Baskerville Foundation launched to preserve Australia’s oldest continual raceway

Tasmanian racing legend Garth Wigston poses with a classic 1950s Ford Anglia

A foundation has been launched to secure the future of Australia’s oldest continually
operating racing circuit, Baskerville Raceway.

The foundation has been charged with raising in the vicinity of $600,000 to ensure vital
track upgrades can be undertaken so the much loved track can be used by grass-roots
motoring enthusiasts for generations to come.

The launch coincided with a gathering of over 500 drivers, mechanics and officials at the
first annual ‘Motor Racing Old Boys Get Together’ at Baskerville to celebrate motorsport
activity from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and the ‘80s.

Former Bathurst 1000 competitor and Tasmania motorsport hero Garth Wigston said
Baskerville Raceway, which has been in operation since the 1950s, was not only considered
one of the best drivers’ circuits in the Southern Hemisphere but motoring legends such as
John Bowe, John Goss, Tony Edmundson, John McCormack and Greg Crick had all cut their
teeth on the track.

“The thing about Baskerville is while it is diminutive in size, it combines tight esses, a blind
crest and off camber turns with a beautiful sweeper at the end of the straight to make it one
of the most challenging and enjoyable race tracks to drive,” Mr Wigston said.

Chairman of the Baskerville Foundation Peter Killick said the organisation had already
received some $50,000 in pledges to support its work, which would see the track
resurfaced, improved drainage as well as the re-sealing of the entrance road.

“For club motoring enthusiasts in Tasmania, particularly those in the south, Baskerville is
loved by all as a great club circuit,” Mr Killick said.

“As it stands, while the track continues to pay its own way, the prospect of a bill of
approximately $600,000 to resurface and upgrade the track is simply beyond the means of
the circuit and that is why the foundation has been created.”
Chairman of the Baskerville Foundation Peter Killick