Urban encroachment is closing down motor racing tracks around the world, so it is pleasing when we see new facilities opening and this petition should help.
Brisbane urban speedway track, Archerfield Speedway, has been sold to developers, but management now hopes to establish a new motorsport complex on Gold Coast hinterland farming land at Loves Road, Alberton, by the end of 2016.
They have lodged an application for the “Loves Speedway and Motorsport” complex with the Gold Coast City Council and submissions close on December 16.
To encourage councillors to support the scheme, this petition has been started.
“Whether you live in the Gold City Council area or not, we need you to sign our petition of support,” the petition says and so far they have almost 2500 signatures.
Surfers Paradise used to have a race track that was the scene of many battles involving champs such as Mick Doohan, Darryl Beattie, Wayne Gardner, and the late Gregg Hansford and Warren Willing. It was absorbed by residential development in 1988.
Gregg HansfordNow, there is only this weekend’s V8 Supercars round in the streets of Surfers Paradise, a temporary street circuit that provides no long-term benefits to the motorsport community.
With Archerfield closing down, the nearest tracks are Queensland Raceway in Ipswich and Lakeside in north Brisbane. While QR hosts national events such as the Australian Superbikes and V8 Supercars, Lakeside is for clubs only and neither is international standard.
Loves Speedway and Motorsport complex is expected to stage local, national and international events and cater for more than 40 competitive sports including speedway, street-legal drag racing, drifting, karting, supercross, motocross and monster trucks.
The facility will be financed with private money at no cost to ratepayers or taxpayers.
It will feature corporate facilities, meeting rooms, a club house, catering services, medical facilities, LED lighting and a big screen, plus a large exhibition area to stage outdoor events including stunt shows and vehicle shows, as well as driver and rider training.
The motorsport complex development consortium is led by Archerfield Speedway managers John and Kathy Kelly and local businessmen Scott Wilson and David Grose.