1953 Round Australia Trial

The 1953 Round Australia Trial, officially the Redex Trial was the inaugural running of the Round Australia Trial. The rally took place between the 30th of August and the 13th of September 1953. The event covered 10,460 kilometres around Australia. It was won by Ken Tubman and John Marshall, driving a Peugeot 203.

1953 Round Australia Trial Redex Trial
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Host country	Australia
Rally base	Sydney
Dates run	30 August – 13 September 1953
Stages	15
Stage surface	Tarmac and Gravel
Overall distance	10,460 km (6,500 miles)
Results
Overall winner	Ken Tubman John Marshall
Crews	186 at start, 142 at finish

Results

Pos	No	Entrant	Drivers	Car	Penalties (Points)
1	48	Team Tubman and Marshall	Ken Tubman John Marshall	Peugeot 203	19
2	191	John McGrath Motors	Ken Robinson Russell Lane Anthony Peck	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	20
3	160	D.H. Antill	Peter Antill George Reed Max Winkless	Plymouth 1952 Concord	21
4	41	Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Lex Davison Peter Ward Otto Stone	Holden 48-215	22
5	64	Lloyd Davies	Lloyd Davies Lisle Dunmore Jack Cherry	Holden 48-215	23
6	91	E.A. Nelson	Eric Nelson Bill Burrows S. Baker	Standard Vanguard Phase II	23
7	51	J.A. Masling	Jack Masling Leo Hennessy Don Baldry	Humber Super Snipe Mark II	25
8	115	David McKay	David McKay Rex Marshall	Austin A40 Somerset	28
9	46	John McGrath Motors	Tom Sulman John Hall Jock Morgan	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	30
10	57	W.T. Nunn	Bill Nunn Leonard Voss Ron Smyth	Mercury 1939 Eight	30
11	145	Footscray Motors	M. Gilbert Laurie Oxenford	Standard Vanguard Phase II	30
12	117	Jack Jeffrey	Jack Jeffrey Neil Smyth	Peugeot 203	33
13	5	A.L. Kipling	'Possum' Kipling John Hughes	Holden 48-215	36
14	53	J.P. Crouch	John Crouch John Dowling Jack Walker	Peugeot 203	37
15	28	Neville Vale	Neville Vale Spencer Vale	Mercedes-Benz 170 D	42
16	13	E.B. Perkins	Eddie Perkins Lance Perkins	Rover 75	46
17	52	T.H. Farrell	Tom Farrell Frank Denlay John Jones	Ford 1952 Customline	50
18	122	T.L. Quill	Tom Quill Frank Campbell	Ford Consul	61
19	85	M.L. Arentz	Martin Arentz Norman Bond Ricky Smidt	Ford 1953 Customline	86
20	114	Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Charlie Dean John Joyce Lou Molina	Holden 48-215	88
21	93	D.L. West	Des West Lindsay West	Holden 48-215	91
22	150	D.B. Williams	Doug Williams Donald Bain	MG TD Midget	96
23	175	Team Brenchley and Brown	Colin Brenchley Cliff Brown	Plymouth 1948 De Luxe	108
24	113	F.W. Hecker	Sam Hecker Norm Hutchison Norwood Warry	Holden 48-215	121
25	158	A.F. Johnson	Fred Johnson Ray Johnson	Chevrolet 1950 Deluxe	125
26	167	Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Stan Jones Bill Patterson Ern Seeliger	Holden 48-215	126
27	143	Orrmans Service Station	Kenneth Orrman Ian Mountain Robert Orrman	Peugeot 203	127
28	129	E.J. Lefoe	John Lefoe Ellis Glover Haugh Featherston	Standard Vanguard Phase II	143
