JANUARY 15, 1927 was a very significant day in Goulburn’s history - it’s been established that the first ever Australian Grand Prix (AGP) for all power racing cars was held on this day at the Showground.
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John Blanden’s book ‘The History of Australian Grand Prix 1928 to 1939’ lists the 1928 event as being held at Phillip Island as the 100 mile road race, which was later claimed to be the AGP. The second annual road race conducted by the VLCC in 1929 was the first time they used the term AGP.
The Australian Grand Prix held at Goulburn in 1927 was a series of handicap races held at the Showground. The winner was Geoff Meredith (a Goulburn resident) driving a type 30 straight eight Bugatti. The Saturday afternoon event included motorcycle races and a horse race.
The first Australian Motor Cycle Grand Prix was held in Goulburn with a number of laps on Goulburn to Windellama, Bungonia and back to Goulburn circuit.
The fact the Goulburn played host to the first motorcycle and motorcar grands prix highlights the national significance of Goulburn and the role it played in the development of Australian motorsport. To celebrate the 84th anniversary of the AGP, the Golden Era Automobile Racing (GEAR) Club is holding an event called the Goulburn Bowl at Wakefield Park on Monday.
The event caters for cars similar to the Bugatti that won in 1927 and will include Austin 7s, MGs, Ford Model Ts and Rileys to name a few. The Goulburn Bowl events are in the form of one-hour-long regularity trials that include pit stops.
Drivers have to nominate their lap times as well as the total number of laps they will achieve - many will say this is too easy - but the nominations have to be handed in before an envelope detailing the pit stops is handed out.
The pit stops vary in terms of what has to be done, such as changing a spark plug, to just having a rest for five minutes.
There will be three such trials to include cars up to the early 1960s.
GEAR invites the people of Goulburn and surrounds to join spectators at Wakefield Park on Monday.
To the people of Goulburn, ‘help’! Amongst your precious memories and memorabilia if you have any photos of newspaper cuttings or information you would like to share, please drop into the Goulburn Soap World or Goulburn Insurance Brokers on the corner of Auburn and Clifford Streets.
Your photos and memorabilia will be copied and returned to you. With your permission, GEAR would like the opportunity to use the material in future issues of their newsletter and commemorative information books.
The GEAR Club welcomes the involment and support of the Goulburn Chamber of Commerce and the ‘Goulburn is Awesome’ Gang in the celebrations of the anniversary of the first Australian Grand Prix.
84th Anniversary of Australian Grand Prix
Where: Wakefield Park
When: Monday January 17
Includes: One hour trials, including pit stops
Calling on: Historic Grand Prix memorabilia
