Lakeside: The Early Years
By Richard Croston
Another track history is recounted in this softbound volume chronicling, as its name suggests, the beginnings of Australia’s Lakeside motor racing circuit, now known as Lakeside Park. Like VIR, Lakeside was carved out of a rural landscape formerly used for agricultural pursuits, in this case a dairy farm. In his introduction, fourth-generation racer Croston writes: “Drive down the entrance road that bisects the local golf club and there before (you) is a picturesque race track with its assortment of buildings beside Lake Kurwongbah.”
He then proceeds to describe the races and the racers prominent in the track’s formative years. Since the circuit was home to the Australian Grand Prix in 1966 and 1969, and hosted rounds of the Tasman Series during its 1960s heyday, the list of famous personalities is impressive, featuring names like Brabham, Clark, Hill, Stewart, Surtees, Amon and Rindt, among others. Many are the local stars given their due as well.
Excellent photography illustrates this impressive history, to the point that in many places it becomes simply an album of images that exercise the classic 1000-word analogy to tell the tale at hand. This book will make a fine addition to any library, but especially those devoted to racing circuits around the world.
Available for AUS$45 from publisher Lakeside Racing Books at www.lakesideracingbooks.com.au
