wdscc

WARWICK DISTRICT SPORTING CAR CLUB INC.

The Warwick District Sporting Car Club (the brain child of Stan Collins and Roy Willi) was formed on the 12 December 1954. Stan Collins was elected as the first President with the late Charlie Kennett being appointed as secretary.

For several years the club was predominantly a rally club and was involved with several Around Australia Trials in the fifties and sixties by manning check points and major controls. The club for many years conducted Gymkhanas, first at Mt Gordon, and then at a site in McEvoy Street where the Industrial Estate is today. These events were very popular with competitors and spectators.

In the early sixties the interest in the club was at a very low ebb, and for some time the club did not hold any events, and looked like it would fold.

One or two keen motor sport enthusiasts kept the club alive, and the idea was put forward that the club stage a hill climb on Weewondilla Hill in Warwick. A committee was formed much to the mirth of some people who thought the club would never get permission to run the climb on public roads. The event went ahead on the Sunday of the Warwick Rodeo in October 1964, and was a wonderful success that attracted in excess of 7,000 spectators, who packed spectators points to see Brisbane Car dealer Dennis Geary take out fastest time of the day in a Lotus 23B Sport Car.

There was only one climb conducted on Weewondilla which was a great shame as it could have been an event that could have gone on to have become an event on the National Motor Sport Calendar.

The hill climb was the turning point for the club, and many enthusiastic members constructed a dirt hill on Mr Sid Hallman's property near the Warwick Golf Club. It was to be know as Weewondilla Two.

The club obtained land at Morgan Park with the help of the local council, and the club's next project was to construct a short circuit dirt track at Morgan Park. This was to become Morgan Park Raceway which opened in October 1967.

The Raceway became so successful in those early years, but the club could not maintain both the hill climb and the race circuit, as it had become a full time job with working bees almost every weekend. So the expected happened and the hill climb was closed which was a blow to the hill climb competitors.

The club progressed with circuit racing, a few rallies, and the annual economy runs. Interest seemed to wain in both the rallies and the economy runs and both went by the board.

The club continued on with the short circuit events. Bitumen was put on the short circuit, and then an extension was added. Bill Campbell and his small band of willing workers could see the potential of a bigger circuit, and made the decision to extend the circuit out to 2.2 kilometres.

Bill and his team have put in many long hours and worked almost every weekend planning and building the new Morgan Park Raceway, which is now completed and is second to none in Australia. The circuit officially opened on the weekend of September 19th / 20th when the State Championship meeting organised by the Queensland Gemini Racing Club.

The circuit is a picture and really is a credit to the people who have put in the time to construct it. For any club who wishes to hire the circuit there is two short circuits included in the long track. For information to hire the circuit contact Bill Campbell on (07) 4661 4414 after hours.

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