1933 Australian Grand Prix

The 1933 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 20 March 1933.[1] Organised by the Light Car of Australia, it was the sixth Australian Grand Prix and the sixth to be held at Phillip Island.[1] The race, which was the most important annual car competition in Australia,[2] was open to cars of up to 2300cc engine capacity,[1] the 2000cc limit of previous years having been increased for 1933.[1]

The Grand Prix was won by Bill Thompson driving a Riley Brooklands.[1] Thompson's win was his third Australian Grand Prix victory.[2]

Race format

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The Grand Prix was staged as a handicap race with the first car, the Austin of Ken McKinney, scheduled to start 35 minutes before the last car, the Bugatti of Bill Williamson.[1] McKinney was subsequently re-handicapped to 32 minutes.[1] As Williamson's car was withdrawn prior to the race, the Bugatti of Arthur Terdich (off six minutes) was the last car to start.[1]

Race classification

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Race winner Bill Thompson (Riley Brooklands) contesting the 1933 Australian Grand Prix
 
The third placed MG Magna of Les Jennings cornering during the race
 
Neil Gullifer drove a Ballot but did not finish the race.
Position[3] Driver[3] No.[3] Car[3] Entrant[1] Handicap
(minutes)[1]
Laps[3]
1 Bill Thompson 5 Riley Brooklands W Thompson 8 31
2 Harold Drake-Richmond 12 Bugatti Type 37 H Drake-Richmond 16 31
3 Les Jennings 19 MG Magna L Jennings 24 31
4 Clarrie May 16 Austin 7 Austin Distributors P/L 19 31
5 Ken McKinney[4] 20 Austin 7 K McKinney 32[1] 31
6 Bill Lowe 14 Lombard WH Lowe 16 31
FO Norman Putt &
Jack Clements (relief driver)[3]
10 Bugatti Type 37 Britannia Motors P/L 14 31[5]
DNF Neil Gullifer 6 Ballot Britannia Motors P/L 10 24
DNF Carl Junker 7 Bugatti Type 39 EG McKay 12 24
DNF Merton Wreford 8 Bugatti Type 39 M Wreford 12 20
DNF[1][6][4] Geoff Disher 17 Salmson G Disher 21 9[1][6]
DNF Jack McGrath 11 Bugatti Type 37 J McGrath 14 6[6]
DNF Cec Warren 9 Bugatti Type 37 Britannia Motors P/L 12 4
DNF Arthur Terdich 2[1] Bugatti Type 37A AJ Terdich 6 1
DNF Wally Mullett 15 Lea-Francis Britannia Motors P/L 16 1
DNS Bill Williamson 1 Bugatti Type 43 LG Jackson Scratch -
DNS Doug Shepherd 3 Frazer Nash DF Shepherd 7 -
DNS Jack Clements 4 Bugatti Type 38[1] J Clements 8 -
DNS Alan Chamberlain 18 Chamberlain A Chamberlain 23 -
  • FO: Flagged off.[3] (completed the full race distance but not within the allocated time limit)[5]
  • DNF: Did not finish
  • DNS: Did not start

Notes

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  • Race distance: 324.280 km (31 laps x 10.478 km)[3]
  • Winner's race time: 3h 9m 05s (102.90 km/h)[3]
  • Only six cars completed the course within the allotted time limit.[2]
  • Fastest Time: Bill Thompson, 2h 45m 51s[4]
  • Fastest lap: Merton Wreford[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p John Blanden, 1933 Australian Grand Prix, A History Of Australian Grand Prix 1928-1939, pages 91 to 100
  2. ^ a b c Australian Grand Prix - Mr. W. B. Thompson's Success, Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday March 23 1933, page 5, trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved on 4 March 2014
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i 1933 Grands Prix, www.teamdan.com, as archived at web.archive.org
  4. ^ a b c 1933 - Bill Thompson, Riley Brooklands, The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, pages 60 to 65
  5. ^ a b The Official History of the Australian Grand Prix - 80 Races, Chevron, ISBN 9780958846400, page 61
  6. ^ a b c Kent Patrick, Bill Thompson - Australian motor racing champion, 2011, page 193
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Preceded by Australian Grand Prix
1933
Succeeded by