90 Years of Australian GP at Motorclassica 2018

By: Unique Cars magazine

Date: 26.08.2018

A 90th anniversary tribute to the Australian Grand Prix will be led by 1980 World Formula One Driver’s Champion Alan Jones, at this year’s Motorclassica at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne on 12-14 October

Jones and his father Stan are the only father and son combination to have won the Australian Grand Prix in its nine-decade history.

"Not enough Australians realise the significance of our Grand Prix event, and its rich history," Motorclassica, Event Director, Paul Mathers said.

"It’s the second oldest in the world and has been won by some of the most significant racing drivers of the last 100 years, including the likes of our own Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.

"I am delighted to be welcoming Alan Jones to Motorclassica and have no doubt his involvement will add real depth to our tribute to the Australian Grand Prix. 

Australia’s premier collector, classic car and motorcycle event, Motorclassica incorporates the Australian International Concours d’Elegance plus a huge assortment of the latest sports and performance models from many of the prestige manufacturers.

Among the special events planned for the 2018 event is a tribute to Australia’s most historic motor race.

To celebrate his then-recent win in the World Driver’s Championship, Jones drove his title-winning Williams-Cosworth FW07B Formula 1 car to victory at a packed Calder Park circuit north of Melbourne in November 1980, putting his name alongside his father’s as a winner of the Australian Grand Prix.

Jones senior etched his name in AGP history 21 years earlier after steering his Maserati to victory at the Longford road course, just outside Launceston in Tasmania.

"I am very proud of my achievements in winning the World Driver’s Championship of course, but winning the Australian Grand Prix is right up there too, because it’s something my father also achieved, and that makes it very special to me," Alan Jones said.

"Motorclassica’s recognition of the event’s importance and history is much appreciated, and I am looking forward to being a part of it and sharing my memories."
Alan Jones will make regular appearances on the Motorclassica stage to talk about his father’s 1959 Australian Grand Prix victory and his own success in 1980, and more broadly about his Formula 1 career.

Motorclassica 2018’s tribute to the world’s second oldest Grand Prix event that has run almost continuously since its inception on the closed dirt roads of Phillip Island, in 1928, will include a display of significant cars from those nine decades.

Also celebrated at Motorclassica 2018 will be the fabulous cars of the design-intense Art Deco era with a display of these most extravagant of automotive designs.

"Motorclassica has always been about a celebration of the motoring lifestyle and we endeavour to broaden that every year, to keep the show fresh and widen its appeal," Paul Mathers said.

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