1960
Re-live the action from 1960
Year in review
Highlights
We have limited information on events in 1960 – if you have any information please let us know!
Major Events
The BP Rally of South Eastern Australia was conducted from 5-7 May, starting in Shepparton and finishing at the StKilda foreshore. The winners were Kevin Lott and Frank Kilfoyle in a Volkswagen. For more detail on the event, go to Ross Runnalls’ compilation of BP Rally history.
We are fortunate to have some audio records of the BP rallies from the late 50s and early 60s. Listen to interviews conducted at the event finish by Lox McGrath of radio 3AW by selecting the link on the right side of this page. Go to our Audio page for interviews from other years.
The 1960 Alpine Trial was won by Harry Firth and Graham Hoinville in a Singer Gazelle.
Open Events
Many clubs ran open events during 1960, the year before the introduction of the Victorian Trials Championship. Some of these were as follows.
In April the Melbourne University Car Club conducted what may have been its first open event which was subsequently named the Akademos.
The Light Car Club conducted its annual Experts Trial, probably in early July which was won by Harry Firth and Graham Hoinville in a VW. This was their fourth Experts victory and the third on the trot.
The LCCA also ran the Mountain Trial in September, and, of course, the Alpine Trial as mentioned above.
In mid July the Car Club of RMIT ran its second annual George Derrick Memorial Trial.
The Western District Car Club conducted their annual Otway Trial in late July.
The Victorian Sporting Car Club conducted two open events, the Midnight Trial in late July and the Eastern Trial in October.
The Victorian Amateur Drivers Club ran its annual Two Day Trial in August
Closed Events
Many clubs conducted closed events during 1960, but we have relatively few details.
The Melbourne University Car Club ran two or three club events, the Commencement Rally, the Presidents Night Trial which was won by D. Wallis and C. Laity in a Simca, and possibly another closed event in July.
The Car Club of RMIT conducted three closed events in 1960 including a Novice Trial, the annual Autumn Midnight Trial, and the annual Presidents Trial. There was also a Winter Trial calendared but seemingly cancelled.
The Rally Calendar for this year:
This calendar is far from complete.
| Date | Event | Club | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar | Commencement Rally/ Farago Trial | MUCC | Closed |
| 24 Apr | Akademos | MUCC | Open |
| 4-8 May | BP Rally | LCCA | National |
| 7 May | Autumn Midnight Trial | CCRMIT | Closed |
| 15 May | Afternoon and Evening Trial | WDCC | Closed |
| 28 May | Night Navigation Trial | VADC | Closed |
| 11 Jun | Presidents Night Trial | MUCC | Closed |
| 2 Jul | Experts Trial | LCCA | Open |
| 9 Jul | Closed Trial | MUCC | Closed |
| 15 Jul | George Derrick Memorial Trial | CCRMIT | Open |
| 23 July | Otway Trial | WDCC | Open |
| 30 July | Midnight Trial | VSCC | Open |
| 27 Aug | Two Day Trial | VADC | Open |
| 17 Sep | Mountain Trial | LCCA | Open |
| 18 Sep | Kellow Falkiner Night Trial | MGCC | Open |
| 18 Sep | Winter Trial (cancelled?) | CCRMIT | Closed |
| 2 Oct | Robex-Hickok Trial | AMSC | Open |
| 9 Oct | Eastern Trial | VSCC | Open |
| 9 Oct | VACC Rally | WLCC | Open |
| 12 Nov | Cooper Memorial Trial | MGCC? | Open |
| 3 Dec | Alpine Trial | LCCA | National |
| 18 Dec | Police Courtesy Rally | VPMSC | Open |