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Mornington Peninsula Motorsport Venues...

Started by MarkBisset , Jun 17 2020 10:22

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27 replies to this topic

#1 MarkBisset

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Posted 17 June 2020 - 10:22

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula summer/surf/beach/wine/golf playground over the early years had many motorsport venues

Hillclimbs at Frankston, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Arthur’s Seat and Cape Schanck

Sprints at Safety Beach and Balcombe Army Camp

and others perhaps

I hope we may be able to share information about some of these starting with Safety Beach at Dromana which was used as a sprint venue- 2 and a bit mile sandy gravel circuit which was in use from 1928 to 1932’ish

https://primotipo.co...-speed-contest/

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#2 Bloggsworth

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Posted 17 June 2020 - 10:26

Got confused for a second and started clapping and cheering...

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#3 Ray Bell

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Posted 17 June 2020 - 11:48

There was always some spirited competition between oncoming cars when the road to Portsea was a 3-lane...

Or is that before your time, Mark?

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#4 cooper997

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Posted 18 June 2020 - 00:08

103680651_2712751372294736_7060043315033

On behalf of Mark

Mick Carlton and passenger, Lea-Francis Hyper, Safety Beach December 1929 (Bob King Collection).

Stephen

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#5 cooper997

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Posted 20 June 2020 - 02:05

A message from Mick...

"HMAS Cerberus (Flinders VIC)

My family lived onboard in the 1960s...learned to play Aussie Rules there for Crib Point.

This would have been a hoot! :-)

1.55 mile circuit around a naval base across the water from Phillip Island which hosted motorcycle races run by the Harley Club of Victoria on the 30th September-1st October 1950, again on the 29th January 1951, with a final race held in 1952.

http://www.silhouet....a/flinders.html "

Stephen

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#6 bobking

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Posted 20 June 2020 - 05:23

For many years there was, and there may still be, premises labelled Harley Club Victoria on the south side of Balnarring Beach Road - within spitting distance of HMAS Cerberus. A quick Google seems to indicate that the club, formed in 1924, still exists.

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#7 MarkBisset

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Posted 20 June 2020 - 10:28

Did they run cars at Cerberus guys?

An addition to the list is Tuerong Hillclimb circa 1956- John Macmillan sends his regards Bob King

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#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 20 June 2020 - 13:13

Cerberus, as I recall, was the setting for a Motorkhana or two...

There was a Cerberus Car Club, I'm sure.

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#9 cooper997

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Posted 24 June 2020 - 04:01

This is likely to be a photo taken by David Lowe (of Nedloh and 1990s Arthurs Seat Historic Hillclimb organiser fame). It shows a young Tony Johns in his first car. A Chummy that still exists and now owned by a recent poster to the Austin Seven thread.

Tony wrote...

"In the early 1960’s The Austin 7 Club would hold their annual beach run on the Mornington Peninsula at what was then a quite peaceful beach at Shoreham not far from Flinders.

Never to waist an opportunity once the tide went out the sticks were soon in place for a slalom event.

If you look closely under my armpit you can see Neil Johannesen’s Mini ex Armstrong 500."

Neil's Morris 850 was cause for some concern at that 1961 Phillip Island Armstrong 500, although not 100% percent accurately described in the Tuckey 'Australia's Greatest Motor Race' book. Neil also went off to England later in the 60s and spent time at the Cooper Car Company.

Stephen

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#10 Librules

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Posted 24 June 2020 - 11:09

Cerberus, as I recall, was the setting for a Motorkhana or two...

There was a Cerberus Car Club, I'm sure.

There still is, with a website and a Facebook presence. http://cerberuscarclub.com.au/

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#11 Ray Bell

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Posted 24 June 2020 - 11:56

That's good, they're still around...

I only remember them from a Racing Car News report back in the sixties or seventies.

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#12 MarkBisset

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Posted 25 June 2020 - 00:35

This is likely to be a photo taken by David Lowe (of Nedloh and 1990s Arthurs Seat Historic Hillclimb organiser fame). It shows a young Tony Johns in his first car. A Chummy that still exists and now owned by a recent poster to the Austin Seven thread.

Tony wrote...

"In the early 1960’s The Austin 7 Club would hold their annual beach run on the Mornington Peninsula at what was then a quite peaceful beach at Shoreham not far from Flinders.

Never to waist an opportunity once the tide went out the sticks were soon in place for a slalom event.

If you look closely under my armpit you can see Neil Johannesen’s Mini ex Armstrong 500."

Neil's Morris 850 was cause for some concern at that 1961 Phillip Island Armstrong 500, although not 100% percent accurately described in the Tuckey 'Australia's Greatest Motor Race' book. Neil also went off to England later in the 60s and spent time at the Cooper Car Company.

