70 year anniversary of Redex Trial
Seventy years ago, the 1953 Redex Trial captured this country’s imagination, and while an Austin didn’t win (Ken Tubman in a Peugeot 203 won the event) two A40 Somersets driven by journalist David McKay and Bathurst Austin dealer Barry Gurdon put up a very strong show.
They were among the fastest cars over the notorious roads between Townsville and Mt Isa as well as the stretch through to Darwin. McKay managed 8th place overall, not bad for a 1200 cc car up against V8s and big American sixes. ‘Grandma Conway’ drove and finished in an A40 Tourer, in fact 16 Austins started and 15 finished.
David McKay’s Somerset negotiating one of the water crossings in the 1953 Redex Trial.
Barry Gurdon’s A40 pounding through one of the trackless sections in the Queensland ‘horror’ route.
An A30 driven by Ken Smythe of Melbourne wading through a water crossing. Apparently all three A30s entered finished.
‘Grandma’ Conway with the A40 Somerset Convertible which she entered in the 1954 Redex. She finished the 1953 event in an A40 Tourer, but unfortunately didn’t finish in ’54.
