56 replies to this topic

[Derek Pitt]

I often think there is nothing more poignant than a dis-used and over-grown motor racing circuit.

The frenetic excitement and noise of past heroes and their glories, when by replaced by the unanswerable silence of the Australian bush, is for me a strange,moving and very sad experience.








A Wet Sunday Afternon Derek

[Derek Pitt]

[Derek Pitt]

wot am i doing wrong?

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Derek Pitt
wot am i doing wrong?

Everything?

More on Templestowe can be found here:

http://forums.autosp...ght=Templestowe

http://forums.autosp...ght=Templestowe

[Derek Pitt]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4


Everything?

More on Templestowe can be found here:

http://forums.autosp...ght=Templestowe

http://forums.autosp...ght=Templestowe

I was referring to the circuit as it stands today..
and the ImAGE Schack problems

[eskimut]

Great Post...!
So Derek, what is the corner.?
Where is the information board located.

Will post up a image later tonight of some racers.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Derek Pitt
I often think there is nothing more poignant than a dis-used and over-grown motor racing circuit.

The frenetic excitement and noise of past heroes and their glories, when by replaced by the unanswerable silence of the Australian bush, is for me a strange,moving and very sad experience.








A Wet Sunday Afternon Derek

Originally posted by Derek Pitt
wot am I doing wrong?

Clicking on 'thumbnails for forums' instead of 'hotlinks for forums'... that's all...

Well, not really 'all'... you're not reducing the pics to a size they'll fit on the screen. Take them down to about 700 pixels wide would be nice.

[Derek Pitt]

Thanks Ray.....

I will have another go today


derek

[Lola5000]

Gee think my father owned that MG/Holden and ran it at the '54 Southport AGP.

[Derek Pitt]

View from starting line up to the Esses. Pits and spectator areas are now "up-market" housing estate. Parts of the original pavement can still be seen.




Derek

[Derek Pitt]

View from Esses down towards Banana Straight.



Derek

[Lola5000]

Maybe the VHRR can restore the hill!

[cooper997]

With David White helping the Austin Seven thread posts 225/226 https://forums.autos...rom-1928/page-5 here's a couple more of his from the same September 1953 Templestowe Hillclimb.

John Sawyer in his K3 getting ready for a run. If I'm on the right track, this car recently sold to a South Australian enthusiast

David White photo

Not your average Renault. Described by David as "The supercharged (I think by Harry Firth) Renault 750 of Andrew Mills (grazier in southern NSW) @ 7th Templestowe in September 1953"

David White photo

Andrew Mills must have been quite fond of his motors being blown, I seem to recall he ran an XK120 in hillclimbs with a supercharger.


With thanks to David White, some more soon.


Stephen

[Ray Bell]

Victorian numberplates...

 

And freshly issued in mid-1953.

[MarkBisset]

Great stuff Stephen,

I wonder what is there these days, I’ve got some circa 1982 or 1983 shots somewhere? 
I’ve a mate at Warrandyte so I rattle past a couple of times a year, must stop and have a good treacle.

M

[Lola5000]

John Sawyer in his K3 getting ready for a run. 

 

K3 3752?

[MarkBisset]

John Sawyer had that dream job with Bob Jane for yonks until replaced by John Sheppard in mid-1970.

What did he do post-Jane? 
 

Bob, apparently, @ Templestowe (unattributed)

 

Edited by MarkBisset, 16 November 2020 - 08:18.

[cooper997]

Mark, If I can find the correct disc I have photos from late 2006. Then the start area/straight was pretty much the back fence of properties, The Hole was partly someones backyard and all The Baron corner and finish straight were blocks of land with developer's signs ready to flog.

 

Here's the map that ran in so many VSCC Templestowe programmes.

 

 

As for Rob quizzing the K3 chassis number, I can only go by the 1979 Blanden book that quotes K3 3752. If there's any of the MG gurus left around TNF then I'm sure they'll tell us.

 

 

Stephen

[Lola5000]

Mark, If I can find the correct disc I have photos from late 2006. Then the start area/straight was pretty much the back fence of properties, The Hole was partly someones backyard and all The Baron corner and finish straight were blocks of land with developer's signs ready to flog.

 

Here's the map that ran in so many VSCC Templestowe programmes.

 

 

As for Rob quizzing the K3 chassis number, I can only go by the 1979 Blanden book that quotes K3 3752. If there's any of the MG gurus left around TNF then I'm sure they'll tell us.

 

 

Stephen

That is the correct chassis #

[cooper997]

A couple of photo pages from May 53's Templestowe #6 programme

 

 

 

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

Patto there showing the ambitious tactics he'd learned with his season in Europe...

 

Mark, I think John Sawyer was moved sideways into a job like Service Manager of a dealership or maybe management at Calder.

[Lee Nicolle]

A couple of photo pages from May 53's Templestowe #6 programme

 

 

 

 

Stephen

Is that tie Lex is wearing CAMS approved!!

