1954 Round Australia Trial Explained

1954 Round Australia Trial
Native Name:	Redex Trial
Previous Round:	1953 Round Australia Trial
Next Round:	1955 Round Australia Trial
Startdate:	3
Enddate:	20 July 1954
Stages:	16
Overallkm:	15450
Surface:	Tarmac and Gravel
Driver1:	Jack 'Gelignite' Murray Bill Murray
Teamsstart:	246
Teamsfinish:	120

The 1954 Round Australia Trial, officially the Redex Trial was the second running of the Round Australia Trial. The rally took place between 3 and 20 July 1954 over 9600miles, and had a first prize of £2,000. The route was truly "round (mainland) Australia", beginning in Sydney on 3 July 1954, passing through Brisbane, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Mount Isa, Darwin, Broome, Meekatharra, Madura, Adelaide and Melbourne,^[1] finishing at Moore Park on 20 July.

246 cars took part and 127 finished within the times allowed, though many doggedly completed the course in the following week. One forced to drop out was the celebrated radio personality Jack Davey. The winner was a Ford 1948 V8, an ex-taxi dubbed the "Grey Ghost", driven by John Eric "Gelignite Jack" Murray (1907–1983) and navigated by the unrelated Bill Murray, losing no points on the trip. It was on this trial that Murray gained his nickname, from his occasional celebratory detonation of sticks of explosive, a custom that delighted some and infuriated others.^[2] "Secret" intermediate checkpoints were an innovation this year in an attempt to curb speeding.^[3]

1954 Redex Trial newsreel

Results

		Entrant	Drivers	Car	Penalties (Points)
1	256	J.E. Murray	Jack 'Gelignite' Murray Bill Murray	Ford 1948 V8	0
2	29	G.W. Patterson	Bill Patterson Harry Russell	Peugeot 203	8
3	176	A.A.C. Anderson	'Duck' Anderson Tony Anthony Vergel Zaccour	Holden FJ	14
4	30	E.A. Nelson	Eric Nelson Brian Simpson	Standard Vanguard Phase II	19
5	31	Rootes (Australia) Limited	Tom Sulman T. Dowse Norman Hutchison	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	22
6	260	Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Stan Jones Don Thomson Ern Seeliger	Holden FJ	22
7	22	J.E. Roberts	Don Roberts Bill Edmonds	Standard Vanguard Phase II	25
8	33	T.H. Farrell	Tom Farrell Frank Denlay John Jones	Ford 1954 Customline	25
9	96	Team Gibson and Vale	Alex Gibson Neville Vale	Mercedes-Benz 170 D	25
10	52	R.B. Walker	Bruce Walker Reginald Hall	Standard Vanguard Phase II	26
11	262	F.A. Johnson	Fred Johnson Ray Johnson	Holden 48-215	27
12	20	H.C. Cape	Harry Cape George Scales	Holden FJ	28
13	27	Sandy Rayward	Sandy Rayward Harvey Roy	Peugeot 203	29
14	54	Regent Motors Pty Ltd	Laurie Whitehead Ian Barns	Volkswagen 1100	29
15	136	Team Westren and Kennedy	Les Westren Carl Kennedy	Peugeot 203	30
16	126	NSW Country Holden Dealers	Ken Miller Alan Miller Norman Colless	Holden FJ	31
17	213	Rootes (Australia) Limited	Russell Lane Claude Turner Donald Boynton	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	32
18	53	S.W. Hecker	Sam Hecker Jack Oliver Norwood Warry	Holden FJ	32
19	199	J.F. Crouch	John Crouch Keith Jones Gordon Stewart	Morris Oxford Series II	33
