1936 Benalla Centenary Race

The 1936 Benalla Centenary Race was a motor race staged at the Benalla Circuit at Benalla in Victoria, Australia on Easter Monday, 13 April 1936.^[1] The 100-mile race, which was organised by the Victorian Sporting Car Club, was open to cars of 'all powers'.^[2] It was contested on a handicap basis with the 'Limit Man', J O’Dea (MG), given a 20-minute start on the 'Scratch Man', Jack Day (Day Special").^[3] The race, which was organised to celebrate the centenary of the town of Benalla,^[4] was claimed to be the first road race to be contested on the Victorian mainland.^[5]

B Dentry (Riley Special), was flagged in as the winner of the race but rechecks after protests had been lodged saw the victory awarded to Les Murphy (MG P-type).^[2] Further checks conducted overnight resulted in Vin Maloney (MG Magna) being declared the winner from Dentry and Murphy.^[6]

Race results

Position	Driver^[7]	No.	Car^[7]	Entrant	Race time^[6]	Laps
1^[6]	Vin Maloney^[4]^[6]		MG Magna^[6]		1:47:27	40
2^[6]	B Dentry^[6]		Riley Special^[6]		1:44:11	40
3^[6]	Les Murphy^[6]^[7]		MG P-type^[6]	W Brown^[7]	1:53:24	40
4^[6]	Bob Lea-Wright^[6]^[7]		Terraplane		1:39:14	40
5^[6]	J O'Dea^[6]		MG
?	G Martin		MG Magna^[2]
?	L Allen		Singer
?	W Hope		Singer
?	M Wreford		Riley Imp
?	C Keefer		Riley Imp
?	L Jackson		Riley Imp
?	B Tinckham		Bugatti
?	Harry Beith		Terraplane
?	K Latty		Ford V8
?	J Phillips		Ford V8
DNF^[2]	A Roseborough		Chrysler
DNF^[2]	Jack Day^[3]		Day Special			22^[2]
DNF^[2]	H Reeve		MG Magna^[2]			18^[2]

Notes:

Attendance: More than 20,000^[6]
Total race distance: 40 laps, 100 miles^[2] (160 km)
Number of starters: 18^[2]
Winner's race time: 1:47:27^[6]
Fastest time: Bob Lea-Wright (Terraplane), 1:39:14^[6]
Fastest lap: Jack Day (Day Special), 2:19, 65 mph^[2]

References

^ The Benalla Centenary Race, Motor Sport, May 1936, page 263
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Five protests in motor race, The Argus, Tuesday 14 April 1936, page 8
^ ^a ^b 100 miles car race, The Argus, Wednesday, 8 April 1936, page 11
^ ^a ^b Benalla, www.silhouet.com Retrieved 15 August 2015
^ Motor History Made in Victoria – First Car Race on Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 1
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r Benalla Motor Road Race – Maloney Placed First, The Argus, Wednesday 15 April 1936, page 8
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Victoria's First Car Race on the Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 21

[MotorSport-1] The Benalla Centenary Race, Motor Sport, May 1936, page 263

[Argus_14_April-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Five protests in motor race, The Argus, Tuesday 14 April 1936, page 8

[Argus_8_April-3] 100 miles car race, The Argus, Wednesday, 8 April 1936, page 11

[silhouette-4] Benalla, www.silhouet.com Retrieved 15 August 2015

[Referee_P1-5] Motor History Made in Victoria – First Car Race on Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 1

[Argus_15_April-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r Benalla Motor Road Race – Maloney Placed First, The Argus, Wednesday 15 April 1936, page 8

[Referee_P21-7] Victoria's First Car Race on the Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 21

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