| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ozziebsa |
Posted - 15 Nov 2013 : 11:10:36 PM
Next year, 2014, will be the 100th year since the 1914 event known as the "Grand Prix of Australia" was held. This event was held on 5 October 1914 and was won by Edgar Meller riding a 2 3/4 HP Douglas at the Yetholme/Sunny Corner circuit near Bathurst. This circuit pre-dates the Vale circuit and was also the scene of a Grand Prix in 1915. Both events were held under the auspices of the then controlling body in NSW for motorcycle racing, the A.C.A.
I am extremely disappointed in the current controlling body of Motorcycle racing as they appear to have no knowledge of what went before them. The MotoGP of 2014 should be a major celebration of this 100th year of GP racing in Australia, yet there is not even a whisper that it has been 100 years since the 1914 "Grand Prix of Australia" event.
Time for MA to get motivated. |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ozziebsa |
Posted - 26 Nov 2013 : 12:51:36 AM
On a very brief look, I have found the 1957 Australian Grand Prix at Bandiana, Victoria and in 1968 the Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst.
I am sure there would be more. |
| acotrel |
Posted - 24 Nov 2013 : 10:36:01 PM
The last Australian TT I can remember was the Laverton meeting. The whole world now seems to be made of plastic - full of throwaway goodies ? My feeling is that we should still be continuing with both the Australian TT and the GP, however who really cares ? Was the Harvey Wiltshire run this year ? Someone once said that MotoGP would kill off our road racing. Was the current Australian GP derived from the 1915 event ? I don't remember a GP in the 60s and 70s.
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| ozziebsa |
Posted - 19 Nov 2013 : 07:29:24 AM
The 1914 event was billed as "the Grand Prix of Australia" and was an open event.
The event has certainly been lost in the mists of time and as next year is the 100th anniversary of that event I am surprised that I have heard no promotion or commentary about the 2014 event being the Centenary event. Surely Motorcycling Australia must have some sort of celebration to mark this milestone. I suppose the fact is that they are not aware of this history,
in fact, in 1914 Australia's first Tourist Trophy race was held in the Goulburn area. It was billed as "The Tourist Trophy Race For The Commonwealth of Australia". For this event a crack team of Indian riders were sent from Victoria to compete. It was held in April 1914.
With the TT I an not sure that there is an actual Australian TT race in 2014 at which to celebrate it's 100th year, but there is an Australian GP race so that is the logical focus for any celebrations. I just hope these important 100 year milestones for Australian Motorcycle racing are recognized and celebrated in 2014.
In 1914 Douglas Motorcycles made much publicity here in Australia of the fact that they had won the Grand Prix of Australia.
For those who are interested in finding out more about these events, visit the "Trove" website and type in either 'Grand Prix' or 'Tourist Trophy' and limit your search to 1914.
I do hope Motorcycling Australia does celebrate these events in 2014. |
| acotrel |
Posted - 17 Nov 2013 : 08:10:52 AM
Grand Prix or Tourist Trophy ? I cannot remember an Australian GP prior to modern times. |
