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Back to July 2011 Motorsports News Archive
| 06-07-2011 at 11:00: Festival of Sports Cars | |
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Alfas first graced the fledgling Lakeside track in the early ‘60s and by the latter part of the decade were being flung around the circuit by some of the great names of the day, including John French, Brian Foley, Kevin Bartlett and Brian Michelmore. In 1966 when Lakeside held its first Australian Grand Prix, two Alfa Romeos raced in the support categories. While Kevin Bartlett piloted an Alfa GTA for Alec Mildren Racing in the touring car class, Max Brunninghausen drove his extremely rare and very quick Alfa Giulia TZ-1 in the sports car group. During the late ‘60s Alfa GTAs, GTAMs and GTVs paid regular visits to Lakeside, taking it right up to the larger capacity Fords, Holdens, Valiants and Jaguars with their superior handling and four wheel disc brakes. While the throaty little Alfa twin cam, four cylinder engines (varying from 1300cc to 1962cc) never produced much more than 200hp, the light weight and even balance of the Italian machines gave drivers a better than average chance of keeping pace with their rivals. During this period the Alfa GTAs also staged epic battles with their four cylinder contemporaries, the Mini Coopers and Ford Lotus Cortinas. In 1974 Alfa Romeo introduced the 2litre version of the venerable twin cam engine into the market, giving the aging 105 series Alfas a new lease of life. In the hands of Ray Gulson, Christine Gibson, John French and others the little Italian coupes thrilled the Lakeside crowds of the day. Through the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s Lakeside was treated to a variety of Alfa models, including Alfetta GTVs, GTV 6s, Suds, 75 Turbos (in the hands of Colin Bond) and the mighty GTV Chev sports sedan of Tony Edmonson. Over the past few years the racing of historic Alfa Romeos has become increasingly popular and dedicated races such as the Alfa Romeo East Coast Challenge (2009) and the Festival of Italian Motorsport (2010) have given Lakeside spectators the opportunity to once again witness these mighty little machines in full flight. To celebrate Alfa’s Lakeside history the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club of Australia (Qld Division) and Sydney’s Veloce Racing Association will host the 2011 Alfa Romeo East Coast Challenge as part of the Festival of Sports Cars. Two fields of Alfas will take to the track in anger – one racing under Veloce historic rules and the other an open category featuring a mix of models (and a smattering of Ferraris). And what else can spectators expect to see at the Festival of Sports Cars? Thrilling on-track action from a selection of Australia’s finest historic and modern sports racers from Europe and Japan’s top manufactures to a huge variety of bespoke clubman and sports machines such as Mallocks, Notas, Westfields, La Baratas and Ariel Atoms. One of the greatest sports car drivers to grace the Lakeside circuit over the years was Australian GT Championship and Bathurst winner John French. Having entertained Lakeside crowds since its opening year of 1961 in cars such as the mighty Centaur Waggott, Alfa GTVs and GTAs and thumping GT Falcons, French now returns 50 years later as Grand Marshal of Festival of Sports Cars. The final event scheduled to mark this year’s golden milestone of 50 years is the Lakeside Classic Festival of Touring Cars, August 12-14 (for historic touring cars of all ages). FESTIVAL OF SPORTS CARS |
When we think of car manufacturers synonymous with Lakeside, brands such as Holden, Ford, Lotus and Brabham may automatically spring to mind, but another make that has been there year in year out since the beginning is Alfa Romeo. On the weekend of July 22-24 Alfas will gather from the length and breadth of Australia to celebrate 50 years of golden sports car memories at Lakeside Park as part of the Festival of Sports Cars.^ Back to top ^
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