Stephen

Wonderful shot which reflects the relaxed attitude of the times, if you popped a bunch of cars on the beach and some posts to whip around it would be off to jail and chuck away the key material today

Directly behind Tony is Flinders 6 km away, (great beach walk but watch the tides) turn right from the West Head Naval Gunnery Range there and next stop is Tasmania and after that Antarctica.

To the left of shot Phillip Island is 6-8 km away across Westernport, bit of motor racing there...

Edited by MarkBisset, 25 June 2020 - 00:36.

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#13 cooper997

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Posted 25 June 2020 - 01:04

From Mark, the general vicinity of the Shoreham beach gymkhana all those years ago, towards right of screen. Just pull the plug...

Stephen

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#14 cooper997

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Posted 26 October 2020 - 07:12

Mornington Peninsula's Austin 7 Club organised 1990s run of Arthurs Seat Hillclimbs was a popular event while it lasted. Being a public road closure was a massive effort and unfortunately IIRC most likely why it got too hard to continue.

Tony Johns observations after seeing the above photo

"As well as the Steinfort Waite Replica supercharged Austin in your photo, there were several more supercharged cars competing on the day in class 3. Allan Tyrrell #11 in his ex Joby Bowles Ulster. Doug Burnip # 12, with help from Ross Stewart had fitted a supercharger to his Austin “Standard Sports” more often called a "Latrobe Ace". Car #17, Charles Dentry Riley Nine S/C.

Pat Mottram #30 driving her MG M-Type is waiting next to Graeme. In the background you can just make out Des Dillon’s aero engined Hispano Suiza. In total there were 13 Austins amongst the entry list."

Stephen

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#15 MarkBisset

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Posted 26 October 2020 - 21:16

Top shot Stephen,

Have sent the shot to David Mottram, let’s see if we can find some more, I remember taking my kids to one of these events, will have some snaps somewhere

m

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#16 Lola5000

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Posted 26 October 2020 - 23:38

I remember running my Trans-Am Group ll Mustang their but around 1997?

I must comment watching an Austin 7 go up that rise was about the most boring motoring event I have ever had the experience of watching !

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#17 cooper997

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Posted 27 October 2020 - 10:52

Top shot Stephen,

Have sent the shot to David Mottram, let’s see if we can find some more, I remember taking my kids to one of these events, will have some snaps somewhere

m

Mark, I suspect I have David in the Elite, but going back down to the start area for another run. I should have several years worth of Arthurs Seat photos kicking around. As usual just need to get organised to add some more.

Stephen

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#18 cooper997

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Posted 30 October 2020 - 06:06

Two ways to tackle Arthurs Seat (first corner I think)....

Graeme Burnham in the ex Whitehouse 'Carrot' that has been covered in the Austin Seven thread. Taking the slow (as described by lola!!) approach and hitting his apex.

cooper997 photo

or too much mumbo up to the corner and the Alexander E Type understeer kicks in.

cooper997 photo

You take your pick, but all a bit of fun either way.

Stephen

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#19 Lola5000

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Posted 30 October 2020 - 11:00

Two ways to tackle Arthurs Seat (first corner I think)....

Graeme Burnham in the ex Whitehouse 'Carrot' that has been covered in the Austin Seven thread. Taking the slow (as described by lola!!) approach and hitting his apex.

cooper997 photo

or too much mumbo up to the corner and the Alexander E Type understeer kicks in.

cooper997 photo

You take your pick, but all a bit of fun either way.

Stephen

Had a good history that E-type ex George Parlby

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#20 cooper997

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Posted 31 October 2020 - 08:11

1992 Arthurs Seat with the Bob King Anzani Bugatti resting between runs.

Stephen

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#21 cooper997

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Posted 05 November 2020 - 04:05

1992 Arthurs Seat results as published in the Nov 92 VHRR newsletter

Stephen

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#22 Lola5000

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Posted 05 November 2020 - 09:10

1992 Arthurs Seat results as published in the Nov 92 VHRR newsletter

Stephen

Seems like yesterday , I read on the same page the Mt Leura results we all did one run and it rained from memory .My Mono was a rocket up that hill.

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#23 Darren Galpin

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Posted 05 November 2020 - 22:33

What was the Sabrina s/c that was run in event 12 by Roy Williams?

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#24 cooper997

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Posted 05 November 2020 - 23:32

Aussie supercharged Austin 6 cylinder sports racing special. There should in theory be a reasonable reference of it on TNF somewhere (just a matter of finding 'somewhere'). Can't remember if Mark has done something on primotipo yet?

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 06 November 2020 - 08:57.