1931 Australian Grand Prix
The 1931 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island Circuit in Victoria, Australia on 23 March 1931.[1] The race, which was the fourth Australian Grand Prix and the fourth to be held at Phillip Island, had 19 entries[1] and 14 starters.[2] It was organised by the Victorian Light Car Club.[1]
The race was staged using a handicap format with the first car starting 35 minutes before the two "Scratch" cars.[1] Prize money was paid for both handicap and overall results[1] with the principle prize of £100 awarded to the fastest car to complete the distance.[3]
Carl Junker was awarded the Grand Prix win,[4] having set the fastest time driving a Bugatti Type 39.[1] The Handicap Section was won by Cyril Dickason,[4] driving an Austin 7.[1]
Classes
[edit]Car competed in four classes:[5]
Classification
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| Pos[6] | No.[1] | Class[1] | Driver[6] | Car[6] | Laps[6] | Time[6] / Reason for ret. |
Handicap (mins)[1] | Handicap Pos.[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | C | Carl Junker | Bugatti Type 39 | 31 | 2h 54m 50s | 10 | 2 |
| 2 | 1 | A | Cyril Dickason | Austin 7 Ulster s/c[1] | 31 | 3h 02m 24s | 30 | 1 |
| 3 | 12 | C | Harold Drake-Richmond | Bugatti Type 37 | 31 | 3h 03m 19s | 10 | 3 |
| 4 | 10 | B | Barney Dentry | Riley Brooklands | 31 | 3h 09m 39s | 11 | 4 |
| 5 | 13 | B | Joan Richmond | Riley Nine | 31 | 3h 34m 00s | 22 | 6 |
| 6 | 3 | A | Cec Warren | Austin 7 Ulster[1] | 31 | 3h 35m 21s | 35 | 5 |
| Ret | 15 | C | Hope Bartlett | Bugatti Type 37A s/c[1] | 29 | Engine[3] | Scratch | |
| Ret | 19 | D | Les Jennings | Morris Oxford | 28 | Connecting rod[7] | 22 | |
| Ret | 2 | A | Clarrie May | Austin 7 s/c[1] | 18 | 30 | ||
| Ret | 4 | A | Ian Russell | Morris Minor | 15 | Engine[7] | 32 | |
| Ret | 20 | D | Jack Clements | Bugatti Type 30 | 14 | Crankshaft[3] | 9 | |
| Ret | 18 | D | Jack Sidebottom | Singer | 12 | 24 | ||
| Ret | 14 | C | Arthur Terdich | Bugatti Type 37A s/c[1] | 8 | Connecting rod[3] | Scratch | |
| Ret[8] | 9 | B | Bill Lowe[1] | Lombard AL.3 s/c[9] | 0[8] | Gearbox[8] | 11 | |
| DNS[1] | 5 | A | Eric Armstrong[1] | Triumph s/c[1] | – | 29 | ||
| DNS[1] | 6 | B | Alan Chamberlain[1] | Chamberlain[1] | – | 23 |
Notes
[edit]- Weather: Fine & mild[1]
- Race time limit: 4¼ hours from the commencement of the race, i.e., from the first car to start[10]
- Fastest lap: Hope Bartlett – 4'45.00 (79.90 mph)[1]
- Average speed of winning car: 69.87 mph[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y John B. Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, pages 59–73
- ^ The Official History of the Australian Grand Prix 80 Races 1927–2014, page 51 lists 13 competitors by name but does not mention Bill Lowe. Lowe is however mentioned as a retirement during the first lap of the race in the article in The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8
- ^ a b c d The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 44–50
- ^ a b The Australian Grand Prix 1931 - Carl Junker Wins Race - Fastest and Record Time, The Car (magazine of the Victorian Light Car Club), April 15, 1931, pages Three to Seven
- ^ a b c d e Australian Grand Prix, West Australian, Thursday, 12 February 1931, page 4
- ^ a b c d e f The Official History of the Australian Grand Prix 80 Races 1927–2014, page 51
- ^ a b Australian Grand Prix, Northern Argus, Friday, 10 April 1931, page 4
- ^ a b c Australian Grand Prix. The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8
- ^ John B. Blanden, Historic Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, page 191
- ^ John B. Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, page 62