1954 Round Australia Trial

1954 Round Australia Trial
*Redex Trial*
1954 Round Australia Trial; Redex Trial
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Host country	Australia Australia
Rally base	Sydney
Dates run	3 – 20 July 1954
Stages	16
Stage surface	Tarmac and Gravel
Overall distance	15,450 km (9,600 miles)
Statistics
Crews	246 at start, 120 at finish
Overall results
Overall winner	Australia Jack 'Gelignite' Murray ; Australia Bill Murray

The 1954 Round Australia Trial, officially the Redex Trial was the second running of the Round Australia Trial. The rally took place between 3 and 20 July 1954 over 9,600 miles (15,400 km), and had a first prize of £2,000. The route was truly "round (mainland) Australia", beginning in Sydney on 3 July 1954, passing through Brisbane, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Mount Isa, Darwin, Broome, Meekatharra, Madura, Adelaide and Melbourne,^[1] finishing at Moore Park on 20 July.

246 cars took part and 127 finished within the times allowed, though many doggedly completed the course in the following week.^[2] One forced to drop out was the celebrated radio personality Jack Davey. The winner was a Ford 1948 V8, an ex-taxi dubbed the "Grey Ghost", driven by John Eric "Gelignite Jack" Murray (1907–1983) and navigated by the unrelated Bill Murray, losing no points on the trip. It was on this trial that Murray gained his nickname, from his occasional celebratory detonation of sticks of explosive, a custom that delighted some and infuriated others.^[3] "Secret" intermediate checkpoints were an innovation this year in an attempt to curb speeding.^[4]

