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The J.A ‘Lex’ Denniston owned Itala V8 Special was built by Ern Seeliger in his modest temple-of-speed in Baker Street, Richmond, early events included Rob Roy’s April and November 1946 meetings.

The cocktail of components comprised a 1930-1932 Itala chassis and steering box (later replaced by a Lancia component) and modified Ford Mercury V8 and gearbox, the talented Bob Baker built the body, his ‘shop, Baker and Tait was closeby in Church Street, Richmond.

Seeliger normally raced it, notable successes were at Rob Roy, and at the Ballarat Airfield, where Ern won the Wendouree Handicap in January 1947. After this meeting, he rebuilt it, although he was able to run it very effectively sans body at Rob Roy on April 20, 1947 achieving FTD at 30.99 seconds.

The leaner, meaner machine reappeared at Lobethal twelve months hence on the January 1, 1948 weekend. Practice passed uneventfully enough, Seeliger’s first race was the 11.05am Lobethal 100 handicap. The less powerful cars had done two laps by the time our scratch-man, Seeliger set off and gave chase.

After only one completed lap he was baulked by another car at over 100mph, the Itala slid one way, then the other before crashing through trees backwards, demolishing the front of the car enroute. Ern, fortunately escaped without injury but the svelte racer was dead. After last rites were performed, its remains were presented to a Lobethal farmer.

Jim Gullan, below, won aboard his Ballot Olds Spl from Granton Harrison’s Phillips Ford Spl and Ron Edgerton’s MG TC Spl, #32. See here for an article on this race; https://primotipo.com/2016/11/11/south-australian-100-1948-jim-gullans-ballot-olds-and-greensborough-hillclimb/

Legendary Adelaide engineer Harold Clisby #29, and Ron Edgerton #32, in standard and modified MG TCs respectively (R Edgerton Collection)

Etcetera…

Itala Ford V8 Spl as originally built, George McKaige took these photographs on November 23, 1946. The car was parked in Orrong Road near the Towers Road, Toorak corner, presumably close to Denniston’s residence.

(G McKaige)

Tony Johns’ research indicates that Denniston was President of the Light Car Club of Australia in 1951-52. This goes some way to explaining why a car which was destroyed in 1948 was on the cover of the program of the 1953 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, promoted by the LCCA! Perhaps one of the likely race-winning drawcards would have been more appropriate. Still, in the minds of so many, what is the point of having power if you don’t abuse it?

Credits…

Ron Edgerton Collection, ‘Beyond The Lens’ Chester and George McKaige, Stephen Dalton, Tony Johns Collection, SAmotor, Dacre Stubbs

Tailpiece…

Amazing, rare colour shot of the Seeliger Itala at Lobethal in 1948.

Finito…