The 1931 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island Circuit in Victoria, Australia on 23 March 1931.[1] The race, which was the fourth Australian Grand Prix and the fourth to be held at Phillip Island, had 19 entries[1] and 14 starters.[2] It was organised by the Victorian Light Car Club.[1]
The race was staged using a handicap format with the first car starting 35 minutes before the two "Scratch" cars.[1] Prize money was paid for both handicap and overall results[1] with the principle prize of £100 awarded to the fastest car to complete the distance.[3]
Carl Junker was awarded the Grand Prix win,[4] having set the fastest time driving a Bugatti Type 39.[1] The Handicap Section was won by Cyril Dickason,[4] driving an Austin 7.[1]
Classes
Car competed in four classes:[5]
A – 850cc[5]
B – 1100cc[5]
C – 1500cc[5]
D – 2000cc[5]
Classification
Carl Junker set fastest time and was awarded the Grand Prix win, driving a Bugatti Type 39Cyril Dickason (Austin 7) recorded second fastest time and won the Handicap awardHarold Drake-Richmond (Bugatti Type 37) set the third fastest race time
Notes
Weather: Fine & mild[1]
Race time limit: 4¼ hours from the commencement of the race, i.e., from the first car to start[10]
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x yJohn B. Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, pages 59–73
^The Official History of the Australian Grand Prix 80 Races 1927–2014, page 51 lists 13 competitors by name but does not mention Bill Lowe. Lowe is however mentioned as a retirement during the first lap of the race in the article in The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8
^ a b c dThe Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 44–50
^ a bThe Australian Grand Prix 1931 - Carl Junker Wins Race - Fastest and Record Time, The Car (magazine of the Victorian Light Car Club), April 15, 1931, pages Three to Seven
^ a b c d eAustralian Grand Prix, West Australian, Thursday, 12 February 1931, page 4
^ a b c d e fThe Official History of the Australian Grand Prix 80 Races 1927–2014, page 51
^ a bAustralian Grand Prix, Northern Argus, Friday, 10 April 1931, page 4
^ a b cAustralian Grand Prix. The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8
^John B. Blanden, Historic Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, page 191
^John B. Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, page 62
External links
Australian Grand Prix, The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8, trove.nla.gov.au
Joan Richmond collection, collectionsearch.nma.gov.au, as archived at web.archive.org
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