1930 Australian Grand Prix
The 1930 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 24 March 1930.[1] The race, which was organised by the Light Car Club of Victoria, was the third Australian Grand Prix and the third held at Phillip Island.[1] It was staged as a scratch race with the Class A cars starting first, followed by the Class B entries three minutes later and the Class C cars a further three minutes after that.[2] The Grand Prix title was awarded to the entry recording the fastest time for the race.[1] Of the 22 cars which started the race, nine completed the race distance within the 4½ hour time limit.[3]
The race was won by Bill Thompson driving a Bugatti Type 37A.[1]
Classes[edit]
Cars competed in classes according to cylinder capacity.[1]
- Class A: Cars up to 850cc [1]
- Class B: Cars over 850cc and up to 1100cc [1]
- Class C: Cars over 1100cc and up to 1500cc [1]
- Class D: Cars over 1500cc and up to 2000cc [1]
Only one entry, the 1517cc Lea-Francis Hyper of Mick Carlton, was received for Class D.[1] At the discretion of the organisers it was placed in Class C.[1]
Classification[edit]
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| Pos[3] | No.[1] | Class[3][1] | Driver[3][1] | Car[3][1] | Laps[3][1] | Time / Remarks [4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C10 | C | Bill Thompson | Bugatti Type 37A s/c | 31 | 3h 06m 00s |
| 2 | C6 | C | Harold Drake-Richmond | Bugatti Type 37 | 31 | 3h 25m 00s |
| 3 | A1 | A | Cyril Dickason | Austin 7 | 31 | 3h 30m 30s[5] |
| 4 | A3 | A | Harry Burkill | Austin 7 | 31 | 3h 44m 30s |
| 5 | A10 | A | Ken McKinney | Austin 7 | 31 | 3h 46m 00s[3] |
| 6 | A1 | C | John Goodall | Aston Martin-Anzani | 31 | 3h 47m 30s |
| 7 | B1 | B | Barney Dentry | Riley Nine Brooklands | 31 | 3h 51m 30s |
| 8 | B7 | B | Jack Edwards | Sénéchal | 31 | 4h 06m 30s |
| 9 | A8 | A | Wally Whelan | Morris Minor | 31 | 4h 06m 30s |
| DNF | C3 | C | Ron Gardner | Alvis 12/50 | 19 | Magnetto[1] |
| DNF | A2 | A | Clarrie May | Austin 7 | 17 | Rollover[1] |
| DNF | C2 | C | Albert Edwards | Alvis FWD s/c | 16 | Accident[1] |
| DNF | C5 | C | Arthur Terdich | Bugatti Type 37A s/c | 10 | Con rod |
| DNF | A5 | A | Les Jennings | Morris Minor | 7 | Engine bearings |
| DNF | C4 | C | Mick Carlton | Lea-Francis Hyper | ? | Gearbox |
| DNF | A6 | A | Jack McCutcheon | Morris Minor | ? | Engine bearings |
| DNF | A7 | A | Bernie Sutton | Morris Minor | ? | Engine bearings |
| DNF | B4 | B | Bill Johnson | Riley Nine Brooklands | ? | Bearings[1] |
| DNF | B5 | B | Frank Matthews | Standard s/c | ? | Ignition |
| DNF | C7 | C | Reg Brearley | Bugatti Type 37 | ? | Engine |
| DNF | B6 | B | Bill Lowe | Lombard AL3 s/c | 0 | Overheating |
| DNF | B8 | B | Frank Corrigan | Amilcar | 0 | Accident[1] |
Note: DNF indicates that car did not finish.
Notes[edit]
- Attendance: Over 7,000[4]
- Race distance: 200 miles [6]
- Entries: 28[1]
- Starters: 22[3]
- Classified finishers: 9[3]
- Winner's average speed: 65.5 miles per hour (105.4 km/h)[1]
- Sealed Handicap winner: Cyril Dickason (Austin 7)[3]
- Fastest lap: Bill Thompson – approx. 75 mph (new lap record)[3]
- Race time limit: 4½ hours[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w John Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, pp. 43–58
- ^ Kent Patrick, Chapter 14, Victory in the 1930 Australian Grand Prix, "Bill Thompson – Australian motor racing champion", pages 97 to 105
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Thrilling Motor Race, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957) Tuesday 25 Mar 1930, Page 14, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au
- ^ a b The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 36 to 41
- ^ Australian Grand Prix A Class Winner's Time Reduced by Seven Minutes, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957) Wednesday 26 Mar 1930, Page 20, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au
- ^ Motor Grand Prix - 22 Start: 9 Finish, The Advertiser, Tuesday 25 March 1930, Page 15, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 31 August 2023