21 replies to this topic

[bbb]

could someone kindly tell me who or what the K.L.G. Corner at Phillip Island is named after or what it refers to ?

I see it on program cover maps, but I've never seen a reference to it anywhere else ? ... I did search but didn't turn up anything

thanks

[f1steveuk]

K L G was the name of a spark plug, made by Kenelm Lee Guiness, which may be a possibility?

[David Shaw]

While I was getting ready for work I found this;

[David McKinney]

I always presumed it was named after the spark-plug

Were other corners named after products? I'll remember if I hear them

[Ray Bell]

What era are we taling about?

There was a Repco Corner, the one behind the pits/paddock, I recall once (about '77) the corner into the straight was called 'Belinda's Terrace' and apparently showed there was some sponsorship coming from an establishment that relied on the good looks of some ladies. MG was another, but 'The Copse' (next left out of MG) related to the bushes on the inside of the bend.

'Siberia' was the most distant corner, on the south east corner of the circuit, but it got sponsored names from time to time, while Shell for a long time had signs along the sweeping bend between the Southern Loop and Repco.

[David McKinney]

Relying completely on memory here - I think MG and Repco were around at the same time as KLG

Wasn't there a Lukey's, or was that somewhere else? Either way, it was possibly named after the driver, rather than Lukey's Mufflers

[DJH]

" K.L.G... TOO GOOD TO MISS " was the slogan, my dad had some of their plugs that came apart for cleaning, which seemed like a good idea.
Also remember the slogan done in sky writing over Sydney in the 1950's. Crikey that was a long time ago.

Edited by DJH, 04 February 2010 - 20:59.

[Lee Nicolle]

The 120 deg corner from the bottom straight/kink down to Siberia has been called Honda since the reincarnation of the Island. Though I think officially it is something else. great corner for overtaking though, both in and out.

[Lee Nicolle]

Lukey Heights is the over the crest area at the top of the back straight past the hayshed. MG is the right hander following that leads into the sweeper.

[Ray Bell]

Len Lukey bought the property to save the circuit about 1963...

Lukey Heights is one of the best corners in the business, particularly in very fast cars and because it's followed by that steep downhill run in to MG.

[cooper997]

'KLG Corner' (spark plugs) was one of 5 sponsored parts of the Phillip Island circuit at the first meeting run by PIARC (Phillip Island Auto Racing Club) on Saturday, Dec 15th, 1956. It is Turn 1. The next part with a sponsor was 'Repco Corner' at turn 4. Next part with a sponsor was 'Lane's MG Corner' (Melbourne Nuffield dealers). Still universally known as 'MG'. Then there was the final sweeping turn called 'Olympic Tyres Corner' that brought competitiors along to 'BP Straight' and completion of their lap.

By 1960 (but possibly even earlier) there was 'Siberia' (around from Repco), but Lanes had been dropped and it was just 'MG Corner' by 1961. Then also in 1961 it appears Albion Straight and Lucas Heights were added. These being the hayshed and the Lukey Heights areas. There was also a couple of ring-in corner sponsors during Armstrong 500 events.

'Lukey Heights' was only named as such, upon the circuit's re-opening meeting of Oct 22nd, 1967.

Stephen

[Terry Walker]

KLG Corner at Caversham, late 1960s:

[David McKinney]

Now you're confusing us, Terry

Stephen - thanks for confirming my suspicions

[Mr Plug]

" K.L.G... TOO GOOD TO MISS " was the slogan, my dad had some of their plugs that came apart for cleaning, which seemed like a good idea.

...or as we in another camp used to say: "Two good, two miss"!! Bit like "Autolite....but don't!"

Strap line writers weren't so sophisticated in those days!

[Ray Bell]

David, I'm not sure where you're coming from on this...

Len Lukey obviously owned Lukey Mufflers, so any sponsorship or naming was in the name of the muffler makers, not the driver.

He had the Lukey bridge at Sandown, which was a gantry over the track rather than a bridge, and he did put a bridge over the top of the 'narrows' at Hume Weir, also paying towards the erection of grandstands there. This has been covered before.

[David McKinney]

Nor am I, Ray

The problem is, I'm not sure of the period I'm thinking of. If it was late '50s, it would presumably have been a commercial deal as with KLG or Repco, and abbreviated from "Lukey Mufllers Corner" to plain "Lukey's". Not necessarily paid for, possibly in honour of supporters of the PIARC. If it was later than that - but before he bought the circuit - it could have been named after the man, perhaps in reference to a famous incident at the corner in question. Not presumably the same as at, eg, Brands Hatch, which honoured various contemporary stars with corner names. I don't remember a Bib's Bend or Davo's Dip or anything else at the time

My other problem, as I said at the onset, is that I'm not even sure which circuit I'm thinking of. I was hoping someone would come back with an answer...

[Terry Walker]

KLG, like BP, was a supporter of Australian motor racing in the 50s and 60s. No surprise that there were two tracks with KLG Corners. Just as there was a Coca-Cola Corner at Caversham, and also, later, at Wanneroo Park. Probably others, too.

When I was briefly involved the the student newspaper at the University of Western Austyralia (The Pelican: Editor for about 6 months) I was mortified to discover that the regular support, in the form of paid ads for Swan Lager, came frfom their "charity" budget. Back then, Swan was the sole draft beer in Perth, and students, being students, didn't need to be sold on the idea of drinking beer.

[Ray Bell]

I frankly don't know about the Lukey name at Phillip Island...

I first went there to a race meeting about 1976, so I'm not one to ask really. And I only really have coverage of meetings there back to '63, so the period of real interest is beyond my reach.

As for Coca Cola, RCN was repeatedly threatened with lawsuits for mentioning Coca Cola Corner at Winton. Max could never work it out, they paid to have their name in lights and then didn't want it mentioned in the magazine!

[David Shaw]

I have a copy of the Queen's Birthday Meeting from 1958, and not surprisingly considering the short passage of time, the corner's are named as per Stephen at the first meeting.

[Lee Nicolle]

I frankly don't know about the Lukey name at Phillip Island...

I first went there to a race meeting about 1976, so I'm not one to ask really. And I only really have coverage of meetings there back to '63, so the period of real interest is beyond my reach.

As for Coca Cola, RCN was repeatedly threatened with lawsuits for mentioning Coca Cola Corner at Winton. Max could never work it out, they paid to have their name in lights and then didn't want it mentioned in the magazine!

Ray, it may have ben a case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing. In other words the advertising dept is buying advertising space at racetracks and the legal dept know nothing of it, hence the legal action.
This is a very common thing these days, I have heard of similar with footy grounds too.
Most big corporations seem to do it. Their ineficiency is breath taking.

[Ray Bell]

You'd think they'd ask...

And if they make money while still being breathtakingly inefficient, why can't I make any?

[Lee Nicolle]

You'd think they'd ask...

And if they make money while still being breathtakingly inefficient, why can't I make any?

Me too!