The Victorian Centenary Grand Prix was a motor race staged at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on Saturday, 27 October 1934.[1] The 230 mile race, which was organised by the Australian Racing Drivers Club, was contested on a handicap basis.[1] The race was the richest and the longest that had been held in the state of Victoria to that time,[1] and was the first road race in Australia to be open to "catalogued racing and sports cars of all powers".[2] Of the 22 starters, eight finished within the limit of 25 minutes after the winner.[1] The race was won by Mick Smith, competing under the name “Gardner”, and driving a Ford V8 Roadster.[1]
The Grand Prix was an official event on the centenary program[3] commemorating Edward Henty’s 1834 settlement at Portland, which led to the founding of the state of Victoria.[4]
Results
| Position[1] | Driver[1] | No. | Car[1] | Entrant[5] | Handicap[6] | Race Time[1] | Laps[1] |
| 1 | "Gardner" (Mick Smith) | 11[3] | Ford V8 Roadster | "Gardner" | 18m 5s | 3:07:56 | 35 |
| 2 | Les Murphy | 18[7] | MG P Type Midget | Lane's Motors | 35m 35s | 3:28:35 | 35 |
| 3 | Ted McLean | Salmson | T. McLean | 37m 20s | 3:35:57 | 35 | |
| 4 | Barney Dentry[8] | Dentry Special Riley | G. Barney Dentry[6] | 15m 10s | 3:12:32 | 35 | |
| 5 | Murray Maxwell[8] | MG P Type Midget | Lane's Motors | 33m 50s | 35 | ||
| 6 | Bob Lea-Wright[8] | 21[9] | Singer Le Mans | R.A. Lea-Wright | 36m 10s | 35 | |
| 7 | Ces Warren | 1[8] | MG Q Type Midget s/c | Britannia Motors | Scratch | 35 | |
| 8 | Norman Putt[7] | MG J2 | Britannia Motors | 36m 45s | 35 | ||
| DNF | Colin Keefer[7] | MG J2 | Britannia Motors | 36m 45s | |||
| DNF | Jim Skinner[7] | MG J2 | Britannia Motors | 36m 45s | |||
| DNF | R.G. Watson | Wolseley Hornet Special | Kellow-Falkiner Pty Ltd[6] | 35m 35s | |||
| DNF | Campbell Graham[6] | MG P Type Midget | Lane's Motors | 35m 35s | |||
| DNF | V. Maloney | MG Magna | Lane's Motors | 29m 10s | |||
| DNF | Ron Head[8] | Riley Brooklands | W.E. Johnson[6] | 27m 25s | |||
| DNF | J. Norman[6] | Ballot 2 Litre[5] | J. Norman | 20m 35s | |||
| DNF | Les Jennings[8] | MG Magna | L. Jennings | 19m 15s | |||
| DNF | Bernie Horsley[10] | 10[11] | MG J3 Midget[6] | J.L. Hosley & W.B. Horsley | 17m 30s | ||
| DNF | Jack Clements | MG J3 Midget[6] | Britannia Motors | 17m 30s | |||
| DNF | J.O. McCutcheon | Bugatti Type 37[8] | K. MacMeikan | 17m 30s | |||
| DNF | Harry Beith[8] | Chrysler 72 | H.J. Beith | 12m 50s | |||
| DNF | Jack Williamson[8] | Riley Imp | B.L. Cohen & W.H. Cameron | 12m 50s | 5 | ||
| DNF | Bill Thompson[8] | MG K3 Magnette s/c[8][1] | Lane's Motors | 1m 10s | |||
| DNS[12] | N.O. Hope[6] | MG J3 Midget[6] | N.O. Hope | 17m 30s | - |
Note: Non-finishers have been listed in starting order, due to lack of information regarding laps completed.
- Total race distance: 35 laps, 230 miles[1] (370 km)
- Limit starter: Ted McLean[1]
- Scratch starter: Ces Warren[1]
- Winner's race time: 3:07:56[1]
- Fastest time: "Gardner" (Mick Smith)[1]
- Fastest lap: Ces Warren, 4:39 (84.74 mph)[1]
- Teams prize: Lane's Motors[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Thrilling Grand Prix won by Mick Smith, The Argus, Monday, 29 October 1934, page 7
- ^ Centenary Grand Prix - Conditions of entry, The Argus, Tuesday, 4 September 1934, page 11
- ^ a b Roads to glory, Australian Hot Rodder, Number Four, pages 66 to 69, www.australianhotrodder.com.au Retrieved on 27 March 2015
- ^ Peter Maltezos, 1934-35 Centenary of Victoria and Melbourne, Tuesday, 16 April 2013, urban.melbourne
- ^ a b Centenary Grand Prix, The Argus, Tuesday, 2 October 1934, page 5
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Centenary Grand Prix, The Argus, Saturday, 27 October 1934, page 7
- ^ a b c d Victorian Centenary Grand Prix : dynamic performance in 230 mile race calls forth these sincere tributes / Leggetts, trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 3 February 2020
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kent Patrick, Bill Thompson - Australian motor racing champion, 2011, pages 241 & 242
- ^ 1934 - VICTORIAN CENTENARY GRAND PRIX, www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com, as archived at web.archive.org
- ^ J3 3771, prewar.mgcc.info, as archived at web.archive.org
- ^ Pre-war MG Archives Register, prewar.mgcc.info, as archived at web.archive.org
- ^ Hope is mentioned in the report in The Argus, 27 October, as having practiced for the race but is not included in the starters listed in The Argus race report of 29 October
This page was last edited on 11 April 2023, at 04:51