THE southernmost racing circuit in Australia this weekend plays host to Baskerville Historics, one of the nation’s growing classic motorsport events.
Set in a natural amphitheatre less than 30 minutes from the Hobart city centre, Tasmania’s Baskerville Raceway was built in 1958 and played host to exhibition races for touring cars and Sports Sedans throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as well as a round of the Australian Drivers’ Championship in 1980.
The layout of the undulating 2.01km circuit remains unchanged and full of old school character nearly seven decades since its opening. But over the past 13 years, a passionate band of volunteers has worked away quietly to ensure Baskerville continues to be fit for purpose.
The Baskerville Foundation is a not-for-profit entity which has generated over $2.5 million to fund numerous refurbishments and upgrades to the Motorsports Tasmania-owned venue, made possible largely by the goodwill of Tasmania’s motorsport community.
Since its inception in 2013, the Baskerville Foundation’s achievements have included a full circuit resurfacing and the additions or upgrades of earth and drainage works, covered paddock carports, concrete hardstands, guardrail fencing, gravel traps, marshalling posts and an overhaul of the circuit’s 1970s-build control tower.
The circuit described by Tasmanian racing legend John Bowe as ‘the best kept secret in Australian motorsport’ is actively utilised for historic and state level racing, private practice and track days. Just last month, Paul Morris’ Norwell Motorplex team hosted a Corvette driving experience at Baskerville for GM Special Vehicles.
Peter Killick, chair of the Baskerville Foundation and a Heritage Touring Car racer who will compete in this weekend’s event aboard a Group A Toyota Corolla, reflected to V8 Sleuth on the Foundation’s recent work.
“We are very fortunate that Baskerville has a really strong community around it who never want to see it disappear”, says Killick.
“From the many donors who have generously supported the Foundation to the volunteers and men’s sheds who have given their time to help out with so many of the jobs we have done around the place, it has all added up to something we are proud of, but we will keep going and doing more.
“There are not many circuits like Baskerville remaining in Australia. It’s a special track that makes perfect use of its topography with fast corners, slow corners, blind corners, camber… there is a lot packed into two kilometres!
“I just love it. When you are here and there is no racing happening, you are standing in a natural amphitheatre looking around and it’s one of those magical old tracks that speaks to you. It’s such a unique place and I would imagine it is similar to what Amaroo Park was.
The resourcefulness of the Baskerville Foundation has also enabled a key safety upgrade on the circuit, as Killick tells.
“The blind corner at the top of the hill (Turn 7, Calvins) was an issue as there was only four metres of run-off from the edge of the track to the tyre wall. The land boundary on that end of the track was a limitation.
“So we ended up doing a land swap with Cherries Tasmania, who own the cherry farm next door. We were able to give them some land at the bottom of the hill that they wanted, and in return we got extra land at the top of the hill to help us extend the run-off area to 35 metres.
“We bought secondhand armco fencing from the road contractor that did the Midlands Highway upgrade and spent $70,000 on getting the right type of gravel laid down as that corner can be nasty, particularly for motorcycles if they come off. That’s probably the upgrade we are most proud of.
In 2021, Baskerville hosted a non-championship event for Trans Am as well as exhibition races for TCR Australia and Touring Car Masters, while Aussie Racing Cars opened its 2018 championship at the circuit.
In its heyday, Baskerville was raced on by names such as Allan Moffat, Peter Brock, Dick Johnson, Jim Richards and Alan Jones. So what does Killick believe Baskerville needs to host national level motorsport again in the future?
“Ultimately, it needs more gravel traps and we would like to install more gravel across the whole circuit. The compliant gravel we would need is on the other end of the state and the expense to purchase it, transport it and lay it down would require about another $350,000. Maybe one day…”
Baskerville Historics is a V8 Sleuth advertising partner