202 replies to this topic

[Vitesse2]

The Indianapolis Speedrome is not the same as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: it was a dirt oval at the time, although it has been redeveloped and changed since:

http://www.speedrome.com/

The Wilbur Shaw tyre test you mention was on the IMS: there's a brief description of it in his autobiography. It was also filmed and that footage, along with other pieces shot at the same time with Ray Harroun and Ralph De Palma, forms part of a Firestone publicity film called "Crucible of Speed", which is part of a DVD available from Rare Sports Films:

http://www.raresport.../1946_indi.html

I haven't seen the film, so can't tell you what car he used - no doubt somebody can - but there is a picture in his autobiography which shows him in the cockpit: the car has "AAA Tire Test Car" written in an oval on the scuttle.

[Michael Ferner]

The car was the 1931 Miller of the Boyle team, now cnsiderably modified and fitted with an Offy engine (I believe). It started the 500 miles twice from pole position (1932 & '33) and was last used in 1937, when Louie Meyer finished 4th with it (its best result at Indy, but it won National Championship races on dirt, board and road circuits).

[Michael Ferner]

Michael Ferner, on Jan 16 2010, 00:15, said:

As further evidence of this, I have found point standings for both the CSRA and Hankinson Circuit Championships from April 1942, indicating a "business as usual" mentality. Both championships began with the April 19 Reading Inaugural meeting, and since I have (almost) full results for that event I was able to figure out the scoring method for the CSRA title at the very least - Hankinson points were a bit more complex, I'm afraid...

The two articles detailing the points tables also included previews of the following races for each championship, so that the following list of qualifying rounds can be established:

CSRA
1. Reading (PA), Apr 19, 10 m, 1st Joie Chitwood (Peters=Cunningham/Offenhauser), 2nd Bob Sall (Judson=Gardner/Miller), 3rd Buster Warke (Kreiser/Hal), etc.
2. Williams Grove (PA), May 3, 10 m, 1st Ted Horn (Horn/Offenhauser), 2nd Bill Holland (Malamud/Miller), 3rd Walt Ader (?/McDowell)
3. Greenville (OH), May 10 pp 17, ?, 1st Mike Salay
etc.

Hankinson
1. Reading (PA), Apr 19, 10 m, 1st Joie Chitwood (Peters=Cunningham/Offenhauser), 2nd Bob Sall (Judson=Gardner/Miller), 3rd Buster Warke (Kreiser/Hal), etc.
2. Reading (PA), May 17, 10 m, 1st Joie Chitwood (Musick=O'Day/Offenhauser), 2nd Ted Horn (Horn/Offenhauser), 3rd Tommy Hinnershitz (Horn=Garnant/Offenhauser)
3. Springfield (MA), May 30, ?, ?
4. Milwaukee (WI), Jun 14 rs May 30, 20 m, 1st Joie Chitwood (Musick=O'Day/Offenhauser), 2nd Dave Randolph (Horn=Schrader/Miller), 3rd Eddie Nicholson (Nicholson=Schrader/Offenhauser)
etc.


I am pretty sure that all the Hankinson rounds also qualified for the CSRA Championship, and also the following races:

Langhorne (PA), May 10, 20 m, 1st Jimmie Wilburn (Wilburn=Morgan/Offenhauser), 2nd Ted Horn (Horn/Offenhauser), 3rd Rex Records (?/Miller)
Williams Grove (PA), May 10, 10 m, 1st Bill Holland (Malamud/Miller), 2nd Walt Ader (?/McDowell)
Hammond (IN), May 24, 12½ m, 1st Eddie Nicholson (Nicholson=Schrader/Offenhauser)
Urbana (IL), May 30, ?, ?
Davenport (IA), Jun 14, 10 m, 1st ?, 2nd Tommy Hinnershitz (Horn=Garnant/Offenhauser)
Fort Wayne (IN), Jun 14, ?, 1st Tony Bettenhausen (Iddings/Hal), 2nd Bus Wilbert (Dreyer?), 3rd Elbert Booker (Jewell/Hal), etc.
Danville (IL), Jun 28, ?, ?
Birmingham (AL), Jul 4, 10 m, 1st Joie Chitwood (Musick=O'Day/Offenhauser), 2nd Bill Holland (Malamud/Miller), 3rd Tommy Hinnershitz (Horn=Garnant/Offenhauser), etc.

Not sure about those ones:

Tampa (FL), Feb 3, ?, ? - almost certainly IMCA
Jungle Park (IN), May 10, ?, 1st Tony Bettenhausen (Iddings/Hal) - possibly MDTRA
Dayton (OH), May 24?, ?, 1st Tony Bettenhausen (Iddings/Hal), 2nd? Duke Nalon (Weirick=Sparks/Offenhauser), 3rd Jimmie Wilburn (Wilburn=Morgan/Offenhauser)
Cape Girardeau (MO), May 31, ?, 1st Joie Chitwood (Musick=O'Day/Offenhauser) - possibly IMCA
Winchester (IN), May 30 (pp 31?), 7½ m, 1st Jimmie Wilburn (Wilburn=Morgan/Offenhauser)
Hammond (IN), Jun 7, ?, ?
Grand Forks (ND), Jun 28, ?, 1st Eddie Nicholson (Nicholson=Schrader/Offenhauser) - probably IMCA
Jungle Park (IN), Jul 26, ?, 1st Bus Wilbert (Dreyer?) - possibly MDTRA


I'm sure there must've been more races, as I've seen Chitwood credited with 14 wins for 1942! Anyway, he won the CSRA title with 274 points, which should equal roughly six wins, from Hinnershitz with either 202 or 208, depending on source. Alas, I have no info on whether Hankinson ever published a final point tabulation for the year - as will be recalled, he died in August of 1942. Apparently, IMCA didn't publish a final points table, either, but Chitwood is occasionally mentioned as the 1942 IMCA "king".

Found out a bit more: Frank Funk, promoter at Winchester, Dayton, Fort Wayne and Jungle Park had his own sanctioning body for the 1942 (and, presumably, 1945) season(s), the Midwest Racing Association (MRA) - "Independent, but with Approval of AAA"! Thus, the June 14 race at Fort Wayne was very probably not a CSRA event, but MRA. The MRA schedule looks to have been something like:

1. Jungle Park (IN), May 10, 7½ m, 1st Tony Bettenhausen (Iddings/Hal), 2nd Bus Wilbert (Dreyer), 3rd Elbert Booker (Johnson/Miller), etc.
2. Fort Wayne (IN), May 17, 9.4 m, 1st Elbert Booker (Johnson/Miller), 2nd Duke Nalon (Weirick=Sparks/Offenhauser)
3. Dayton (OH), May 24, 7½ m, 1st Tony Bettenhausen (Iddings/Hal), 2nd? Duke Nalon (Weirick=Sparks/Offenhauser), 3rd Jimmie Wilburn (Wilburn=Morgan/Offenhauser)
4. Winchester (IN), May 30 (pp 31?), 7½ m, 1st Jimmie Wilburn (Wilburn=Morgan/Offenhauser)?
5. Fort Wayne (IN), Jun 14, ?, 1st Tony Bettenhausen (Iddings/Hal), 2nd Bus Wilbert (Dreyer), 3rd Elbert Booker (Johnson/Miller), etc.