29	66	M. & B. Distributors	Walter Luxton Frank Lobb	Mercedes-Benz 170 S	146
30	21	W.J. Locke	Jim Locke Laurie Haysom David Maclure	Holden 48-215	160
31	135	Jack Saywell	Jack Saywell Dave Sullivan S. Fellows	Mercedes-Benz 170 D	163
32	184	R.R. Noble	Ron Noble Unknown	Chevrolet 1937 Master	167
33	75	M.S. Law	Martin Law Malcolm Robinson Pauline Barnes	Humber Super Snipe Mark III	170
34	9	Larke Hoskins	Barry Gurdon Unknown	Austin A40 Devon	174
35	25	W.A. Burns	William Burns Leonard Hubball Clive Odgers Norm Hord	Holden 48-215	188
36	121	William Hayes	William Hayes Len Slade Ken Walker	Standard Vanguard Phase II	193
37	179	Bill English	Bill English Ralph Newton	Austin A40 Devon	208
38	156	Keith Jones	Keith Jones William Shipway	Riley 2.5 Litre	214
39	97	J.E. Roberts	Don Roberts George Roberts	Standard Vanguard Phase II	217
40	112	David Bowman	David Bowman C. Bowman Paddy Fergusson	Holden 48-215	226
41	82	R.A. Gardiner	Rueb Gardiner Les Faulkner	Ford 1947 V8	233
42	63	J.R. Seymour	Ron Seymour Norm Foley	Ford Consul	234
43	24	W. Allen	W. Allen Clive Adams	Holden 48-215	236
44	116	Reno Auto Sales	Reg Smith Fred Allen Harley Mehegan	Ford 1952 Customline	254
45	99	H.R. Smith	Harry Smith Jim Clay	Peugeot 203	255
46	92	A.E. Fraser	A. Fraser C. White L. Arden	Jaguar Mark VII	266
47	43	Don Gorringe	Don Gorringe William Caldwell Trevor Gorringe	Jowett Javelin	289
48	165	J.A. Bickett	John Bickett Sam Miller	Ford 1952 Customline	294
49	140	Gibson Industries	'Hoot' Gibson Les Ramsay Sid Gibson	Standard Vanguard Phase II	305
50	108	C.W. Graham	Colin Graham MacGregor Graham Terry Gilbert	Peugeot 203	306
51	6	D.A. McLachlan	Bill McLachlan Marie Higgs Malcolm McKay	Ford 1952 Customline	308
52	133	W.K. Meier	William Meier Stan Jones	Austin A40 Devon	310
53	84	A.G. Melrose	Aubrey Melrose Harry Murray John Van Lieven	Austin A40 Devon	311
54	80	A.H. Gibson	Alex Gibson H. Howell	Mercedes-Benz 170 D	320
55	96	C.A. Roberts	Chris Roberts Wallace Hair Guy Bristol	Ford Zephyr Six	322
56	7	E.J. Brotherton	Jeff Brotherton Maurie Monk	Austin A30	331
57	181	J.A. Brabham	Jack Brabham Bill Armstrong Ron Tauranac	Holden 48-215	334
58	55	C.J. Arthur	Cliff Arthur Edna Arthur Ron Campbell	Peugeot 203	337
59	22	C.E. Dix	Cecil Dix Ronald Dix Alec Dealtry Keith Pederson	DeSoto 1947 Deluxe	346
60	166	Lionel Ryan	Lionel Ryan Tom Day Edgar Ryan	Holden 48-215	357
61	44	Team Tyas and Craigie	Ken Tyas J. Craigie	Ford Consul	372
62	87	Team Buly and Williams	Lloyd Buly Stan Williams Lyle Gray Fred Haig	Ford 1953 Customline	372
63	138	Jack Phillips	Jack Phillips Ron Phillips Jack Cox	Ford 1953 Customline	373
64	58	Harold Weal	Harold Weal Harold Weal, Jr.	Ford 1951 Custom	383
65	67	Keith McCrohon	Keith McCrohon Raymond Fuller Alex Nicol	Ford 1939 V8 Deluxe	398
68	132	J.B. Carrington	Banks Carrington Neville Barnett Ernest Smith	Morris Oxford Series MO	399
69	40	Bill Messenger	Bill Messenger Unknown	Mercury 1946 Eight	428
