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50 Years At Lithgow


by Max Laybutt 21 February 2013
 

On the 16th of February 1963, 50 long years ago, the Lithgow race track was officially opened and kart racing began its long association with the circuit, and has enjoyed the support of the Lithgow district ever since.

There have been many clubs that have supported the venue during the past 50 years.  It is currently in the hands of the COMBINED DISTRICTS KART CLUB, who under the current committee, and many other people from the past, have put a major effort into shaping the future of this club right up to today where it is regarded as one of the leading Karting Clubs in Australia.

This is one of the very few karting circuits in Australia that is owned and operated by a karting club, solely for the sport of karting, and one of even fewer clubs that can boast the starting of the motor sport careers of so many junior karters that have gone on to make the huge step into many of the Big Leagues of Motor Racing.

And so last weekend, 16th and 17th February 2013 club events coordinator, Russell Grimson, set about ensuring that the venue remembered its past with an event that provided karts and drivers of all the karting disciplines, past and present, an opportunity to be a part of this venue’s history.

During the event, two of the very original members, Mr Allan Morris and Mr Dennis White, arrived at the track unannounced and presented to current President Paul Giuntini a brief case containing the original formation papers, the first minute book and many other very valuable remnants of the track’s past life.  Margaret Pauling, a past Club and State Secretary and life member also attended on Saturday.

An exceptionally good “Rock” Band arrived after we had all once again enjoyed one of “Joyce’s” special meals on the Saturday night, and everybody rocked to 60’s music until late, not too late, into Sunday morning.

More than 260 karters, representing, Vintage, Speedway, Endurance, and most of the classes of today gathered to celebrate the occasion.

Almost 15 Vintage Karts started the weekend off with a very spirited display of lovingly restored karts from our past.

Some of these karts can lay claim to being at the very start of the circuit and everybody was amazed at their ability to perform at a very high level, and while stopping and cornering is a long way from the modern kart, they are not short of a good turn of acceleration and speed.

Karts from the speedway section of karting were on display and there was lots of interest in this section of our sport, however with no “Dirt” to play in you will need to go to a speedway meeting to see them in action.

On the main program no less than 26 Cadets, 18 Rookies, and 67 juniors, did battle to try and score a win over what will be a one and only event. These numbers show the support this sport now has from the “Younger” generation and the skills that they are learning will serve them well in the years ahead.

That left close to 150 seniors to battle out the senior classes.  Not for a long time have we seen the big monsters from the open class do battle at many circuits, and the Lithgow circuit was always renowned for its bevy of twin engine monsters in the past.  So on this occasion it was a privilege to see no less that 13 “Big Ones” out there simply amazing all the spectators with the extreme performance of some of our top karts and karters.

All the other modern classes were well supported and results can be found on the CM: S system.

Over the near future the Circuit will play host to many other major events, on the 1st weekend of March, the 2nd and 3rd, the International Karting Distributors, Rotax National Pro-Tour will contest its 1st round of the year; a contest that will, after several more rounds, see no less than 7 winners travelling to the Rotax World Titles for those using the renowned Rotax range of engines.

The following weekend starting on Friday the 7th and continuing on Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th March a full complement of original VINTAGE KARTS will arrive from many states of Australia.  Certainly NSW will be well represented, the Victorians will be there in force and the newly gathered Queensland contingent will certainly provide some interesting “older” Karts to demonstrate and enjoy the camaraderie that this section of our sport provides.  All open to any interested spectators, and entry to the circuit on all days is FREE.

Then back to a normal everyday Combined Districts race meeting on the 16th and 17th March, but then these days there does not seem to be many, “Normal” race meetings at Lithgow, they are becoming all very great events.  It will be Lights on Saturday and Heavies on Sunday and it is a Club Championship round with the normal Saturday Night gathering.  Further information is available on the CDKC web site.

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