However, Funk closed his season early, and the last Jungle Park race (July 26) was an MDTRA (Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association) event, probably promoted by Dan Sheek. Bus Wilbert (Dreyer) won, from Eddie Zalucki (Dunlap/Offenhauser) and Carl Scarborough (Harris/Frontenac), etc. over the ten-mile distance (possibly 12½ miles).

[Tony Kaye]

Here are a couple of additional races during WW2………….

CHILE
1939
November 18: San Felipe (1st Lazo – Ford V8)

SWEDEN
1940
February 1: Karlskoga (1st Berg – Alfa Romeo Monza)

And here’s a list of loose ends from various posts. Does anyone have any answers?

ARGENTINA
1940
March 17: Mar del Plata (Did it take place? Who won?)
March --: Mendoza (Did it take place? When and who won?)
AUSTRALIA
1939
Full speedway racing season (This took place, but for bikes, midgets or both?)
1940
--/--: Albury, NSW (This took place, but when and who won?)
--/-- Phillip Island, Vic (This took place, but when and who won?)
--/-- Tooronga Park, Melbourne, Vic (This took place, but when and who won?).)
--/--: Pingelly speed trials, WA (around May?) (This took place, but when and who won?)
--/--: Penrith 1 mile oval, NSW (This took place, but when and who won?)
1941
--/--: Applecross, WA (Did it take place? When who won?)
April 14: Penrith 1 mile oval (This took place, who won?)
April 25: Penrith 1 mile oval (This took place, who won?)
--/--: Pingelly speed trials, WA (around May?) (This took place, but when and who won?)
--/--: Tooronga Park Carnival, Melbourne, Vic (This took place, but when and who won?)
1944
-- October?: Henson Park football ground, Sydney (midget races) (This took place, but when and who won?)
1945
March 11: NSW (Vintage Sports Car Club of Australia - One Hour Trial) (This took place, who won?)
June 24: Rob Roy, Vic (Hill climb) (Who won?)
BRAZIL
1941
February --: Circuito de Gavea (Did it take place? When and who won?)
June 22-29: Gran Premio Presidente Getulio Vargas (Did it take place? Who won?)
CEYLON
1940
November 24: Mahagastota hillclimb (This took place, who won?)
IRELAND
1939
December 26: (A trial) (Did it take place? Who won?)
1940
January 27: Dublin University (Trial) (Did it take place? Who won?)
March 18th (Irish MRC trial) (Did it take place? Who won?)
May 4: IMRC sprint (Did it take place? Who won?)
May 4: Donabate Speed Trials (This took place, Who won?)
June 8; Munster Road Race (Did it take place? Who won?)
June 15: Speed event (Did it take place? Who won?)
October 5th Leinster Sporting Trial (Did it take place? Who won?)
ITALY
1940
June 2: Coppa Ascoli (Did it take place? Who won?)
June 9 Parma-Poggio di Barceto hill climb (Did it take place? Who won?)
July 21st Stelvio Hillclimb (sports cars) (Did it take place? Who won?)
August 15 Targa Abruzzo (sports cars) (or 18th?) (Did it take place? Who won?)
August 25 Circuito del Carnaro (sports cars) (Did it take place? Who won?)
MEXICO
1939
racing on Ignacio Zaragoza dirt-track (This took place, but for bikes, midgets or both?)
NEW ZEALAND
1939
Speedway racing at Western Springs (This took place, but for bikes, midgets or both?)
1940
--/--: Centennial Road Race, Glendowie - CANCELLED (Date?)
POLAND
1939
18 June: International Endurance Trial (Did it take place? Who won?)
URUGUAY
1940
--/--: 24hour race, Autodromo Nacional- (This took place, but when and who won?)
YUGOSLAVIA
1940
August 14: Avala (Rally, 2nd L. Radic - BMW 328) (Who won?)

[Vitesse2]

Tony Kaye, on Mar 5 2012, 16:17, said:

Here are a couple of additional races during WW2………….

CHILE
1939
November 18: San Felipe (1st Lazo – Ford V8) - Turismo Carretera?

SWEDEN
1940
February 1: Karlskoga (1st Berg – Alfa Romeo Monza) - is this a confusion with Lake Möckeln on February 18th? February 1st 1940 was a Thursday.

And here’s a list of loose ends from various posts. Does anyone have any answers?

ARGENTINA
1940
March 17: Mar del Plata (Did it take place? Who won?) - actually March 10th. Canziani.
March --: Mendoza (Did it take place? When and who won?) - March 31st. Ochoteco.
AUSTRALIA
1939
Full speedway racing season (This took place, but for bikes, midgets or both?)
1940
--/--: Albury, NSW (This took place, but when and who won?) - June 17th, two races: H James & Alf Barrett
--/-- Phillip Island, Vic (This took place, but when and who won?) - motorcycle event. Some time in February, I think.
--/-- Tooronga Park, Melbourne, Vic (This took place, but when and who won?).)
--/--: Pingelly speed trials, WA (around May?) (This took place, but when and who won?) - January 28th. Actually circuit races on handicap: main event won by Bob Lee.
--/--: Penrith 1 mile oval, NSW (This took place, but when and who won?)
1941
--/--: Applecross, WA (Did it take place? When who won?) - November 11th 1940 - Harley Hammond
April 14: Penrith 1 mile oval (This took place, who won?)
April 25: Penrith 1 mile oval (This took place, who won?)
--/--: Pingelly speed trials, WA (around May?) (This took place, but when and who won?) - January 27th. Again circuit races: wins for Harley Hammond, Clem Dwyer and Duncan Ord.
--/--: Tooronga Park Carnival, Melbourne, Vic (This took place, but when and who won?)
1944
-- October?: Henson Park football ground, Sydney (midget races) (This took place, but when and who won?)
1945
March 11: NSW (Vintage Sports Car Club of Australia - One Hour Trial) (This took place, who won?)
June 24: Rob Roy, Vic (Hill climb) (Who won?) - error on Hans' list. Actually Greensborough. But I don't have the winner.
BRAZIL
1941
February --: Circuito de Gavea (Did it take place? When and who won?) - cancelled, replaced by Rio GP in November
June 22-29: Gran Premio Presidente Getulio Vargas (Did it take place? Who won?) - Fangio
CEYLON
1940
November 24: Mahagastota hillclimb (This took place, who won?) - I have this as March 25th
IRELAND - because the Irish racing calendar was controlled by the Southern Section of the Motor Cycle Union there were often joint events run by bike and car clubs, with the bike club usually being the named organiser.
1939
December 26: (A trial) (Did it take place? Who won?) - I haven't investigated Irish trials but the Hewison Trophy for the 1939-40 season was won by Paddy Le Fanu
1940
January 27: Dublin University (Trial) (Did it take place? Who won?)
March 18th (Irish MRC trial) (Did it take place? Who won?)
May 4: IMRC sprint (Did it take place? Who won?)
May 4: Donabate Speed Trials (This took place, Who won?) - IMRC sprint as above. FTD McQuillan.
June 8; Munster Road Race (Did it take place? Who won?) - motorcycle race
June 15: Speed event (Did it take place? Who won?) - I think this was a motorcycle-only event
October 5th Leinster Sporting Trial (Did it take place? Who won?)
ITALY
1940 - all cancelled
June 2: Coppa Ascoli (Did it take place? Who won?)
June 9 Parma-Poggio di Barceto hill climb (Did it take place? Who won?)
July 21st Stelvio Hillclimb (sports cars) (Did it take place? Who won?)
August 15 Targa Abruzzo (sports cars) (or 18th?) (Did it take place? Who won?)
August 25 Circuito del Carnaro (sports cars) (Did it take place? Who won?)
MEXICO
1939
racing on Ignacio Zaragoza dirt-track (This took place, but for bikes, midgets or both?)
NEW ZEALAND
1939
Speedway racing at Western Springs (This took place, but for bikes, midgets or both?)
1940
--/--: Centennial Road Race, Glendowie - CANCELLED (Date?)
POLAND
1939
18 June: International Endurance Trial (Did it take place? Who won?) - see post 92 of this thread
URUGUAY
1940
--/--: 24hour race, Autodromo Nacional- (This took place, but when and who won?)
YUGOSLAVIA
1940
August 14: Avala (Rally, 2nd L. Radic - BMW 328) (Who won?)

