The Lobethal Circuit was a motor racing course centred on the South Australian town of Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, 22 miles from the state capital, Adelaide.John B Blanden, A History of the Australian Grand Prix 1928-1939, page 171 It was utilized for four race meetings from 1937 to 1948, hosting a number of major races including the 1939 Australian Grand Prix.Motorcycle Results, www.lobethalgrandcarnival.com.au via web.archive.org Retrieved 7 June 2014Racing Car Results, www.lobethalgrandcarnival.com.au via web.archive.org Retrieved 7 June 2014 Today the roads of the circuit make up a part of the Tour Down Under international bicycle race.
Layout Roughly triangular in shape, the circuit comprised temporarily closed public roads which passed through the towns of Charleston and Lobethal. Two of the four approach roads to Lobethal were utilised as was the main road through Charleston, each of these having sealed surfaces. It is the longest circuit to have been used in Australian motor racing,Australia's last grand prix remembered, www.abc.net.au Retrieved 7 June 2014 and the average speed for the 1939 Australian Grand Prix was the fastest of any Australian Grand Prix prior to 1956, with race winner Tomlinson averaging 84.00 mph.Australian Grand Prix Winners, Sandown, Australian Grand Prix Programme, 9 February 1964, page 23
History
The circuit was first used for a combined motorcycle and car race meeting held 27 December 1937 through 3 January 1938. Similar meetings were held in 1938/39 and 1939/40, with the former featuring the 1939 Australian Grand Prix for cars. A fourth meeting, again a combined affair, was held on 1 January 1948. The 1948 meeting would be the last to be held at Lobethal,Lobethal, The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, page 109 with attempts by the organizing group to re-establish racing at the circuit thwarted in 1951 by the introduction of South Australian Government legislation prohibiting the use of public roads for racing.Port Wakefield - First of the cookie cutters, www.lagler.com.au Retrieved 7 June 2014
Major races
The following table lists the feature motorcycle race and the feature car race at each of the four race meetings staged at the Lobethal Circuit. Year Race Laps Distance (miles) Date Winner Motorcycle / Car 1937 South Australia Senior Tourist Trophy 12 100 27 December 1937 Clem Foster Norton 1938 South Australian Grand Prix for Motor Cars 12 100 3 January 1938 Noel Campbell Singer Bantam 1938 Australian Senior Tourist Trophy 12 100 26 December 1938 George Hannaford Velocette 1939 Australian Grand Prix 17 150 2 January 1939 Alan Tomlinson MG TA 1939 South Australian Senior Tourist Trophy 12 100 26 December 1939 Frank Mussett Velocette 1940 South Australian Hundred 12 100 1 January 1940 Jack Phillips Ford V8 1948 Sternol 50 Open Handicap 9 75 1 January 1948 F Steer Velocette 1948 South Australian 100 12 100 1 January 1948 Jim Gullan Ballot Oldsmobile
References
External links Racing History Of Lobethal - 2008 Documentary, vimeo.com