Official Facebook page of the Launceston Kart Club
The official Facebook page of the Launceston Kart Club.
In the very late 1940s, early 1950s, the Tasmanian Midget Car Club were racing on a dirt track, a few miles out of Evandale, at a circuit known as Loch Bay. This became inadequate, and a new venue was sought. A site near Breadalbane was chosen, but deemed unsuitable.
The story of Archerville dates back to the 1960s. The Launceston Go-Kart club (as it was known then) leased the land for 10 pounds per annum from the Archer family, and with an option to renew, developed the area into a 400 yard gravel track which was to host the National Championships a few years later in 1966.
The club was changed to the Launceston Go-Kart Club and on the 10th and 11th of April 1966, in conjunction with the Kart Control Council of Tasmania, hosted the 1966 National Championships.
Through the generosity of the Archer family, the club took full ownership of the circuit in early 1983, with an increase from the leased 10 acres, to approximately 15 acres. The Launceston Kart Club is one of only a small number of kart clubs throughout Australia who wholly own their own complex.
The facility now has seen some major changes since the days of the 60s and 70s. The track length now sits at 773m, at a minimum width of 7m. The clubrooms and canteen are second to none, both housed in a modern brick building fronted by timber decking and a grassed barbeque area.
The club has hosted the Australian Karting Championships many times, most recently in 2008.
The club's most notable 'export' is current NASCAR driver and former V8 Supercar Champion, Marcos Ambrose.
How to get there:
Travel through Launceston over the North Esk River to Rocherlea. Turn right at the Rocherlea Tavern and continue on the Lilydale Rd, until you reach Pipers River Rd (200m after the long "Finger Post" hill). Turn left and follow this road for about 1.5km until you come to the Southern Cross Archerville Kartway on your left.
For more information on membership, check out the LKC website at www.lkc.com.au
- Category:
- Sports venue