue) Ford T Rajo Spl, Martin Whitehouse

That's it I think.

#17 Dick Willis

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Posted 14 April 2011 - 11:47

Terry, the Riley with no 56 on it in pic 3 is Tony Osbornes, Rees McKays Riley is just visible in pic 6 behind the TR's with no. 18 on it.

#18 GreenMachine

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Posted 18 April 2011 - 11:29

From the Gear meeting on Wednesday

Posted Image

Edited by GreenMachine, 18 April 2011 - 11:36.

#19 Dick Willis

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Posted 18 April 2011 - 23:12

Any clues on the identity of the silver car in the last pic ?

#20 GreenMachine

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 00:15

Any clues on the identity of the silver car in the last pic ?

Dick, all I know is GDJ Jag special, identified from a recent 'Gearbox' magazine.

I am afraid mine was a flying visit, and I didn't get a copy of the entry list. :rolleyes:

#21 john medley

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 00:39

Dick
I spoke to the owner/builder who told me he had created it, in the general spirit of HWM/ Connaught of the early-mid 1950s. Jaguar power, perhaps from Southern Highlands, knew of the NZ HWM replicas and drawings and of the HWM rep just finished in WA.

#22 Dick Willis

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 01:08

Thanks John, didn't think I had seen it before, it looks quite "period" and should give its owner some fun but then I was hoping for an undiscovered gem from the fifties.

#23 john medley

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 06:25

Dick, there was another that would have interested you -- slim offset singleseater with grey Holden, beam axles front and rear with location by Watts linkage and trailing arms( front) leading arms(rear), recently built by Central Coast's Rob and Col Simpson

#24 GreenMachine

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Posted 19 April 2011 - 07:38

A couple more of the jag special

Posted Image

#25 Ellis French

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Posted 05 July 2011 - 04:39

Posted for Greg Mackie........
He will do the caption.

Posted Image

#26 GMACKIE

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Posted 05 July 2011 - 05:01

Posted for Greg Mackie........
He will do the caption.

Thank you, Ellis.

That photo was taken by Richard Walton, at the Opening Day of Wakefield Park.

Paul Samuels invited me to do the opening laps in my 30/98 Vauxhall, with Sir Jack Brabham as passenger. Needless to say, it was not necessary to ask me twice!

If you didn't notice the ubiquitous 'Cummo', he's there to the right - white shirt and clip board.

Cheers, Greg

#27 SJ Lambert

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Posted 22 February 2012 - 13:50

G'day to all entrants for the Wakefield Park meeting this weekend - I trust you're just about all trailered up & ready to go if you're not already on the way???

Which corner do you all enjoy the most when behind the wheel???

#28 Dick Willis

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Posted 22 February 2012 - 20:11

The right hander at the bottom of the start/finish straight, deep into it under brakes, aim over the ripple strip on the inside and nail it for a quick exit and off up the hill without scrubbing off too much speed.

#29 Dick Willis

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Posted 22 February 2012 - 20:26

Here's a field of pre 1960 cars ( JKL in Aussie speak ) heading into the abovementioned corner last September's HSRCA historic meeting, there was bound to be some jostling for position coming up.

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#30 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 22 February 2012 - 22:11

Here's a field of pre 1960 cars ( JKL in Aussie speak ) heading into the abovementioned corner last September's HSRCA historic meeting, there was bound to be some jostling for position coming up.

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JKL always brings some interesting and attractive cars. I always enjoy watching them. Though the speed disparity is always dissapointi ng. Though at least they are being used.

#31 SJ Lambert

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Posted 22 February 2012 - 22:19

M & O look pretty good through that corner too - will make sure I spend some quality time there on Saturday & Sunday!

Dick's entered his Gladiator in K & L. (John's got his Nota there too)

Ed & Paul are scheduled in M & O in their Brabham and Elfin respectively, to name a few that are TNFers. There's good field's across the Groups - should be good!!!

#32 SJ Lambert

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Posted 26 February 2012 - 10:48

This BT23C-2 was my favourite car of the weekend!! - Wonderful machine! Richard Carter got a very close look at it doing a pirouette at Dick's favourite corner! (Too deep under brakes I guess)

#33 timbo

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Posted 27 February 2012 - 11:03

A few more shots from Wakefield Park on the weekend.