20	253	Standard Motor Company	Harry Firth Max Newbold Reg Sparks	Standard Vanguard Phase II	33
21	46	D.H. Antill	Peter Antill George Reed Max Winkless	Mercedes-Benz 220	34
22	135	Claridge Motors	Fred Claridge Jim Claridge	Holden FJ	34
23	19	Reno Auto Sales	Reg Smith Robert Whyte Harley Mehegan	Austin A70 Hereford	35
24	127	A.L. Kipling	'Possum' Kipling Ken Walker	Holden FJ	35
25	47	J.F. McCaffery	John McCaffery Thomas Leonard	Holden FJ	37
26	156	Walton and Gardner	Ted Walton Flo Gardner John Gardner	Holden FJ	37
27	202	Noel Worland	Noel Worland Michael Malouf John Burton	Dodge 1954 Kingsway	38
28	78	Frank Kleinig	Frank Kleinig Clive Gibson	Peugeot 203	38
29	10	Marshalls Motors	John Lefoe Evan Green	Standard Vanguard Phase II	40
30	197	Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Reg Nutt John Joyce Lou Molina	Holden FJ	41
31	205	H.A. Hines	Bert Hines Arthur Scholtz	Holden FJ	41
32	219	Orrman's Service Station	Kenneth Orrman Ian Mountain	Peugeot 203	41
33	48	S.M. Miller	Sam Miller Patrick Kelly Albert Griffiths	Ford 1953 Customline	45
34	95	E.A. Gibson	Eric Gibson Leonard McGill Allan Robshaw John Roberts	Chevrolet 1951 Deluxe	46
35	101		Anthony Peck John Trowell Robert Callander	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	46
36	231	Parade Motors	Cecil Dix Ronald Dix Alec Dealtry	Plymouth 1947 De Luxe	47
37	110	G.N. Horner	George Horner Len Reay Ken Worrall	Ford 1953 Customline	48
38	150	J.E. Pedley	Joe Pedley Stan Hill	Austin A70 Hereford	48
39	172	Standard Motor Company	Alan Pilkington Wal Gillespie Llyn Evans	Standard Vanguard Phase II	48
40	129	P.E. Benson	Peter Benson Greg Percival Bert Watson	Holden FJ	49
41	148	Parker Brothers Auto Company	Arthur Parker Ron Tandy John Parker	Holden FJ	49
42	181	Rootes (Australia) Limited	Gilbert Graydon Ian Logan Ken Harper	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	49
43	79	C.M. McArdle	Colin McArdle Frank Sexton Ray McNamara	Standard Vanguard Phase II	50
44	38	Team Cox,Mackenzie and Smith	Rowl Cox Blyth Mackenzie Clem Smith	Standard Vanguard Phase II	50
45	194	M.D. Lawrence	Michael Lawrence William Gee John Place Bob Crewdson	Ford Zephyr Six	50
46	32	C.A. Fulton	Cecil Fulton Neil Stewart Norman Newton Lester Minchin	Austin A70 Hereford	51
47	112	Team Theil and Billing	Ard Theil Angus Billing	Holden FJ	51
48	252	N.Q. Klingner	Neville Klingner Thomas Lonergan	Standard Vanguard Phase II	51
49	132	R.K. Osmond	Ron Osmond Norman Smith Ray Harvey	Holden FJ	52
50	154	G.S. Onto	Joe Kent Kevin Mooney Geoff Robbins	Lagonda 3-Litre	52
51	106	Team Macmillan and Murray	Joe Macmillan Harry Murray	Peugeot 203	53
52	165	Advanx (Gosford) Motor Service	Robert Burgin Roy Francis Rob Boddenberg	Peugeot 203	56
53	214	L.J. Coppock	Launce Coppock Neil Long	Holden FJ	56
54	173	John Welsh	John Welsh Theodore Irwin Alfred Rabone	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	57
55	76	Team Johnston, Rosevear and Lambert	Ronald Johnston Helen Rosevear John Lambert	Standard Vanguard Phase II	58
56	162	Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Lex Davison Peter Ward Otto Stone	Holden FJ	58
