The original track at Wakefield Park

[Guran]

Did you know that the track layout that we're all familiar with at Wakefield Park is not the original design?

I have been reading through an archive of old MX-5 Club records and have made a few interesting discoveries - this is one of them. The track opened 8th May 1994 and our first regular trackday was on 20th January 1997. Attached is the "entry notes" for that day. The track map on page 2 caught my attention!

Based on this schematic and a careful look at the current Google map of the venue (you can still see the old bits of the track), I've prepared the image below showing the original track (blue) compared with the current track (red). The main difference is the fish-hook. I never really understood why the fish-hook got it's name, but seeing the original layout, the name is obvious.

I quizzed Mike Hicks about the old track and he said the Club used it when we first got started. It was altered in about 2001 when they started to run the V8 Development Series as CAMS were concerned that cars going through the fish-hook could end up through the tyre wall and onto the main straight. Turn 10 was adjusted to maintain the same circuit length of 2.2 kilometres. Lap times on the revised circuit were approximately 2 seconds a lap quicker than the old circuit. There were also several other subtle track alignment changes: widening the exit from turns 2, 4, 5, 9, and straightening the entry for turn 3. These would have also contributed to reduced laptimes.

Does anyone here remember running on the old track? Care to pass on any memories of what it was like?


Wakefield-Park by Guran5, on Flickr

[Charlie Brown]

I never did the "old" circuit, only the short circuit and hillclimb.

I love some of the instructions in the entry notes: "....use horn to indicate need to pass slower car".
Wonder if I can do this to Ralph before his tyres get up to temperature.

[PeterB]

I ran the old circuit in my RX7s and also the hillclimb when it was operational. The fishhook was very tight and did not flow that well (similar to the really tight left hander at SMSP Amaroo), but it was still a fun and a well used club circuit. The old part of the fishhook is still there and used by the drifters. Laptimes improved 2 to2 1/2 seconds, as much due to the new surface as to the re-alignment.

The hillclimb was also very tight and interesting and well used in the day.

The initial layout by Paul Samuels and ? was originally designed to be for historic and club racing and hence the tighter (old school) layout and the period feel to the buildings.

From memory the changes to the layout were made after the track was sold (due to a break down of the partnership) and the Willmingtons got involved. I think their intent was to attract V8 and other bigger categories, so they made the track layout changes to get the appropriate licences.

The hillclimb later fell into disuse and go-karts ceased using the track due to some problems with the clubs.

The MX5 club used to run an excellent Triple Challenge which included the short circuit (turn right after the start finish line which was the old go-kart layout) and hillclimb in the morning and then the full track in the afternoon. The tophy was awarded on aggregate times, so the big power cars lost some of their advantage to the more agile cars.

[ja9]

I ran the track in a couple of different cars. If memory serves me correctly it was 2 - 3 seconds a lap slower.

[MattR]

I raced on the old track in the mid to late 90's in my Zed and also took my old XD ute around there to learn the track, doing 1:26's in a 6 cylinder auto. I haven't run on the new track as I moved to Qld before the track changes, but remember the track fondly, except for the weather.

I had many great races their dueling with Roland Macintosh in his MG Midget.

The zed used to go around in 1:12 on the old track.

[mxrx]

I ran on the old original circuit in 1994 and later. The circuit was also narrower than it is today particularly up the top and the fishhook. When the circuit was opened it was meant to cater for the historics and club level sprints. When it was opened to state and national level competitors it was obviously too narrow and twisty.

You had to use the kink up the back straight as well. If I look at the times of Improved production cars the best lap time iat the start was about 1.12 and today it is about 1.03. How much of that improvement can be attributed to better tyres and suspension and how much to the track improvements is debateable but I would put it at about 50/50.

[stb]

If it was redone in 2001 then it would appear I've only done the old layout (~1998/9?)! 1:25s in an old 1.8 NA silvia at a sprite club challenge. I really should get back there one day...

[Bozman]

Drove on the old track in a variety of cars, mainly in IPRA.

They changed the track due to safety, as they thought the fish hook/horse shoe went too close to the main straight

[Charlie Brown]

Circa 1998

[Suspense]

Are any of the turns at Wakefield still named as in the picture above or otherwise?

[Black_Penguin]

The only names I have heard used is "the top hat" for turns 4/5 and of course the infamous fish hook.

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