SHORT CIRCUIT: MORGAN PARK

Short Circuit: Morgan Park

The rumblings last year that the Shannons Nationals would incorporate Morgan Park Raceway as a round for 2020 had many, most notably in the southern states, with little idea about this Queensland circuit.

By GARRY O’BRIEN

At the present time with COVID-19 restrictions beginning to lift, it could host the opening round of the rearranged Shannons Motorsport Australia National Championships. With AUTO ACTION featuring circuits that are not necessarily in the mainstream, it seems like the ideal time to take a closer look at the regional circuit.

Situated on 228 Old Stanthorpe Road in the Morgan Park complex, and almost within walking distance of the Darling Downs township of Warwick’s outskirts, the venue dates back to 1968. Current owners and operators, the Warwick District Sporting Car Club which was formed in late 1954, had been running rallies and hillclimbs in the region and were gifted the use of a parcel of land in 1965.

By 1968 a dirt course had been formed, roughly rounded and close resembling today’s Course A. The first race meeting was conducted in March of the following year. Events were put on there throughout most of the 1970s, with relatively primitive facilities. But after that, activities fell away due to waning interest and difficulties in securing public liability insurance.

However, fortunes began to swing in the right direction in 1997. The club secured a low-interest loan from Warwick Shire Council and the circuit was given a bitumen-sealed surface for the first time, creating a 730-metre permanent circuit.

A further loan in 1998 saw the circuit extended over Easter to 1.2km, and included a sealed pitlane for the first time. In 2000, the first stage of pitlane garages was constructed and the track introduced the Queensland Super Sprint Series.

A further lengthening came in 2002 where it went to 2.1kms which allowed for up to five circuit variations to be used. That year Morgan Park hosted its first Queensland Motor Racing Championships round on Circuit E. In 2007 the circuit put on its national championship events for the first time with the Formula Vee and the Improved Production Nationals.

It was a big development year for the circuit as it already had the Southern Downs Road Racing Series, and the state’s biggest historic motor racing festival, hosted by the Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland.

Further improvements included the removal of the kink on the start/finish straight and the pitlane was extended, before a full circuit resurface in late 2006. The paddock area received bitumen roads and Parc Ferme was enlarged and sealed.

Tyre barriers and gravel traps were extended, and the concrete pit wall was replaced with an armco barrier along its entire length, featuring a 20m long designated signalling area. One unusual aspect is that while the main amenities/timing centre is adjacent to the start/finish line, race control is viewed from the commentary tower on the outside of Turn 3.

The next endeavour was for the 3.0km layout which was first used in August of 2009 for a round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships. It was so new that much of the kerbing was still to be laid. Therefore strict instructions were relayed to all competitors that running off the track in the new areas wouldn’t be tolerated.

Needless to say racers being what they are, off-track excursions did happen and a visit to the stewards was mandatory. There was no live timing for this meeting either as that was being utilised by the Truck Racing meeting held at Queensland Raceway on the same weekend.

Despite these obstacles and the appearance of several kangaroos bounding across the track in the midst of one of the Australian Drivers’ Championship races, enthusiasm wasn’t dampened for the first time visitors.

With the extensions the good thing is that the venue encompasses five different layouts. Circuits B, D, E and K are now the most frequently used with the latter designated for state championship and national status events K is the most frequently used, about 80 per cent of the time.

The national series which along with the ADC Gold Star, featured the Manufacturers Championship, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, National Sports Sedans and Saloon Cars along with local categories, returned in 2010 and 2011.

From 2012, Queensland Raceway has been the preferred option due to its nearer proximity to Brisbane and Gold Coast airports and the fact that it could piggyback off the Supercars’ meeting held there a week earlier.

In recent times the AASA-sanctioned Australian Motor Racing Series has made Morgan Park their preferred venue since 2018. There is also a trio of Supersprint Series (A, B, and C) run there as well as the state Supersprint Championship and 24 Hours of Lemons has also been there.

The latest Circuit K configuration is the most popular configuration. From the start line, it is a straight run to Turns 1 and 2 which is more like a double apex single corner with a slight negative camber.

From there it is an upward incline to the sweeping turn three to the left, very fast but one that catches many on the exit just after the bridge. “Trying to take the corner flat can have serious ramifications, particularly in a powerful car,” says former Bathurst regular and now Trans Am competitor John English.

It is a slight downhill run to Turn 4, commonly referred to as Gumtree Corner, a hard-braking into, tight right-hander that then sweeps down to another tight, hairpin-like right-hander called Siberia. The track then heads to The T-Junction a 90 degree turn to the left that leads down to the latest extension.

“The addition is a long sweeping right-hand curve which is taken at a fast speed, then comes down to a 90 degree right hander. It is hard on the brakes for this one, then up a gradient to a right, left combination (chicane style) up the hill a bit more to proceed down the pit straight.

“It’s a great track with a few challenges that can catch out the unwary. I love it,” English added.

Competitors are well catered for with car ports on either side of the main tower, and line the pitlane. There is a large undercover area that houses scrutineering at the southern end, behind the tower and pre-grid area. There is also an ample paddock area where crews can set up along with their trailers etc. Power poles allow the convenience of electricity.

Spectators are also well looked after with grandstands on pit lane and at Turn 3. There is bridge access to the middle of the circuit, but it is closed off during the racing, obviously to stop patrons using it as a viewing platform whilst cars are on the track.

The facility has an excellent café, with quality food at very reasonable prices (possibly the best value for money in Australia) and undercover seating. It is situated behind the pits while there are food options also on the outside of Turn 3.

Whilst at around 160kms and a two-hour drive from Brisbane, accommodation options in Warwick (population over 15,000) include at least 14 hotel/motel options, over half dozen bed and breakfast establishments, four caravan parks plus guest houses and self-contained units.

Outside of Warwick and 84kms to the north is Toowoomba (pop 137,000) via the New England Highway, and Stanthorpe (pop 5,500) 60kms to the south.

Morgan Park Raceway has been transformed from a very basic dirt facility to a multi-functional and flourishing venue, and even has a drag strip, and is a worthy choice for national championship race meetings. The development of the facility would have been a much longer undertaking if not for the late Bill Campbell whose passion and guidance paved the way.

FAST FACTS

Track Length: 730 metres to 3.0 kilometres, depending on the configuration.

Track width: 10 metres average.

Track Corners: Four to 14, depending on the configuration.

Track Density: (Using Motorsport Australia) K Track- Group 1 (24), Group 2 (32), Group 3 (40), Group 4 (46), Endurance Regularity 40, Modern Regularity 46, Historic Regularity 60, Supersprints 20, Trucks not Permitted.

Track Licence: AASA, Motorsport Australia, and Motorcycling Australia

Nearest major town: Warwick Queensland, 5 kilometres to Post Office.

Minimum race licence requirements: AASA Clubman Licence/Motorsport Australia L2S.

Biggest event held: Currently ASBK and Historic Winter Nationals.

Track Operators: Warwick District Sporting Car Club Inc.

Track Manager: Callum Espie.

Circuit Hours: 7.30am – 3.30pm, 7 days per week.

Website: www.morganparkraceway.com.au

Email: [email protected]

Address: 228 Old Stanthorpe Road, Warwick, Queensland.

Phone: 0437 471 433.

Article originally published in Issue 1786 of Auto Action.

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