PERTH (WA)
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1940 - THE PATRIOTIC GRAND PRIX
The streets of Applecross hosted the only motor car race to be held on the streets of Perth on the 11th of November 1940, the days program consisted of a 4 lap (10 mile) race for gas producing cars, a 5 lap (12 & 1/2 mile) race for stock road cars, a 12 lap race (30 mile) race for sidecars and finishing off the day with the 12 lap (30 mile) Grand Prix for cars,
The meeting was held to raise money for charities that looked after war servicemen and there families,as this was during the 2nd world war Australia was controlled by heavy rashining so petrol was in short supply, some of the cars ran with gas producers on the car,
The winner of the main event was Harley Hammond in his 1929 Marquette special with Clem Dwyer 2nd in his 1938 Plymouth Special, Dwyer also set the fastest time for the event, while Jack Nelson in his 1940 Ford Ten Special drove consistently to finish third, Duncan Ord in his type 57t Bugatti recorded the fastest lap of the race with a 2 minute 50.5 second time.
The meeting was held to raise money for charities that looked after war servicemen and there families,as this was during the 2nd world war Australia was controlled by heavy rashining so petrol was in short supply, some of the cars ran with gas producers on the car,
The winner of the main event was Harley Hammond in his 1929 Marquette special with Clem Dwyer 2nd in his 1938 Plymouth Special, Dwyer also set the fastest time for the event, while Jack Nelson in his 1940 Ford Ten Special drove consistently to finish third, Duncan Ord in his type 57t Bugatti recorded the fastest lap of the race with a 2 minute 50.5 second time.
1940 - Harley Hammond takes the win. Photo: Ken Devine collection.
1940 - Photo: Terry Walkers Around the Houses.
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1940 - WEST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED
4th November 1940
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1940 - THE PATRIOTIC GRAND PRIX
Motorsport atmosphere in the 1940's in Perth, Police men, Ladie's, Gentlemen, Timing Crew and officials. Photo: Ken Devine collection.
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Lost Perth facebook photo feature
1940 - Photo: Richard Rigg collection.
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West Australian Motorsport History facebook photo feature
1940 - Neil Baird in the Hudson Terraplane at Albany. Photo: Shane Cassidy collection.
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1940 - STREET CAR ACTION
1940 - The unknown driver of the number 8 Chevrolet leads the Humber at the Grand Prix. Photo: Ken Devine collection
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1940 - PATRIOTIC GRAND PRIX
Terry Walker Around the Houses pictorial feature.
1940 - Photo: Terry Walker collection.
1940 - Posselt number 16 Ford special. Photo: Terry Walker collection.
1940 - Duncan Ord in his Bugatti turns out of Tweeddale Road. Photo: Terry Walker collection.
1940 - Brammer in his number 17 Worsley special in a bit of trouble. Photo: Terry Walker collection.
1940 - Harley Hammond mounts the footpath as Nelson follows. Photo: Terry Walker collection.
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Ken Devine pictorial feature
1940 - Allan Macintosh in his Bartlett Special at the Grand Prix. Photo: Ken Devine collection.
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1940 - Bill Smallwood in his MG seen here chasing down Aubrey Melrose. Photo: Ked Devine collection.
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1940 - Ernie Brammer in his Worsley leads the eventual winner Harley Hommond in the Marquette special. Photo. Ken Devine collection.
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2006 - THE PATRIOTIC GRAND PRIX LIVES ON
In November of 2006 the VCSS re-enacted the race to celebrate their 20th anniversary, the event proved to be a huge success with many motor racing fans turning out for the event.
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Paul Gale pictorial feature
2006 - The Bartlett Special leads away the Plymouth Special and followed by the White Mouse. Photo: Paul Gale.
2006 - The Bartlett Special. Photo: Paul Gale.
2006 - The White Mouse sits on display on the day. Photo: Paul Gale.
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2007 - MAYOR UNVEILS RACING TRIBUTE
On the 11th of November 2007 a plaque sponsored by the City of Melville was unveiled by Mayor Russell Aubrey in Duncraig Street Applecross, the plaque commemorates the historical significance of the event and its benefits to the community during the 2nd World War.
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2013 - PATRIOTIC GRAND PRIX WALKABOUT
The race circuit is still very much as it was in 1940 with the exception of a few roundabouts along Kintail Road and a no right turn situation out of Ogilvie Road into Kintail road right where the entrance is to the Raffles Hotel.
The first thing that you notice about the circuit is the amount of hills and tight corners, the track makes its way through Applecross amoungst many homes along Kintail Road, some period homes, but many new homes taking advantage of the veiws that the race car drivers once enjoyed, as you enter the section on Duncraig Road and Canning Beach Road the houses become very high priced mansions overlooking the Swan River and the South Perth Yaught Club, it appears the circuit would have passed by the front of the Raffles Hotel as the cars made there way up to the finish line on Kintail Road around the current school zone.
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 29 images so far, the final section is yet to be photographed)
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Brian Moyle recalls: as I walked the circuit with my wife Lina I asked her what stood out about the circuit in her mind, she said It was the picture perfect views and the expensive homes that had been built around the once race track, For me I thought about the very steep hills and tight corners that would of put so much load on those old engines and drivelines as they raced around the course, most of the country tracks in those day, say in the wheatbelt were very flat circuits, the exception of course Albany.