1954 Redex Trial newsreel

Results

Pos	No	Entrant	Drivers	Car	Penalties (Points)
1	256	Australia J.E. Murray	Australia Jack 'Gelignite' Murray Australia Bill Murray	1948 Ford V8	0
2	29	Australia G.W. Patterson	Australia Bill Patterson Australia Harry Russell	Peugeot 203	8
3	176	Australia A.A.C. Anderson	Australia 'Duck' Anderson Australia Tony Anthony Australia Vergel Zaccour	Holden FJ	14
4	30	Australia E.A. Nelson	Australia Eric Nelson Australia Brian Simpson	Standard Vanguard Phase II	19
5	31	Australia Rootes (Australia) Limited	Australia Tom Sulman Australia T. Dowse Australia Norman Hutchison	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	22
6	260	Australia Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Australia Stan Jones Australia Don Thomson Australia Ern Seeliger	Holden FJ	22
7	22	Australia J.E. Roberts	Australia Don Roberts Australia Bill Edmonds	Standard Vanguard Phase II	25
8	33	Australia T.H. Farrell	Australia Tom Farrell Australia Frank Denlay Australia John Jones	1954 Ford Customline	25
9	96	Australia Team Gibson and Vale	Australia Alex Gibson Australia Neville Vale	Mercedes-Benz 170 D	25
10	52	Australia R.B. Walker	Australia Bruce Walker Australia Reginald Hall	Standard Vanguard Phase II	26
11	262	Australia F.A. Johnson	Australia Fred Johnson Australia Ray Johnson	Holden 48-215	27
12	20	Australia H.C. Cape	Australia Harry Cape Australia George Scales	Holden FJ	28
13	27	Australia Sandy Rayward	Australia Sandy Rayward Australia Harvey Roy	Peugeot 203	29
14	54	Australia Regent Motors Pty Ltd	Australia Laurie Whitehead Australia Ian Barns	Volkswagen 1100	29
15	136	Australia Team Westren and Kennedy	Australia Les Westren Australia Carl Kennedy	Peugeot 203	30
16	126	Australia NSW Country Holden Dealers	Australia Ken Miller Australia Alan Miller Australia Norman Colless	Holden FJ	31
17	213	Australia Rootes (Australia) Limited	Australia Russell Lane Australia Claude Turner Australia Donald Boynton	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	32
18	53	Australia S.W. Hecker	Australia Sam Hecker Australia Jack Oliver Australia Norwood Warry	Holden FJ	32
19	199	Australia J.F. Crouch	Australia John Crouch Australia Keith Jones Australia Gordon Stewart	Morris Oxford Series II	33
20	253	Australia Standard Motor Company	Australia Harry Firth Australia Max Newbold Australia Reg Sparks	Standard Vanguard Phase II	33
21	46	Australia D.H. Antill	Australia Peter Antill Australia George Reed Australia Max Winkless	Mercedes-Benz 220	34
22	135	Australia Claridge Motors	Australia Fred Claridge Australia Jim Claridge	Holden FJ	34
23	19	Australia Reno Auto Sales	Australia Reg Smith Australia Robert Whyte Australia Harley Mehegan	Austin A70 Hereford	35
24	127	Australia A.L. Kipling	Australia 'Possum' Kipling Australia Ken Walker	Holden FJ	35
25	47	Australia J.F. McCaffery	Australia John McCaffery Australia Thomas Leonard	Holden FJ	37
26	156	Australia Walton and Gardner	Australia Ted Walton Australia Flo Gardner Australia John Gardner	Holden FJ	37
27	202	Australia Noel Worland	Australia Noel Worland Australia Michael Malouf Australia John Burton	Dodge 1954 Kingsway	38
28	78	Australia Frank Kleinig	Australia Frank Kleinig Australia Clive Gibson	Peugeot 203	38
29	10	Australia Marshalls Motors	Australia John Lefoe Australia Evan Green	Standard Vanguard Phase II	40
30	197	Australia Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Australia Reg Nutt Australia John Joyce Australia Lou Molina	Holden FJ	41
31	205	Australia H.A. Hines	Australia Bert Hines Australia Arthur Scholtz	Holden FJ	41
32	219	Australia Orrman's Service Station	Australia Kenneth Orrman Australia Ian Mountain	Peugeot 203	41
33	48	Australia S.M. Miller	Australia Sam Miller Australia Patrick Kelly Australia Albert Griffiths	1953 Ford Customline	45
34	95	Australia E.A. Gibson	Australia Eric Gibson Australia Leonard McGill Australia Allan Robshaw Australia John Roberts	1951 Chevrolet Deluxe	46
35	101	Australia Rootes (Australia) Limited	Australia Anthony Peck Australia John Trowell Australia Robert Callander	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	46
36	231	Australia Parade Motors	Australia Cecil Dix Australia Ronald Dix Australia Alec Dealtry	1947 Plymouth De Luxe	47
37	110	Australia G.N. Horner	Australia George Horner Australia Len Reay Australia Ken Worrall	1953 Ford Customline	48
38	150	Australia J.E. Pedley	Australia Joe Pedley Australia Stan Hill	Austin A70 Hereford	48
39	172	Australia Standard Motor Company	Australia Alan Pilkington Australia Wal Gillespie Australia Llyn Evans	Standard Vanguard Phase II	48
40	129	Australia P.E. Benson	Australia Peter Benson Australia Greg Percival Australia Bert Watson	Holden FJ	49
41	148	Australia Parker Brothers Auto Company	Australia Arthur Parker Australia Ron Tandy Australia John Parker	Holden FJ	49
