In the beginning, the Chamberlain brothers’ legendary Chamberlain 8 was a Chamberlain Vee-Twin. Here, Alan ‘Bob’ Chamberlain is contesting a Speed Event on the short-lived Safety Beach sandy rectangular 2-mile course at Safety Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula circa-1930; the venue was used for motorsport from 1928-32.
Bob is running wide on the natural amphitheatre provided by the fall of the land from Arthur’s Seat towards the Port Phillip coastal villages of Safety Beach and Dromana; a tad too much rear-brake perhaps.
I’ve written about the place before here: https://primotipo.com/2020/06/16/werrangourt-archive-6-safety-beach-dromana-speed-contest/ , and the car in this Indian V-Twin form here:https://primotipo.com/2022/11/05/chamberlain-indian/ the photos are too good to bury in an existing article.
Melbourne’s The Argus reported the Saturday, December 7, 1929 meeting as follows: I’m not asserting it’s that meeting in which the Chamberlain is shown, but rather is quoted so that you may feel the vibe of the place. ‘Enthusiasts in motor-car driving as a competitive sport, and admirers of the powerful yet delicate mechanism of the minall car enjoyed good entertainment in bright sunshine at the speed contests on the Safety Beach circuit at Dromana on Saturday.’
‘As there are difficulties in the way of arranging a road race on a confined circuit near Melbourne with large numbers of contestants actually racing together, events like the Grand Prix races held periodically in Great Britain and other countries for motor cars of all ratings have not been established here.’
‘Consequently, the Dromana competition is run over a circuit of two miles 163 yards of gravel roads on a private estate commands special attention. About 3,000 spectators assembled, and apparently, were well pleased to watch each of the 38 cars in turn run in a single-handed contest against time.‘ The event was run by the RACV.
‘Only one accident occurred. Miss Joan Richmond was trying out her Riley when it overturned. The car was smashed, but the driver fortunately escaped serious injury. Miss Richmond is known as a capable and daring driver. She was the only woman competitor, and a comment was made on the fact that in scorn of the superstition attached to it, she had deliberately chosen 13 as her racing number.’
‘The contests were divided into sections for cars of various engine ratings. Trophies were donated for the best performances or formula, and for the fastest time in each section. Finally, a lap record event was held for the six cars making the fastest time for the day to attempt to lower the record of 2 minutes 6. l-sec for the distance.’
The quickest car at the meeting was Harold ‘Hal’ Cooper in brother Alan’s ex-Louis Wagner 1919 Indianapolis 4.8-litre straight-eight Ballot 5/8 LC with a 2.16 4/5-sec.
Let’s sneak in a couple more that have come my way more recently.
Given the way this shot is cropped, your guess is as good as mine as to the venue; there was no shortage of hillclimbs in Victoria pre-War!
Bob Chamberlain and passenger during the March 14, 1932 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. I’m not sure which of the four Austin 7s is giving chase Tony Johns? Bill Thompson won the race in his Bugatti T37A #37358; Chamberlain failed to finish.
The Chamberlain had a miserable AGP record: DNS 1930, DNF 1931, DNF 1932, DNS 1933.
Credits…
Tony Johns Collection, Bob King Collection, Ian Smith Collection, The Argus December 9, 1929
Finito…
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