Four high profile racing families and a prominent American from the ‘sixties era have found a significant place in Australian Speedcar Grand Prix history.
In what is a remarkable statistic, their combined winning total represents over twenty-five percent of the victories in the previous seventy editions of the AGP. The AGP famous family tree comprises a father and son, a grandson, brothers, and brothers-in-law in yet another remarkable set of statistics involving ‘the great race.’
Father and son Barry and Steve Graham, (each with victories – in 1979 and ’98 respectively), Reid Mackay, who was 2018 AGP winner at Gunnedah Speedway, is the grandson of two times National Champion and 1971 Sydney Showground AGP victor Ron Mackay, brothers Troy (three times AGP champ) and Darren Jenkins (2003 titleholder) and the late, great brothers-in-law Ray Revell (a five time AGP winner) and Andy McGavin (also five time winner) have ensured the AGP is steeped in generational history.
There’s also the legendary late, great American Bob Tattersall, who not only did so much for this race but also the national Speedcar scene in the sixties, won the AGP crown in 1960, ’62, ’66 and ’69). He made the AGP the headlining race of the sixties at the Sydney Showground.
Troy Jenkins’ three AGP wins came at three different venues in a unique modern era achievement – Sydney Showground (1993), Parramatta City Raceway (1997) and Newcastle Motordrome (1999). Troy’s brother Darren won the AGP – at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway in 2003.
Sydney’s iconic Speedcar dusty hero Len Brock won arguably the greatest AGP victory of all time. It was 1967 at the Sydney Showground when Brock, driving the locally built McGee Ford Falcon ‘Tornado,’ turned back the challenges of local Brian Mannion and Tattersall as he led from start to finish. It was Len Brock’s last-ever feature race victory in his illustrious career at the Sydney Showground. Brock also won the AGP in 1958 aboard the Eddie Dark owner V-twin car. Legendary three times Australian Champion Johnny Stewart – winner of so many major events – took out one the 1968 AGP at Sydney Showground).
So many other incredible AGP stats: In addition to AJ Foyt and Steve Kinser, other noted Americans victorious in the AGP are Cal Niday (1948), Jimmy Davies (1963), Dave Strickland (1972), Ron Tripp (1983-84), Johnny Pearson (1990), Lealand McSpadden (1995) and Carson Macedo (2020).
Modern era’s Mark Brown holds the honour of being not only the most successful Australian driver in AGP history with six wins, but he’s also a record setter in AGP history. His final victory in 2015 broke the long standing record held by Revell and McGavin with five wins each that stood since 1961.
Ten times Australian Sprintcar Champion and Australian Speedway Hall of Famer Garry Rush won the GP on pavement at Liverpool in 1977, but his win on April 20, 1996 at the Sydney Showground was one of the greatest moments in the history of the event.
It was the last time the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix was held at the Sydney Showground before the venue’s permanent closure to make way for Fox Studios. Australian speedway icon, the late George Tatnell, also lifted the AGP trophy, while triple Australian Sprintcar titleholder Max Dumesny won at the Sydney Showground in 1992.
Englishman Bill Reynolds was the 1956 winner while New Zealand has a fine AGP representative in Michael Pickens who was victorious at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway in 2005. Frank Brewer (born in NZ who later became an American citizen) won the AGP at the Sydney Showground in 1949.
Four times Australian Speedcar Champion Adam Clarke took AGP glory in 2001, while Aaron Benny was a 1991 Sydney Showground AGP success story, WA’s Keith Giles took 1994 honours, while Victorian Ian Lewis won in 2008. Notable NSW stars of more recent years Nathan Smee (2017) and Matt Smith (2019) have their names also etched in AGP history.
By Dennis Newlyn
AGP winners: From left to right it’s 1965 AGP titleholder Jeff Freeman, car owner Don Mackay (centre) and five time AGP champ Andy McGavin.