1936 Benalla Centenary Race
The 1936 Benalla Centenary Race was a motor race staged at the Benalla Circuit at Benalla in Victoria, Australia on Easter Monday, 13 April 1936.[1] The 100-mile race, which was organised by the Victorian Sporting Car Club, was open to cars of 'all powers'.[2] It was contested on a handicap basis with the 'Limit Man', J O’Dea (MG), given a 20-minute start on the 'Scratch Man', Jack Day (Day Special").[3] The race, which was organised to celebrate the centenary of the town of Benalla,[4] was claimed to be the first road race to be contested on the Victorian mainland.[5]
B Dentry (Riley Special), was flagged in as the winner of the race but rechecks after protests had been lodged saw the victory awarded to Les Murphy (MG P-type).[2] Further checks conducted overnight resulted in Vin Maloney (MG Magna) being declared the winner from Dentry and Murphy.[6]
Race results
[edit]
| Position | Driver[7] | No. | Car[7] | Entrant | Race time[6] | Laps |
| 1[6] | Vin Maloney[4][6] | MG Magna[6] | 1:47:27 | 40 | ||
| 2[6] | B Dentry[6] | Riley Special[6] | 1:44:11 | 40 | ||
| 3[6] | Les Murphy[6][7] | MG P-type[6] | W Brown[7] | 1:53:24 | 40 | |
| 4[6] | Bob Lea-Wright[6][7] | Terraplane | 1:39:14 | 40 | ||
| 5[6] | J O'Dea[6] | MG | ||||
| ? | G Martin | MG Magna[2] | ||||
| ? | L Allen | Singer | ||||
| ? | W Hope | Singer | ||||
| ? | M Wreford | Riley Imp | ||||
| ? | C Keefer | Riley Imp | ||||
| ? | L Jackson | Riley Imp | ||||
| ? | B Tinckham | Bugatti | ||||
| ? | Harry Beith | Terraplane | ||||
| ? | K Latty | Ford V8 | ||||
| ? | J Phillips | Ford V8 | ||||
| DNF[2] | A Roseborough | Chrysler | ||||
| DNF[2] | Jack Day[3] | Day Special | 22[2] | |||
| DNF[2] | H Reeve | MG Magna[2] | 18[2] |
Notes:
- Attendance: More than 20,000[6]
- Total race distance: 40 laps, 100 miles[2] (160 km)
- Number of starters: 18[2]
- Winner's race time: 1:47:27[6]
- Fastest time: Bob Lea-Wright (Terraplane), 1:39:14[6]
- Fastest lap: Jack Day (Day Special), 2:19, 65 mph[2]
References
[edit]- ^ The Benalla Centenary Race, Motor Sport, May 1936, page 263
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Five protests in motor race, The Argus, Tuesday 14 April 1936, page 8
- ^ a b 100 miles car race, The Argus, Wednesday, 8 April 1936, page 11
- ^ a b Benalla, www.silhouet.com Retrieved 15 August 2015
- ^ Motor History Made in Victoria – First Car Race on Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 1
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Benalla Motor Road Race – Maloney Placed First, The Argus, Wednesday 15 April 1936, page 8
- ^ a b c d e Victoria's First Car Race on the Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 21