[Graham Clayton]

Here is David McKinney's list updated with Daytona Beach meetings:


USA

1940
10/03 Daytona Beach modified race 1. Roy Hall
30/05 Indianapolis 500
06/07 Montauk Grand Prix
10/08 Round the Houses race, Alexandria Bay
24/08 Mount Washington hillclimb
--/08 AAA Championship Springfield
--/09 AAA Championship Syracuse
06/10 World's Fair GP, Flushing Meadows, NY
also full AAA regional championships, IMCA, midgets, stock-cars
1941
02/03 Daytona Beach modified race 1. Roy Hall
--/03 Daytona Beach "Frank Lockhart Memorial" modified race 1. Bernie Long
30/05 Indianapolis 500
--/-- Land’s End hillclimb. Colorado
24/08 Daytona Beach modified race 1. LLoyd Seay. 2. Joe Littlejohn
24/08 AAA Championship Milwaukee
31/08 AAA Championship Syracuse

[Graham Clayton]

Here are press reports of speedway meetings in Sydney in December 1942, May 1944 and December 1944:


SPEED CAR RACING AGAIN
Speed car racing will be reintroduced at the Sports Ground track this afternoon, when a series of scratch races and handicaps will form part of the programme at a charity sports carnival.
The racing is made possible mainly owing to the easing of the water restrictions, which will enable the track to be watered, and also because of the use of substitute fuel.
Response to entries has been good and among the leading drivers will be A. MacKinnon, C. Scott, R. Revell, R Preston, C Martin, J. Daly, and E. Hughes.
Other events include cycling races, a baseball match, and a wrestling contest.

Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday, 5th December 1942, page 12


BOY, SISTER HURT: CAR RACE SMASH
SYDNEY, Sunday. Two children each had both legs broken when a competing midget car skidded at a carnival at the Sports Ground yesterday and ran off the track. The victims were Robin Yates, 9, and his sister, Zoe Yates, 7, of Leonard Avenue, Kingsford. Many thousands of people saw the accident. The crowd was watching a challenge race between William Randell, of the U.S. Transport Service, and Ray Revell, a local driver, when Randell's car skidded in front of the members' stand and collided with the safety fence. The lower battens of the fence were smashed and the car struck the two children. They were taken to St. Vincent's Hospital.

Courier-Mail (Brisbane), Monday, 1 May 1944, page 3

SPEEDWAY RACING SPILLS
Therr were a few spectacular spills at the speedway meeting at the Sports Ground yesterday, but none of the competitors suffered injury.
The meeting was the first conducted by the N.S.W. Auto Racing Association for four years, and attracted a fair attendance.
The main event, the New South Wales Championship for Midget Cars was won by V. Hibbard.

Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday, 27 December 1944, page 9

CAR RACING
Midget Cars NSW Championship (10 laps): V Hibbard 1 T Hughes 2 J Reid 3
Eight-laps Handicap: R Revell 1 J Reid 2 V Hibbard 3
Six laps Scratch Race: T Hughes 1 J Reid 2 K Gallagher 3
Sidecars (four laps): J Carruthers 1 R Craw 2

Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday, 27 December 1944, page 8

I also found a reference to US racing in mid-1942 as well:

CAR RACING OFF
Automobile races scheduled for Aurora Speedway, at Seattle, where abruptly cancelled when air raid wardens protested that they were a waste of gasoline and rubber.
Courier-Mail (Brisbane), Saturday, 20 June 1942, page 2

[Tony Kaye]

Many thanks for the answers.Just a few notes:

I believe the 1941 Rio GP was held on 28 September, not in November.

Mahagastota Hill Climb. An earlier post stated that there were two events in 1940, March 7 and November 24.

Fangio winning in Brazil in 1941 was completely new to me.

Likewise details of the ‘Speedcar’ racing in Sydney. As an aside, why were midgets referred to as speedcars in Australia?

[Vitesse2]

Tony Kaye, on Mar 6 2012, 02:36, said:

Many thanks for the answers.Just a few notes:

I believe the 1941 Rio GP was held on 28 September, not in November.

Confusing it with the Buenos Aires race.

Tony Kaye, on Mar 6 2012, 02:36, said:

Mahagastota Hill Climb. An earlier post stated that there were two events in 1940, March 7 and November 24.

The club's website says the March 25th event was the last. http://www.cmsc.lk/about_us.html (November 24th was the date of the delayed Johore GP final)

Tony Kaye, on Mar 6 2012, 02:36, said:

Fangio winning in Brazil in 1941 was completely new to me.

http://www.jmfangio....94112brasil.htm I have finishers down to 8th - AFAIK the other 13 starters all retired.

[Graham Clayton]

Tony Kaye, on Mar 5 2012, 19:36, said:

As an aside, why were midgets referred to as speedcars in Australia?

Hi Tony,

I have no idea - maybe other forum members know why?

