The FIRST Australian Grand Prix

[Ray Bell]

Recognised as such is the 100-miles Road Race held at Phillip Island in March, 1928, but before that... over a year before that... a race was held at Goulburn in NSW in January, 1927. It was won, over three heats, by Geoff Meredith in a Bugatti.

By the way, the man who won in 1928, now deceased, at least lived long enough to see the book that covered the fifty races held between 1928 and 1985 (the first Adelaide World Championship event)... here he is with the book:



I revealed details of that 1927 race in the Historic Racing Newsletter I produce a few weeks ago, tonight I got this e.mail from one of the subscribers:

Good one, Ray! Victoria pinches the modern ho hum yawn AGP (Michael who?) from SA but loses the first ever AGP, for REAL cars, to good old Goulburn, NSW!
No doubt you've heard about the plans being hatched at GEAR today for a 75th anniversary celebration on 15/16 January.

Well, no, I hadn't, but it seems I've started something!

[Ray Bell]

The photo above was taken by my brother the day he visited Arthur Waite in England. The woman answering the door asked what he wanted, he said he wanted to see Arthur Waite. "What about?" she asked... "Well, a long time ago he won a car race in Australia... " he replied.

Opening the door and beckoning him in, the woman said, "And haven't we all heard about that!"

Here's another winner of the race, the 1951 event held at Narrogin in Western Australia.. Warwick Pratley, again with the book (same book) and with his trophy, a contribution to all kinds of sports that year from the Commonwealth Government in recognition of Australia's Jubilee year of self-government. That's his helmet on top of the glass case... and this trophy is now on the missing list, Warwick died six or seven years ago.



The artwork for the cover of the book was the work of Colin Anderson of Brisbane, by the way, depicting the winners of the 1928, 1931, 1950, 1959, 1964, 1970 and 1985 races.

[zealot]

Great stuff Ray!

Posts like this are much appreciated by me (and I'm guessing all readers).

[Ray Bell]

That's all right... wish I could do more.

Actually, I made a mistake with the list of cars on the book's cover... it wasn't the 1970 car but Matich's A50 from 1971, he used the M10B in 1970.

And great news about the 1927 event!

The Mayor of Goulburn has been approached and agreed to celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the race. That's to be held on January 15 and 16, 2002, and there'll be street parades, a plaque unveiled at the site of the event, a dinner and the next day some sore-headed Historic Car owners will enjoy yet another day thrashing around nearby Wakefield Park.

[Maisie]

Ray,

Since you obviously have a wealth of information and pictures on hand, how about writing a few articles for ParcFerme? I'm also very conscious that although I'm on a college network, and therefore have a high bandwidth, others may not be so fortunate, so large pictures could take a while to load, and it would be a shame if forum members felt obliged to skip to the next thread if this one is taking too long. Could you please keep the size of your images down?

[Morris 1100]

Ray
Great news about Goulburn's AGP and the celebrations that will happen next year. Bye the way I met the Mayor of Goulburn last month when he did a pink slip for my Morris 1100 and we got talking about BMC products, It turns out he was a mechanic at the local BMC dealer. He now has a workshop in the Shell service station near the Goulburn Railway station (Sloane st) So he is a nice guy and a car nut (why can't all mayors be that way)

[Ray Bell]

I hope you realise your part in the chain of events that has led to this happening, Morris old boy!

Barry Lake had told me about the event, but it was you who put me in touch with the author of the book about the bikes, giving me enough information to promote the idea in the Historic Newsletter.

Then the GEAR Club picked it up and ran with it... they're excited, they know it's short notice, but they're happy to stretch things to get it done.

The mayor deserves some accolades too.. but I want the TV to record the event so that it can be shown as a sidelight in the AGP telecast in March.

[Morris 1100]

So is there anything else that I can do to help seeing that I am here in Goulburn? or have I done enough

[Ray Bell]

I'd reckon you should lay low, you've caused the mayor enough trouble already!

But seriously, if you give Graeme Snape a ring at Gobbaralong (near Coolac) and let him know you are available for assistance, he'd possibly have something you can do. Or put you onto someone who needs help.

I must get onto Stuart Saunders, it wouldn't be right if the parade in the main street didn't have a Bugatti, would it? I reckon Frank Cuttell's new aircraft engined monster would be a party to all this... he's only at Bowral, pleased as punch that he can stand and set the tappets at chest height!

The car that won, incidentally, was the Bugatti Type 30 8-cylinder later raced at Phillip Island in the GPs held there by Clements.

[David McKinney]

Ironic that my first post on this forum should coincide with your welcome return to a place we have met before!

Ray, any more details on the REAL first AGP?

