The Light Car Club of Australia ran the ‘Worlds Richest Production Saloon Car race’ – the Armstrong 500 – at Phillip Island on 20 November 1960…
The race soon morphed into the Bathurst 500 – I’m going to ignore sponsors names henceforth – but let’s give credit where it is due to the first commercial supporter of this iconic Australian classic.
Eligibility criteria extended to unmodified production cars manufactured or assembled in Australia. That may sound quite restrictive but in those days, with a nice tall tariff wall to protect the local industry, there was a broad entry of machines across capacity based classes, all chasing a total purse of £11,000.
Whilst officially there was no outright victor, class placings were recognised only, as time has gone on, and as part of the ‘Great Race Bathurst Pantheon’ the first car/crew across the line in the early Philip Island events is recognised in the history books. That honour fell to Frank Coad and John Roxburgh in a Vauxhall Cresta in 1960.
Class A, up to 750cc, was won by Doug Whiteford and Lex Davison in an NSU Prinz, other cars entered included Fiat 600 and Renault 750. Class B, up to 1300cc, was won by the Murray Galt and Bill Murray Sinca Aronde, there was plenty of variety in that mix including Ford Anglia, Renault Dauphine, Triumph Herald and VW Beetle.
Class C, for under 2-litre cars included Austin Lancer, Hillman Minx, Morris Major and Singer Gazelle, and was won by the Geoff Russell/David Anderson/Tony Loxton, Peugeot 203. Many people to this day believe that car won outright. It’s claimed the trio finished the race in a quicker time than the feted Vauxhall crew, the argument arises due to the starting procedure which released each class at 30 second intervals, click here for the arguments: http://www.pccv.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/1stArmstrong500.pdf
The Coad/Roxburgh Vauxhall took the under 3.5-litre Class D ‘family car class’ which included the likes of the new Ford Falcon, Humber Super Snipe, MercedesBenz 220SE and Vanguard. Ray Gibbs and Murray Carter took Class E for over 3.5-litre cars in a big Ford Customline, no other vehicles ran in the big car class.
There was plenty of driver talent in the mix including Australian Grand Prix winners Lex Davison, Doug Whiteford and Bill Murray, and other well credentialed open wheeler racers Jim Gullan, Ern Seeliger, Arthur and Ken Wylie, Paul England, David McKay, Austin Miller and Bruce Walton.
Sportscar topliners included Bill Pitt, Ron Phillips, Murray Carter, Lou Molina and Bob Jane whilst established touring car racers were Harry Firth, Leo Geoghegan and Des West, prominent rally drivers Firth, Jack Murray, Eddie Perkins and Graham Hoinville.
There were a staggering number of up-and comers or future champions including Frank Kilfoyle, Greg Cusack, Peter Manton, Bob Holden, Brian Muir, Jim Smith, John Raeburn, Brian Foley, Norm Beechey, John French, Gavin and John Youl. Quite a list and almost all were in ‘works entries’ such was the level of industry support.
The Phillip Island years ran from 1960 to 1962: Harry Firth and Bob Jane won in 1961 and 1962 aboard a Mercedes 220SE and Ford Falcon XL respectively. The ’62 race did irreparable damage to the road surface which could not cost-effectively be made good due to an inability to get the right road-making machine across the then narrow bridge between San Remo in ‘Australia’ and Newhaven on the ‘Peoples Republik of Phillip Island’..
For 1963 the first of the Bathurst 500s were held at Mount Panorama, a tradition which of course continues to this day as a 1000 km event of global interest.
Eighth in Class B – 15 starters – the Bill Calder/John Ampt Ford Anglia.
Etcetera…
Noted Austin 7 builder/racer, the late John Fleming’s certificate of participation. Wonderful stuff thanks Tony Johns.
The Youl Bros, Gavin and John, Smith Street Motors entered Mercedes Benz 220SE. DNF after 67 laps.
View towards The Copse.
Etcetera…
Some comments from my old Formula Ford mate, Bob Morrow.
“I was at the 1960 Armstrong 500 and it was a great event. There was no outright winner but everyone knew who it was , however there was heaps of interest in the classes.
Interesting facts
1 Why no Holdens?
There was lots of private practice before the event and it was found that after 2 laps the Holden’ big ends were shot due to horrific oil surge. Apart from Armstrong shockers [obviously] and straight out exhausts so at least they sounded like racing cars, cars had to be absolutely bog-standard
2. If you had to work on the car in the first 100 miles you could only use the tools that came with the car when new.
Those were the days…”
Credits…
Martin Gallagher, Fiona Fleming Collection
Tailpiece…
One helluva garland for Frank Coad and John Roxburgh.
Finito…
primotipo... 