Lobethal Circuit
The Lobethal Circuit was a motor racing course centered around the South Australian town of Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, 22 miles from the state capital, Adelaide.[4] It was utilized for four race meetings from 1937 to 1948, hosting a number of major races including the 1939 Australian Grand Prix.[5] [6]
Layout
The roughly triangular in shape, the circuit comprised temporarily closed public roads which passed through the towns of Charleston and Lobethal.[4] Two of the four approach roads to Lobethal were included as was the main road through Charleston, each of these having sealed surfaces.[2]
History
The circuit was first used for a combined motorcycle and car race meeting held 27 December 1937 through 3 January 1938.[5] [6] Similar meetings were held in 1938/39 and 1939/40, with the former featuring the 1939 Australian Grand Prix for cars.[5] [6] A four meeting, again a combined affair, was held on 1 January 1940.[5] [6] Attempts by the organizing group to re-establish racing at the circuit were thwarted by a South Australian Government ban placed on the use of public roads for racing, introduced in 1951.[7]
Major races
The following table lists the major motorcycle race and the major car race at each of the four race meetings staged at the Lobethal circuit.
| Year [5] [6] | Race [5] [6] | Laps [5] [6] | Distance (miles) [5] [6] | Date [5] [6] | Winner [5] [6] | Motorcycle / Car [5] [6] |
| 1937 | South Australia Senior Tourist Trophy | 12 | 100 | 27 December 1937 | Clem Foster | Norton |
| 1938 | South Australian Grand Prix for Motor Cars | 12 | 100 | 3 January 1938 | Noel Campbell | Singer Bantam |
| 1938 | Australian Senior Tourist Trophy | 12 | 100 | 26 December 1938 | George Hannaford | Velocette |
| 1939 | Australian Grand Prix | 17 | 150 | 2 January 1939 | Alan Tomlinson | MG TA |
| 1939 | South Australian Senior Tourist Trophy | 12 | 100 | 26 December 1939 | Frank Mussett | Velocette |
| 1940 | South Australian 100 | 12 | 100 | 1 January 1940 | Jack Phillips | Ford V8 |
| 1948 | Sternol 50 Open Handicap | 9 | 75 | 1 January 1948 | F Steer |
Velocette |
| 1948 | South Australian 100 | 12 | 100 | 1 January 1948 | Jim Gullan | Ballot Oldsmobile |
References
- ^ Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 279
- ^ a b c 1939, The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, page 104
- ^ Ray Bell, Lobethal, Australia's Spa Francorchamps, www.tasman-series.com via web.archive.org Retrieved on 7 June 2014
- ^ a b John B Blanden, A History of the Australian Grand Prix 1928-1939, page 171
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Motorcycle Results, www.lobethalgrandcarnival.com.au via web.archive.org Retrieved on 7 June 2014
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Racing Car Results, www.lobethalgrandcarnival.com.au via web.archive.org Retrieved on 7 June 2014
- ^ Port Wakefield - First of the cookie cutters, www.lagler.com.au Retrieved on 7 June 2014