[Lola5000]

A couple of photo pages from May 53's Templestowe #6 programme

 

 

 

 

Stephen

great photo of Don McDonald "Black Mac " who only passed on a few years ago , he suffered a bad accident in that car ,which left him with slight head injuries and i think a lost lung?

 

He was a good bloke to know ,who did a lot of debt collecting for many well known Melbourne business people.

 

He raced in the 1953 Albert Park AGP.

 

He went to Scotch College with Bib ,same year ....told me once Bib cheated in marbles !

[cooper997]

Lee quizzes the tie, I'll take it in jest, but he's not the first. It's a sign of the times, but Lex copped some ribbing from his mates and press alike. Particualry over BRDC attire. Graham Howard reveals on page 26 of the Davison tome.

 

Although the photo of Davison running his wife, Diana's #43 TC special appears in Templestowe #6 programme, there's a pretty good chance it was actually taken at November 1952 Templestowe #4. Where he was double entered in the same class. So pre-CAMS formation.

 

Racing Class 1101 – 1500cc

43 Davison, Mrs A N (Driver A N Davison) MG 1250cc

47 Davison, A N – Alfa Romeo 1487cc

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

With the addition of David White's photo of John Sawyer MG K3, with thanks to Tony Johns these pages add some extra detail written by it's longtime (up until recently) owner.

 

"This is the story as written by Jim Nilsson back in 1996 for the Vintage Sports Car Club of Victoria book ‘Racers and Rascals’.

Cheers

Tony"

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Two more David White photos from September 1953 Templestowe #7.

 

John Sawyer reaches the summit of The Wall and is about the drop into The Hole.

 

David wrote...

“The Race” (all set-up of course) between Harry Firth in a Holden and Andrew Mills in the Renault on Banana Straight on the same day at the 7th Templestowe again in September 1953. From memory Harry ‘won’!.

 

 

Stephen

[Nanni Dietrich]

One death was recorded at the Templestowe hillclimb after an accident, when an Australian driver crashed on the approach to the Esses. Details, name of the victim and date of accident are still uncertain, possibly it happened in the mid-1960s.

Any help to solve the mystery?

[cooper997]

Finding the correct info in regards the Templestowe death still remains a mystery.

 

After trying to find something in race reports, I asked David White if he happens to recall.

 

David wrote...

"Re the death of a competitor at Templestowe in the 1960's, from memory, and
that is pretty vague, it was a guy in a Bug Eye Sprite who inverted the car
in the Esses and the car landed on top of him - I think - as in those days I
think even though belts were compulsory rollover protection wasn't.
It may have been mentioned in AMS but avoided (bad publicity) if possible
and of course the media wasn't a shade on what it is nowadays."
 

 

Stephen

[Ian G]

Yes,very few Sports cars had roll over bars back then even on circuit competitiors,i think even seat belts weren't compulsory until the mid 1960's.

Similar event happened at Forty Bends Hillclimb(Lithgow NSW) back in the late 1960's,Sprite rolled over at "Appleshed" corner trapping the driver underneath,IIRC he broke a arm or shoulder but walked to the Ambulance.

[Nanni Dietrich]

One death was recorded at the Templestowe hillclimb after an accident, when an Australian driver crashed on the approach to the Esses. Details, name of the victim and date of accident are still uncertain, possibly it happened in the mid-1960s.

Any help to solve the mystery?

 

Eureka! According to The Canberra Times, issue of 29 October 1962, the name of the victim was Charles Bartolo, 24-year-old from Prahran, Melbourne, who died in a practice run on Sunday 28 October 1962.

 

[cooper997]

After a bit of scratching around I found the page.

 

Listed with Melbourne road deaths

"Charles Bartolo, 24, of

Bowen Street, Prahran, was

killed when his car crashed

in a practice run at the

Templestone Hill Climb circuit to-day."

 

It certainly appears like David White (quoted in post 28) that it was kept from event reports. I've only had a quick glance, but there doesn't appear to be reference within the December 1962 Autosportsman mag report.

 

In the programme for Templestowe #52 held on October 28, 1962, Charles is listed in "Event 1 Sports Up to 1100cc, 1 Team Southern Sporting Car Club (Dvr - C Bartolo) A/H Sprite 948"

 

So if practice ran to the programme then he was the first go. Second, and potentially lined up on the startline when things came unstuck was a future F1 driver, with "2 Tim Shenken (sic) Austin A30 948" (yes, running in the Sports Car class).

 

 

Stephen

 

 

Edited by cooper997, 25 November 2020 - 23:01.

[cooper997]

November 2006 photos of the Templestowe homes back fences bordering the Hill Climb's start straight

 

cooper997 photo

 

and from part way through The Esses

cooper997 photo

 

 

Stephen

[Lola5000]

^{Stephen , when was this hillclimb last used ? and the address?  ta.}

[MarkBisset]

Found this on that Google thingy Rob;

http://www.speedwaya...hill-climb.html

[john medley]

Lola5000 1987 is suggested in MB's find, but I recall an earlier "final" meeting I ran at, no later than 1984-- where, in fact, John Needham introduced you and me. I found Templestowe great fun.

