NARROGIN (WA)
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1954 - NARROGIN CAR CLUB
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1955 - HARRY SMITH
Harry/Harold Smith was the driving force behind the Narrogin Car Club in the 1950's, and organised the legendry Narrogin 1400 mile reliability trials, which headed East from Narrogin as far out into the desert as Baladonia, and through endless sand and limestone tracks to Israelite Bay on the South coast and back again to Narrogin, He recruited the services od the Ham Radio Association to provide long-range short wave radio communications between the entrants and officials. The events attracted such noted Australian trials champions as Ed Perkins (farther of Larry perkins and grand farther of Jack Perkins)
The trials ran from 1955 through to 1958 and beyond with at least one run in 1960.
(Editorial Peter Narducci)
1955 - The residents of Narrogin came out in numbers to see the start and finish of the trial events. Photo: Peter Harrold collection.
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1956 - 1400 MILE RELIABILITY TRIAL
The 1956 Reliability Trial was held over 1,400 miles, Twenty nine cars entered the event with only nine finishing, The eventual winners of the trial were Don Collins and Laurie Hoardacre in a 48 series Holden from Albany.
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Above: Harry Smith with the survey car and team, Below Harry;s VW dealership.
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1956 - DON COLLINS & LAURIE HOARDACRE
1956 - Pictured outside Manley Motors in Peel Place Albany is George Manley Laurie Hoardacre Don Collins and a Red X sales rep. Photo: Jo Collins collection.
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1956 - NARROGIN 1400 MILE RELIABILITY TRIAL
1956 - A large crowd turned out in Narrogin to see off the competitors in the trial. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Young Sandilands and his co driver in there Austin A95. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Vangaurd. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Holden FE. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Stan McEntee from Narrogin. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Les Smith about to be flagged off in his Ford Customline. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Les Smith and his team take a break. Photo: Peter Harrold.
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1956 - Holden FE. Photo: Peter Harrold.
1956 - Photo: Peter Harrold.
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1956 - WEST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED
Published 4th March 1956
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1957 - HARRY SMITH
Along with organising his own clubs events in Narrogin, Harry also competed in the fabulous Redex and Mobilgas Around Australia trials in the mid 1950's, often up to 12,000 miles of outback roads, dust, corrugations and floods.
(Editorial Peter Narducci)
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1957 - WEST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED
Off To Join The Rally
A crowd gathered in St. George's Terrace yesterday to see this West Australian team leave Perth to tame part in the round-australia car rally, At the wheel of the Volkswagon is Harry Smith of Narrogin, His companion is Peter Staines, of Perth.
15th August 1957
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Berry Hanney recalls: Harry Smith had the Volkswagon agency in Narrogin when I went there one day in 1953, Also Harry in a new Volkswagon up at the Narrogin Showgrounds and telling all present that you could not turn a VW over as a lot a Holdens had a habit of doing, He then went into a slide and promptly rolled the car over.
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1958 - THE VISOR MAGAZINE REPORTED
Published 31st January 1958
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1958 - 1400 MILE RELIABILITY TRIAL 1st March to the 3rd March 1958 |
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Kay Weaver feature
1958 - Les Smith just prior to the 1400 mile reliability trial with his Ford Customline. Photo: Sandra Sewell.
1958 - Les Smith's Ford Customline struggles through the sand dunes near the Southern coast Photo Harry Smith
1958 - Back at home base in Narrogin Ham radio operator keeps in contact with the trial teams Photo Harry Smith
1958 - Photo: Peter Harrold.
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1958 - THE VISOR MAGAZINE REPORTED
Published 31st March 1958
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1958 - THE VISOR MAGAZINE REPORTED
Published 30th April 1958
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1958 - THE VISOR MAGAZINE REPORTED
Published 30th November 1958
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1959 - THE VISOR MAGAZINE REPORTED
Published 31st January 1959
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1960 - GREG NICHOLAS
Kay Weaver Feature
