The 1931 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island Circuit in Victoria, Australia on 23 March 1931.[1] The race, which was the fourth Australian Grand Prix and the fourth to be held at Phillip Island, had 19 entries[1] and 14 starters.[2] It was organised by the Victorian Light Car Club.[1]

The race was staged using a handicap format with the first car starting 35 minutes before the two "Scratch" cars.[1] Prize money was paid for both handicap and overall results[1] with the principle prize of £100 awarded to the fastest car to complete the distance.[3]

Carl Junker was awarded the Grand Prix win,[4] having set the fastest time driving a Bugatti Type 39.[1] The Handicap Section was won by Cyril Dickason,[4] driving an Austin 7.[1]

Classes

Car competed in four classes:[5]

  • A – 850cc[5]
  • B – 1100cc[5]
  • C – 1500cc[5]
  • D – 2000cc[5]

Classification

Carl Junker set fastest time and was awarded the Grand Prix win, driving a Bugatti Type 39
Cyril Dickason (Austin 7) recorded second fastest time and won the Handicap award
Harold Drake-Richmond (Bugatti Type 37) set the third fastest race time
Pos[6] No.[1] Class[1] Driver[6] Car[6] Laps[6] Time[6] /
Reason for ret.		 Handicap (mins)[1] Handicap Pos.[6]
1 16 C Carl Junker Bugatti Type 39 31 2h 54m 50s 10 2
2 1 A Cyril Dickason Austin 7 Ulster s/c[1] 31 3h 02m 24s 30 1
3 12 C Harold Drake-Richmond Bugatti Type 37 31 3h 03m 19s 10 3
4 10 B Barney Dentry Riley Brooklands 31 3h 09m 39s 11 4
5 13 B Joan Richmond Riley Nine 31 3h 34m 00s 22 6
6 3 A Cec Warren Austin 7 Ulster[1] 31 3h 35m 21s 35 5
Ret 15 C Hope Bartlett Bugatti Type 37A s/c[1] 29 Engine[3] Scratch
Ret 19 D Les Jennings Morris Oxford 28 Connecting rod[7] 22
Ret 2 A Clarrie May Austin 7 s/c[1] 18 30
Ret 4 A Ian Russell Morris Minor 15 Engine[7] 32
Ret 20 D Jack Clements Bugatti Type 30 14 Crankshaft[3] 9
Ret 18 D Jack Sidebottom Singer 12 24
Ret 14 C Arthur Terdich Bugatti Type 37A s/c[1] 8 Connecting rod[3] Scratch
Ret[8] 9 B Bill Lowe[1] Lombard AL.3 s/c[9] 0[8] Gearbox[8] 11
DNS[1] 5 A Eric Armstrong[1] Triumph s/c[1] – 29
DNS[1] 6 B Alan Chamberlain[1] Chamberlain[1] – 23

Notes

  • Weather: Fine & mild[1]
  • Race time limit: 4¼ hours from the commencement of the race, i.e., from the first car to start[10]
  • Fastest lap: Hope Bartlett – 4'45.00 (79.90 mph)[1]
  • Average speed of winning car: 69.87 mph[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 John B. Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, pages 59–73
  2. ↑ The Official History of the Australian Grand Prix 80 Races 1927–2014, page 51 lists 13 competitors by name but does not mention Bill Lowe. Lowe is however mentioned as a retirement during the first lap of the race in the article in The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 44–50
  4. 1 2 The Australian Grand Prix 1931 - Carl Junker Wins Race - Fastest and Record Time, The Car (magazine of the Victorian Light Car Club), April 15, 1931, pages Three to Seven
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Australian Grand Prix, West Australian, Thursday, 12 February 1931, page 4
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Official History of the Australian Grand Prix 80 Races 1927–2014, page 51
  7. 1 2 Australian Grand Prix, Northern Argus, Friday, 10 April 1931, page 4
  8. 1 2 3 Australian Grand Prix. The Argus, Tuesday, 24 March 1931, page 8
  9. ↑ John B. Blanden, Historic Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, page 191
  10. ↑ John B. Blanden, A History of Australian Grand Prix 1928–1939, page 62
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