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Introduction to Track Racing - What's a Wheelrace? - Introduction to Six Day racing - UCI codes
106th Austral Wheelrace - IM
Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia, February 7, 2004
History of the Austral Wheel Race
Courtesy Cyclists International
In 1887, the Melbourne Bicycle Club, then the oldest cycling club in Australia, organised the first ever "Austral". The race was run over a distance of 2 miles (3200 metres) and was held on the grass at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Other Melbourne venues to host the "Austral" have been the three Exhibition Building tracks. At first on the asphalt oval and then on the indoor track in 1912 & 1913 followed by three events on the outdoor board track that was eventually relocated to North Essendon in 1938.
The Olympic Park area had two Austral tracks, the concrete Motordrome and the 250m wooden Velodrome that replaced the 1956 Olympic 333 m. concrete velodrome. Since the late 70's the race has been held at various times on the Brunswick, Coburg and Northcote Velodromes.
The "Austral" has had an illustrious history. The inaugural event in 1887 had a first prize of a Walnut cabinet containing 152 pieces of silver and cutlery, valued at Two Hundred Pounds (Sterling).
The 1901 event gained notoriety when the American,"Plugger" Bill Martin won from scratch, amid cries from the Press of alleged race fixing involving the event promoter, the infamous Melbourne identity, John Wren.
The massive amount of 1050 Sovereigns was the allocated prize money for the 1902 event, the low point being in the late 1970's when only $1500 was on offer.
There was resurgence in 1982 when the prize money was lifted to $5000 plus sponsors products.
The present level of prize money has now exceeded $18,000 at recent stagings of this prestigious wheelrace.
Many famous names appear on the "Austral" honour roll. World Champions, Gordon Johnson (1973) and Steele Bishop (1982), both winning from scratch. Two of our past champions in Jack Fitzgerald (1922) from scratch and Tassie Johnson (1944) from 30 yards. The great Sid Patterson (1962 & 1964) and Laurie Venn (1979 & 1981) have both won the event twice from scratch.
Sir Hubert Opperman almost made it on to the honour roll, when he ran second to Eric Gibaud in 1925.
The perennial Tasmanian, Danny Clark has had three wins off the scratch mark, in 1977, 1986 and 1990. However, the record now belongs to the consistent Victorian all rounder, Stephen Pate with four victories, in 1988 from scratch, 1991 from minus 10 metres, 1993 from minus 20 metres and his most recent win, 1999 from scratch.
On February 12, 2000, the wheel race was held on an outdoor venue for the last time at Northcote. Gary Neiwand one of Australia's greatest sprinters, was liberally handicapped on 70 metres for the Millennium edition of the event, and won comfortably.
The 2001 event was the 103rd running of the 'Austral' and another milestone for the race was established when it was conducted indoors for the first time in 87 years on the new 250 metre, wooden velodrome at Vodafone Arena, Melbourne Park. The winner was Mark French off 80 metres.
The 2002 Austral was won by the Tasmanian trackman, Darren Young riding from scratch, who repeated his victory in 2003, the first time anyone has claimed back to back victories in this event.
Past winners
Year Name Handicap (m) 2003 Darren Young Scr 2002 Darren Young Scr 2001 Mark French 80 2000 Gary Neiwand 70 1999 Stephen Pate Scr 1998 Shane Hodskiss 75 1997 Matthew Atkins 100 1996 Troy Clarke 45 1995 Tony Hughes 80 1994 Ashley Harding 140 1993 Stephen Pate Minus 20 1992 Bert Glennon 120 1991 Stephen Pate Minus 10 1990 Danny Clark Scr 1989 Grant Reynolds 150 1988 Stephen Pate Scr 1987 Simon King 110 1986 Danny Clark Scr 1985 Allan Rackstraw 80 1984 Terry Schintler 80 1983 Phil. Sawyer Scr 1982 Steele Bishop Scr 1981 Laurie Venn Scr 1980 Daryl Benson 90 1979 Laurie Venn Scr 1978 David Sanders 50 1977 Danny Clark Scr (Yards) 1976 David Allan 70 1975 Craig Price 130 1974 Ivan Collings 90 1973 Gordon Johnson Scr 1972 Geoff Edmonds 20 1971 Frank Daly 135 1970 Bill Stevens 35 1969 Charlie Walsh 50 1968 Merv. Andrea 230 1967 Vic Browne 65 1966 Bill Dove 150 1965 Kenton Smith 135 1964 Sid Patterson Scr 1963 Fred Hellyer 110 1962 Sid Patterson Scr 1961 Fred Roche 40 1960 David Good 100 1959 Vin Beasley 100 1958 Neil Geraghty 100 1957 John Robertson 100 1956 Don Meharg 130 1955 Ron Murray 100 1954 Alan Geddes 130 1953 Tom Fitzgerald 140 1952 Doug Jennings 120 1951 Kevin Marion 105 1950 Byron Bonney 120 1948 Bill Kirkham 120 1947 George Bull 130 1946 Pat Devine 120 1945 Tom Shillito 160 1944 Tas. Johnson 30 1944 Norm Munro 90 1942 Mick Bradley 160 1941 Ken Stewart 60 1940 Norm Stevens 20 1939 Clinton Beasley 90 1938 Jack Middleton 120 1937 Jack Gardiner 205 1936 Harry Webb 70 1936 Keith Thurgood 100 1929 H. "Fatty" Lamb 30 1927 Cecil Hannerman 160 1927 Cecil Manners 245 1927 Bowie Stevens 70 1925 Eric Giboud 60 1925 Frank Corry 140 1923 Pidge Davis 200 1923 Dick Ford 120 1922 Jack Fitzgerald Scr 1921 Lou Clifford 120 1920 Ern. Tamme 50 1913 P.B. Henry 60 1912 W. Priestly 60 1910 Frank Corry 140 1909 A. H. Piano 40 1908 M. McPherson 150 1907 A.C. Colvin 60 1906 Harry Thomas 20 1905 J. Sandberg 170 1904 Jack Clarke 150 1903 Fred Scheps 160 1902 Murray Auger 240 1901 Bill Martin Scr 1900 Charles Forbes 30 1899 Frank Beauchamp 150 1898 Tom Finnigan 220 1897 Jim Carpenter 85 1896 Charles Kellow 15 1895 A. Crisp 250 1894 Alf Middleton 180 1893 Gordon Woodward 270 1892 H. Lambton 200 1891 Arthur Turner 240 1890 Tom Busst Scr 1889 J. Mullins 140 1888 Dick Davis Scr 1887 H. Lambton 210
