Can Craig Make it Six Wins In a Row? Ipswich 360

Will Craig make it Six in a Row at Ipswich?

CRAIG Lowndes is the hot favourite for a podium finish at this weekend's Coates Hire Ipswich 360. 
The three-time V8 Supercars champion has won the past five races straight in Ipswich, clean-sweeping three races in 2011 and another two last year. 

He's finished in the top two in seven of the past eight races at Queensland Raceway since 2009 and has 11 career race wins at the circuit - more than any other driver. 

The showdown for the 2013 Australian V8 Supercar Championships continues when the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 fires up at Queensland Raceway tomorrow through to Sunday. 

It's shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend of high-octane action as the V8 Supercar stars line up to gain serious points in the championship. 

Petrol heads turned out in their thousands to welcome the V8 Supercar teams as they made a spectacular entrance into town yesterday in the Transporter Parade. 

Fans met their favourite drivers when they made a pit stop at Coates Hire Ipswich store at Churchill. 
But the big event Holden and Ford fans are eagerly awaiting is race 22-24 of the Australian V8 Supercar Championships, which green-lights on Saturday at 3.40pm. 

The next generation of V8 Supercars will take on the new sprint format at the Queensland Raceway, dubbed the Paperclip, for the first time in Queensland. 

Ford flyer Will Davison, who won at Ipswich for the Holden Racing Team in 2009, will be among 26 other drivers vying to defeat Craig Lowndes in his Triple Eight Commodore who has taken five victories in a row at the circuit. 

Davison said the unpredictable performance variations brought to the category by Car of the Future, the all soft-tyre sprint-race format of the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 and a limited 20-tyre bank were signs that Lowndes may be beatable. 

"I am expecting quite a lot of competitive cars there," he said. 

"Having a car that is good on the tyres in the 100km races on the Sunday is crucial. I think it will be really interesting to see whether we pit or not. 

"We have obviously gone through a lot of different strategy options … and we have a very limited tyre bank so how you manage those tyres will be interesting." 

Davison has scored 1376 points in the 2013 championship. He trails leader Jamie Whincup (Red Bull Racing Australia Holden Commodore VF) by 215 points and Lowndes (Red Bull) by 104. 

After a strong 2-4 Townsville result, Davison's teammate, Mark Winterbottom, has jumped into fourth in the championship on 1337 after earning the most points of anyone in the field at the Sucrogen Townsville 400. 
There are 300 points up for grabs this weekend across the three races. Support races will include the Dunlop Series, Touring Car Masters, Formula Ford and Aussie Racing Cars. 

There will be entertainment for the whole family with aerial displays by Australia's top gun, Matt Hall, Team Army shows, Air Force Super Hornet flyover, Shannons auto show, car club displays, Team Bray Racing with their supercharged burn-out machines and the University of Queensland's Formula SAE team. 

Treat the kids to plenty of action on track and off with the new Disney-Pixar Fun Zone, including Mack the transporter, Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Monsters University. Kids 12 and under receive free general admission with a paying adult.

Find and Booking Ipswich Hotel Accommodation at Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Oktoberfest Coming to Ipswich - Postponed till 2014!

Update: Unfortunately due to venue issues, the event has been postponed till 2014!

Oktoberfest began in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of the Bavarian royals King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Citizens of Munich were invited to join in the festivities and the celebration became an annual event. The city began allowing beer to be served from makeshift stands and by 1896 Oktoberfest had tens of thousands of guests descending upon the event in Munich each year.

It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the original Munich event.

Today, Oktoberfest is the largest, most well known festival in the world and it has finally arrived in Ipswich!
There will be entertainment, music, rides, German dance, drinks and more!

Beer

Beer is a major aspect of Germany's history and culture. Germany is widely recognised as one of the world's greatest beer centres, producing the largest variety of beer styles in the world. Bavaria is Germany's leading beer producing region, and Dortmund, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen), is Germany's largest beer-producing city (producing over 4 million barrels of beer annually).

Now, you have the facts and you know how awesome German beer is, we want to bring the best selection to you at Ipswich Oktoberfest. After all... Oktoberfest wouldn't be the same without it!

Food

Oktoberfest is not just about the beer, it is also about food! The team will bring you a wide range of German food, including the authentic Ochsenbraterei (Oxgrill) cooked in the traditional way, as well as your favourites like pork knuckle and schnitzel. So there really will be something on our menu for everyone, or if you are anything like us you'll want to try a bit of everything.

Where: Limestone Park (Oval D) Griffith Road, Ipswich
When: From 4th to 7th October 2013

• Friday 4th Oct - 4pm to Midnight
• Saturday 5th Oct - 11am to Midnight
• Sunday 6th Oct - 11am to Midnight
• Monday 7th (Public Holiday) Oct - 11am to 6pm

How To Get There: http://www.ipswichoktoberfest.com.au/info.html#.Ud5KdDtHLE0
Official website: http://www.ipswichoktoberfest.com.au/
Entertainment: http://www.ipswichoktoberfest.com.au/entertainment.html#.Ud5GjztHLE0
Tickets: http://www.ipswichoktoberfest.com.au/tickets.html#.Ud5GmjtHLE0

Coming to Ipswich for Oktoberfest? 
Need hotel accommodation in Ipswich?

