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. The 100-mile race, which was organised by the Victorian Sporting Car Club, was open to cars of 'all powers'. 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"). The race, which was organised to celebrate the centenary of the town of Benalla, was claimed to be the first road race to be contested on the Victorian mainland.
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). Further checks conducted overnight resulted in Vin Maloney (MG Magna) being declared the winner from Dentry and Murphy.
Race results
Position | Driver | No. | Car | Entrant | Race time | Laps |
1 | Vin Maloney | MG Magna | 1:47:27 | 40 | ||
2 | B Dentry | Riley Special | 1:44:11 | 40 | ||
3 | Les Murphy | MG P-type | W Brown | 1:53:24 | 40 | |
4 | Bob Lea-Wright | Terraplane | 1:39:14 | 40 | ||
5 | J O'Dea | MG | ||||
? | G Martin | MG Magna | ||||
? | 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 | A Roseborough | Chrysler | ||||
DNF | Jack Day | Day Special | 22 | |||
DNF | H Reeve | MG Magna | 18 |
Notes:
- Attendance: More than 20,000
- Total race distance: 40 laps, 100 miles (160 km)
- Number of starters: 18
- Winner's race time: 1:47:27
- Fastest time: Bob Lea-Wright (Terraplane), 1:39:14
- Fastest lap: Jack Day (Day Special), 2:19, 65 mph
References
- The Benalla Centenary Race, Motor Sport, May 1936, page 263
- ^ Five protests in motor race, The Argus, Tuesday 14 April 1936, page 8
- ^ 100 miles car race, The Argus, Wednesday, 8 April 1936, page 11
- ^ 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
- ^ Benalla Motor Road Race – Maloney Placed First, The Argus, Wednesday 15 April 1936, page 8
- ^ Victoria's First Car Race on the Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 21