[Ray Bell]

David, the information we have is very slim indeed... here's the article I published promoting the idea in the last Historic Racing Newsletter...

IS IT too early to start looking at the 75th anniversary of the first Australian Grand Prix. Not at all, if one looks closely and finds the first race run with that name - the date was January 15, 1927!

Oh, I hear the protests already! “Phillip Island was first run in March, 1928,” they cry. And it was, but facts are coming to light and it’s really a surprise that this has been so well hidden over all those years.

Of course, one reason is that there was no controlling body for racing way back then, so there was no allocation of the title for the event to any specific organiser. In fact, the 1928 Phillip Island race was not even known as the ‘Grand Prix’ until some time later!
So what of this event over a year earlier? Why, who, where was it held?

In the Showground at Goulburn on a Saturday afternoon, the contest was conducted by Country Speedways Ltd and it seems the likely purpose was mercenary.

Held under the auspices of the almost-unknown Racing Drivers’ Association by a company headed by the late Phil Garlick and with the help of the Goulburn Motor Club, it was the first event ever to be conducted by them. It was also the last, it would seem, though they scheduled a race for Canberra in the following May to coincide with the opening of Parliament House!

Garlick, however, died the week before the Goulburn event. Cecil Brown, another Director, obviously carried on, while the twenty five pounds spent by the Motor Club preparing the circuit was not to be wasted.

Prizemoney, incidentally, was 50, 25 and 10 pounds for the GP.
Though two six lap heats and a final were scheduled, with half the field to run in each, it appears that three heats were run and perhaps just two cars contested each. Starters were ‘Rajo’ Morgan, Hope Bartlett (Brescia), Peter White (Fronty Ford), Don Harkness (Overland), Geoff Meredith (A V Turner Bugatti T30), Jack O’Rourke (Bugatti T39) and P. O’Keefe (‘Cranky’ Ford). Non-starting was Dick Clark’s Bugatti, along with Garlick.

The heats went to Bartlett, Morgan and Meredith. The final was a victory (at 63mph) for Meredith in the Bugatti, who should have gone on to bigger and better things. Unfortunately he was to die within 15 months or so from an ailment picked up while racing motorcycles overseas.

Cars Damaged

Three match races over four laps each were also held, and during these the Peter White Fronty crashed and was speared by a fence rail. David Manson points out that this, along with Garlick’s crash and Fred Barlow’s fatality during a one-off drive in Harkness’ Overland at Maroubra - followed by Cooper’s rollover in May in the Indianapolis Ballot - severely depleted the number of racing cars in Sydney, and put the drivers on tenterhooks as they battled police opposition to continued racing. Only the Cooper Ballot returned to race again. . .

So now it’s time to look at the Diamond Jubilee of this event. Will it be recognised as the ‘real McCoy’ and supplant the Phillip Id race in the record books? An interesting thought.

I’d like to hear from anyone who knows more about the race, the Company, the people or the circuit, which was an oiled mile and 75 yards long.

That's pretty much all I know at this stage... but the HSRCA guys are now on the case and more might turn up soon. They are having their celebration on January 15 and 16 in Goulburn and at nearby Wakefield Park...

[Ray Bell]

Well, it really is happening!

January 15 will see a parade through the streets and on to the Showgrowund, where the race was held... a plaque will be unveiled, cars will drive round what used to be the circuit....

And the next day the Golden Era Auto Racing Club (GEAR) have their regular mid-week thrash at nearby Wakefield Park...

Over fifty entries are in for each event already, and more are expected in the next week, while other Clubs have cars coming for the parade as well. The whole thing has staggered the Snapes, who are the moving force behind GEAR... must get some photos and post them.

[Vandas]

In 2002 the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club will turn 50.

In 1952 several motorsport enthusiasts started the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club or PIARC, and in 2002 we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary. It is also a year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

As a valued member of the PIARC community we would like to warmly invite you to the launch of our Jubilee year. It is through your dedication and love for the sport that we, as a club, have been able to prosper and grow over the past half century. Therefore we are putting on a fabulous function for your benefit.

What we are providing is a showcase of the history of PIARC’s access to motorsport. With a walk down history lane, including bikes and racing cars from 1952 and 2002, the latest high performance vehicles available, aircraft on display, control tower tours, fully catered meals, visual flashbacks through video and pictorial displays and much more.

Attending this launch will be a number of special guests, including current and former V8 Supercar drivers, with their vehicles. As well as drivers from the GTP and Nations cup classes.

The venue: The Royal Victorian Aero Club, First Ave. Moorabbin Airport.

