Brisbane Blokart Club

I thought it might be an idea to have a topic dedicated to known or potential places to go for a run, with details about surface, wind direction, facilities, etc.
Photos, maps, Google Earth images would all help.

Here's one to start off.
Wellers Hill reservoir at Tarragindi.
On a hill, all concrete, 270m x 50m (bigger than DFO carpark), wall all round,
picnic area at the base.
It used to be freely accessible, but they've blocked off all the stairs.
It MAY be possible to get access as a sporting group.

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Here's one if you're desperate and there's a southerly.
Hard sand, a bit dirty (goggles are essential) wet with holes and gutters.
Doable and lots of fun if you don't mind getting very wet and dirty.

Murrarrie Sports Complex

Grass with bitumen cycle track.
Works best on a northerly when you can run on the bike track. Watch out for trees.
Don't upset the bikies, it's their track and officially one way only.
The grass is OK if there's a strong wind, but the trees make it fluky.
The western end is rougher.
If you stop on the grass, it can be hard to get going again
Don't bother if it's been raining
There's cricket in the summer and kites and kite karts one Sunday a month.
There's toilets and picnic areas.

Great thread Greg - keep em coming!

I was told about three spots today.

Can someone on the Northside check them out?

(1) Motorcycle track just off the Gateway at Nudgee.
One track gravel, one dirt. Gravel track 250m end to end.
It has something to do with Mick Doohan.
Apparently it's open to the public.



(2) Reservoir at Stafford, near the shopping Centre. 150m long
All concrete. Already has a track marked out.
Looks like the trees could block the wind.
Probably closed off like Wellers Hill.



(3) Brookfield
Next to the Shopping Centre
All Bitumen. 120m E-W.
I'm told it's used as a motorcycle training area and is empty most of the time.
Don't know who owns it.
Trees could make the wind fluky.



Don't forget Nudgee Hard Fill Dump Site.
Just off the Gateway.
This would be the perfect spot.
It's high and open and would work with any wind direction.
We just need a good contact in the Council.
Does anyone know the Sport and Recreation Chairman?
He/she should be at the Sporting Wheelies day.



Does anyone else have possible spots that need to be checked out?

Greg the Raubers Rd motorcycle track is open to the public on race days for motorcycles, but there is an area next to the hwy which could be transformed.
The Brookside carpark is exclusive to Morgan and Wacker Q-ride most days and all weekend, don't bother.
I have sent an email to the BCC about 3 spots, Nudgee dump, Fitzgibbon dump and Elliot rd recreational reserve at Nudgee, all have potential just need permission.

At Brighton 25th Ave is a grass area 30m wide x 200m long and a bike track along the side, it works in a ENE/NE.
Sandgate beach at low tide from the pool 7th Ave to the Shorncliffe jetty in a NE/E, lots of big long puddles to go around and hot steamy landmines to avoid (yuk).
And our newest spot, the DHL carpark corner of Lomandra Dr and Cupania Cir Brisbane Airport precinct. This one works in a SE and can be used at night under lights.





Brett

Lee suggested the Springwood reservoir which I tried out over Christmas but with not much wind, albeit a great spot and usable in W winds mainly. I sailed in a light NE wind and did OK. It's all concrete and sometimes used for inline skating.


After we finished at Wellington Point, I reconned the Thorneside area on Queens Esp, between John and Mark sts, the sand is grey and clay like but firm and smooth. It's about 500m x 200m and it may only work in NE/N winds. I was going to have a look when the wind and tide is right.

QEII stadium carpark 130m E-W
Not flat, all bitumen
Would only work on a due easterly because of trees[/img]

Looks interesting.
Just south of Raby Bay
350m N-S
Open NE-SE
Access could be a problem
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Oops! Photo didn't upload.

Across the road from DHL on Sugarmill rd is the army barracks where they were going to put the Brisbane refugee detention centre. They have removed several buildings, and left large concrete slabs and a lot of open grass, good for just about any wind. But how do we get permission for this one???
At Nundah off Hedley Ave is a cycle track along side Schultz canal, that's the near canal not the far canal. Haven't tried it yet but it looks good in a SE and if we could have the centre bit surfaced by BBC it could be an ideal shared space.

On MacArthur Ave Hamilton, the BCC has this dis-used wharf, note that the building is no longer there and it is fenced off. SW/S/SE winds are best.

Wow! MacArthur Ave looks great. Sites for southerlies are rare close to Brisbane. If it is BBC, that would make life easier if they are not concerned about no fence along the river. All we need is a sympathetic and helpful ear in Council.



This area is just off Lytton Rd. Probably privately owned.
Flat gravel surface with clumps of grass which could be easily cleared. Fairly open, trees on eastern edge.
Fenced off with one area used to store new Western Star trucks.

C'mon people, I'm sure there are more than just Brett & I with potential spots. We need areas where we can go for all wind directions and tide times. Upload your images from Google Earth or Google maps. It's easy.

Another landfill. Has been closed for years.
Chandler hardfill site just off Old Cleveland road 3km east of Gateway.
Next to transfer station. Entry from Bacton Rd.
Grass and not very smooth. Would probably need grading at least.
Landfill is higher than the surrounding trees.

Checked out Springwood reservoir. Would be OK in any wind except due North.

Went for a sail at QEII Stadium carpark. Sunday afternoon. About 8 cars, mostly near the gate. ESE wind 15-20kt but gusty. Lots of fun. Slopes make it interesting. Security guard says we would need to get permission from the office, but it shouldn't be a problem.



Photo taken 4pm Friday a few months ago. The ute is facing east. Trees make the wind a bit swirly, but that's another challenge.

I spent some time on Saturday afternoon at Bilinga Beach, north of Kirra and south of Tugun.

It was well placed for the 8-10kt ENE wind, and the tide was nice and low so there was plenty of room to run. Top speed of 47kph, and sailed a total distance of 21 kms (all recorded thanks to my new Navman X300 GPS mounted centrally on the handlebar!).

To access the beach, head south on Golden Four Drive and take the first street which allows access to the Esplanade. Then you're basically central between the flagged beaches of Tugun and North Kirra.

Nice clean sand. Beautiful views all 'round.