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1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars

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Track map of the Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit (1953-1961)

The 1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars was a motor race staged at the Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit at Orange in New South Wales, Australia on 31 January 1955.[1] The race, which was a Formula Libre event open to racing cars and stripped sports cars,[2] was contested as a scratch race which also incorporated a handicap award.[3] It was held over 27 laps[1] of the 3¾ mile circuit[4] for a total distance of 100 miles.[1] The race, which was the first South Pacific Championship for racing cars,[1] was won by Englishman Peter Whitehead driving a 3 litre Ferrari.[4]

The championship meeting, which was conducted by the Australian Sporting Car Club,[2] was the first FIA sanctioned international race meeting to be staged in Australia.[5]

Race results

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Peter Whitehead won the championship driving a Ferrari 500, similar to that pictured above.
Position[6] Driver[6] No.[6] Car[6] Laps[1] Remarks
1 Peter Whitehead 2[1] Ferrari 500[7] 27 1h 5m 1s, 93 m.p.h.[8]
2 Jack Brabham 5 Cooper Bristol
3 Tony Gaze 4 Ferrari 500[7]
4 Jack Murray[9] 56 [9] Allard Cadillac[3][10]
5 Tom Sulman 14 [9] Maserati
6 Curly Brydon MG TC Special
7 G Grieg Alfa Romeo Alvis
? John MacMillan 10 Alfa Romeo
? Noel Barnes MG Special
DNF [9] Jack Robinson Jaguar XK120 Special 23 [9]
DNF [9] Dick Cobden [9] Ferrari[9] 2 [9]
DNS Prince Bira Maserati Engine failure in practice [9]
DNS [9] Prince Bira[9] O.S.C.A.[9] Fuel feed problems in preliminary race [9]
DNS [9] Reg Hunt [9] Maserati[9] Brakes [9]
DNS [9] Ian Mountain [9] Peugeot Special [9] Fatal accident in preliminary race [9]

Handicap results

[edit]
Position[6] Driver[6] No.[6] Car[6] Laps[1]
1 Jack Brabham 5 Cooper Bristol
2 Jack Murray[9] 56 [9] Allard Cadillac[3][10]
3 Tom Sulman Maserati
4 Peter Whitehead 2[1] Ferrari 500[7] 27

Notes:

  • Attendance: 30,000[1]
  • Number of starters: unknown
  • Number of finishers: unknown
  • Winner's race time: 65 minutes 1 second[1]
  • Winner's average speed: 95 mph[1]
  • Fastest lap: Peter Whitehead, Ferrari 500, 2 minutes 21 seconds[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Whitehead wins at Orange, Modern Motor, March 1955, page 29
  2. ^ a b Big races for Orange on 31st, Wheels (magazine), February 1955, page 30
  3. ^ a b c Orange car races, Australian Motor Sports, January 1955, page 25
  4. ^ a b Sidelights on Orange, Australian Motor Manual, 1 March 1955, pages 41 & 47
  5. ^ Gnoo Blas Classic, www.gnooblas.com, as archived at web.archive.org
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i South Pacific Road Racing Championships, Australian Motor Sports, February 1955, pages 60 to 64
  7. ^ a b c John B Blanden, 1952 Ferrari Type 500, Old Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, page 146
  8. ^ South Pacific Championship, Motor Manual's Motor Racing Year Book No. 6, pages 10 to 13
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Whitehead's Big Win, Cars, April 1955, pages 20 to 23 + pages 61 to 62
  10. ^ a b Race driver, spectator die in crash, Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 1 February 1955, page 3
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