1930 Australian Grand Prix

The 1930 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 24 March 1930. ^[1] The race, which was organised by the Light Car Club of Victoria, was the third Australian Grand Prix and the third held at Phillip Island. ^[1] It was staged as a scratch race with the Class A cars starting first, followed by the Class B entries three minutes later and the Class C cars a further three minutes after that. ^[2] The Grand Prix title was awarded to the entry recording the fastest time for the race. ^[1] Of the 22 cars which started the race, nine completed the race distance within the 4½ hour time limit. ^[3]

The race was won by Bill Thompson driving a Bugatti Type 37A. ^[1]

Classes

Cars competed in classes according to cylinder capacity. ^[1]

• Class A: Cars up to 850cc ^[1]
• Class B: Cars over 850cc and up to 1100cc ^[1]
• Class C: Cars over 1100cc and up to 1500cc ^[1]
• Class D: Cars over 1500cc and up to 2000cc ^[1]

Only one entry, the 1517cc Lea-Francis Hyper of Mick Carlton, was received for Class D. ^[1] At the discretion of the organisers it was placed in Class C. ^[1]

Classification

Bill Thompson won the race driving a Bugatti Type 37A

Harold Drake-Richmond placed second driving a Bugatti Type 37

Barney Dentry placed seventh and won Class B driving a Riley Nine

Pos [3]	No. [1]	Class [3] [1]	Driver [3] [1]	Car [3] [1]	Laps [3] [1]	Time / Remarks [4]
1	C10	C	Bill Thompson	Bugatti Type 37A s/c	31	3h 06m 00s
2	C6	C	Harold Drake-Richmond	Bugatti Type 37	31	3h 25m 00s
3	A1	A	Cyril Dickason	Austin 7	31	3h 30m 30s [5]
4	A3	A	Harry Burkill	Austin 7	31	3h 44m 30s
5	A10	A	Ken McKinney	Austin 7	31	3h 46m 00s [3]
6	A1	C	John Goodall	Aston Martin-Anzani	31	3h 47m 30s
7	B1	B	Barney Dentry	Riley Nine Brooklands	31	3h 51m 30s
8	B7	B	Jack Edwards	Sénéchal	31	4h 06m 30s
9	A8	A	Wally Whelan	Morris Minor	31	4h 06m 30s
DNF	C3	C	Ron Gardner	Alvis 12/50	19	Magnetto [1]
DNF	A2	A	Clarrie May	Austin 7	17	Rollover [1]
DNF	C2	C	Albert Edwards	Alvis FWD s/c	16	Accident [1]
DNF	C5	C	Arthur Terdich	Bugatti Type 37A s/c	10	Con rod
DNF	A5	A	Les Jennings	Morris Minor	7	Engine bearings
DNF	C4	C	Mick Carlton	Lea-Francis Hyper	?	Gearbox
DNF	A6	A	Jack McCutcheon	Morris Minor	?	Engine bearings
DNF	A7	A	Bernie Sutton	Morris Minor	?	Engine bearings
DNF	B4	B	Bill Johnson	Riley Nine Brooklands	?	Bearings [1]
DNF	B5	B	Frank Matthews	Standard s/c	?	Ignition
DNF	C7	C	Reg Brearley	Bugatti Type 37	?	Engine
DNF	B6	B	Bill Lowe	Lombard AL3 s/c	0	Overheating
DNF	B8	B	Frank Corrigan	Amilcar	0	Accident [1]

Note: DNF indicates that car did not finish.

Notes

• Attendance: Over 7,000 ^[4]
• Race distance: 200 miles ^[6]
• Entries: 28 ^[1]
• Starters: 22 ^[3]
• Classified finishers: 9 ^[3]
• Winner's average speed: 65.5 miles per hour (105.4 km/h) ^[1]
• Sealed Handicap winner: Cyril Dickason (Austin 7) ^[3]
• Fastest lap: Bill Thompson – approx. 75 mph (new lap record) ^[3]
• Race time limit: 4½ hours ^[3]

References

1. John Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, pp. 43–58
2. Kent Patrick, Chapter 14, Victory in the 1930 Australian Grand Prix, "Bill Thompson – Australian motor racing champion", pages 97 to 105
3. Thrilling Motor Race, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957) Tuesday 25 Mar 1930, Page 14, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au
4. The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 36 to 41
5. Australian Grand Prix A Class Winner's Time Reduced by Seven Minutes, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957) Wednesday 26 Mar 1930, Page 20, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au
6. Motor Grand Prix - 22 Start: 9 Finish, The Advertiser, Tuesday 25 March 1930, Page 15, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 31 August 2023

External links

• Thompson wins Grand Prix in Bugatti, The Referee, Wednesday 26 March 1930, Page 17

Preceded by 1929 Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix 1930

Succeeded by 1931 Australian Grand Prix