**1964 Lowood 4 Hour**
The 1964 Lowood 4 Hour was an endurance motor race held at the Lowood circuit in Queensland, Australia. It featured production touring cars competing over a four-hour duration, testing both vehicle durability and driver skill.
## Overview
The 1964 Lowood 4 Hour was a significant event in Australian motorsport, taking place at the Lowood circuit, a prominent racing venue located near Brisbane, Queensland. The race was designed as an endurance challenge for production touring cars, emphasizing reliability and consistency over outright speed. It attracted a variety of manufacturers and privateer teams, showcasing the capabilities of production vehicles in a competitive environment.
## The Lowood Circuit
The Lowood circuit was a well-known racing track in Queensland, operational from the late 1940s through the 1960s. It was a 4.54-kilometer (approximately 2.82 miles) road course featuring a combination of fast straights and challenging corners. The circuit was popular for hosting various motorsport events, including touring car races, sports car competitions, and motorcycle races. Its layout demanded both technical driving skills and mechanical endurance from participants.
## Race Format and Regulations
The 1964 Lowood 4 Hour was structured as an endurance race lasting four hours, with teams aiming to complete the greatest distance within the allotted time. The event was open to production touring cars, which were vehicles based on standard production models with limited modifications allowed to ensure fairness and maintain relevance to consumer automobiles.
Cars were typically divided into classes based on engine capacity or vehicle type, allowing for competition among similar vehicles. Drivers had to manage tire wear, fuel consumption, and mechanical reliability, making strategic pit stops essential to success.
## Participants and Vehicles
The race attracted a diverse field of competitors, including factory-backed teams and private entrants. Popular models of the era such as the Ford Cortina, Holden EH, Morris Cooper, and various other Australian and international makes were represented. The event provided manufacturers with an opportunity to demonstrate the performance and durability of their vehicles under race conditions, influencing consumer perceptions and sales.
## Race Outcome
The 1964 Lowood 4 Hour was contested fiercely, with teams balancing speed and endurance. The winning team completed the greatest number of laps within the four-hour period, showcasing both driver skill and vehicle reliability. While specific race results vary in historical records, the event contributed to the growing popularity of endurance racing in Australia and helped establish Lowood as a key venue in the national motorsport calendar.
## Legacy
The Lowood 4 Hour races, including the 1964 edition, played an important role in the development of Australian touring car racing. They provided a platform for manufacturers to test and promote their vehicles and for drivers to gain experience in endurance formats. Although the Lowood circuit eventually ceased operations in the late 1960s, its contribution to Australian motorsport history remains significant.
The endurance format of the Lowood 4 Hour influenced subsequent Australian touring car events, including the famous Bathurst endurance races. The 1964 race exemplified the era’s growing enthusiasm for motorsport and the increasing competitiveness of production-based racing.
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**Meta Description:**
The 1964 Lowood 4 Hour was an endurance touring car race held at Queensland’s Lowood circuit, highlighting vehicle durability and driver skill in a four-hour competition. It played a key role in the development of Australian motorsport during the 1960s.