1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars

The 1955 South Pacific Championship for racing cars was a motor race staged at the Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit at Orange in New South Wales, Australia on 31 January 1955.[1] The race, which was a Formula Libre event open to racing cars and stripped sports cars,[2] was contested as a scratch race which also incorporated a handicap award.[3] It was held over 27 laps [1] of the 3¾ mile circuit [4] for a total distance of 100 miles.[1] The race, which was the first South Pacific Championship for racing cars,[1] was won by Englishman Peter Whitehead driving a 3 litre Ferrari.[4]

The championship meeting, which was conducted by the Australian Sporting Car Club,[2] was the first FIA sanctioned international race meeting to be staged in Australia.[5]

Race results
Peter Whitehead won the championship driving a Ferrari 500, similar to that pictured above.
Position [6] Driver [6] No. [6] Car [6] Laps [1]
1 Peter Whitehead 2 [1] Ferrari 500 [7] 27
2 Jack Brabham 5 Cooper Bristol
3 Tony Gaze 4 Ferrari 500 [7]
4 Joe Murray Allard Cadillac [3] [8]
5 Tom Sulman Maserati
6 Curly Brydon MG TC Special
7 G Grieg Alfa Romeo Alvis
? John MacMillan 10 Alfa Romeo
? Jack Robinson Jaguar XK120 Special
? Noel Barnes MG Special
DNS Prince Bira Maserati

Handicap results
Position [6] Driver [6] No. [6] Car [6] Laps [1]
1 Jack Brabham 5 Cooper Bristol
2 Joe Murray Allard Cadillac [3] [8]
3 Tom Sulman Maserati
4 Peter Whitehead 2 [1] Ferrari 500 [7] 27

Notes:

  • Attendance: 30,000 [1]
  • Number of starters: unknown
  • Number of finishers: unknown
  • Winner's race time: 65 minutes 1 second [1]
  • Winner's average speed: 95 mph [1]
  • Fastest lap: Peter Whitehead, Ferrari 500, 2 minutes 21 seconds [6]
  • Prince Bira did not start after his Maserati suffered an engine failure during practice.[1]

References
  1. Whitehead wins at Orange, Modern Motor, March 1955, page 29
  2. Big races for Orange on 31st, Wheels (magazine), February 1955, page 30
  3. Orange car races, Australian Motor Sports, January 1955, page 25
  4. Sidelights on Orange, Australian Motor Manual, 1 March 1955, pages 41 & 47
  5. Gnoo Blas Classic, www.gnooblas.com, as archived at web.archive.org
  6. South Pacific Road Racing Championships, Australian Motor Sports, February 1955, pages 60 to 64
  7. John B Blanden, 1952 Ferrari Type 500, Old Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, page 146
  8. Race driver, spectator die in crash, Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 1 February 1955, page 3
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