Willowbank Raceway Explained

Willowbank Raceway is a drag racing facility located off the Cunningham Highway, Willowbank, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately 30–45 minutes drive west of Brisbane. It is part of the Ipswich Motorsport Precinct, which includes a kart racing track; Ipswich Sprint Racing Circuit, a short circuit dirt racetrack; Ipswich Motor Sport Complex and bitumen racetrack Queensland Raceway. Since the closing of Surfers Paradise International Raceway following the 1987 Winternationals, the popular event, one of the largest drag racing festivals in the southern hemisphere, moved to the circuit in 1988. Between the end of Calder Park Raceway's top level drag racing career and the opening of Western Sydney International Dragway, it also hosted the Australian Drag Racing Nationals.

History

Drag racing commenced in Queensland at the Surfers Paradise International Raceway with the June meet, the Winternationals, beginning in 1968. The Australian Winternationals became the largest drag racing meet outside the United States.[1] [2] The Surfers Paradise raceway was sold in 1984 and then closed in 1987.[3]

Since the early 1980s, a group of racers led by Dennis Syrmis John Winterburn had been concerned about the long-term viability of the Surfers Paradise venue and its unsuitability for drag racing and had spent four years planning and building a dedicated drag racing track at Willowbank with their first events held on the weekend of 28–29 September 1985. Drag racer Kent Rogers was killed on 28 September when his car left the track while moving at over and hit a bank.[4] [5]

With the closure of the Surfers Paradise venue, the Winternationals relocated to Willowbank where the event has been held annually ever since and remains the large drag racing event outside the United States.[6] [7]

On 22 July 1990, dragster driver Louie Rapisarda was killed when a mechanical explosion released oil under the tyres sending the car skidding and hitting the safety barrier.[8] He was part of the Rapisarda racing family and all subsequent Rapisarda race vehicles are a memorial to Louie, being decorated with his photo and words expressing his family's grief.[9] [10]

In 2015, the circuit defected from the national governing body of the sport, the Australian National Drag Racing Association by joining West Palm Beach, Florida (US) based International Hot Rod Association sanctioning body.[11] It is one of three (Sydney Dragway and newly built Springmount Raceway the others) currently affiliated with IHRA and not ANDRA.[12] [13]

On 3 May 2007, Kenneth Richard Smith was killed when his dragster crashed into a concrete barrier at top speed during a practice session.[14] [15]

On 7 January 2023, Sam Fenech lost control of his car at speed of about, causing the vehicle to roll over and crash into a camera tower. His parachute had failed to deploy. A cameraman was also seriously injured, but survived.[16] [17]

See also

External links

-27.6964°N 152.6653°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Surfers Paradise Venue of the Surfers Paradise International . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030214014356/http://www.tasman-series.com/tracks/surfers/surfers.asp . 14 February 2003 . 2008-07-12 . Tasman-Series.com . dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Winternationals 2012 . 16 March 2024 . 8 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230408035905/http://www.deejay51.com/winternationals_2012.htm . live .
  3. Book: Walker . Terry . Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits: 1904-1995 . 1995 . Turton & Armstrong . 0908031556 . Wahroonga, NSW . 154.
  4. News: 29 September 1985 . IN BRIEF Horseman to continue his record ride . 16 March 2024 . . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 3 . National Library of Australia . 60 . 18,261 . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316074009/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128258216 . live .
  5. Web site: Kent Rogers . 16 March 2024 . Motorsport Memorial . 15 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230515011753/http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=12278 . live .
  6. Web site: 24 September 2015 . Willowbank Raceway celebrates 30 years of history . 2024-03-16 . Willowbank Raceway . en . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316064958/https://www.willowbankraceway.com.au/news/detail.aspx?ArticleID=500 . live .
  7. Web site: About Willowbank Raceway . 2024-03-16 . Willowbank Raceway . en . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129162756/https://www.willowbankraceway.com.au/pages/?ParentPageID=5&PageID=516 . live .
  8. Web site: Louie Rapisarda . 16 March 2024 . Motorsport Memorial . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071610/http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=3419 . live .
  9. Web site: In memory of Louie . 16 March 2024 . Rapisardo Autosport International . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072432/http://www.rapisardaautosport.com/louie-tribute.html . live .
  10. Web site: 22 July 2017 . In memory of Louie Rapisarda . 2024-03-16 . Willowbank Raceway . en . 21 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180321011618/https://www.willowbankraceway.com.au/news/detail.aspx?ArticleID=603 . live .
  11. https://willowbankraceway.com.au/news/detail.aspx?ArticleID=522 "Willowbank Raceway announcement of switch from ANDRA to IHRA
  12. Web site: Willowbank rules stating IHRA license requirement . 13 April 2020 . 20 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200420072509/https://www.willowbankraceway.com.au/pages/?ParentPageID=5&PageID=21 . live .
  13. Web site: "Sydney Dragway policies listing IHRA license requirement" . 13 April 2020 . 27 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200427190525/http://www.sydneydragway.com.au/venue-policies/ . live .
  14. Web site: Kenneth Richard Smith . 16 March 2024 . Motorsport Memorial . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071624/http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=6127 . live .
  15. News: 2007-03-05 . Nebo man dies in dragster crash . 2024-03-16 . ABC News . en-AU . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072442/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-03-05/nebo-man-dies-in-dragster-crash/2208308 . live .
  16. News: Burt . Jemima . 9 January 2023 . Safety reviews underway at Willowbank Raceway as community mourns loss of driver Sam Fenech . . 1 November 2023 . 1 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101111454/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-09/qld-sam-fenech-death-willowbank-raceway-crash-safety/101835904 . live .
  17. Web site: Sam Fenech . 16 March 2024 . Motorsport Memorial . 16 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071637/http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=14541 . live .

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