1934 Victorian Centenary Grand Prix

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
Mick Smith, competing under the name “Gardner”, won the Victorian Centenary Grand Prix driving a 1934 Ford V8 Roadster
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
  1. Thrilling Grand Prix won by Mick Smith, The Argus, Monday, 29 October 1934, page 7
  2. Centenary Grand Prix - Conditions of entry, The Argus, Tuesday, 4 September 1934, page 11
  3. Roads to glory, Australian Hot Rodder, Number Four, pages 66 to 69, www.australianhotrodder.com.au Retrieved on 27 March 2015
  4. Peter Maltezos, 1934-35 Centenary of Victoria and Melbourne, Tuesday, 16 April 2013, urban.melbourne
  5. Centenary Grand Prix, The Argus, Tuesday, 2 October 1934, page 5
  6. Centenary Grand Prix, The Argus, Saturday, 27 October 1934, page 7
  7. Victorian Centenary Grand Prix : dynamic performance in 230 mile race calls forth these sincere tributes / Leggetts, trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 3 February 2020
  8. Kent Patrick, Bill Thompson - Australian motor racing champion, 2011, pages 241 & 242
  9. 1934 - VICTORIAN CENTENARY GRAND PRIX, www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com, as archived at web.archive.org
  10. J3 3771, prewar.mgcc.info, as archived at web.archive.org
  11. Pre-war MG Archives Register, prewar.mgcc.info, as archived at web.archive.org
  12. 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
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