IPSWICH CYCLING CLUB TO CALL WILLOWBANK RACEWAY HOME
23 October 2012
Willowbank Raceway is pleased to announce a joint venture with Ipswich City Council and Ipswich Cycling Club to make Queensland’s premier drag racing facility the home of cycling in Ipswich.
Under the three x three year term entered into recently, which follows on from 12 months of an informal arrangement, the Ipswich Cycling Club will conduct races at Willowbank Raceway several times each month on Sunday mornings.
Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said each event is expected to host hundreds of cyclists, who can now compete in the completely safe environment provided by Willowbank Raceway.
“While the club members needn’t worry about the hazards of the road when competing at Willowbank Raceway, there are still plenty of challenges on-hand for them,” said Bettes.
“With many variations in track length and surfaces providing for high speeds along the drag strip and challenging low speed corners, events held at the Raceway will provide a true ‘road-like’ experience.
“We couldn’t be happier to be welcoming such a key member of the Ipswich community to our facility. While they may be slightly different to the two-wheeled machines we are used to seeing here, after some of the events they have held here I can say they truly can pack a punch when they hit the Willowbank Raceway track!”
Ipswich Cycling Club managing committee member Graeme Hancock said Willowbank Raceway was a perfect venue for the club, and thanked the Ipswich City Council for their support.
“The Ipswich Cycling club is very excited about the collaboration with Willowbank Raceway and Ipswich City Council which provides us with a traffic free competition venue,” said Hancock.
“The facilities are unique in the cycling world, with all of the amenities you could ever want and a dozen or more optional tracks ranging from 400m circuits to a 4.5km route which takes in almost the entire Willowbank Raceway complex and is ideal for time trialling.
“The piece de resistance is the 4km one-way circuit which has just had drainage and bitumen works done by the Ipswich City Council, allowing us to eliminate any two-way traffic spots for larger races whilst keeping technically challenging corners, up and down grades and a section on the drag strip in play.”
Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale said council was pleased to support this new partnership between two key sporting organisations in the Ipswich area.
“Funding from Ipswich City Council enabled works to upgrade existing internal roads and in the near future installation of a new gate to further improve safety during cycling events. Ipswich Cycling Club now has a ready-made circuit with access to amenities for both competitors and spectators,” Cr Pisasale said.
“This is a win-win for cycling and Willowbank Raceway.”
The first event to be held under the new arrangement will take place at Willowbank Raceway this Sunday. For more information on Ipswich Cycling Club events at Willowbank Raceway please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au.
For more information please contact:
Steve Bettes
Managing Director – Willowbank Raceway
Phone: 07 5461 5461
Email: steve@willowbank-raceway.com.au
Web: www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Graeme Hancock
Management committee member – The Ipswich Cycling Club
Phone: 0428720370
Email: ghancock@hotkey.net.au
Web: www.ipswichcyclingclub.org.au