Before I continue the Arthur Chick, Austin Super Sports story, I would like to make a correction to post # 346.
The first owner, Len O’Hara, after a transfer from Austin sales to the Dodge division of Winterbottom Motor Company, sold the Austin 7 to Alf Chick, a motorcycle speedway champion who competed in a couple of events before his cousin Arthur E Chick continued to race the Super Sports in West Australia.
Sunday 30 August 1931 was the next outing for Arthur Chick and the Super Sports Austin at the annual Lake Perkolilli carnival near Kalgoorlie in outback West Australia. Chick had recently imported and fitted a LAP OHV cylinder head to the Austin and wrote to the organisers requesting a change to his handicap. The West Australian reported. 'The handicappers for the Sporting Car Club’s carnival at Perkolilli on Sunday August 30, received notification on Tuesday from Arthur Chick that an overhead valve set had arrived from England for his supercharged Austin and that he desired a re-handicap'. The revised handicaps for Chick were published in the Daily News on Saturday following the Friday elimination trials. Lightning Short, 15 sec. Lightning Long, 25 sec. & Miniature Grand Prix, 4 sec.
The program was styled on the VLCC Phillip Island Grand Prix programs, and Eric Armstrong had been loaned the printers block following his entry in the 1931 race.
Ken Devine Collection.
The hand written handicap sheet.
Paul Armstrong Collection.
Earlier that month the Perth Sunday Times suggested that at least two entries are expected from the East, though at the time of going to press they were not actually in hand. One was Cyril Dickason with the 90 mph super charged Brooklands Austin that took him to victory in the 200 mile Victorian Grand Prix earlier this year.
West Australian Sporting Car Club president, Eric Armstrong had entered the AGP at Phillip Island in March and returned home with several suggestions, including a Grand Prix of 70 miles. Sandbag barricades in the shape of an “S” on two parts of the course were added to give both drivers and the crowd plenty of exciting moments. The Perkolilli Cup race would follow the English and European method of starting with the drivers and their mechanics lined up 25 yards behind the cars. They would be lined up abreast on the 75 yard wide track, and when the starters gun is fired competitors they will run for their cars, start up and get away.
Chick was off to a good start in the first race of the day. The Lightning Short Handicap with the Austin was showing surprising pace. The little car hummed around the circuit with a genuine racing “crackle,” but was overtaken by the two Chryslers on the last lap and finished in third place.
One of the best events of the day was the State Championship (under 10hp). Chick and Armstrong had both shown what they could do, and it was anticipated that there would be a mighty battle for the honours between these old opponents. Right from the start they took the lead and for the whole distance fought it out. Armstrong eventually received the flag, with Chick screaming alongside him. Neil Baird in his Chummy tourer gamely finished in third place. Baird later went on to win the Lightning Long Handicap.
Arthur Chick was a non starter in the Grand Prix after the Cozette supercharger “packed up” in an earlier race.
Lining up for the start of the State Championship Under 10hp race. Neil Baird, stripped Chummy, Arthur Chick, Super Sports now fitted with Meteor radiator cowling and Eric Armstrong in the supercharged Triumph. Note, to save weight Chick has removed the exhaust pipe on the Austin.
Graeme Cocks Collection.
Chick takes an early lead in the Under 10hp race.
Graeme Cocks Collection.
Finish of the Under 10hp Championship. Eric Armstrong in his supercharged Triumph just beating Arthur Chick in his supercharged Austin. The time taken was 7 min 3½ sec.
Graeme Cocks Collection, published in the Perth Daily News 31/8/1931.
The annual hill climb organised by the West Australian Sporting Car Club at Whittaker’s Hill, North Dandalup on Sunday 25 October 1931 was not a good day for Arthur Chick. As reported in the Sunday Times. ‘Arthur Chick drove his supercharged Austin again. He did not have it going as well as at the previous event when he put up the record for light cars, which still stands. Arthur is a great sportsman and could be seen before every event tinkering around with his Austin to get it right, and was said to have changed the magneto, and head gasket two or three times during the day’. Armstrong in his supercharged Triumph won the Under 10 hp Championship, Poole, Bugatti second and Chick third.