42	181	Australia Rootes (Australia) Limited	Australia Gilbert Graydon Australia Ian Logan Australia Ken Harper	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	49
43	79	Australia C.M. McArdle	Australia Colin McArdle Australia Frank Sexton Australia Ray McNamara	Standard Vanguard Phase II	50
44	38	Australia Team Cox, Mackenzie and Smith	Australia Rowl Cox Australia Blyth Mackenzie Australia Clem Smith	Standard Vanguard Phase II	50
45	194	Australia M.D. Lawrence	Australia Michael Lawrence Australia William Gee Australia John Place Australia Bob Crewdson	Ford Zephyr Six	50
46	32	Australia C.A. Fulton	Australia Cecil Fulton Australia Neil Stewart Australia Norman Newton Australia Lester Minchin	Austin A70 Hereford	51
47	112	Australia Team Theil and Billing	Australia Ard Theil Australia Angus Billing	Holden FJ	51
48	252	Australia N.Q. Klingner	Australia Neville Klingner Australia Thomas Lonergan	Standard Vanguard Phase II	51
49	132	Australia R.K. Osmond	Australia Ron Osmond Australia Norman Smith Australia Ray Harvey	Holden FJ	52
50	154	Australia G.S. Onto	Australia Joe Kent Australia Kevin Mooney Australia Geoff Robbins	Lagonda 3-Litre	52
51	106	Australia Team Macmillan and Murray	Australia Joe Macmillan Australia Harry Murray	Peugeot 203	53
52	165	Australia Advanx (Gosford) Motor Service	Australia Robert Burgin Australia Roy Francis Australia Rob Boddenberg	Peugeot 203	56
53	214	Australia L.J. Coppock	Australia Launce Coppock Australia Neil Long	Holden FJ	56
54	173	Australia John Welsh	Australia John Welsh Australia Theodore Irwin Australia Alfred Rabone	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	57
55	76	Australia Team Johnston, Rosevear and Lambert	Australia Ronald Johnston Australia Helen Rosevear Australia John Lambert	Standard Vanguard Phase II	58
56	162	Australia Preston Motors Pty Ltd	Australia Lex Davison Australia Peter Ward Australia Otto Stone	Holden FJ	58
57	68	Australia Jack Hay	Australia Jack Hay Australia Jack Thornton Australia Frank Heyward	Humber Super Snipe Mark IV	63
58	103	Australia C.V. Cresswell	Australia Charles Cresswell Australia Douglas Marshall Australia Neville Sutton	1947 Plymouth De Luxe	67
59	109	Australia Team Welinski and Wardell	Australia Andre Welinski Australia Laurence Ward Australia Taroslaw Tablonski	Holden FJ	67
60	125	Australia R.J. Williams	Australia Robert Williams Australia Milford Johnson Australia Ian Robertson	Holden FJ	67
61	177	Australia G.J. Perrignon	Australia George Perrignon Australia Bruce Hall Australia Roy Glenn	1953 Ford Customline	67
62	224	Australia Team Robinson, Brooks and McLeish	Australia Keith Robinson Australia William Brooks Australia Alan McLeish	Standard Vanguard Phase II	67
63	43	Australia Albert Correy	Australia Albert Correy Australia Arthur Anshaw	1946 Ford V8	68
64	56	Australia E.J. Ahren	Australia Eric Ahren Australia Hector Gray Australia Phillip Hancox	Holden 48-215	69
65	145	Australia Courtney and Patterson	Australia Leslie Courtney Australia Dennis Carroll	Ford Zephyr Six	70
66	121	Australia G.A. Birmingham	Australia George Birmingham Australia Ronald Callow Australia Ronald Hall	1954 DeSoto Powermaster	73
67	134	Australia R.H. Clarke	Australia Reg Clarke Australia Norman Neindorf Australia Harry Westcott Australia Ray Clarke	Holden 48-215	75
68	11	Australia Les Burrows	Australia Les Burrows Australia James Allen	Standard Vanguard Phase II	76
69	143	Australia Team Watt and Peniston	Australia Neil Watt Australia Arthur Peniston	Peugeot 203	78
70	208	Australia Malcolm Parr	Australia Malcolm Parr Australia Graeme Parr Australia James Costello	Standard Vanguard Phase II	81
71	105	Australia Miss S.E. Thorpe	Australia Sybil Thorpe Australia John Diamond Australia Douglas Evans	Holden FJ	82
72	113	Australia Reg and Francis Thomas	Australia Reg Thomas Australia Francis Thomas	Ford Zephyr Six	83
73	35	Australia V.R. Burton	Australia Viv Burton Australia Wesley Burton	Morris Oxford Series MO	84
74	133	Australia Ride-Ezy Shock Absorber Specialists	Australia Harry Walker Australia Horrie Waters Australia George Walsh	Ford Consul	86
75	40	Australia R.F. Rothwell	Australia Roy Rothwell Australia Hugh Rothwell Australia Colin Mitchell	Holden 48-215	89
76	257	Australia J.T. Belling	Australia John Belling Australia Robert Peake Australia Forbes Cumming	Ford Zephyr Six	89
77	237	Australia H.E. Budd	Australia Harry Budd Australia Dave Sullivan	Holden 48-215	92
78	170	Australia P.R. Williams Pty Ltd	Australia Donald Bain Australia Les Slaughter	MG TD Midget	96
79	4	Australia Team Akers and Thallon	Australia Ron Akers Australia Keith Thallon	Citroën Light 15	100
80	138	Australia Mick Simmons Limited	Australia Leslie Miller Australia Arthur Green	Ford Zephyr Six	103
