The 1935 Centenary 300 was a motor race staged at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 1 January 1935.[1] It was contested over 46 laps of the 6.569 mile course, a total distance of 302.174 miles.[2] At the time, it was claimed to be the longest race of the kind ever held in Australia.[1] The race, which was conducted on a handicap basis, was limited to cars with a piston displacement of not more than 2500cc.[1] The race meeting was organised by the Light Car Club of Australia and was held under licence from the Australian Automobile Association and in accordance with the International Sporting Code governing car racing.[3]

The race was won by Les Murphy driving an MG P.[4]

Results

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Bernie Horsley contested the race driving an MG J3
Position Driver[1] Car[1] No. Acceptor[1] Handicap[1] Time[5] Speed (mph)[5] Laps
1[6] Les Murphy MG P-type[2] L. Murphy 53m 40s 4h 32m 51s 66.44 46
2[6] W. Williamson Riley Imp Cohen and Cameron 19m 56s 4h 8m 56s 72.83 46
3[6] Les Jennings[6] MG Magna L. Jennings 31m 26s 4h 21m 39s 69.307 46
4[6] Lyster Jackson[6] Singer Le Mans L.G. Jackson 59m 48s 4m 55s 38s 61.32 46
FO[2] Norman Putt[7] Singer Le Mans N.F. Putt 59m 48s
FO[2] Cec Warren[8] MG Q s/c[2] C.R. Warren 4m 35s
FO[2] R. McKay MG P-type[2] R. McKay 53m 40s
FO[2] J.E. Norman Ballot 2 Litre[2] J.E. Norman 31m 26s
DNF[9] R. Burton MG Magnette Type N[2] R. Burton 32m 12s
DNF[9] E. Nichols Bugatti 2 litre[2] E. Nichols 38m 20s
DNF[9] L. Terry[2] Bugatti 2 litre[2] L. Terry[2] 56m 48s[2]
DNF[2] Mert Wreford[4] Riley Brooklands G. Cohen 52m 8s 39[2]
DNF[2] Jack McCutcheon[2] Bugatti Type 37[2] K. Macmeikan 27m 35s 36[2]
DNF[2] A.J. Terdich Bugatti Type 37 s/c[2] A.J. Terdich 17m 38s 31[2]
DNF[2] Bob Lea-Wright[10] Singer Le Mans 26[10] R.A. Lea-Wright 55m 58s
DNF[6] Campbell Graham[6] MG P-type[2] 25[6] C. Graham 53m 40s 24[2]
DNF[2] V.A. Maloney MG Magna V.A. Maloney 44m 28s 17[2]
DNF[2] H. Drake-Richmond Bugatti Type 37[2] 15[4] H. Drake-Richmond 35m 16s 15[2]
DNF[6] Bill Thompson[8] MG K3 Magnette[2] 1[8] R.T. Lane 4m 35s 10[6]
DNF[11] Bernie Horsley[11] MG J3 s/c 14[11] J.L. & W.B. Horsley 32m 58s
DNF[2] R.G. Watson Wolseley Special Sports[2] Kellow-Falkinar Pty Ltd 52m 8s 0[2]
DNS[12] E. Summerfield Morris Special E. Summerfield 63m 28s
DNS[13] E.J. Buckley Kirby Deering Special E.J. Buckley Scratch
DNS[13] W.H. Galpin Riley Brooklands 6[8] W.H. Cameron 25m 18s
DNS[13] J.W. Fraser Bugatti Monza H.W. Edwards 26m 50s
DNS[13] O.B. Last MG J3 s/c O.B. Last 32m 58s
DNS[13] R. Kent MG P M. Maxwell 38m 20s
DNS[13] W. Barton Lombard W. Barton 48m 15s

Notes

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  • Entries: 28[14]
  • Starters: 21[15]
  • Non-starters: 7[16]
  • Finishers (within five hour time limit): 4[2]
  • Flagged Off (exceeded five hour time limit): 4[2]
  • Attendance: 20,000[6]
  • Fastest time: W Williamson, 4h 8m 56s[13]
  • Fastest lap: Bill Thompson, MG Magnette, 4:48.6[8]

The car driven by Campbell Graham crashed on the 34th lap of the race.[6] Both Graham and his riding mechanic John Peters died as a result of their injuries.[6]

Notes & references

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cowes race to-day - Centenary 300, The Argus, Tuesday 1 January 1935, page 4, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 9 January 2017
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Consistent Steadiness Wins Centenary 300, The Referee, Thursday, January 3 1935, page 24, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 26 July 2020
  3. ^ Centenary 300-Mile Race, The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 8 January 1935, page 5, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 9 January 2017
  4. ^ a b c Souvenir Programme, Phillip Island Auto Racing Club, Grand Opening Meeting (1956), page 5
  5. ^ a b Cowes Race, The Argus, Monday 7 January 1935, page 12, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 10 January 2017
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Motorist Killed, The Argus, Wednesday 2 January 1935, page 7, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 9 January 2017
  7. ^ Centenary Grand Prix, The Daily Telegraph, Thursday, December 6, 1934, page 6, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 26 July 2020
  8. ^ a b c d e Kent Patrick, Bill Thompson, Australian Motor Racing Champion, pages 242 to 245
  9. ^ a b c Burton, Nichols & Terry are not mentioned in referenced reports as retirements but are assumed to have retired as they are not listed in The Referee report of Thursday, January 3, 1935, page 24 among the four finishers or the four drivers who were flagged off.
  10. ^ a b Lea-Wright - Big man in small cars, Wheels (magazine), April 1955, pages 50 & 51
  11. ^ a b c prewar.mgcc.info Archived 2017-01-10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 9 January 2017
  12. ^ Summerfield is not listed as a starter in the race report in The Referee of 3 January 1935, page 24
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Motor racing - 300-Miles Centenary Event, The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 2 January 1935, page 6, via trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 9 January 2017
  14. ^ 27 entries are listed in The Argus, on Tuesday 1 January, page 4 and L. Terry is an additional name listed in The Referee, Thursday, January 3, 1935, page 24
  15. ^ The Referee, Thursday, January 3, 1935, page 24 states that there were twenty starters but lists twenty one names. L. Jackson is listed twice.
  16. ^ The report in the Sydney Morning Herald of 2 January lists six non-starters by name. Summerfield was an additional non-starter.