Neil Baird was involved in the days only accident when he handed over his Chummy to his mechanic/passenger for the return journey down the hill. It rolled over, Baird received facial injuries and the Austin was considerably damaged.
Sunday Times,27/3/1932 (Trove).
BROOKLANDS, a new speedway built in the Perth suburb of West Subiaco, adjacent to the aerodrome was officially opened by the local Mayor on Saturday 26 March 1932 with a series of heats for cars and motorcycles. As it was the Easter weekend the races were held on the following Monday. The design of the course, a mile long was made up with two straights and four banked corners with short connecting straights. One of the rules the promotors insisted on was all drivers and mechanics had to wear clean white overalls, a supply of which was available in the paddock at 1/- per pair.
Chick recorded a third in his heat for the Directors Cup, a second in the heat for the Brooklands Handicap and again second in the final. The last race, a Triangular Match Race between Armstrong, Triumph and Gil Ford, Douglas side car resulted in a win for Chick after Ford slowed down thinking the race was over and he had won.
Graeme Cocks Collection.
The Lesmurdie Hill Climb report printed in the West Australian on Monday 23 May 1932 went on to say ‘Arthur Chick’s supercharged Austin has not regained its old form, and after running inconspicuously in two events it retired with piston trouble’.
Arthur Chick’s luck did not get any better when he visited Brooklands for the second time on Saturday 25 June 1932. Beating Eric Armstrong in his supercharged Triumph in the heat for the All Powers Handicap of five miles. But in the match race with Armstrong, Chick held the lead at the end of the first lap, but overtaken by Armstrong at the back corner after the Austin skidded violently and was forced to retire with a broken axle.
Chick’s run of bad luck ended at the third annual Whittaker's Hillclimb on Sunday 30 October 1932. The report in the West Australian mentioned the ideal weather and large crowd. Eric Armstrong had sold the supercharged Triumph to Clem Dwyer who after hitting a pot hole endeavoured to correct a skid and plunged over the bank damaging both himself and the Triumph.
’The contest provided a day out for Cyril Poole in the Bugatti and A E Chick in the supercharged Austin. Poole secured both championships and Chick won three handicaps, besides a second and a third in two other events. It was a welcome change for Chick, who has had a consistent run of failures in recent club events'. Chick was second in the Under 10hp Championship to Poole, and third in the Open Championship’.
As Australia was still in a depression, 1933 was a quiet year for motor racing. Chick returned to Brooklands in July for two wins, the Under 10hp Lap Dash, and finished the Match Race ahead of Dyer in the Triumph and Poole in his Bugatti.
The fourth Lesmurdie Hill Climb was held on Sunday 22 July 1934 with good entries in all classes.
The Mirror newspaper in its column, "Motors in the Mirror” ‘Arthur Chick, though he persuaded the supercharged Austin Seven into almost its customary frenzy of “revs” in the Under 10hp Championship, he won that event in good time, was not seen at his best’. He also won the Class A Championship.
The Lake Perkolilli meeting in September 1934, held after a lapse of two years, was remembered in certain respects. There was the dust, the worst seen there since the inception of motor racing, the boisterous wind, and the large attendance. Chick scored a second place to Cranston in the 10 Mile Handicap. The Kalgoorlie Minor in its report wrote ‘Arthur Chick again proved himself a thorough sportsman by bringing his supercharged Austin to Kalgoorlie to compete in the championship against the bigger cars. This is the spirit which keeps motor racing alive in this state’.
Arthur Chick later moved to country Victoria and established a plant nursery. In 1948 he purchased a Type 37 Bugatti, chassis #37145 and raced it until 1953 at some of the same Victorian circuits with the Austin 7s.