81	163	Australia E.B. Perkins	Australia Eddie Perkins Australia Lance Perkins	Rover 90	108
82	235	Australia Team Harrison and Saunders	Australia Ken Harrison Australia Gerald Saunders Australia Allan Ward	Standard Vanguard Phase I	109
83	169	Australia F.J. Shepherd	Australia Fred Shepherd Australia Keith Johnson Australia James Power	Holden 48-215	131
84	94	Australia Team McDonald and Schulze	Australia David McDonald Australia Robert Schulze	Ford Consul	135
85	114	Australia Stanley Carpenter	Australia Stanley Carpenter Australia Hilda Carpenter	Ford Zephyr Six	135
86	37	Australia Dan Evans	Australia Dan Evans Australia Neville Somers Australia Snow Sefton	Ford Zephyr Six	148
87	17	Australia Team Campbell and McBride	Australia George Campbell Australia Allan Murphy Australia Jack McBride	1947 Ford V8	158
88	229	Australia Team Cooke and Saville	Australia William Cooke Australia Norm Saville	Peugeot 203	164
89	66	Australia J.G. Anderson	Australia James Anderson Australia Charles Anderson	Austin A70 Hereford	170
90	261	Australia Phillips Brothers	Australia J. Phillips Australia A. Phillips	Holden FJ	180
91	258	Australia J.A. Bicket	Australia John Bicket Australia John Andrew	Peugeot 203	184
92	216	Australia C.A. Edgar	Australia Cec Edgar Australia Jack Jorgensen	Austin A40 Devon	200
93	168	Australia D.G. Barnett	Australia Douglas Barnett Australia William Jones Australia Roy Woodham	1949 Ford Custom	210
94	144	Australia M.G. Seike	Australia Maurie Seike Australia John Knight Australia Neville Sheppeard	1946 Ford V8	216
95	70	Australia R.E. Wilson	Australia Ralph Wilson Australia James Wilson	Volkswagen 1100	236
96	245	Australia A.W. Standfield	Australia Wes Standfield Australia Ron Standfield	Standard Vanguard Phase II	248
97	233	Australia Christie's Motors	Australia Ray Christie Australia Ken Christie Australia Stan Christie	1952 Chevrolet Deluxe	273
98	80	Australia R.E. Gudgeon	Australia Bob Gudgeon Australia Alan Platt	Hudson Super Wasp	276
99	182	Australia J.H. Farrow	Australia James Farrow Australia Gary Fuller Australia E. Grey Australia Peter Wieland	1947 Mercury Eight	286
100	36	Australia Christys Motor Auctions	Australia Tom Mills Australia Jack O'Hara Australia Bert Easterbrook	1946 Chevrolet Deluxe	315
101	221	Australia David Raven	Australia David Raven Australia Harry Tregilgas Australia Ray Hall	Holden FJ	316
102	220	Australia W.H. Crockford	Australia William Crockford Australia William Chambers Australia Bill Huggett	1946 Ford V8	336
103	63	Australia Team Kreig and Sanders	Australia Ross Kreig Australia Ronald Sanders Australia Ronald Treloar	Holden FJ	338
104	89	Australia R.E. Pryer	Australia Bon Pryer Australia David Pinkard	MG Y Tourer	358
105	72	Australia Herbert Happ	Australia Herbert Happ Australia Rowan Grissi Australia Charles Sexton	Holden 48-215	447
106	187	Australia Century Storage Battery Company	Australia Keith Winstanley Australia Cecil Curtis Australia Frank Lewis	Holden FJ	456
107	64	Australia Stephen Gibbs	Australia Stephen Gibbs Australia Douglas Thornton Australia Allen Nixon	Ford Zephyr Six	462
108	159	Australia M.L. Arentz	Australia Martin Arentz Australia Ray Davie Australia Sid Cresswell	1953 Ford Customline	480
109	190	Australia N. Shean	Australia David McKay Australia Barry Gurdon	Austin A70 Hereford	522
110	74	Australia John Perkins	Australia John Perkins Australia David White Australia William Tennent	Holden FJ	563
111	119	Australia Consolidated Press Limited	Australia Bill Buchanan Australia John Larkin Australia John Wawn	Austin A70 Hereford	596
112	44	Australia A.G. Melrose	Australia Aubrey Melrose Australia George Wakelin	Austin A70 Hereford	622
113	23	Australia Team Holland, Payne and Playfair	Australia Allan Holland Australia Sel Payne Australia Bob Playfair	Holden 48-215	705
114	60	Australia 'Mac' Hicks	Australia 'Mac' Hicks Australia Eric Scott Australia Fred Strachan	1953 Ford Customline	722
115	91	Australia Wattle Corrie Motors	Australia Patrick O'Sullivan Australia George Davidson Australia Victor Walters	Holden 48-215	835
116	140	Australia Manly Pacific Garage	Australia Ronald Green Australia Jack Scharkie Australia Keith Wilson	Peugeot 203	855
117	116	Australia D.A. McLachlan	Australia Bill McLachlan Australia Marie Higgs Australia Malcolm McKay	Ford Zephyr Six	978
118	201	Australia Team Lee and Hamilton	Australia Digger Lee Australia Richard Hamilton Australia Doug Carle	Vauxhall Vagabond	991
119	236	Australia Mrs Edith Nielsen	Australia Edith Nielsen Australia Gwendoline Bagust Australia John Carson	Peugeot 203	1,209
120	6	Australia G.P. Setter	Australia George Setter Australia Bernard McGrath Australia Gerald Downing	Ford Zephyr Six	1,242
Source:^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