Metro Hotels Ipswich International offers a convenient location in Ipswich for Oktoberfest. The hotel is only a 4 minute drive or 16 walk to Limestone Park Griffith Road, Ipswich!

Hotel Features: 

• Free on-site car parking
• 100% non-smoking
• 4 ½ star hotel
• Beautifully decorated with state-of-the-art appliances
• Platform 9" a-la-carte Restaurant/Bar 
• Lift access to all floors from Reception 
• Disabled access and facilities
• Minibar

Hotel Location: 43 South Street (Cnr Foote Lane) Ipswich Qld 4305
Website: Metro Hotels Ipswich International


Hotel room discount package:

Sunday / Monday Madness @ Metro Hotels Ipswich International
Metro Hotel Ipswich International is offering this Sunday / Monday Madness accommodation package for $110.00 including:

• One Nights accommodation
• Late check-out of 1.00 pm
• Free Internet
• Details and To Book: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/special/241

Kick-start Financial Year With A Meeting @ Metro Hotel Ipswich International Qld

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is making it simple and affordable for businesses to plan for the new financial year with a competitively priced, all-inclusive conference package.

Priced at just $50 per person per day (normally $59 per person), the new Daily Delegate Special is available for all new bookings made for meetings held between 1 July and 30 September, 2013 (minimum 20 people). 

Complimentary room hire is included in the package ($250 per day for less than 20 people) along with AV equipment – a whiteboard, flip-chart and lectern.

Continuous tea and coffee are included in the package, as well as morning tea with scones, pastries or a fruit selection, a light and healthy working lunch, and homemade cookies, cake or scones for afternoon tea. Hot lunch boxes can be included for an additional fee of $10 per person.

Rated four and a half stars and holding the Green Star Accreditation for environmental sustainability, Metro Hotel Ipswich International is a well-established and highly regarded conference and accommodation venue experienced in dealing with a wide range of events, from small business meetings to large overnight conferences.

With 97 rooms, seven conference rooms of different sizes and styles and an exclusive fine-dining restaurant, Metro Hotel Ipswich International provides everything necessary to host the perfect corporate event. Catering is provided through the hotel’s signature restaurant Platform 9, which can cater for any number of guests, budgets and specific dietary requirements.

For team-building activities, Ipswich provides the ideal location outside of the busy high-rise areas of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with its surrounding hinterland offering endless opportunities to push and develop a team. Options range from a gentle exploration of Queensland’s oldest provincial city with architecture dating back to the early 1800's to local high-adrenalin events.

For those who like to combine business with leisure pursuits, try teeing off on the Greg Norman-designed Brookwater Golf Club or touring the spectacular local vineyards and cellar doors. For the more adventurous, there is bushwalking, canoeing, hot air ballooning, fishing or sky diving – staff at the hotel can help advise which local tourism options most suit your needs.

To enquire about the new Daily Delegate Special or to discuss your next meeting requirements, contact Metro Hotel Ipswich International Functions Coordinator Kimberley Gent on (07) 3812 8077 or email eventsipswich@metrohg.com

Metro Hotel Ipswich International location: 43 South Street (Cnr Foote Lane) Ipswich Qld 4305

Racing Action in Ipswich This Winter

by Sarah Peattie

Ipswich’s winter season kicks off on the June long weekend with the 2013 FUCHs Winternationals. Held at Willowbank Raceway, this event will see Australia’s stars of the drag track battle it out for the ultimate prize of ‘Top Fuel’ car – along with the $11,500 prize money. Motorbikes, drag racers and other hotted-up vehicles are sure to entertain the crowd, with plenty of entertainment for the whole family across this four day event held from 7-10 June 2013.

If revved up engines aren’t your thing, step into town the following weekend when the Ipswich Turf Club hosts the annual Ipswich Cup on Saturday 15 June 2013. It is the biggest race held by the Ipswich Turf Club and is worth a total of $200,000 in prize money. Run under handicap conditions, the Ipswich Cup is open to horses aged three-years-old and upwards.

Queensland Raceway will host the Shannon’s Two Days of Thunder event on 22-23 June, where a range of beautiful cars from today and yesteryear will gather to show off their fabulous buffs and shines. 

