1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars
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[]
Position[6] | Driver[6] | No.[6] | Car[6] | Laps[1] |
1 | Peter Whitehead | 2[1] | Ferrari 500[7] | 27 |
2 | Jack Brabham | 5 | Cooper Bristol | |
3 | Tony Gaze | 4 | Ferrari 500[7] | |
4 | Joe Murray | Allard Cadillac[3][8] | ||
5 | Tom Sulman | Maserati | ||
6 | Curly Brydon | MG TC Special | ||
7 | G Grieg | Alfa Romeo Alvis | ||
? | John MacMillan | 10 | Alfa Romeo | |
? | Jack Robinson | Jaguar XK120 Special | ||
? | Noel Barnes | MG Special | ||
DNS | Prince Bira | Maserati |
Handicap results[]
Position[6] | Driver[6] | No.[6] | Car[6] | Laps[1] |
1 | Jack Brabham | 5 | Cooper Bristol | |
2 | Joe Murray | Allard Cadillac[3][8] | ||
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]
- Prince Bira did not start after his Maserati suffered an engine failure during practice.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Whitehead wins at Orange, Modern Motor, March 1955, page 29
- ^ a b Big races for Orange on 31st, Wheels (magazine), February 1955, page 30
- ^ a b c Orange car races, Australian Motor Sports, January 1955, page 25
- ^ a b Sidelights on Orange, Australian Motor Manual, 1 March 1955, pages 41 & 47
- ^ Gnoo Blas Classic, www.gnooblas.com, as archived at web.archive.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i South Pacific Road Racing Championships, Australian Motor Sports, February 1955, pages 60 to 64
- ^ a b c John B Blanden, 1952 Ferrari Type 500, Old Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, page 146
- ^ a b Race driver, spectator die in crash, Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 1 February 1955, page 3
- 1955 in Australian motorsport
- Motorsport at Gnoo Blas