[Vitesse2]

This is my listing of circuit events, turismo carretera road races, sprints and hillclimbs run between September 3rd 1939 and the end of December 1945. All events between the two Judgeford climbs are for gas-producer-equipped road cars. Those with question marks are ones for which I haven't found details. It doesn't include midget races, beach races or the minor Australian grass track events.

DATE		
			
3 Sep 39	YUG	Belgrade City Race			
3 Sep 39	AUS	Dowerin Races cancelled?			
4 Sep 39	USA	Pikes Peak Hill Climb			
9 Sep 39	IRL	Phoenix Park 100 Mile Handicap			
9 Sep 39	ARG		Parana?					
10 Sep 39	ARG		Rafaela 500 Miles		
10 Sep 39	USA	Syracuse 100 Miles			
24 Sep 39	ARG		Tucuman?		
30 Sep 39	IRL	Ballinascorney Hill Climb			
2 Oct 39	AUS	NSW LCC 100 Miles Bathurst			
11 Oct 39	AUS	Bathurst Hill Climb			
15 Oct 39	AUS	Waterfall Hill Climb			
15 Oct 39	ARG		Casilda?		
19-20 Oct 39	ARG			Gran Premio Argentino	
28 Oct 39	AUS	Rob Roy Hill Climb			
29 Oct 39	BRA		Circuit of Gàvea (Rio GP), Gàvea 		
29 Oct-15 Nov 39	ARG			Gran Premio Extraordinario	
5 Nov 39	AUS	Bullsbrook Hill Climb					
9-10 Dec 39	ARG			Mil Millas Argentino	
16 Dec 39	SAF	Burman Drive Hill Climb			
	DEN	Sortedamssøen Ice Races, Copenhagen			
1 Jan 40	AUS	South Australian 100, Lobethal			
1 Jan 40	SAF	Golden City Handicap, Earl Howe			
28 Jan 40	AUS	Great Southern Speed Classic, Pingelly			
18 Feb 40	SWE	Lake Möckeln Ice Races			
24 Feb 40	AUS	Rob Roy Hill Climb			
3 Mar 30	AUS	Hornsby Hill Climb			
10 Mar 40	SWE	Lake Delsjön Ice Races			
10 Mar 40	ARG		Gran Premio de Mar Del Plata		
24 Mar 40	MAL	Gopeng Hill Climb			
25 Mar 40	AUS	Albany Tourist Trophy, Albany			
25 Mar 40	AUS	Bathurst Grand Prix, Bathurst			
25 Mar 40	CEY	Mahagastota Hill Climb			
31 Mar 40	ARG		Gran Premio de la Vendimia, Mendoza		
7 Apr 40	ARG		Concordia: Rivadavia		
20 Apr 40	SAF	Camps Bay Hill Climb			
27 Apr 40	AUS	Glen Osmond Hill Climb			
28 Apr 40	ITA	Gran Premio di Brescia, Brescia			
28 Apr 40	SPA	Valvidrera Hill Climb			
1 May 40	PER			Gran Premio Nacional	
4 May 40	IRL	Donabate Speed Trial			
12 May 40	MAL	Seremban Speed Trial			
12 May 40	ITA	Tripoli GP, Mellaha			
12 May 40	BRA		Gran Premio Sao Paulo, Interlagos		
19 May 40	AUS	Bowenfels Hill Climb			
19 May 40	AUS	Cox's River Hill Climb			
23 May 40	ITA	Targa Florio			
26 May 40	ARG		Parana		
30 May 40	USA	Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis			
17 Jun 40	AUS	Interstate Gold Cup, Albury			
23 Jun 40	AUS	Rob Roy Hill Climb			
4 Jul 40	USA	Lands End Hill Climb			
6 Jul 40	USA	Montauk Grand Prix			
9 Jul 40	ARG		Tandil		
4 Aug 40	MAL	Gap Hill Climb			
4 Aug 40	ARG		Gran Premio Provincia de Santa Fé, San Justo - abandoned due to floods		
10 Aug 40	USA	Alexandria Bay Races			
10 Aug 40	IRL	Kilternan Hill Climb			
14 Aug 40	YUG	Avala Hill Climb (?)			
24 Aug 40	USA	Springfield 100 Miles			
25 Aug 40	USA	Climb to the Clouds, Mount Washington			
1 Sep 40	ROM	Brasov Grand Prix - abandoned after practice			
2 Sep 40	USA	Pikes Peak Hill Climb			
2 Sep 40	USA	Syracuse 100 Miles			
22 Sep 40	ARG		Gran Premio de San Justo		
27 Sep–12 Oct 40	ARG			Gran Premio del Norte	
28 Sep 40	IRL	Ballinascorney Hill Climb			
6 Oct 40	YUG	Banjica Hill Climb (?)			
6 Oct 40	USA	Worlds Fair Grand Prix, New York			
12 Oct 40	ARG		Concordia: Rivadavia		
10 Nov 40	ARG		Rafaela 500 Miles		
11 Nov 40	AUS	Patriotic Grand Prix, Applecross			
14-15 Nov 40	BRA			Raid Rio de Janeiro – Porto Alegre	
24 Nov 40	MAL	Johore Grand Prix			
14-15 Dec 40	ARG			Mil Millas Argentino	
29 Dec 40	BRA		Gran Premio Sao Paulo, Interlagos		
11 Jan 41	AUS	Great Southern Speed Classic, Pingelly			
12 Jan 41	ARG			Rafaela 12 Hours	
16 Mar 41	BRA		Circuito da Charqueada		
30 Mar 41	BRA		Rio-Petropolis Hill Climb		
6 Apr 41	ARG		Gran Premio de la Vendimia, Mendoza		
27 Apr 41	BRA		Tijuca Hill Climb		
30 Apr-1 May 41	PER			Gran Premio Nacional	
30 May 41	USA	Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis			
22-29 Jun 41	BRA			Gran Premio Getúlio Vargas 	
4 Jul 41	USA	Lands End Hill Climb			
20 Jul 41	ARG		Gran Premio Cuidad de Santa Fé		
3 Aug 41	ARG		Concordia: Rivadavia		
24 Aug 41	USA	Milwaukee			
24 Aug 41	ARG		Gran Premio de San Justo		
31 Aug 41	ARG		Anatuya?	Anatuya?	
1 Sep 41	USA	Pikes Peak Hill Climb			
1 Sep 41	USA	Syracuse 100 Miles			
21 Sep 41	BRA		Gran Premio Rio de Janeiro		
4-10 Oct 41	COL			Carrera Nacional	
1 Nov 41	ARG		Gran Premio Cuidad de Santa Fé		
23 Nov 41	ARG		Gran Premio Buenos Aires, Retiro		
13-14 Dec 41	ARG			Mil Millas Argentino	
21 Jan-2 Feb 42				Gran Premio del Sur	
15 Mar 42	BRA		Circuito Automobilístico de Vacaria 		
2 Apr 42	ARG			Premio Mar y Sierras	
5 Apr 42	ARG		Gran Premio de la Vendimia, Mendoza		
3 May 42	ARG		Gran Premio Cuidad de Santa Fé	
1 May? 42	PER		  Vuelta a Lima
19 Jul 42	URU		Montevideo		
7 Feb 43	NZL	Judgeford Hill Climb			
18 Apr 43	BRA				Circuito da Quinta da Boa Vista 
18 Jul 43	BRA				Rio-Petropolis Hill Climb
18 Jul 43	BRA				Circuito do Cristal, Porto Alegre
29 Aug 43	BRA				Prêmio Governador Amaral Peixoto, Niterói - Campos
17-8 Sep 43	SWI	Tour de Suisse			
14 Oct 43	BRA				Prêmio Interventor Fernando Costa - Interlagos 
6 Feb 44	BRA				Rio-Petropolis Hill Climb
7 May 44	BRA				Prêmio Interventor Fernando Costa - Interlagos 
25 Jun 44	BRA				Prêmio Governador Amaral Peixoto, Niterói - Campos
10 Sep 44	BRA				Circuito do Cristal, Porto Alegre
18 Sep 44	SWI	Le Signal			
18 Oct 44	BRA				Circuito da Amendoeira, Flamengo 
	BRA				Prêmio Cidade de Belo Horizonte 
18 Mar 45	BRA				Rio-Petropolis Hill Climb
9 May 45	NZL	Judgeford Hill Climb			
13 May 45	AUS	Oxford Falls			
24 Jun 45	AUS	Greensborough			
18 Aug 45	GBR	Naish			
9 Sep 45	FRA	Bois de Boulogne			
7 Oct 45	AUS	VSCCA Sprint			
11 Oct 45	AUS	VSCCA Foley's Hill			
28 Oct 45	GBR	Filton			
9 Dec 45	AUS	NSWCC Foley's Hill			
16 Dec 45	ITA	Mergellina

