PHILLIP ISLAND (VIC)
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1927 - PHILLIP ISLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPLITS FROM THE MAINLAND
Because of a ban placed on motor racing on public roads in Victoria, many illegal motorcycle events were held on various public road locations.
In 1927 the Phillip Island and Woolamai Shires voted to sever its ties with the mainland as far as local government, This changed the legality of Motor Racing around the streets.
An approach was made by the Victorian Motor Cycle union and the light Car Club of Victoria to the shire for permission and race meetings were soon underway.
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1928 - PHILLIP ISLAND ROAD CIRCUITThe first Phillip Island circuit was nothing more than a reclangular rough and dusty public road layout, the track was described by drivers as brutal and hard to navigate because of the dust, at times the tree tops that lined the road were the best way to tell if you were on the road or not, because of the narrow roads and the dust accidents were very much part of the days racing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------First Race Meeting26th March 1928
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Rescheduled Meeting31st March 1928The first ever race meeting at Phillip Island was to be held on the 26th of March 1928, This was a 100 mile big car event.
The event on these dry dusty unsealed roads was organised by the Victorian Light Car Club but had to be postponed until the 31st of March 1928 because of the heavy rains.
The rescheduled meeting did go ahead and was a complete success.
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1928 - ARTHUR J TERDICH
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1928 - Arthur Terdich winner of the first long distance race at Phillip Island. Photo: Bob Williamson collection.
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1928 - PHILLIP ISLAND STREET CIRCUIT AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 31st March 1928
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31st March 1928 - Barney Dentry's Sehechal pictured here at the first Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. Photo: Tony Johns collection.
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1928 - PHILLIP ISLAND STREET CIRCUIT MOTORCYCLE TT April 1928.
When the unsealed street circuit opened in March of 1928 it hosted car's only, but in April of the same year its first Motorcycle TT event was held, but on an extended 12 1/2 mile version of the circuit.
April 1928 - Alec Finlay Phillip Islands first Motorcycle race winner on his 500cc BSA. Photo: unknown.
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Ian Griffiths recalls: The above map shows the 10.4 km circuit at Phillip Island that hosted the very first Australian Grand Prix on the 31st of March 1928, this circuit was used each year through to 1935.
It was also used for motorcycle TT's, but this was a long 12.5 mile variant which went straight on to Rhyll at Jackson's Corner and rejoined the circuit at Gentle Anne corner. After 1935, the Grand Prix moved the other venues and a 3.3 mile mostly triangular circuit was used (the top of the above map) for club racing, the circuit was used until 1940.
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1934 - PHILLIP ISLAND AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 19th March 1934
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19th March 1934 - Arthur Terdich's Bugatti Type 37A number 3 [W Bollen racing mechanic] Bill Thompsons Super Charged MG Magnette number 2 [M Maxwell racing mechanic] Bob Lea Wright took out first prize in his Singer [J Kennedy racing mechanic] with Bill Thompson coming in second place. Photographer: unknown. Photo: Reg Nutt collection. Research: David Zeunert.
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1934 - VICTORIAN CENTENARY GRAND PRIX
1934 - At the time the big cars were banned from racing on the mainland, pictured here is Mick Smith in his Ford V8 Special behind the 21 Singer, Smith went on to win the 230 mile race that year. Photo: The Singer Project facebook.
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1936 - PHILLIP ISLAND TT
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1936 - Photo's: Earle Vienet.
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1938 - PHILLIP ISLAND AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
It has been reported that two Australian Grand Prixs were run in 1938. This is not the case, infact this event was conducted by the Victorian Sporting Car Club on the 28th of March 1938 on the unsealed public roads on Phillip Island. This event was referred to as the Phillip Island Grand Prix. The Australian Grand Prix was held at Mount Panorama that same year.
It is beleived that A Beasley in a Singer won the main 115 mile event with 2nd going to KR McDonald in a Standard. J Boughton in a Morgan suffered mechanical problems and was forced to retire.
1938 - Very Dusty conditions at Phillip Island for the Grand Prix. Photo: Anthony Loxley collection.
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1940 - FRANK PRATT Sidecar's
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1940 - Frank Pratt on his Sunbeam sidecar racing on the Phillip Island streets. Photo: Charles Daniel Pratt collection.
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1940 - SIDECAR ACTION
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