1936 Benalla Centenary Race

Australian motor race held in 1936

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

[edit]

An MG Magna similar to that driven by race winner Vin Maloney 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

[edit]

1. ^ The Benalla Centenary Race, Motor Sport, May 1936, page 263
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
3. ^ a b 100 miles car race, The Argus, Wednesday, 8 April 1936, page 11
4. ^ a b Benalla, www.silhouet.com Retrieved 15 August 2015
5. ^ Motor History Made in Victoria – First Car Race on Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 1
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
7. ^ a b c d e Victoria's First Car Race on the Mainland, The Referee, 16 April 1936, page 21