Post by administrator on Mar 27, 2009 12:54:08 GMT 1
AUSTRALIAN international speedway rider and promoter Frank Arthur became increasingly convinced during 1935 that motorcycle speedway in his homeland was on the way out and that midget car racing was its natural successor. So much so that he decided to add spice to the domestic scene down-under by taking English drivers Jean Reville, Bud Stanley and Ralph Secretan there for the 1935-36 season.
The English drivers were part of a group that also included three English speedway riders Cliff Parkinson, 'Dusty' Haigh and Les Gregory. They arrived in Australia at the end of October on the RMS Orosva. The midget car drivers were all given massive publicity build-ups, much of which failed to match what had happend during the 1935 British season. But such coverage was needed to make them an attraction to Australian fans with a car formula that was just a year old.
Reville was described as being the English and European champion and to have competed in 326 races in the British 1934 and 1935 seasons. It was said he had won 320 of these, been second four times and third twice. Added to his profile were claims that he held track records at Wimbledon, Harringay, Hackney, Crystal Palace, Wembley, White City (Manchester) and Belle Vue. He was also reputed to have been the England captain in test matches against Europe.
And the Australian fans were told that on the way was another special midget built by Reville which had two engines fitted, one to drive the front wheels and the other to drive the rear wheels.
Stanley was introduced as Reville's best friend off-track but his biggest rival when racing. He was listed as runner-up to to Reville in the 1935 British Championship - an honour not listed in Reville's racing CV. Stanley was also given the honour of runner-up to Reville in the European Championship and to have placed third in the International Championship. No details of the main places for this were given - probably it was Reville! Again lavish claims were made in regard to lap records, with Stanley holding them at Wembley, White City (Manchester), Lea Bridge and Belle Vue.
Secretan's reputation was less lavish, although it was claimed he had raced in most European countries without specifying if these were in midgets or other car formulas. It was added that while in New South Wales, Secretan and his wife would spend most of their off-track time relaxing on Bondi Beach. Besides his interest in racing midget cars, Secretan was also listed as being a regular starter at the famous Brooklands track at Weybridge, Surrey.
Reville, Stanley and Secretan brought four midgets with them. Two belonged to Reville - one was powered by a 500cc JAP engine and the other by a 1,000cc engine.The other two cars were powered by 1,000cc engines. Reville's 500cc midget had a wheelbase of 4ft 8ins and a track of 3ft 4ins. The 1,000cc midgets were also with a track of 3ft 4ins but had a wheelbase of 5ft 6ins. Secretan and Stanley had to remove the steering wheel ebfore getting into their cars an this was then bolted back into place for racing. Reveille however cutaway the lower half of his steering wheel to avoid that problem.
On Saturday, November 2, 1935, the three English drivers were matched against the Australians George Beavis and Bill Williamson and the New Zealand star Billy Allen at the Sydney Showgrounds. It was a historic event in Australian speedway, because the programme also featured races for speedway bikes - it was the prototype for mixed formula meetings that was later to also include sidecar racing. Reville proved he was well up to the standards of the local drivers by setting a two-lap record for the one-third-mile circuit of 46.5 seconds at an average speed of 51.94mph.
In the actual racing, all three English drivers had mechannical problems. Secretan had to pull up in a match race against Bill Williamson when he lost is face shield and was hit in the eyes by cinders. He pulled up and was led from the track by ambulancemen. Reville had to pull up when well ahead of Beavis in a match race. He also pulled out with mechanical problems when leading Allen and George Chidgey. The records show that Secretan was the only English race winner when he won a quaifying match race against Williamson. About 8,000 people were expected to attend the meeting but instead more than 30,000 packed the terraces.
The English drivers all improved at the meeting on November 9. Reville lowered Beavis' flying start record from 50.4 to 48.1 secs while Secretan won the final of the 'Bell's Whisky' match race trophy. Secretan also won the Open Scratch Race from Reville and Bill Allen.
The English trio were featured in the opening meeting of the season at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Victoria, on Saturday, November 16. Secretan defeated Denmark's Morian Hansen (also an international speedway rider) in a rolling start match race, but crashed in another race, reaking a collar-bone and rib. Stanley was winner of a handicap race.
In the next meeting at Olympic Park on November 30, 1935, Reville raced the Australian star Les Gough in a best-of-three match race which had £50 (a lot of money in those days) as the prize. Gough won 2-0. For the races, Gough used a JAP 8/80 midget while Reville was in his 'Gnat' 500cc car. The following week, Reville had a re-match, this time using his 1,000cc midget but it failed to adapt for an event scheduled for a flying start. He had to ask Gough to give him a 150-yard start. Reville led in the first race until he skidded on to the track's infield. As a result, the English driver withdrew from the event.
