HISTORIC SANDOWN BRINGS BACK THE TT

A great year is set to get even better in what has already been a superlative 2024 for VHRR (Victorian Historic Racing Registry) events, with the upcoming Historic Sandown meeting on November 8-10 adding another boom attraction.

This year’s meeting will add the revival of the historic Tourist Trophy (TT), a re-enactment event for select sport cars, many of which date back to the 1950’s.

With an eye to continuing the TT at Historic Sandown for all future events, it revives the memory of beloved event that resonates with multi-generational motorsport enthusiasts, with the original trophy from 1955 – won by three-time Australian Grand Prix winner Doug Whiteford – still holding pride of place in the VHRR clubrooms.

This year, trophy engraved glasses will be awarded to all entrants, commemorating the TT’s return.

For a bit of history of the TT, one needs to go back prior to the first Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in 1966.

Attempts to hold motor racing around the famous Melbourne lake date back to 1934 and 1937, with attempts to hold events scuppered by strong local opposition.

It wasn’t until 1953 when the Light Car Club of Australia secured the use of the land for the Australian GP, contested on an anti-clockwise 5.029km track – which was also won by Whiteford.

The addition of the first TT event then came in 1955 when the Moomba Festival backed two races to be held at Albert Park – in conjunction with Melbourne’s Argus newspaper – known as the Moomba TT that also ran alongside the Argus Trophy contested by Formula Libre Racing Cars.

Whiteford won in a Triumph TR2 over future winner Brian Sampson, and others such as the ‘The Fox’ – Harry Firth (Whiteford also won the Argus Trophy).

The next year, Australia’s first Formula 1 ace Tony Gaze won TT the  next year, whilst Reg Hunt took the Argus Trophy in a Maserati  250F. 

The great Stirling Moss then won in ’56 in a Maserati 300S, where a week later he also took the Australian GP in a 250F.

The Moomba TT was then renamed the Victorian TT 1957 and 1958, the last ever editions, with Whiteford winning his second in ’57, and third in ’58.

With the circuit closing shortly after for the development of other sporting precincts in the immediate area, so closed the history of the TT…until now in 2024, at the Victorian home of horsepower.

Entrants for the revival include 19 invited sports cars and such as a 1954 TR2 driven by John Orchard, a pair of Elfin Mallala’s from 1963, whilst other 1950’s machines include a Zephsca Ausca from ’59, a ’58 Loter Peugeot Lotus 11 Replica, a ‘58 MG Regah Special.

There will be a qualifying on the Saturday, followed by the race on Sunday afternoon.

This year’s event will feature over 300 iconic racing cars from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s, including Group C&A, Group N, and HQ Racing, and offers an awesome weekend of historic motorsport with complete access for fans across all areas.

Visit VHRR.com.au for more information.

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