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

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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

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Bill Thompson won the race driving a Bugatti Type 37A
 
Harold Drake-Richmond placed second driving a Bugatti Type 37
 
Barney Dentry placed seventh and won Class B driving a Riley Nine
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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Kent Patrick, Chapter 14, Victory in the 1930 Australian Grand Prix, "Bill Thompson – Australian motor racing champion", pages 97 to 105
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 36 to 41
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ 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
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Preceded by Australian Grand Prix
1930
Succeeded by