On the weekend of July 26 – 28, the V8 Supercars are set to roll into town for the Coates Hire Ipswich 300. This popular event has already resulted in much of the city’s accommodation being booked out.  There’s sure to be action packed thrills and spills as the Supercar Stars race around the track looking for points. Once again, there will be something for the whole family with ‘Mack the Transporter’ attending the event as part of Disney Pixar’s Fun Zone.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is making it easier to relax and enjoy all the events in Ipswich this winter by offering a great bed and breakfast package of $149 per couple per night valid until August 31.  This includes one night’s accommodation in a Superior Queen Room, hot chocolate welcome pack, breakfast, internet, parking, $30 voucher when two people dine in the restaurant and order a two-course meal.

“The beauty of this package is that you can go hard all day then come back to Metro Hotel Ipswich International, where you and your friends can relive the experience while enjoying the comfort of our facilities then wake up to a hearty breakfast,” said General Manager, Ted Matthews. “It is a complete experience not to be missed.”

See the B&B Special @ Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Strawberries & Wine "Romantic Weekend Package" @ Metro Hotel Ipswich International

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is offering this Romantic Weekend Package for $266.00 per night including: 

• Two course evening meal with a complimentary glass of wine in Platform 9 Restaurant 
• Sparkling Wine and Strawberries on arrival 
• Breakfast for two 
• Late check out

To Book: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/special/277

Location: 43 South Street (Cnr Foote Lane) Ipswich Qld 4305

Phone: 1800 066 499 or +61 7 38128077

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is a Hotel Accommodation provider located right in the heart of the Ipswich CBD, next door to the Ipswich Civic Hall and only 40km from the Brisbane CBD allowing easy travel to and from Brisbane City itself by train or bus.

4 1/2 star, six storey property overlooking one of the pristine parklands that Ipswich is proud to boast, offering 97 Accommodation Rooms, consisting of 11 One Bedroom Apartments, 2 Executive Spa Suites, 68 Superior Rooms and 16 Deluxe Rooms. 7 first class Wedding & Conference Rooms and an unforgettable gourmet dining experience at our "Platform 9" a-la-carte Restaurant & Lounge Bar.

Our Hotel group is renowned for quality and friendly personalised service ensuring your stay with us will be enjoyable, relaxing and stress-free.

What's On Ipswich: Be as Mad as a Hatter and Come to My Party

DID SOMEONE SAY FUN: Metro Hotel Ipswich International functions co-ordinator Kimberley Gent will be hosting a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to raise money for cancer research.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International hopes Ipswich residents will slide down the rabbit hole into Wonderland this week when they host a Mad Hatter's Tea Party to raise funds for cancer research.

The hotel is participating in Australia's Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday for the Cancer Council.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International general manager Ted Matthews said the tea party was the perfect opportunity for residents and their families to come together for a good cause.

"We regularly host events for causes that we believe in, and this is one of the best and most accessible events on the annual calendar," he said.

Places are limited. RSVP to Metro Hotel Ipswich International on 3812 8077.

See the original QT release

Plenty of Action in Ipswich this Winter

Willowbank Raceway - Ipswich

There is lots of action in Ipswich over the next few months, with a string of events providing plenty of good reasons to visit this provincial city throughout winter.

Ipswich’s winter season kicks off on the June long weekend with the 2013 FUCHs Winternationals. Held at Willowbank Raceway, this event will see Australia’s stars of the drag track battle it out for the ultimate prize of ‘Top Fuel’ car – along with the $11,500 prize money. Motorbikes, drag racers and other hotted-up vehicles are sure to entertain the crowd, with plenty of entertainment for the whole family across this four day event held from 7-10 June 2013.

If revved up engines aren’t your thing, step into town the following weekend when the Ipswich Turf Club hosts the annual Ipswich Cup on Saturday 15 June 2013. It is the biggest race held by the Ipswich Turf Club and is worth a total of $200,000 in prize money. Run under handicap conditions, the Ipswich Cup is open to horses aged three-years-old and upwards.

Queensland Raceway will host the Shannon’s Two Days of Thunder event on 22-23 June, where a range of beautiful cars from today and yesteryear will gather to show off their fabulous buffs and shines. 

On the weekend of July 26 – 28, the V8 Supercars are set to roll into town for the Coates Hire Ipswich 300. This popular event has already resulted in much of the city’s accommodation being booked out.  There’s sure to be action packed thrills and spills as the Supercar Stars race around the track looking for points. Once again, there will be something for the whole family with ‘Mack the Transporter’ attending the event as part of Disney Pixar’s Fun Zone.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International is making it easier to relax and enjoy all the events in Ipswich this winter by offering a great bed and breakfast package of $149 per couple per night valid until August 31.  This includes one night’s accommodation in a Superior Queen Room, hot chocolate welcome pack, breakfast, internet, parking, $30 voucher when two people dine in the restaurant and order a two-course meal.

“The beauty of this package is that you can go hard all day then come back to Metro Hotel Ipswich International, where you and your friends can relive the experience while enjoying the comfort of our facilities then wake up to a hearty breakfast,” said General Manager, Ted Matthews. “It is a complete experience not to be missed.”

View the Bed and Breakfast Package