The 1928 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held on the Phillip Island road circuit, on

Phillip Island Phillip Island ( Boonwurrung: ''Corriong'', ''Worne'' or ''Millowl'') is an Australian island about south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. The island is named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, by explore ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, Australia on 31 March 1928. Although now known as the first Australian Grand Prix, the race was actually staged as the 100 Miles Road Race and it did not assume the Australian Grand Prix title until some years later. It was organised by the Victorian Light Car Club. The overall winner was Arthur Waite driving an

Austin 7 The Austin 7 is an economy car that was produced from 1923 until 1939 in the United Kingdom by Austin. It was nicknamed the "Baby Austin" and was at that time one of the most popular cars produced for the British market and sold well abroad. ...

. The winning car averaged 56.25 mph (90.50 km/h).

Race summary

The race was originally to be held on Monday 26 March however rain forced postponement until Saturday 31 March. It was open to "light" cars of up to 2-litre capacity and it attracted 30 entries, of which 25 were accepted and 17 started. Competing cars were classified into classes according to cylinder capacity:Extracts from Rules, Official Programme, 100 Miles Road Race, Phillip Island, Monday, 26 March 1928 * Class A: Cars up to 750cc * Class B: Cars over 750cc and up to 1100cc * Class C: Cars over 1100cc and up to 1500cc * Class D: Cars over 1500cc and up to 2000cc The event was conducted as two separate races, with the first held in the morning for Class B and D entries, and the second held in the afternoon, for Class A and C cars. The competitor setting the fastest time was to receive a £100 trophy donated by Charles Brown Kellow and would be regarded as "Champion of the Day".John B Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, Volume 1, 1981, p. 5 Trophies were also to be awarded for first and second places in each class and all other competitors who finished within the 2½ hour time limit would receive a Club award. Only two cars completed the course without stopping.100-Mile Road Race, The Argus, Tuesday 3 April 1928, Page 18, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au
/ref> They were the

Morris Cowley Morris Cowley was a name given to various cars produced by Morris from 1915 to 1958. Morris Cowley ''Bullnose'' (1915) The Continental Cowley, shown to the press in April 1915, was a larger engined (1495 cc against 1018 cc), longer, w ...

of J. O. McCutcheon and the Austin 12 of C. R. Dickason.

Race results

Austin 12 of Cyril Dickason (1928 100 Miles Road Race)

Bugatti Type 40 of Arthur Terdich (1928 100 Miles Road Race)

Race One

Race Two

Overall classification

Notes

* Ret = Retired from race * DNS = Did not start race

1927 Australian Grand Prix

Although the 1928 race is recognised by

Motorsport Australia Motorsport Australia, formerly the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), is the nationally recognised governing and sanctioning body for four-wheeled motorsport in Australia. It is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de l'Au ...

as the first Australian Grand Prix, a dispute exists given that an event held in

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...

, New South Wales in 1927 was actually advertised as a grand prix at the time. However the 1927 event was not a motor race but rather a series of elimination sprints.Meredith's marvel: the Windellama man who won Australia's first Grand Prix in Goulburn, January 11 2017, www.crookwellgazette.com.au
Retrieved 12 March 2021

References

External links

Australia's First Grand Prix To Start Next Monday, The Weekly Times, March 24 1928, page 74, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au

Rain causes postponement, Argus, Monday 26 March 1928, p. 16, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au

Speed tests at Cowes, Argus, Tuesday 27 March 1928, p. 15, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au

Contest at Cowes, Argus, Monday 2 April 1928, p. 23, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au

1928 100 Miles Road Race, Phillip Island…, primotipo.com
{{s-end Grand Prix Australian Grand Prix Motorsport at Phillip Island Australian Grand Prix