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#34 Wirra

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 05:15

A few more shots from Wakefield Park on the weekend.

Timbo - Is this you with the Mensa crowd?

Posted Image

#35 timbo

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 05:29

Not me. I'm not a flouro vest wearer.
I checked my photo's from the day, but couldn't find myself in the background of any of them, so I will have to remain anonymous for a bit longer.

#36 SJ Lambert

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 07:55

Front Row, left to right Damon Hancock - '67 Brabham BT 23C, Richard Carter - '66 Elfin Mono, Paul Hamilton - '68 Elfin 600, Ed Holly - '68 Brabham BT21C, Peter Barclay - '66 Brabham BT21A, David Kent - '69 Brabham BT29

I think the 1970 BT 29-4 driven by Wayne Wilson (car #29) was enjoying it's debut Aussie race meeting.

Edited by SJ Lambert, 03 March 2012 - 02:38.

#37 Wirra

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 11:14

Amazing that about 12 months ago they were trucking water into Goulburn as it entered its tenth year of drought. I don't think I've ever seen it this green.

Posted Image

Not a trouble free weekend for TNF'ers Dick Willis and Ed Holly.

Posted Image

Edited by Wirra, 28 February 2012 - 11:45.

#38 Catalina Park

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 00:32

Amazing that about 12 months ago they were trucking water into Goulburn as it entered its tenth year of drought.

Not quite true. We have been off water restrictions for over 12 months but we have had plenty of water for at least three years.
At no stage was water being trucked into Goulburn.

#39 Dick Willis

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 00:50

Further to Wirra's pic of me and the Gladiator, just a minor problem with an oil leak from the rocker cover gasket which was easily rectified but caused a DNF from one race but all was well in the next (wet ) race.

#40 Wirra

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 01:43

Not quite true. We have been off water restrictions for over 12 months but we have had plenty of water for at least three years.
At no stage was water being trucked into Goulburn.

But I got that information from NEWS Ltd... I can't believe there would ever be any terminological inexactitude it what they claimed.

Another photo of the Gladiator.

Posted Image

Edited by Wirra, 29 February 2012 - 01:55.

#41 kombiracer

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 11:54

I was at the first hillclimb at Wakefield, not sure when. It was my first and last time. Too many hairpins to try and wrestle a kombi around. Nearly tipped it on one of the right handers.

Story: Auto Action.

Posted Image

Edited by kombiracer, 01 March 2012 - 11:57.

#42 seldo

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 02:08

Not quite true. We have been off water restrictions for over 12 months but we have had plenty of water for at least three years.
At no stage was water being trucked into Goulburn.

Last time I was there I commented to an old cockie about how brown and dry it was.
His drawled reply has tickled me ever since...."Yair....pretty dry....Yer c'n see th'ants on the ground...."

#43 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 10:03

Not me. I'm not a flouro vest wearer.
I checked my photo's from the day, but couldn't find myself in the background of any of them, so I will have to remain anonymous for a bit longer.

I would hope that you are not in your own photos!
It ius an intelligent looking crowd behind that photographer though.

#44 timbo

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 10:38

It ius an intelligent looking crowd behind that photographer though.

You're from South Australia aren't you.

#45 GreenMachine

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Posted 04 March 2012 - 11:54

A few from the HRSCA meeting...

Posted Image

More here

#46 timbo

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Posted 15 March 2012 - 23:30

Not from the first year, but not long after, they held a race meeting for single seat and open wheeler cars.

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#47 Dick Willis

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Posted 16 March 2012 - 08:59

Those pics of an early Wakefield bring back some memories,

Pic 1, no. 9 David Gleen in the Anderson Holden leads Bob Larkin in the Crowfoot Holden and Paul Samuels in the T43 Cooper.

Pic 2, Ross Hodgson in the Cooper MG leads Mal Reid in the Monoskate Ford V8.

Pic 3, Les Wright, no. 28 passes a spinning Jeremy Braithwaite in the Lotis F.Ford

Bottom pic, is that Laurie Knight in the Bowin F3 ahead of the Pitstock Holden