70	30	J.F. McCafferty	John McCafferty Ray George	Chevrolet 1951 Deluxe	453
71	88	Ron Muir and Sons	Ron Muir Bill Dresser Ron Speet	Ford Consul	456
72	73	Advanx (Gosford) Motor Service	Robert Boddenberg A. Ghersi E.Pinkerton	Peugeot 203	458
73	69	W.C. Zeh	Willy Zeh Tom Buddle	Mercedes-Benz 170 D	465
74	86	Titanic Steel Fab	Dan Mott Eric Staples	Jaguar Mark VII	478
75	176	Courtney and Patterson	A. Patterson Lloyd Edwards	Ford Prefect	486
76	168	Roy Rothwell	Roy Rothwell Hugh Rothwell Clive Mitchell	Holden 48-215	489
77	106	John McGrath Motors	Nat Buchanan Len Weston Cedric James	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	490
78	146	J.E. O'Connell	J. O'Connell Lou Hall Jack Kemp	Chevrolet 1952 Deluxe	496
79	4	L.F. Bailey	Lyle Bailey L. Black N. Bailey	Mercedes-Benz 170 S	500
80	38	D.R. McPherson	Don McPherson Ossie Steer Ted Tallis Bill Wagner	Ford 1953 Customline	547
81	149	D & K Taxis Limited	Arthur Garner Jack Wade Mort Harvie	Holden 48-215	550
82	33	Austin Distributors Pty Ltd	Ken Smyth Geoff Smith	Austin A30	560
83	90	Larke Hoskins	Curly Brydon Tom Jemison	Austin A40 Somerset	575
84	83	Frank Kleinig	Frank Kleinig Clive Gibson	Morris Minor Series II	622
85	45	Syd O'Halloran	Syd O'Halloran Jim Savage	Plymouth 1938	640
86	101	N.L. Olivier	N. Olivier Geoff Kittle	MG TD Midget	656
87	125	V.R. Burton	Viv Burton Sam Craig	Morris Minor MM	657
88	56	S.J. Carpenter	Stanley Carpenter Richard Carpenter	Terraplane 1937	660
89	185	Glandore Motors	Charles Tabberer Bob Burnett-Reid	Chevrolet 1937 Master Coupe	666
90	126	L.V. March	Les March John Brooker	MG TD Midget	677
91	107	Jack Davey	Jack Davey Lou Moss Alan Taylor Arthur Cushing	Ford 1952 Customline	681
92	137	Noel Sweeney	Noel Sweeney B. Hutchison	Jaguar Mark VII	707
93	136	Paramount Service Station	Rex Sendy Murray Chesser	Ford Consul	729
94	151	J.E. Pedley	Joe Pedley Fred Hargrave	Austin A70 Hereford	729
95	105	Harry Thompson	Harry Thompson Wal Gillespie	Singer Nine	783
96	152	S.C. Johnson	Stan Johnson Len Reeves Eric Daley	Studebaker 1947 Champion	788
97	189	J.A. Witter	Jack Witter Raymond Pantlin	Hudson Pacemaker	792
98	23	Team Milne and Conrad	G. Milne Bill Conrad	Vauxhall Velox	795
99	89	N.M. Hamilton	Norm Hamilton Ken Harper	Porsche 356	808
100	98	Miss Lois Rowe	Lois Rowe Nola Rowe Diana Brunton	Sunbeam-Talbot 90	854
101	187	F.A. Price	Frank Price Dick Cobden Kethel Rooke	Singer SM1500	868
102	170	W.J. Hamilton	W. Hamilton Unknown	Citroën Light 15	877
103	14	Team Drew and Cousins	Harvey Drew Bill Cousins	Studebaker 1938 Commander	900
104	103	Keith Napier	Keith Napier Alan Dickson Allan Irish	Plymouth 1934	927
105	29	Škoda Distributors	Harry Atkinson Ronald Wiseman Kevin Murphy	Škoda 1101	945
106	142	O.E. Yates	Owen Yates Bob Collett Lou Edwards	Austin A90 Atlantic	946
107	127	A.A. Anderson	'Duck' Anderson Tony Anthony Arthur Higgins	Holden 48-215	951
108	59	Don Hassett	Don Hassett Hank Edgar Geoff Walker	Austin A40 Devon	960