Edited by Vitesse2, 08 March 2012 - 11:29.

[David McKinney]

Tony Kaye, on Mar 6 2012, 02:36, said:

As an aside, why were midgets referred to as speedcars in Australia?

I'm no expert in dirt-track events, but my guess would be that whereas in the US they were 'midget' versions of 'big cars', in Australia (and NZ) they were the main category, and the name wasn't so appropriate

Furthermore, by the postwar years at least, I don't think they were the same as US midgets - I think they were allowed to run bigger engines, but without knowing the US definition of 'midget' I don't really know if that's so...

[tsrwright]

David McKinney, on Mar 7 2012, 17:46, said:

I'm no expert in dirt-track events, but my guess would be that whereas in the US they were 'midget' versions of 'big cars', in Australia (and NZ) they were the main category, and the name wasn't so appropriate

Early political correctness maybe - Australia has always led the world in this.

There was plenty of "big" car dirt racing in Australia pre and post midget. There is a good picture on Brian Darby's www.vintagespeedway.com of big cars at Wentworth Park speedway captioned as follows:

With the opening meeting of the 1929 Speedway season, the Oval was renamed Wentworth Park. 'Big cars' also ran at the bike meetings on 19.10.1929 - 16.1.1932 and the 11.11.1933. The 1/4 mile slightly banked track was deemed too small for these ' Light ' or Big Cars as they were called and Midget Speedcars were introduced to Wentworth Park Speedway on 5.10.1935.

[David McKinney]

AFAIK the 'big cars' referred to in your quote would have been road-racing Bugattis etc. I'd be surprised if the term 'speedcars' was applied to midgets as early as 1935

[Vitesse2]

David McKinney, on Mar 7 2012, 11:16, said:

AFAIK the 'big cars' referred to in your quote would have been road-racing Bugattis etc. I'd be surprised if the term 'speedcars' was applied to midgets as early as 1935

Speed-car seems to have been used in the Aussie press from the mid-20s, although usually referring to record cars like Bluebird and Enterprise, but this seems to be the first use specifically in reference to midgets - albeit possibly accidental - and is from the Brisbane Courier-Mail, 28/2/36:

Quote

The champion British speed-car drivers, Jean Revllle and Bud Stanley, will appear In a series of handicap and scratch races.

There are further mentions in the Perth Mirror of 21/11/36 and Sydney Morning Herald of 22/10/38, but the term seems to have been popularised first in Victoria and can be found regularly in the Melbourne Argus, starting on 8/12/38, 30/12/38. 7/1/39, 18/1/39 etc etc. By the end of 1939 it seems to have been current in Sydney too and can be found frequently in both papers in 1940.

So, not quite 1935, but certainly 1939. That year the Argus specifically mentions the Victoria Speed-car Championship and the Herald the NSW Speedcar Drivers' Association. However, apart from those first Brisbane and Perth mentions, the term only seems to have been used in NSW and VA until after the war.

[Doug Nye]

Last Monday I handled a photograph reliably captioned as showing an illegal 750 Motor Club meeting in 1941 at Blackbushe. I assumed it must have taken place on the surfaced sections newly laid down for what became RAF Hartford Bridge Flats, which I think became operational on the Blackbushe common site in November that year. I thought, coo, that's interesting, I'll post it on TNF. But I promptly lost the print. I haven't a clue where it's gone, but instead I'm just posting the information here. Does anyone else know of such an event? 750MC founder Holly Birkett, who lived just nearby in Fleet, would have been one of the instigators...

DCN

[Vitesse2]

Doug Nye, on Mar 7 2012, 22:46, said:

Last Monday I handled a photograph reliably captioned as showing an illegal 750 Motor Club meeting in 1941 at Blackbushe. I assumed it must have taken place on the surfaced sections newly laid down for what became RAF Hartford Bridge Flats, which I think became operational on the Blackbushe common site in November that year. I thought, coo, that's interesting, I'll post it on TNF. But I promptly lost the print. I haven't a clue where it's gone, but instead I'm just posting the information here. Does anyone else know of such an event? 750MC founder Holly Birkett, who lived just nearby in Fleet, would have been one of the instigators...

DCN

Well the location certainly fits, given that when you look at the venues of early 750MC "social" meetings most are within easy reach of - or on - the A30: I seem to recall one wartime gathering was at The Ely, which is only a stone's throw from Blackbushe. And the 750MC was - at least according to Motor Sport - one of only two pre-war clubs still operating on a "members level" in 1941, the other being CUAC, although both closed "for the duration" in 1943. The VCC and JCC committees also met regularly throughout the war.

[ensign14]

Takes more than a global holocaust to stop a committee.

[elansprint72]

ensign14, on Mar 7 2012, 23:29, said:

Takes more than a global holocaust to stop a committee.

Damn right.

[Vitesse2]

Not sure about the VCC, but I think the JCC committee looked on it as an excuse for a good lunch - although to be fair they did continue to publish their Gazette.