On Tuesday, December 3, Reville had a similar challenge at Wentworth Park, New South Wales, against Bill Thompson. The Australian won the first race, but Reville won the next two races. In a qualifying heat of the National Speedways Handicap, Stanley failed to finish, On Thursday, December 5, Reville was back at Olympic Park, where he won a qualifying heat of the Scratch Race, going on to defeat defeat Beavis in the first heat of their International Match Race. But in their second clash, Reville's car suffered a broken drive chain and he crashed into the safety fence, which ended his night's racing.
Bud Stanley raced in a Pairs Championship at Newcastle, New South Wales, on Saturday, December 14. He was partnered with local driver Lance Wilson. They failed to win the trophy. In his four races, Stanley had a win and third place.
A week later, on Saturday, December 21, Newcastle staged an Australia versus England test match. Secretan was now recovered from his injuries, joining Reville, Stanley and Ted Starkey. Little is known of Starkey, but the presumption is that he was an Englishman living in Australia. Nothing from before or after the test match can be traced about him. The Australian team was Bill Thompson, Bill Balgarnie, Jack Gannon and Ted Poole. The latter was to race for Stoke in England's National League in 1938.
The final result was a 25-21 win for Australia. Reville was the England star with two race wins and a second place. Stanley had a win and third place while Secretan and Starkey took one third each. Balgarnie, Thompson and Poole won races for Australia. Reville also lowered the track record to 42.75mph in the second race, immediately after Balgarnie broke the previous speed in the first heat when he set 42.15mph.
Back at the Sydney Showground on December 28, Bill thompson beat Reville 2-1 in a match arce. But in winning the second heat, Reville became the first driver to set a speed of more than 50mph for the track when he clocked 51.71mph.
The tourists continued their racing on January 11, 1936, when Reville and Secretan raced at Newcastle. Bill Stipchwich beat Reville 2-0 in their match races, while Secretan won 2-0 against Lance Wilson. During this period, Stanley was on a five week racing tour at Adelaide, South Australia. he ended his visit in style, winning a heat and the final of the handicap, and also defeating the redoubtable George Beavis in a match race.
The three English drivers then went to the famous Exhibition Speedway, in Brisbane, Queensland to help introuce midget car racing there. They stayed for six weeks. At the final meeting, Reville crashed badly and decided to retire, selling both his cars. He stayed on in Queensland, and played a prominent role in the developement of the formula in the State as well as running a leading car sales franchise. Reville died in 1972. Secretan and Stanley returned to England, but their racing careers in their homeland faded into obscurity.
The English drivers were part of a group that also included three English speedway riders Cliff Parkinson, 'Dusty' Haigh and Les Gregory. They arrived in Australia at the end of October on the RMS Orosva. The midget car drivers were all given massive publicity build-ups, much of which failed to match what had happend during the 1935 British season. But such coverage was needed to make them an attraction to Australian fans with a car formula that was just a year old.
Reville was described as being the English and European champion and to have competed in 326 races in the British 1934 and 1935 seasons. It was said he had won 320 of these, been second four times and third twice. Added to his profile were claims that he held track records at Wimbledon, Harringay, Hackney, Crystal Palace, Wembley, White City (Manchester) and Belle Vue. He was also reputed to have been the England captain in test matches against Europe.
And the Australian fans were told that on the way was another special midget built by Reville which had two engines fitted, one to drive the front wheels and the other to drive the rear wheels.
Stanley was introduced as Reville's best friend off-track but his biggest rival when racing. He was listed as runner-up to to Reville in the 1935 British Championship - an honour not listed in Reville's racing CV. Stanley was also given the honour of runner-up to Reville in the European Championship and to have placed third in the International Championship. No details of the main places for this were given - probably it was Reville! Again lavish claims were made in regard to lap records, with Stanley holding them at Wembley, White City (Manchester), Lea Bridge and Belle Vue.
Secretan's reputation was less lavish, although it was claimed he had raced in most European countries without specifying if these were in midgets or other car formulas. It was added that while in New South Wales, Secretan and his wife would spend most of their off-track time relaxing on Bondi Beach. Besides his interest in racing midget cars, Secretan was also listed as being a regular starter at the famous Brooklands track at Weybridge, Surrey.
Reville, Stanley and Secretan brought four midgets with them. Two belonged to Reville - one was powered by a 500cc JAP engine and the other by a 1,000cc engine.The other two cars were powered by 1,000cc engines. Reville's 500cc midget had a wheelbase of 4ft 8ins and a track of 3ft 4ins. The 1,000cc midgets were also with a track of 3ft 4ins but had a wheelbase of 5ft 6ins. Secretan and Stanley had to remove the steering wheel ebfore getting into their cars an this was then bolted back into place for racing. Reveille however cutaway the lower half of his steering wheel to avoid that problem.