57	68	Jack Hay	Jack Hay Jack Thornton Frank Heyward	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	63
58	103	C.V. Cresswell	Charles Cresswell Douglas Marshall Neville Sutton	Plymouth 1947 De Luxe	67
59	109	Team Welinski and Wardell	Andre Welinski Laurence Ward Taroslaw Tablonski	Holden FJ	67
60	125	R.J. Williams	Robert Williams Milford Johnson Ian Robertson	Holden FJ	67
61	177	G.J. Perrignon	George Perrignon Bruce Hall Roy Glenn	Ford 1953 Customline	67
62	224	Team Robinson, Brooks and McLeish	Keith Robinson William Brooks Alan McLeish	Standard Vanguard Phase II	67
63	43	Albert Correy	Albert Correy Arthur Anshaw	Ford 1946 V8	68
64	56	E.J. Ahren	Eric Ahren Hector Gray Phillip Hancox	Holden 48-215	69
65	145	Courtney and Patterson	Leslie Courtney Dennis Carroll	Ford Zephyr Six	70
66	121	G.A. Birmingham	George Birmingham Ronald Callow Ronald Hall	DeSoto 1954 Powermaster	73
67	134	R.H. Clarke	Reg Clarke Norman Neindorf Harry Westcott Ray Clarke	Holden 48-215	75
68	11	Les Burrows	Les Burrows James Allen	Standard Vanguard Phase II	76
69	143	Team Watt and Peniston	Neil Watt Arthur Peniston	Peugeot 203	78
70	208	Malcolm Parr	Malcolm Parr Graeme Parr James Costello	Standard Vanguard Phase II	81
71	105	Miss S.E. Thorpe	Sybil Thorpe John Diamond Douglas Evans	Holden FJ	82
72	113	Reg and Francis Thomas	Reg Thomas Francis Thomas	Ford Zephyr Six	83
73	35	V.R. Burton	Viv Burton Wesley Burton	Morris Oxford Series MO	84
74	133	Ride-Ezy Shock Absorber Specialists	Harry Walker Horrie Waters George Walsh	Ford Consul	86
75	40	R.F. Rothwell	Roy Rothwell Hugh Rothwell Colin Mitchell	Holden 48-215	89
76	257	J.T. Belling	John Belling Robert Peake Forbes Cumming	Ford Zephyr Six	89
77	237	H.E. Budd	Harry Budd Dave Sullivan	Holden 48-215	92
78	170	P.R. Williams Pty Ltd	Donald Bain Les Slaughter	MG TD Midget	96
79	4	Team Akers and Thallon	Ron Akers Keith Thallon	Citroën Light 15	100
80	138	Mick Simmons Limited	Leslie Miller Arthur Green	Ford Zephyr Six	103
81	163	E.B. Perkins	Eddie Perkins Lance Perkins	Rover 90	108
82	235	Team Harrison and Saunders	Ken Harrison Gerald Saunders Allan Ward	Standard Vanguard Phase I	109
83	169	F.J. Shepherd	Fred Shepherd Keith Johnson James Power	Holden 48-215	131
84	94	Team McDonald and Schulze	David McDonald Robert Schulze	Ford Consul	135
85	114	Stanley Carpenter	Stanley Carpenter Hilda Carpenter	Ford Zephyr Six	135
86	37	Dan Evans	Dan Evans Neville Somers Snow Sefton	Ford Zephyr Six	148
87	17	Team Campbell and McBride	George Campbell Allan Murphy Jack McBride	Ford 1947 V8	158
88	229	Team Cooke and Saville	William Cooke Norm Saville	Peugeot 203	164
89	66	J.G. Anderson	James Anderson Charles Anderson	Austin A70 Hereford	170
90	261	Phillips Brothers	J. Phillips A. Phillips	Holden FJ	180
91	258	J.A. Bicket	John Bicket John Andrew	Peugeot 203	184
92	216	C.A. Edgar	Cec Edgar Jack Jorgensen	Austin A40 Devon	200
93	168	D.G. Barnett	Douglas Barnett William Jones Roy Woodham	Ford 1949 Custom	210
94	144	M.G. Seike	Maurie Seike John Knight Neville Sheppeard	Ford 1946 V8	216