[Vitesse2]

"... another meeting was scheduled at Blackwater for June 8th." Motor Sport June 1941 p357

"On June 8th the 750 Club, now under the sponsorship of Capon and Birkett, held a half-day rally at the Ely Hotel on Hartford Bridge Flats. The afternoon was devoted to a simple competition ..." ibid p370

Whatever the "simple competition" was, it seems to have taken place in the early part of the afternoon, since afterwards "Boddy turned up for tea straight from wartime toil ..."

Most of the cars in attendance seem to have been fairly standard models, but at least two sporting Sevens - Mallock's special and Lush's TT model - were in evidence, plus a Meadows-engined HRG and a couple of Frazer Nashes. After tea, various of the cars also made their way to the Pirbright hills where they "disported themselves on the slime" - in other words an impromptu trial. They then returned to the Ely: the whole day was summed up as "a good party".

[tsrwright]

David McKinney, on Mar 7 2012, 22:16, said:

AFAIK the 'big cars' referred to in your quote would have been road-racing Bugattis etc.

No they are not - probably Penrith (one mile speedway) cars - see the photo at http://www.vintagesp...h-Speedway.html which I would gladly post but it could be a breach of copyright!

Edited by tsrwright, 08 March 2012 - 10:12.

[tsrwright]

Vitesse2, on Mar 8 2012, 10:28, said:

Well the location certainly fits, given that when you look at the venues of early 750MC "social" meetings most are within easy reach of - or on - the A30: I seem to recall one wartime gathering was at The Ely, which is only a stone's throw from Blackbushe. And the 750MC was - at least according to Motor Sport - one of only two pre-war clubs still operating on a "members level" in 1941, the other being CUAC, although both closed "for the duration" in 1943. The VCC and JCC committees also met regularly throughout the war.

Was the 750MC actually a club before the war or just an assembly of interested people brought together by WB?

[Vitesse2]

tsrwright, on Mar 8 2012, 10:07, said:

Was the 750MC actually a club before the war or just an assembly of interested people brought together by WB?

Although it was certainly WB's idea, the club was formally constituted on March 29th 1939 in the romantic setting of Willesden. See various reports in early 1939 issues of Motor Sport, notably April, p122: "The 750 Club is Formed".

[David McKinney]

tsrwright, on Mar 8 2012, 10:03, said:

No they are not - probably Penrith (one mile speedway) cars - see the photo at http://www.vintagesp...h-Speedway.html which I would gladly post but it could be a breach of copyright!

Thanks Terry
My point is that the cars that came to be known as speedcars are what started out as midgets - as your photos confirm

Among the 'big cars' I can identify in the photos are an Alvis and a Fronty-Ford - the sort of cars that might also have competed in trials, hillclimbs and even at Phillip Island at the time (as did Bugattis). Not - in most cases - purpose-built dirt-track cars

[terry mcgrath]

In 1941 members of the Western Australian Sporting Car Club (WASCC) got together for a speed event on Salt Lakes south of Perth. It may it was more of a thrash around than any organised event but be assured people took times for the sprints.
I havn't looked up in the newspapers but have photos of all the cars competing

terry

[Jim Thurman]

Remember the United States didn't enter World War II until after December 7, 1941, so U.S. races from 1939, 1940 and 1941 don't belong on the list. And, as written, July 31, 1942 is when the ban on auto racing went into effect.

There was a LOT of racing in the U.S. in 1939, 1940 and 1941. It was business as usual. And racing, particularly midget racing, prospered until the ban went into effect. Many tracks ran races that final night.

[tsrwright]

Surprisingly there was motorcycle speedway right thro' WW2 at Belle Vue Manchester, a few meetings at Rye House and maybe West ham and Crystal Palace. There were two match races between midgets at Belle Vue as follows:

April 20 1940 Walter Mackereth V Eric Worswick won by Walter Mackereth

August 5 1940 Walter Mackereth V Johnny Young won by Johnny Young

See http://www.speedwayr...teambyteam.html

[tsrwright]

David McKinney, on Mar 8 2012, 21:26, said:

Thanks Terry

Among the 'big cars' I can identify in the photos are an Alvis and a Fronty-Ford - the sort of cars that might also have competed in trials, hillclimbs and even at Phillip Island at the time (as did Bugattis). Not - in most cases - purpose-built dirt-track cars

from http://www.vintagesp...h-Speedway.html


They look like track cars to me but I really don't know for sure. One of the drivers shown, Charlie Spurgeon, became a leading midget driver when they started in Sydney. Anyway, here is Cec Warren and Bugatti - which did run at Phillip Island - plus two more behind in pre-midget days. Richmond is in Melbourne, presumably a horse or trotting track, and it would be interesting to know more about this meeting or to see more Bugattis cinder-shifting. But this is off topic I suppose ......



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Edited by tsrwright, 09 March 2012 - 11:35.

[Vitesse2]

tsrwright, on Mar 9 2012, 09:49, said:

Surprisingly there was motorcycle speedway right thro' WW2 at Belle Vue Manchester, a few meetings at Rye House and maybe West ham and Crystal Palace. There were two match races between midgets at Belle Vue as follows:

April 20 1940 Walter Mackereth V Eric Worswick won by Walter Mackereth

August 5 1940 Walter Mackereth V Johnny Young won by Johnny Young

See http://www.speedwayr...teambyteam.html

Oxford, Harringay and Glasgow, too. The Crystal Palace meetings only ceased because the entire park was requisitioned by the army in mid-1940.

[tsrwright]

Vitesse2, on Mar 9 2012, 22:45, said:

The Crystal Palace meetings only ceased because the entire park was requisitioned by the army in mid-1940.

I have been wondering what happened here immediately post-war; in Motor Sport there is much discussion about the availability or otherwise of Brooklands and Donnington but I have not seen any mention of Crystal Palace's status?

Edited by tsrwright, 09 March 2012 - 12:37.

[Vitesse2]

tsrwright, on Mar 9 2012, 12:37, said:

I have been wondering what happened here immediately post-war; in Motor Sport there is much discussion about the availability or otherwise of Brooklands and Donnington but I have not seen any mention of Crystal Palace's status?

There were grand - and I do mean GRAND - plans to redevelop the entire park, including ice rinks, exhibition halls, theatres, an amphitheatre, dance halls and a football stadium the size of Wembley. The tender document for the associated architectural competition specifically rules out the revival of motor racing, although architects were free to use the existing tarmac as part of their designs.

The original announcement of these plans had been made in 1937, but the competition wasn't launched until March 1945.

Edited by Vitesse2, 09 March 2012 - 12:50.

[tsrwright]

Vitesse2, on Mar 9 2012, 23:45, said:

There were grand - and I do mean GRAND - plans to redevelop the entire park, including ice rinks, dance halls and a football stadium the size of Wembley. The tender document for the associated architectural competition specifically rules out the revival of motor racing, although architects were free to use the existing tarmac as part of their designs.

