Port Wakefield Motor Racing 1958
Aston Martin DB2, Bobby and I were there at Port Wakefield Motor Racing circuit in 1957, when Murray Hoffmann with his Aston Martin, pulled out the spare wheel, the tools, and the back seats and then went racing in the Aston Martin.
What! It had not occurred to me until then, everyday road cars can be a racing cars! I thought racing cars were purpose-built, they looked like racing cars, open-wheelers or the cars raced at Rowley Park.
Well, the things you learn when out and about. Little did I know, Aston Martins were sporting saloons, built with racing in mind.
The racing car speeds up a windy dirt road, onlookers in the background
Motorsports grew in popularity.
The Sporting Car Club of South Australia sponsored major events, including the Australian Hillclimb Championship which was first run at Collingrove in the Barossa Valley on 15 March 1952 and has been held annually ever since.
A motor racing circuit opened at Port Wakefield on 1 January 1953.
On 19 August 1961, a new circuit was opened on what had been the wartime aerodrome at Mallala; the Australian Grand Prix was run there on 7 October that year.
Port Wakefield, 1st January 1953 (Opening Meeting). In Race 2 (Scratch Race for Class B Cars), P Harrison (Dodge Special, 27) leads GW Patterson (Cooper Mk V, 500cc JAP, 21). Two large paint tins mark the bend, and the drivers are wearing protective visors and safety helmets
In Race 2 (Scratch Race for Class B Cars),
www.sahistorians.org.au/…/motor-cars-and-freeways—measures-of-a-south-Australian..www.sahistorians.org.au/…/motor-cars-and-freeways—measures-of-a-south-australian..Motor cars and freeways: measures of a South Australian love affair Peter Donovan
