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Introduction to Track Racing - What's a Wheelrace? - Introduction to Six Day racing
105th Austral Wheelrace - IM
Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia, March 16, 2003
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.