Thanks, but any idea why it wasn't mentioned along with the other two places in MS or was it already a lost cause? I think there was a lot of local opposition prewar.

[Vitesse2]

Lost cause, I think: presumably the Trustees had made this clear to the Road Racing Club some time before. When the army handed the place back in late 1944 it had apparently been wrecked - all fixtures and fittings stripped from every building - and was described as looking as if it had been “chosen as the field for the most realistic battle of the war."

[sramoa]

South American events during WW2 on this great site:

http://www.luik.com....da-de-1944.html
http://www.luik.com....da-de-1943.html
http://www.luik.com....da-de-1942.html
http://www.luik.com....41-parte-i.html ...and more parts

[Doug Nye]

Felix Muelas, on Jun 14 2002, 19:35, said:

To the first sentence, I am tempted to answer yes, probably. Italian races AND that Spanish reference (albeit without any mention of track) in the context might have something to do with it. Who released that calendar? The AIACR?

On the second let me remind the readers that do not know or can´t place the subject on its right timing, that Spain had been at war from July 1936 to April 1939. A horrible war where, between other considerations, some of the "contenders" of the II WW had been "practising" so to speak. On both sides, don´t get me wrong...

So, under no circumstances would the Spanish point of view on the recently-started war be described or thought of as "little local difficulty"... actually maybe the (surviving) Spaniards might have been the only ones that might have gathered how long a war can be...

Anyway, I do not think that Spain, after three years of war, was in any way in a situation where organizing a motor race would have been a feasible proposition. The fact that a Spanish GP was included in that list has always puzzled me.

fm

Sorry Felix - I am well aware of the horrors of the Spanish Civil War and the suffering it inflicted. I suspect you have construed my use of the phrase 'a little local difficulty' as being a dismissive description of that conflict. This was not and is not the case at all. That phrase was not describing thr Spanish Civil War.

Here in Great Britain the outbreak of a second war with Germany was played down in some quarters as being merely a "little local difficulty between Nazi Germany and Poland" - at least during the initial period of what the American press nicknamed 'The Phoney War'. Back at the start of World War 1 the outbreak of hostilities involving Serbia, the greater Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany and Russia had initially been interpreted as another "little local difficulty". The phrase is more an example of blinkered and parochial homeland British thinking than any aspersion whatsoever upon the gravity of your country's Civil War.

DCN

[fuzzi]

Vitesse2, on Mar 7 2012, 23:28, said:

Well the location certainly fits, given that when you look at the venues of early 750MC "social" meetings most are within easy reach of - or on - the A30: I seem to recall one wartime gathering was at The Ely, which is only a stone's throw from Blackbushe. And the 750MC was - at least according to Motor Sport - one of only two pre-war clubs still operating on a "members level" in 1941, the other being CUAC, although both closed "for the duration" in 1943. The VCC and JCC committees also met regularly throughout the war.

I found this:

Before Blackbushe opened as an operational airfield, late in 1941 and just before the cancellation of the private petrol allowance, the 750Motor Club ran strictly unofficial Speed Trials on Hartford Bridge Flats, on a road now covered by the airfield. The paddock was laid out to resemble a picnic, the timekeeper was hidden in the hedge and the starter was a man who kept dropping his handkerchief. Gordon Woods set btd in his Frazer Nash in 22.8sec.

[Vitesse2]

fuzzi, on Mar 16 2012, 10:02, said:

I found this:

Before Blackbushe opened as an operational airfield, late in 1941 and just before the cancellation of the private petrol allowance, the 750Motor Club ran strictly unofficial Speed Trials on Hartford Bridge Flats, on a road now covered by the airfield. The paddock was laid out to resemble a picnic, the timekeeper was hidden in the hedge and the starter was a man who kept dropping his handkerchief. Gordon Woods set btd in his Frazer Nash in 22.8sec.

Julian, I don't doubt the description of how it happened, especially as the Motor Sport report mentions the presence of Frazer Nashes, but I would suggest the vague dates are (shall we say) "confused". "Basic" wasn't abolished until June 30th 1942. In addition, all references I can find suggest that RAF Hartford Bridge opened in November 1942, although the site had been requisitioned in October 1941 and RAE Farnborough had already been using it for glider testing.

http://daveg4otu.tri...fields/bse.html

The June 8th 1941 meeting of the 750MC is the only one recorded as taking place at the Ely and as I noted above was even pre-announced in Motor Sport as to take place a couple of miles down the road at Blackwater - the others were invariably in Coulsdon or Osterley Park. So perhaps Blackwater station (on the A30) was a rendezvous point to mislead the fuzz in case they got wind of what was going on?

Could I ask your source?

[fuzzi]

Shamefully I can't remember. Nor for the moment can I put my hands on it. It was not Motor Sport, but I seem to recall it had something to do with Charles Bulmer.

I'm going away for a week so I'll have a proper look when I get back

[tsrwright]

Vitesse2, on Mar 7 2012, 10:38, said:

This is my listing of circuit events, turismo carretera road races, sprints and hillclimbs run between September 3rd 1939 and the end of December 1945. All events between the two Judgeford climbs are for gas-producer-equipped road cars. Those with question marks are ones for which I haven't found details. It doesn't include midget races, beach races or the minor Australian grass track events.

[code=auto:0]DATE 3 Sep 39 YUG Belgrade City Race

In Motor Sport November 1939 p307 Continental Notes and News it states:"... both the Mercedes Benz and Auto-Union teams actually took part in a Grand Prix (sic) at Bucharest on Sunday September 3rd, the day Britain declared war on Germany. The race was won by Nuvolari with Muller second and von Brauchitsch third and I understand that Hermann Lang crashed when leading."

I haven't found any other reference to this Bucharest race in Motor Sport nor have I come across the AIACR calendar for 1939. I wonder if Belgrade and Bucharest have been mixed up, either then or now?

[Vitesse2]

tsrwright, on Mar 30 2012, 01:02, said:

In Motor Sport November 1939 p307 Continental Notes and News it states:

"... both the Mercedes Benz and Auto-Union teams actually took part in a Grand Prix (sic) at Bucharest on Sunday September 3rd, the day Britain declared war on Germany. The race was won by Nuvolari with Muller second and von Brauchitsch third and I understand that Hermann Lang crashed when leading."

I haven't found any other reference to this Bucharest race in Motor Sport nor have I come across the AIACR calendar for 1939. I wonder if Belgrade and Bucharest have been mixed up, either then or now?

Yes, it's a mistake by 'Auslander', which can sometimes be found in later books too. "A far-away place, of which we know little ..."