On Saturday, November 2, 1935, the three English drivers were matched against the Australians George Beavis and Bill Williamson and the New Zealand star Billy Allen at the Sydney Showgrounds. It was a historic event in Australian speedway, because the programme also featured races for speedway bikes - it was the prototype for mixed formula meetings that was later to also include sidecar racing. Reville proved he was well up to the standards of the local drivers by setting a two-lap record for the one-third-mile circuit of 46.5 seconds at an average speed of 51.94mph.
In the actual racing, all three English drivers had mechannical problems. Secretan had to pull up in a match race against Bill Williamson when he lost is face shield and was hit in the eyes by cinders. He pulled up and was led from the track by ambulancemen. Reville had to pull up when well ahead of Beavis in a match race. He also pulled out with mechanical problems when leading Allen and George Chidgey. The records show that Secretan was the only English race winner when he won a quaifying match race against Williamson. About 8,000 people were expected to attend the meeting but instead more than 30,000 packed the terraces.
The English drivers all improved at the meeting on November 9. Reville lowered Beavis' flying start record from 50.4 to 48.1 secs while Secretan won the final of the 'Bell's Whisky' match race trophy. Secretan also won the Open Scratch Race from Reville and Bill Allen.
The English trio were featured in the opening meeting of the season at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Victoria, on Saturday, November 16. Secretan defeated Denmark's Morian Hansen (also an international speedway rider) in a rolling start match race, but crashed in another race, reaking a collar-bone and rib. Stanley was winner of a handicap race.
In the next meeting at Olympic Park on November 30, 1935, Reville raced the Australian star Les Gough in a best-of-three match race which had £50 (a lot of money in those days) as the prize. Gough won 2-0. For the races, Gough used a JAP 8/80 midget while Reville was in his 'Gnat' 500cc car. The following week, Reville had a re-match, this time using his 1,000cc midget but it failed to adapt for an event scheduled for a flying start. He had to ask Gough to give him a 150-yard start. Reville led in the first race until he skidded on to the track's infield. As a result, the English driver withdrew from the event.
On Tuesday, December 3, Reville had a similar challenge at Wentworth Park, New South Wales, against Bill Thompson. The Australian won the first race, but Reville won the next two races. In a qualifying heat of the National Speedways Handicap, Stanley failed to finish, On Thursday, December 5, Reville was back at Olympic Park, where he won a qualifying heat of the Scratch Race, going on to defeat defeat Beavis in the first heat of their International Match Race. But in their second clash, Reville's car suffered a broken drive chain and he crashed into the safety fence, which ended his night's racing.
Bud Stanley raced in a Pairs Championship at Newcastle, New South Wales, on Saturday, December 14. He was partnered with local driver Lance Wilson. They failed to win the trophy. In his four races, Stanley had a win and third place.
A week later, on Saturday, December 21, Newcastle staged an Australia versus England test match. Secretan was now recovered from his injuries, joining Reville, Stanley and Ted Starkey. Little is known of Starkey, but the presumption is that he was an Englishman living in Australia. Nothing from before or after the test match can be traced about him. The Australian team was Bill Thompson, Bill Balgarnie, Jack Gannon and Ted Poole. The latter was to race for Stoke in England's National League in 1938.
The final result was a 25-21 win for Australia. Reville was the England star with two race wins and a second place. Stanley had a win and third place while Secretan and Starkey took one third each. Balgarnie, Thompson and Poole won races for Australia. Reville also lowered the track record to 42.75mph in the second race, immediately after Balgarnie broke the previous speed in the first heat when he set 42.15mph.
Back at the Sydney Showground on December 28, Bill thompson beat Reville 2-1 in a match arce. But in winning the second heat, Reville became the first driver to set a speed of more than 50mph for the track when he clocked 51.71mph.
The tourists continued their racing on January 11, 1936, when Reville and Secretan raced at Newcastle. Bill Stipchwich beat Reville 2-0 in their match races, while Secretan won 2-0 against Lance Wilson. During this period, Stanley was on a five week racing tour at Adelaide, South Australia. he ended his visit in style, winning a heat and the final of the handicap, and also defeating the redoubtable George Beavis in a match race.
The three English drivers then went to the famous Exhibition Speedway, in Brisbane, Queensland to help introuce midget car racing there. They stayed for six weeks. At the final meeting, Reville crashed badly and decided to retire, selling both his cars. He stayed on in Queensland, and played a prominent role in the developement of the formula in the State as well as running a leading car sales franchise. Reville died in 1972. Secretan and Stanley returned to England, but their racing careers in their homeland faded into obscurity.
(c) John Hyam 2009