109	17	R.C. Neeley	Ray Neeley Allan Ashcroft	Allard M2X	961
110	42	Woollahra Driving School	Frank Eastlake Jack Fletcher John Webb	Holden 48-215	977
111	130	D. and R. Charlesworth	D. Charlesworth R. Charlesworth John Drew	Humber Hawk Mark V	1,033
112	144	D.H. Heggie	Don Heggie C. Heggie	Ford Zephyr Six	1,125
113	148	C.R. Turner	Claude Turner A. Burriss S. Waiber	Humber Hawk Mark V	1,135
114	172	L.P. Dorgan	Leo Dorgan Pat Riley Les Makin	Buick 1939 Special	1,209
115	39	J.P. Nind	John Nind Claude Jewson	MG TD Midget	1,316
116	109	Stan Levy	Stan Levy Unknown	Ford 1953 Customline	1,321
117	77	R.J. Mulcahy	R. Mulcahy N. Farmer Guy Cuthertson	Austin A70 Hereford	1,348
118	36	D. Stanborough	D. Stanborough Unknown	MG TD Midget	1,419
119	74	Les Burrows	Les Burrows Stan Shepheard Alf Barrett	Standard Vanguard Phase II	1,447
120	155	Q.C. Smith	Clem Smith Reg Sparks	Terraplane 1935	1,472
121	162	St James Driving School	John Moore Eric Pywell Barry Taylor	Austin A40 Devon	1,483
122	159	B.D. Kingston	Ben Kingston John Roe M. Kingston	Jaguar Mark VII	1,500
123	2	K.F. Thallon	Keith Thallon Harold Dowling	Morris Minor Series II	1,617
124	169	C.V. Cresswell	Charles Cresswell Sid Cresswell Arthur Lynn	Plymouth 1947 De Luxe	1,629
125	177	Alan Carter	Alan Carter Ann Carter	Riley 2.5 Litre	1,659
126	31	Eric Roberts	Eric Roberts Bert Endersby	Morris Minor Series II	1,661
127	124	R.F. Templar	Ray Templar 'Blue' Ryan Bill Williamson	Rover 75	1,703
128	79	F.M. Higgins	F. Higgins D. Cameron F. Gill	Peugeot 203	1,726
129	164	Advanx (Gosford) Motor Service	Robert Burgin M. Griffiths Roy Francis	Peugeot 203	1,829
130	81	Fred Maguire	Fred Maguire John Larkin John Wawn	Nash 1946 600	1,899
131	163	C.F. Herbert	Cyril Herbert Allen Hallett	Standard Fourteen	1,935
132	34	Team Graham and Goldhurst	Frank Graham Peter Hamilton	Ford 1932 V8 Roadster	1,940
133	19	Mrs Winifred Conway	Winifred Conway Denys Tanner Margaret Bruce	Austin A40 Devon	1,979
134	192	Miss J. Hill	Bill Mair Reg Lusby	Renault 750	1,979
135	60	Commonwealth Motors	Laurie Whitehead Ian Barns Bill Buckle	Citroën Big Six	2,024
136	154	David Rance	David Rance Len Taylor	MG TD Midget	2,158
137	171	D.K. Carmody	Keith Carmody Ray Melville	Fiat 1400	2,383
138	173	Tom Mills	Tom Mills Jack O'Hara Bert Easterbrook	Hudson 1937	2,408
139	147	O.M. Joseph	Oscar Joseph Jack Joseph Harry Tartlin Neville Branson	Chrysler 77	2,409
140	95	M.D. von Sanden	Max von Sanden Valda Marshall Lin Paltridge	Nash 1928 Light Six	2,414
141	68	Interstate Car Rentals	Donald Tottey Archie Barnett	Ford Anglia Tourer	2,702
142	180	V.C. Hannaford	Vic Hannaford Merv Barrie Rex Ellis	Holden 48-215	3,169
Source:[1] [2][3]

References

1. Bill Tuckey & Thomas B. Floyd, From Redex To Repco: Gregory's 25 Years of Around Australia Trials, 1979, pages 33-51
2. Unique Cars and Parts. "1953 Redex Around Australia Car Trial".
3. Hal Moloney, Long Distance Trials in Australia by Car, Plane & Motor Cycle, 2018, pages 174-178