1938
- Peter Whitehead - Supercharged ERA - 40
laps Handicap on gravel
1939 - John
Sherwood - 1934 NE Magnette - Sealed
road
1947 - Bill
Murray
1952 - Peter
Whitehead - Lago-Talbot
1958 - Lex
Davidson - Ferrari |
Title
pic above: Englishman Peter Whitehead rips through Reid Park in
his ERA at the first Australian
Grand Prix held
at Bathurst in 1938. He and his imported car won this event.
Other
Interesting Facts about early racing at the Mount
- The tourist road
was originally sealed during November 1938 for the huge cost
of 1200 pounds.
- Motor racing was
mostly suspended at the Mount during WW2.
- After WW2, Bathurst
Council spent 6000 pounds on improvements to the circuit.
In addition, they were forced to fight Police for the right
to hold races on the Mount. The Police believed the track
was unsafe and the Council won this battle in an Appeals Court.
- The first car
club to manage motor racing activities at the Mount was the
Bathurst Light Car Club (some call it the NSW Light Car Club).
The club used the track consistently for hill climbs with the
start line being at the beginning of Forest Elbow (near the
clubhouse).
- The Australian
Racing drivers Club (ARDC) took over responsibility for the
track in the mid 1950's.
- During the early
60's it became increasingly evident that the undulating, uneven
Mountain circuit was too dangerous for open wheeler and sports
car racing. Ironically, it seemed OK for bike racing though.
A tragic accident in 1961 involving Victorian Reg Smith reinforced
this belief when he was killed on Conrod straight.
It was believed that strong cross winds significantly contributed
to the accident.
The
era of
"Tin Tops" was now to begin
|