The date: January 20th 2002

The Time: Function begins at midday

This is a time for us all to enjoy the sport we all work so hard to play.

I look forward to seeing you all there

_____________________________________________________________________

Identities Currently Confirmed
- Peter Brock
- Cameron McConville
- John Faulkiner
- Paul Stokell
- Larry Perkins
- Martin Wagg
- and many more including some historical identities

Vehicles Confirmed
- Stokell's Lamborghini GTR
- Faulkiner's V8 Supercar
- Russel Ingall's Australian Formula Ford Championship Winning Vehicle
- Historic Racing Cars
- Grand Prix Bikes
- Historic Bikes
- Plus much more

Media Attending
- Auto Action
- Australian Motorsport News
- Motor Racing Australia
- Australian Motorcyle News
- Local Media
- In Pit Lane (Channel 31)
- And a few other television programmes currently being discussed.

YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND!!!!!!

[Ray Bell]

Sounds like a big week... and I'd like to be going to both, unfortunately duty calls me north for that weekend.

I certainly hope both events attract plenty of people and get plenty of media exposure...

Next trick will be to get Channel 9 to mention the Goulburn race during their AGP telecast.

[Bomn]

From today’s local paper

Grand Prix programme release
The first ever Australian Grand Prix for motor vehicles was held in Goulburn on January 15, 1927. A dedicated band of Goulburn enthusiasts - with assistance from the Goulburn Tourist Information Office - is about to celebrate this piece of motoring history with a special Australian Grand Prix 75th anniversary meeting on Tuesday January 15 and 16.

The diverse program of events is as follows:

Tuesday January 15
9am Static display of vintage cars dating back to 1920s in Montague Street outside Goulburn Courthouse.
9.45am Parade along Auburn Street, continuing to Goulburn Showground (original racetrack).
11am to 4pm Presentation by Mayor of the City of Goulburn, Cr Max Hadlow,
- Display laps of racing vehicles from this era.
- Mulwaree Rotary Club sausage sizzle and refreshments.
- Draught horse exhibition (part of original program).
- Fly pass by Dick Nell celebrating the first landing of a plane in Goulburn (1914).
- C.R.A.F.T (Crash, rescue and fire team will be sharing information.
- Kids activities - jumping castle - face painting.
7pm Celebratory dinner for exhibitors and friends (must be prebooked).

Wednesday January 16
At Wakefield Park Motor Sport Circuit, Braidwood Road, Goulburn
-Golden Era Auto Racing Club Inc Drive Day
8am Scrutineering.
9am Practice.
10am Drivers briefing.
10.30am-4.30pm Events for racing, sports racing (includes special commemorative event for pre-war cars), production sports, production sedans, cars up to early 1960s.

page 28 Goulburn Post, Monday January 7; 2002

[Ray Bell]

Now Mal Biddlecombe's car is on display at the Tourist Centre... it being one of the cars originally in the race (though in a former life, before the Bugatti engine blew up and was replaced by a Ford V8)... and one of the guys in Goulburn has turned up nine photos taken on the day of the GP.

I hope to have them today, but they might be too big if I post them...

[Ray Bell]

Well, the day was one of the most electric I have ever experienced... exciting, interesting, full of smiling people and the knowledge that another little quarter of Australian Racing history has been unearthed.

The local Council is right behind it all, the Golden Era Auto Racing Club (GEAR) have pushed it all along, the Victorians seem to have blushing faces as they have known about it all along and simply tucked it away and hoped nobody would find out....

And relatives of competitors have come forth with stuff that will be of immense help in further unearthing of yet more history.

Can I post some photos?

[TimD]

Yes, I'd like to see a couple of pics of this. Sounds like a good event.

Links, or image attachments within the size parameters of the board will work best for most users.

[Ray Bell]

Okay... I'll get them scanned in nice and small. Of course, if anyone requests them in a larger size I'll post them larger.

Will be a few days, I don't have a scanner here...

[quintin cloud]

Excellent work Ray, the write up is great reading for someone (me) getting back from holiday for 7 weeks

Quintin

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, quintin... it's nice to hear something positive from time to time...

Anyway, I'll see if this photo meets with the approval of the ones who don't have problems downloading them but speak up on behalf of others...

Any screams of protest at the size and I'll reduce it further.



These are just a couple of the cars that turned up, participated in the street parade and then drove a few laps of the racecourse.

I must get John Medley's permission to reproduce here his little story on the event and his research into it for the programme produced on the day... and does Morris 1100 have any photos?

[Bomn]

Did anybody see the history page in the Daily Telegraph today. It says that the Australian GP can be easily traced to Phillip Island. If they had of looked here they would have found it easier to print history not hearsay.