Just to confuse things, there had been a Bucharest Grand Prix, run on June 25th (the same day as Seaman was killed at Spa). Hans Stuck won it in an Auto Union C-type.

http://translate.goo...l...&prmd=imvns

[tsrwright]

Vitesse2, on Mar 30 2012, 16:43, said:

Yes, it's a mistake by 'Auslander', which can sometimes be found in later books too. "A far-away place, of which we know little ..."
...

http://translate.goo...l...&prmd=imvns

You just can't trust foreigners can you?

I take it the rest of the report is more or less correct?

[Tim Murray]

tsrwright, on Mar 30 2012, 13:25, said:

I take it the rest of the report is more or less correct?

Not quite. Nuvolari won from von Brauchitsch and Müller. Von Brauchitsch led from the start ahead of Lang, until a stone thrown up by von Brauchitsch smashed Lang’s goggles putting glass splinters into his eyes, and he stopped to hand over to Walter Bäumer, who later crashed. Von Brauchitsch then spun and stalled, but was able to restart by running downhill against the traffic, which nearly took out the pursuing Auto Unions. All the first three then suffered delays due to punctures. There were only five starters.

[Graham Clayton]

David McKinney, on Oct 28 2001, 03:15, said:

AUSTRALIA
1940
11/11 Patriotic Grand Prix, Applecross, WA

David,

Here is an article from the "West Australian", dated the 24th of October, 1940,
giving the list of starters for the "Patriotic Grand Prix". Tomlinson did not recover
from his illness, an Edward Lilly was involved in a traffic accident in his car in late
October, so there were only 13 starters.

"MOTORING. APPLECROSS RACE LIST OF DRIVERS. Exciting Event Promised.
FIFTEEN entries have been received for the Patriotic Grand Prix which will be
conducted over the new Applecross circuit on Monday, November 11, the King's
Birthday holiday. In many re spects the field comprises the best and fastest that
has yet met in any one event, although it now appears that Allan Tomlinson will
be a non-starter owing to ill health. One of the first to lodge an entry, Tomlinson
has been in hospital since Monday of last week, and if he is unable to compete he
will be bitterly disappointed, as he regards the Applecross circuit as one of the best
he has yet encountered, having all the thrills of the famous Lobethal circuit in
South Australia, where he won the Australian Grand Prix [in] 1939, but of an ideal length
(two and a half miles), permitting the spectators more frequent views of the competitors
without detracting from the spectacle of the race. The circuit will undoubtedly be the
fastest yet driven over in this state.

The full list of entrants is as follows:
G. A. Mackintosh (Bartlett).
A. G. Tomlinson (M.G. s/c.). - DNA
J. A. Nelson (Ford 10).
E. Lilley (Ford V8-Ballot). - DNA
B. Ranford (Ranford Special).
R. Neilsen (Terraplane).
H. G. Hammond (Marquette).
D. C. B. Ord (Bugatti).
W. H. Smallwood (M.G., T type).
A. G. Melrose (Austin 7 s/c.).
B. E. Brammer (Wolseley).
M. Royal (Ford V8).
A. Jensen (P.B. MG.).
R. J. Posselt (Ford V8).
C. Dwyer (Dwyer Special).


Newcomers to the sport will be Allan Mackintosh at the wheel of the Bartlett driven
previously by Clem Dyer and Brian Holmes; Ted Lilley driving Nelson's Ballot, Bob
Neilsen in Baird's Terraplane Milton Royal of Goomalling in a Ford V8 raced once at
Dowerin by Charley Dent, and Albert Jensen in a P.B. type M.G. once owned by Ord.
Of the others Clem Dwyer is still working on his special Plymouth engined racer, while
Ron Posselt, who lapped Albany last Easter at 2.16, will be at the wheel of yet another
Ford V8, making the third different machine of the same make that he has driven in
three races."

[Vitesse2]

Neilsen would be a DNA as well, as he'd been called up.

[Doug Nye]

Doug Nye, on Mar 7 2012, 23:46, said:

Last Monday I handled a photograph reliably captioned as showing an illegal 750 Motor Club meeting in 1941 at Blackbushe. I assumed it must have taken place on the surfaced sections newly laid down for what became RAF Hartford Bridge Flats, which I think became operational on the Blackbushe common site in November that year. I thought, coo, that's interesting, I'll post it on TNF. But I promptly lost the print. I haven't a clue where it's gone, but instead I'm just posting the information here. Does anyone else know of such an event? 750MC founder Holly Birkett, who lived just nearby in Fleet, would have been one of the instigators...

DCN

DSJ Box Brownie pic just resurfaced - caption on reverse reads "Wartime 750MC illegal sprint - Blackbushe - Hartford Bridge Flats"



A better quality DSJ shot from the 750MC's wartime get together at Osterley Park, captioned "Wartime - C.J. Merten's 4 1/2 Bentley at 750 club 'Osterley'". No wonder so many wartime fatalities and injuries were inflicted by night-time road accidents...

Photos via The GP Library

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 30 April 2012 - 21:48.

[Allan Lupton]

Illegal because such fuel as there was was only available for officially sanctioned necessary motoring and a sprint isn't that, one has to admit.
The headlamp masks on Con Mertens' Bentley seem to have been intended for much smaller lamps, but, as we remember, not much light was ever available from masked lamps so blackout accidents were inevitable.

[Vitesse2]

Allan Lupton, on Apr 30 2012, 23:28, said:

Illegal because such fuel as there was was only available for officially sanctioned necessary motoring and a sprint isn't that, one has to admit.

No, not exactly. The "basic" petrol ration was still available to private motorists until July 1st 1942, allowing ordinary drivers roughly 200 miles of "pleasure motoring" a month, based on RAC horsepower ratings. After that date you had to have a permit authorising use of your vehicle for official purposes, but by then virtually all private cars not already requisitioned for military use had been laid up - and would soon have their tyres requisitioned on the grounds that the military needed them more.

Competitions were classed as "illegal" because the RAC had instituted a self-imposed ban on sanctioning competitive events at the outbreak of war. The ACU didn't follow suit and there were regular motorcycle scrambles run under their aegis. The British government never actually banned motor sport during WW2: the RAC (which, according to Light Car, now stood for "Restricts All Competition"!) did it for them.

Osterley Park was a regular 750MC meeting venue in the days of "basic".

[RS2000]

Interesting photo of "Osterley". Can't place it at all. The only tarmac post war (50s) in Osterley Park was the straight entrance drive - the track on round the lake was/is gravel. No buildings like that either. Osterley Park was the Home Guard training centre from quite early in WW2 but not aware any associated permanent buildings (which have a "30s" look in the photo, just like my nearby school). Whitney Straight's place was nearby but it doesn't look right for that either.
When did it become mandatory to paint wings of private cars white in WW2? No sign of it in photo.

Edited by RS2000, 02 May 2012 - 20:05.

[tsrwright]

Interesting piece in latest Bugantics Spring 2012 about the problems of the March 1948 speed event at Luton Hoo after the post war basic petrol ration (c 90 miles per month) had been terminated (ie so there was no private fuel) in late 1947