In 1937 a new circuit was built in the wheatbelt town of Dowerin located within a day's drive of Perth, the capital of West Australia. The first meeting held in November 1937 saw two Austins entered. Fred Dundas had purchased the Super Sports from Chick in 1935, and after reconditioning the Austin won the opening race, the first heat of the open handicap. Dundas recorded more wins later in the day. The West Australian reported ‘Fred Dundas and the other newcomer, Ed Harris (Terraplane Special) handled their cars very well for their first time out, and should be well up there in future events’.
Aubrey Melrose, a successful speedway rider, was the other Austin entry. There is no mention of him in any of the newspaper reports so possibly a non starter. He will feature in future reports.
Fred Dundas on the left #2 at the start of the final three lap handicap, won by Neil Baird (Terraplane).
Graeme Cocks Collection, published in the West Australian 11/11/1937.
An Austin 7 with an Australian built pointed tail two seater body was raced at Lake Koombekine in December 1929 by Mr Kavanagh without success. Local Dowerin farmer Fred Harris, paid￡15.00 for the Austin at a stud stock auction and was quoted as saying, ‘I kept it for some years it was great for rounding up sheep, checking the wells and rabbit shooting’
Eunice Fidock from Cottesloe about to head off for a days rabbit shooting.
Photo Graeme Cocks Collection.
In the 1980s Barrie Ryle interviewed Fred Dundas at his Como home. He recalled that he raced the Austin on the beach at Australind and in the Flying 50 'Around The Houses' at Bunbury, without success as they spent more time in the hay bales than on the road due to lack of brakes. Fred Dundas sold the Austin to Vic Colyer in 1937.
Vic Colyer and his future wife, outside his house in Lyall Street, West Subiaco. The photo shows the Austin is in excellent condition when you consider it is nearly 10 years old. Unlike the later Ulster models, the spare wheel cover was held in place with clamps rather than a strap.
Barry Ryle Collection.
In the early 1940s Barry Ryle’s uncle, Arch Hardy purchased the Austin from Vic with a blown head gasket and failed water pump. Hardy dismantled the Austin in 1945, and fortunately stored every part safely so when Barry Ryle became the last Australian owner in 1983 all the body panels, running gear, instruments and original exhaust were still there. Barry restored the Super Sports to a very high standard, firstly with the Meteor style radiator cowling that Arthur Chick fitted for the 1931 Perkolilli races before reverting back to the original standard radiator shell when it left the factory.
It left Australia in 2007 and is now owned by an enthusiast in the UK.
Very few Super Sports were built and this is the only one that came to Australia. I am listing the details provided by Barry Ryle.
Car no. A6-6294
Chassis no. 63930
Engine no. 63589
Magneto style crankcase with supercharger mounting holes.
Hand stamped on front engine mounting S19.
The alloy timing gear castings and water pump all have SP numbers.
Gearbox no. 3910F.
Date stamped on the rear axle casing 22/6/1928.
Body no. 6, stamped on the tail shaft tunnel.
Finally the hand scribed no. on the rear of the ignition switch/amp meter BN 6/28.
Non adjustable tappets and tulip valves.
1 1/8” crankshaft machined from a solid billet.
Early 1980s prior to restoration by Barrie Ryle, the Super Sports mocked up with the guards resting on blocks.
Barry Ryle Collection.
The Super Sports following the restoration by Barry Ryle with standard radiator.
Barry Ryle Collection.
The Super Sports following the restoration by Barry Ryle with Perkolilli radiator cowling.
Barry Ryle Collection.
With special thanks to
Barry Ryle, for sharing all the information of his Super Sport Austin.
Graeme Cocks, historian and author of several books on the history of motor racing in West Australia.
Ken Devine, for sharing images from his extensive collection.
Paul Armstrong, publisher and whose father Eric Armstrong was Arthur Chicks foremost competitor.
Bob King, historian and Bugatti author.
Trove for all the period newspaper clippings that helped with my research.
Tony Johns
