Festival of Italian Motorsport 2010 - press release

[hammer]

Fellow car nuts,

Here's the media release that went out today outlining the 2010 Festival of Italian Motorsport, to be held at Lakeside in November. Entries are filling fast, so if you intend to enter, download the form from the AROCA Qld website, fill it in, send it to KP along with a cheque or deposit your dough in the AROCA bank account and give that Italian steed a polish. 40 Italian cars on track in two categories plus a massive show n shine - what better way to finish our 2010 competition calendar??!!

If you don't want to compete on track, give the chariot a wash and enter up for the show n shine. There'll be trophies end plenty of pride on the line.

MEDIA RELEASE
- September 30, 2010 -

ITALY'S HOTTEST MACHINES SET FOR LAKESIDE


A calvacade of superb Italian automobiles will descend upon Lakeside Park on Sunday, November 14 when the southeast Queensland circuit hosts the second annual Festival of Italian Motorsport as part of the final round of the 2010 Top Gear Racing Series.

Following the resounding success of last year's innaugural Festvival of Italian Motorsport at Queensland Raceway, the Italian car clubs of Queensland made the decision to give their members a change of scenery, moving the event to the history-laden Lakeside Park, on the banks of gorgeous Lake Kurwongbah. The event's theme remains unchanged, however, with a celebration of the racing heritage of legendary marques such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lamborghini, Fiat and Lancia.

Where last year's festival was spread over two days, this year's event has been condensed into one action-packed day incorporating both race and regularity categories as well as a show'n'shine car and bike display.

The day will be a hive of activity from 9am through to 4pm, with the race category hitting the track for qualifying, followed by three five lap races and concluding with a seven lap handicap race. The regularity category will also run qualifying, followed by four five lap regularity heats, in which each driver must attempt to lap as close as possible to their nominated time – some drivers claim the best strategy is just to go flat out!

The show 'n' shine will take place from 10am on the grassed area adjacent to the Lakeside building. This spot is the perfect location to grab a coffee from the Lakeside cafe and peruse the fine machinery in between bouts of on-track action.

Last year's Festival of Italian Motorsport saw a field of 20 cars fill the grid of the race category, made up predominantly of Fiats and Alfas. Fiat driver Richard Shinkfield took out the event in his bright orange X19, from Brent Hampstead in an Alfa Romeo Guilietta and Rober Kilsby in an Alfa 147.  In the regularity Brendan Bonning circulated closest to the clock in his Ferrari 308 GT4, ahead of Andrew Gamblen in a Fiat 124 AC and Tony Spierenburg in an Alfa GTV V6.

Entries are almost full for both race and regularity the the 2010 Festival of Italian Motorsport, with an spread of Ferraris, Alfas and Fiats already locked in.

Other categories competing in the final Top Gear round for 2010 include Sedans, Sports Cars and Racing Cars (open wheelers). With no entry on the gate and at least five categories of action, this is one Sunday of motorsport not to be missed.

Top Gear Racing Series – Round 6
Featuring the Festival of Italian Motorsport

Lakeside Park – Lakeside Road, Kurwongbah
Sunday, November 14, 9am – 4pm
Sunday features qualifying followed by a full day of racing plus the Italian Auto Display
Spectator entry is FREE!

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Team Alfa,

We need your support on November 14, in our effort to retain the silverware at the Festival Of Italian Motorsport at Lakeside. We have two categories of Italian machines - racing and regularity. There are five Ferraris, five Fiats and 24 Alfas entered across the two categories, with five reg spots and one racing spot left if anyone is keen.

Spectator entry is $10 per head, unless you are driving or riding an Italian machine, in which case it is FREE! We have Show n Shine trophies for most Italian makes, so come along in your machine, park in the display paddock, watch a great day of racing and maybe collect a trophy for your troubles. What better way to spend a Queensland Sunday.

C'mon, come and watch Alfa's Andrew Wilson reignite his battle with Ferrari's Charlie Clements. Will gentleman Phillip Simmie get the better of them both in his gorgeous GTV2000 or will John Beatty in his $400,000 Scuderia leave us all in his wake? All will be revealed at Lakeside, November 14, 9am-4pm.

Cheers,

Brent

[hammer]

Only a few more sleeps to go folks. Festival of Italian Motorsport, Lakeside Raceway, Sunday, November 14, 9am.

We have a full grid of racers plus 18 in the regularity. With qualifying and four stints on track for each category between 9am and 4pm, that is a massive day of high-powered Italian motoring action at one of the top three race circuits in Australia.

Polish up your Alfa, get in for free (you pay $10 if you're in a non-italian vehicle), throw the Alfa in the show n shine and watch a magnificent day of amateur racing. As well as our two categories, there are Super Karts, Geminis, Production Sports (Lotus, Clubmans and MX-5s) and the 8 Pot challenge for V8 Taxis.

Don't give in to the demands of the domestic grind. Get your backside trackside live a little!

[Bear157]

I think I am starting to smell the delightful smell of petrol fumes and rubber Brent...getting close now!

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it certainly is old boy. A full grid of regularities now and 19 racers! 25 Alfas, 7 Fiats and 7 Ferraris. The Ferrari club is also bringing their big marquee and a swag of display cars.

By the way mate, QR say they're not opening gates until 8am, but I'll try to be there by 7.30, just in case they open early. Feel free to get there whenever suits you, as we're unloading both cars and parking them in pit bays on Saturday.

Cheers,

Brent

[Bear157]

Cheers mate. Will have trailer in tow so I can cart the roll cage home for my beast.

See you there.

Rob

[MD]

Here's some snaps of the cross section of cars that were there on Sunday. Jim you may even recognise one or two..more photos to follow.

Also some results.
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?14/11/2010.LAKE.R5

[MD]

..and some more pics

[Craig_m67]

Great day, anybody have any other pics or video of the Italian cars in action??
Was great to see the 105's chasing each other around, and that Ferrari was fast.. silly fast.


.... that's the boy, more interested in a Kart *L*
This was our first visit to a working race track (excl. a lap of the Nurburg) and my son and I were so busy gawking I only took a few pics - very few of the Alfas

[MD]

One more still frame but I am working on some video..

..here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_nioS0R8DY

[hammer]

Here are a few pics by Kelly Johnson of Fastlane Media from Sunday's awesome day at Lakeside. Thanks to Kelly for the great pics.


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=263441&id=723549030

[madram]

More photos from the day are at:

http://www.arocaqld.com/cms/pageDisplay.php?module=custom&type=gallery&level=album&id=15