[Lola5000]

Lola5000 1987 is suggested in MB's find, but I recall an earlier "final" meeting I ran at, no later than 1984-- where, in fact, John Needham introduced you and me. I found Templestowe great fun.

Ta John , Lakeland was another , great days .

[cooper997]

^{Stephen , when was this hillclimb last used ? and the address?  ta.}

 

Rob, Sorry slow reply as I've been at Rob Roy HC today. The Templestowe HC location is where Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road intersects with the start (or end, depending which direction one is travelling) of Blackburn Rd. The narrow estate entrance opposite Blackburn Rd is known as The Parkway these days. You follow it until you cross the Mullum-Mullum Creek, find somewhere to park and the old start area should be about 50 to 100m away. Walk as far as you like because the surviving track is a reserve. The Wall will test your fitness.

 

If you continue driving along The Parkway, it will take you to the top of the track, where I think you'll find Arlunya Place is the old finish line section. 

 

There were several Templestowe meeting touted as the final meeting. but December 6, 1987 was the MGCC final, final.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

A couple more of the 2006 photos

 

Coming out of the Esses and into Banana Straight

cooper997 photo

 

A nod to the history of the venue. IIRC, Graham Hoinville had a major part in this sign. Perhaps somewhat more weathered these days.

cooper997 photo

 

 

Stephen

[terry mcgrath]

someone was going to do a book on Templestowe love to see it done. I do have 2 cars that ran there and lots of period photos

terry

tmcgrath@bigpond.com

[cooper997]

From the early days of Ian Fraser's publishing.

 

Sent through by Tony Johns with a note that "It's a bit sad when I can state this is a one owner magazine" - he was a young teenager at the time.

 

It is of course Otto Stone and his K3 with the second page showing him having a run at Templestowe.

 

 

 

 

Stephen

 

[cooper997]

Templestowe's outright recordholders list in the May 1967 programme.

 

 

 

Stephen

[MarkBisset]

A short but very select list, many thanks Stephen

 

 

Bruce Walton, Walton-Cooper Mk8 JAP 1100 s/c (Terry Wright on loosefillings.com)

Edited by MarkBisset, 20 December 2020 - 21:56.

[cooper997]

Today (12 March 2021) represents 70 years to the day since the Victorian Sporting Car Club ran their 1st Templestowe Hillclimb. 

 

I had reason to head out to that part of town today, so went organised enough to visit the site and walk it in the silence of engines that once roared the track as competitors hurriedly tried to beat their own best times or indeed chase outright or class records. 

 

In the 14 1/2 years since I was last there (some photos earlier in this thread) nature is playing its part as the bitumen (and concrete patches) get layered with more bush matter. There's also more homes present than in 2006. But it appears what does survive won't be being built on any further.

 

Here's a couple of snaps taken part way up The Wall, then looking back down The Wall where once the flat paddock adjacent Banana Straight would be filled with spectators cars. The photos don't really do justice to how steep it is! Of course not a chance of seeing anything on that lower level now.

 

cooper997 photo

 

cooper997 photo

 

Also worth noting is that Lloyd Shaw has written a short piece relating to early Templestowe history on how it was built, in the latest VHRR newsletter.

 

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 12 March 2021 - 23:51.

[cooper997]

Once competitiors reached the top of The Wall it was an immediate sharp right hand turn, then drop down into The Hole - now part of a back garden.

 

cooper997 photo

 

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

looks like someone's got a mortgage on FTD...

 

Thanks for the pics, Stephen.

[cooper997]

Out of The Hole and the run to The Baron corner, then hard right to double back 180 degrees to the finish line is somewhat impeded. In 2006 it was still vacant land, now a huge dwelling occupies this area and hence the most part of the track is lost in this area.

 

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 14 March 2021 - 03:28.

[cooper997]

Here's the perfect shot that shows the immediate transition from having powered up The Wall to then have to turn right for The Hole.

 

 

Nigel Tait's first competition outing, Templestowe Hill Climb September 3, 1961.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Courtesy of Tony Johns and the John Bowring Austin 7 collection I get a chance to add some results from Templestowe #40. As you will see, they're undated, but as far as I'm aware #40 ran on 10 July 1960.

 

 

 

 

 

My thanks to Tony and the Bowring family.

 

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

Times in the AMS] report from July 10 seem to agree that was the event, Stephen...

 

Interesting to see that Tony Osborne in a Cooper Holden that early, and I wonder whether Stuart Charge's Chrysler had the pushbutton automatic transmission?

[cooper997]

Ray, I have Tony Osborne listed with the ex Wharton/Gibbs Cooper Bristol chassis 12 months before that 1960 meeting. He'd even tried to sell it in 1959 with an advert in September AMS.

 

Also have a note that Ray Gibbs tried his old car at that July meeting, putting on its side. Not sure if he run that as 'Tony' and hence the DNF listed in the results or simply a practice run.

 

 

Stephen