A snapshot of South Australian motorsport
Adelaide’s East End might be a bit quieter this March without the roar of V8 Supercars tearing around Victoria Park, but car racing has long been an important part of South Australia’s sporting calendar – and will continue to be in the future.
From RAA hill climbs in the early 20th century to Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna winning the 1993 Formula 1 Grand Prix on the famous Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia’s history is rich with motorsport moments.
Archives across the state are filled with motorsport images and paraphernalia confirming SA’s obsession with motoring.
RAA: a motorsport pioneer
In its first few years, RAA’s world was dominated by motorsport. On 17 December 1904, RAA held its inaugural hill climb. The climb began at the East Torrens Hotel (now the Tower Hotel) and ended atop Norton Summit. The following year, RAA held a reliability trial with cars and motorcycles travelling to Victor Harbor and Mannum. An independent adjudicator rode in each vehicle and deducted points for a variety of indiscretions. For example, the engine needed to be constantly running and any stoppages attracted penalties.
RAA hill climb in 1906. Image: RAA
From Lobethal to Port Wakefield
Long before The Bend Motorsport Park and Adelaide Street Circuit hosted international motorsport events, motor racing was held at various locations across the state. In 1939, Lobethal became the first South Australian town to host an Australian Grand Prix. The track was the longest ever used at 14km and competitors completed 17 laps, winding their way through the Adelaide Hills. The race was won by a relatively unknown Western Australian racer, Allan Tomlinson, driving a supercharged MG T. In 1955, South Australia hosted the Australian Grand Prix at the Port Wakefield Circuit. It was the first to be contested at a purpose-built race circuit, after the previous 19 were held on closed roads. Future world champion Jack Brabham took home gold, completing 80 laps of the 2.89km circuit in just 1 hour and 26 minutes in his Cooper-Bristol.
1939 Australian Grand Prix in Lobethal. Image: SLSA
Glen Dix: more than just a flagman
South Australian Glen Dix became an overnight sensation in 1985 when Adelaide first held the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Dressed in a green and gold suit he bought at Fletcher Jones, Dix stepped on the track and with flourish and fanfare waved the chequered flag, welcoming inaugural race winner Keke Rosberg across the line. Renowned Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker described the action perfectly, saying it looked as if Dix was “doing his best to break his wrist, elbow and shoulder all at the same time”. Dix’s flag waving, which saw him step on the track metres from cars travelling up to 290km/h, gained worldwide attention. “I honestly think people who hadn’t seen me wave the flag thought that I wouldn’t understand, or I’d get knocked over, but hey, I wasn’t there for that,” Dix tells samotor.I appreciated the danger, and those sorts of things really didn’t come into my mind.”Since he first started as a race clerk (the starter and finisher) at Rowley Park Speedway in the 1950s, Dix waved his chequered flag exuberantly. “I was developing a way of making the finish of the race something special,” he says. “I didn’t set out to do that, but rather than stand there like a post and wave the flag as if it was going to eat me, I put some enthusiasm into it.” Before taking up the role of flag waver for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Dix worked in several other motorsport roles in South Australia and interstate for about 40 years.
Glen Dix welcomes Alain Prost across the finish line. Image: Getty