1948 Australian Grand Prix

1948 Australian Grand Prix
Formula Libre handicap race
Race details
Date 26 January 1948
Location Point Cook, Victoria
Course Airfield circuit
Course length 3.85 km (2.4 miles)
Distance 42 laps, 100.8 km (162.19 miles)
Weather Sunny
Fastest lap
Driver Australia Alf Barrett Alfa Romeo
Time 1'48
Podium
First
BMW
Second
MG
Third
Reed-Ford

The 1948 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Point Cook Aerodrome,[1] a Royal Australian Air Force base at Point Cook, just outside Melbourne in Victoria, Australia on Australia Day, 26 January 1948. It was staged over 42 laps of a 3.85 kilometre circuit utilizing the runways and service roads of the base.[2] The total race distance was 162 kilometres. The race was organised by the Light Car Club of Australia and was sanctioned by the Australian Automobile Association.[3]

The race was the thirteenth Australian Grand Prix and the first not to be held on a public road circuit. It was staged as a handicap event with the first car starting 18 minutes before the last.[4] Conditions were oppressive, with the temperature topping 100 °F (38 °C) by mid-morning, along with hot winds buffeting the exposed pits on the start/finish straight.[5] The overpowering heat, plus the bumpy concrete-slab surface of the runways, took a heavy toll on the competing cars. As well as mechanical retirements, several drivers had to retire due to heat exhaustion.[5]

Prominent motorcycle racer Frank Pratt won the race driving a BMW 328. Alf Najar finished second driving an MG TB Special with Dick Bland placed third in a George Reed constructed Ford V8 special. Bland was also awarded the prize for setting the fastest time.[6]

  1. ^ Programme, Australian Grand Prix, Australia Day 26 January 1948, Point Cook Aerodrome
  2. ^ Galpin, Darren. "Point Cook". GEL Motorsport Information Page. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ^ Australian Motor Sports, 15 December 1947, page 24
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Howard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits: 1904-1995. Wahroonga, NSW: Turton & Armstrong. p. 134. ISBN 0908031556.
  6. ^ Motor-cyclist wins Grand Prix in BMW, The Argus, Tuesday, 27 January 1948, page 12, trove.nla.gov.au Retrieved 14 April 2015