by Brian Goulding
Motor race programmes have played a vital role, even an inspiration. ever since the very early motor sport events. These printed race programmes could take the form of a simple listing of competitors, or anything up to a glossy, full colour magazine.
Not only did these publications provide vital information about the event, but they became a highly collectable souvenir after it was over.
When I attended my first race meeting at Oran Park in 1965, every adult in every car coming in to spectate had to buy a programme for 10 shillings ($1.00). This just happened to be the price the promoters wanted to charge for admission. This may have had something to do with the legality of charging for admission to a sporting event on a Sunday in NSW. In those days there was no Sunday football, horse racing, cricket and nearly every shop was closed.
In 2021, the Australian Motor Heritage Foundation possessed one small box of race programmes. It was recognised that programmes were historical documents that provided details of small and large motor sport events. They obviously provided an accurate indication of how motor sport has evolved over the years. The decision was made to collect as many Australian motor sport programmes as possible, and to accept overseas programmes when they were received.
The main source of printed programmes has been donations from interested AMHF supporters. As our collection grew, we amassed many duplicate copies. The AMHF decided to sell any third or fourth copy of a programme and use the funds to purchase others to add to the collection.
Currently the Foundation has nearly 1400 different programmes, plus many duplicates. These are all on a database along with full scans of another 200 plus car race programmes. Smaller numbers of programmes for hillclimbs, motorcycle racing, speed events, rallies, speedway, drags and kart racing have been acquired.
The Australian Motor Heritage Foundation is always looking for more printed race programmes to add to its collection. AMHF volunteer Brian Goulding is currently running this project. Brian can be contacted via brian.goulding [at] motorheritage.org.au
