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Phillip Island Grand Prix
The History of Australian Grand Prix Racing. Phillip Island, where Australian Motorsport was born!
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G'day, my name is Kieran Davies (Kip) and I've been asked to introduce this new website on the history of Phillip Island and Australian motorsport.
I'll be be your driver and tour guide on this adventure into the history, excitement and folklore of the home of Australian motorsport - Phillip Island! As the resident "pro" racer for Phillip Island's OzGurus Outreach Racing our team raced in various competitions from club to national levels here in Australia.
The picture at right shows us in the recent 2001 Trading Post Grand Prix Rally, a prestigious event which runs as a support to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix and passes here through Phillip Island on it's way to Albert Park in Melbourne. For those interested, we finished 4th in our class/division, and 6th in the overall team standings in 2001. In 2002 we improved to second in class, our wings well and truly clipped by a V12 F40 Ferrari!
Phillip Island is indeed the mecca of Australian motorsport. Back in 1926 the very first Australian Grand Prix was held here on Phillip Island, using a testing and high speed rectangle of public roads. The course length varied from the car course of approximately 6 miles per lap, to an extended version for motorcycle racing of appx. 10 miles. The very first Grand Prix was known as the 100 Mile Race!
This first and original Phillip Island road circuit was a dusty and dangerous trek up and down hills and through tough tight corners. At times the dirt thrown up from the cars in front meant following drivers could only navigate by the treet tops! Today this original circuit still bears the corner name signs, and is a hidden treasure right in the heart of the otherwise tranquil Phillip Island.
Our main racecar used here at Phillip Island was our race spec Group A "Walkinshaw". The HSV Group A SS Commodore was first developed back in 1988 by Tom Walkinshaw, and remains the only Australian racecar developed to meet and compete in the tough International Group A Touring Car competition. In 1990 the model won the Bathurst 1000, this nation's most prestigious Touring Car race! Its maintained to high standards with help from some of the leaders in Aussie motorsport, inc. Smithees Racecar Suspension and former HDT chief Tony Di Gennaro.
Only at Phillip Island can you go from the historic thrill of driving the original road circuit in the heart of Phillip Island, to the amazing and world standard Visitor Centre at the modern Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. There you can take a trip through the history of this world renowned circuit originally built back in the 1950's, and the current home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and a round of the World Superbike Championships.
In the History of Motorsport display at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit you will be able to get up close and personal with cars, motorcycles and other memorabilia spanning the entire history of racing on the Island. You will also be able to stroll the water gardens and fauna enclosure (wallabies, parrots and more!) then enjoy a drink or snack of your choice at the classy Champion's Cafe.
Don't forget that you will also be able to purchase at the Visitor Centre a wide range of unique Aussie motorsport gift items and momentos from the great range the Visitor Centre has on offer!
Finally I am proud to acknowledge the support of the Peter Brock Foundation, former HDT chief Tony Di Gennaro, Smithees Racecar Technologies and the St. Vincent de Paul Society who have helped make my days of racing on Phillip Island so memorable and successful!
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All enquiries please just email us!. ©2003-2005 All Rights Reserved www.phillipislandgrandprix.com
This web site is still under development. Please visit again soon!