95	70	R.E. Wilson	Ralph Wilson James Wilson	Volkswagen 1100	236
96	245	A.W. Standfield	Wes Standfield Ron Standfield	Standard Vanguard Phase II	248
97	233	Christie's Motors	Ray Christie Ken Christie Stan Christie	Chevrolet 1952 Deluxe	273
98	80	R.E. Gudgeon	Bob Gudgeon Alan Platt	Hudson Super Wasp	276
99	182	J.H. Farrow	James Farrow Gary Fuller E. Grey Peter Wieland	Mercury 1947 Eight	286
100	36	Christys Motor Auctions	Tom Mills Jack O'Hara Bert Easterbrook	Chevrolet 1946 Deluxe	315
101	221	David Raven	David Raven Harry Tregilgas Ray Hall	Holden FJ	316
102	220	W.H. Crockford	William Crockford William Chambers Bill Huggett	Ford 1946 V8	336
103	63	Team Kreig and Sanders	Ross Kreig Ronald Sanders Ronald Treloar	Holden FJ	338
104	89	R.E. Pryer	Bon Pryer David Pinkard	MG Y Tourer	358
105	72	Herbert Happ	Herbert Happ Rowan Grissi Charles Sexton	Holden 48-215	447
106	187	Century Storage Battery Company	Keith Winstanley Cecil Curtis Frank Lewis	Holden FJ	456
107	64	Stephen Gibbs	Stephen Gibbs Douglas Thornton Allen Nixon	Ford Zephyr Six	462
108	159	M.L. Arentz	Martin Arentz Ray Davie Sid Cresswell	Ford 1953 Customline	480
109	190	N. Shean	David McKay Barry Gurdon	Austin A70 Hereford	522
110	74	John Perkins	John Perkins David White William Tennent	Holden FJ	563
111	119	Consolidated Press Limited	Bill Buchanan John Larkin John Wawn	Austin A70 Hereford	596
112	44	A.G. Melrose	Aubrey Melrose George Wakelin	Austin A70 Hereford	622
113	23	Team Holland, Payne and Playfair	Allan Holland Sel Payne Bob Playfair	Holden 48-215	705
114	60	'Mac' Hicks	'Mac' Hicks Eric Scott Fred Strachan	Ford 1953 Customline	722
115	91	Wattle Corrie Motors	Patrick O'Sullivan George Davidson Victor Walters	Holden 48-215	835
116	140	Manly Pacific Garage	Ronald Green Jack Scharkie Keith Wilson	Peugeot 203	855
117	116	D.A. McLachlan	Bill McLachlan Marie Higgs Malcolm McKay	Ford Zephyr Six	978
118	201	Team Lee and Hamilton	Digger Lee Richard Hamilton Doug Carle	Vauxhall Vagabond	991
119	236	Mrs Edith Nielsen	Edith Nielsen Gwendoline Bagust John Carson	Peugeot 203	1,209
120	6	G.P. Setter	George Setter Bernard McGrath Gerald Downing	Ford Zephyr Six	1,242
Source:^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Redex Trial Preview . . 2832 . Queensland, Australia . 4 July 1954 . 5 June 2017 . 36 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: Across the Nullarbor — now in South Australia . . Queensland, Australia . 18 July 1954 . 5 June 2017 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Huge Crowds See Finish of Reliability Car Trial . . 16,336 . Queensland, Australia . 21 July 1954 . 5 June 2017 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
4. Bill Tuckey & Thomas B. Floyd, From Redex To Repco: Gregory's 25 Years of Around Australia Trials, 1979, pages 52-67
5. News: Redex Draw for Positions. The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 1954.
6. News: Murray Named Winner of Car Trial. The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 1954.
7. Hal Moloney, Long Distance Trials in Australia by Car, Plane & Motor Cycle, 2018, pages 181-187