References

↑ "Redex Trial Preview". Truth (Brisbane newspaper). No. 2832. Queensland, Australia. 4 July 1954. p. 36. Retrieved 5 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Complete List Of Entries For Redex Trial". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 96, no. 29, 837. South Australia. 1 June 1954. p. 17. Retrieved 4 June 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Across the Nullarbor — now in South Australia". Sunday Mail (Adelaide). Queensland, Australia. 18 July 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 5 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Huge Crowds See Finish of Reliability Car Trial". Cairns Post. No. 16, 336. Queensland, Australia. 21 July 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ Bill Tuckey & Thomas B. Floyd, From Redex To Repco: Gregory's 25 Years of Around Australia Trials, 1979, pages 52-67
↑ "Redex Draw for Positions". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 1954.
↑ "Murray Named Winner of Car Trial". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 1954.
↑ Hal Moloney, Long Distance Trials in Australia by Car, Plane & Motor Cycle, 2018, pages 181-187

[1] "Redex Trial Preview". Truth (Brisbane newspaper). No. 2832. Queensland, Australia. 4 July 1954. p. 36. Retrieved 5 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.

[2] "Complete List Of Entries For Redex Trial". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 96, no. 29, 837. South Australia. 1 June 1954. p. 17. Retrieved 4 June 2026 – via National Library of Australia.

[3] "Across the Nullarbor — now in South Australia". Sunday Mail (Adelaide). Queensland, Australia. 18 July 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 5 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.

[4] "Huge Crowds See Finish of Reliability Car Trial". Cairns Post. No. 16, 336. Queensland, Australia. 21 July 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.

[5] Bill Tuckey & Thomas B. Floyd, From Redex To Repco: Gregory's 25 Years of Around Australia Trials, 1979, pages 52-67

[6] "Redex Draw for Positions". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 1954.

[7] "Murray Named Winner of Car Trial". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 1954.

[8] Hal Moloney, Long Distance Trials in Australia by Car, Plane & Motor Cycle, 2018, pages 181-187

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