1954 REDEX Trials

[@Jesusexplains]

I’m 74 now (2004) but knew Jack Murray and Ken Tudman of Maitland. Thank you for this nostalgic footage…

[@bobbushie4603]

also the birthplace of speedway

[@gardenamateur]

Lots of fabulous footage. As a Peugeot fan I loved seeing the two Cinesound News vans in action. They did the first Redex (in 53) as well. This film is a wonderful social document of the era. Great to see it here on KZbin.

[@yolandalindsay8368]

Five years before I was born. The Morris Minor would come to be the first car i got my chance to Drive way back in '76, B'dos, W.I. Well documented piece of Entertaining History. Congratulations.!.

[@paulellis4660]

Was about 7 and remember watching the Redex Trial cars passing what is now Chadstone Shopping Centre one evening along Dandenong Road as they came into Melbourne.

[@clayauslewis4236]

What a great memory! I was seven also, but never got to witness the event live. But still got caught up with the massive hype. Being before the introduction of television, we got our news from the radio, the press, newsreels and word of mouth. And what an incredible event! Different times.

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

We need something like that again in Australia like the annual Dakar Rally, Melbourne to Port Augusta (via Wilcannia, Menindee and Broken Hill), up to Darwin via Coober Pedy and Alice Springs and across to Western Australia with the finish line in Perth WA, or maybe Albany?, and like the Dakar have all categories from bikes to trucks. Gelignite Jack, Jack Brabham, Jack Davey (famous radio announcer) what legends, back then it was tough men in tough cars. A lot of those outback roads are little changed today. Just loved that witty commentary, great video, much enjoyed!😉

[@trackdusty]

Suggest the Torrens Track. One of the worst long roads in the country. Only cars and they must be 'stock'.

[@MrSkeptik-z5r]

The 1950s music and excitable narrative is hilarious, repleat with Lucas, the prince of darkness as we knew it Teriffic footage from two years before I was born, what a trial!

[@ianjolley7457]

My dad the mechanic Gordon Jolley along with Harry Everet. navigator and Dave Doherty driver were in Ford Zephr car number 8.

[@tonylittle3508]

Amazed that so many survived that.

[@olspanner]

Ex. Holden but avid owner of Peugeot 203, Holden never stood a chance against one of THE BEST Engineered vehicles ever!!!!!

[@RebeccaGriffin-b8n]

A friend of the family installed a hotted up holden 179 motor and 4sp gearbox into a Peugeot 203, needless to say that was quite quick.

[@JohnH1]

I owned a 505 they are just good.

[@robinobrien3099]

Great footage of the old days .I liked the meeting of the drivers at 13:10 to have a break & enjoy a beer. Would be a no no these days, plod would be around the next corner.

[@trackdusty]

Yes. And what about the routine, risque remarks about the good sorts! Hahaha...

[@stephenvelden295]

Can't do this in an EV!

[@Bomaderry]

The Sydney Show Ground in 1954 was at More Park and is now used to make movies The Sydney Show was moved in the 1990's SHlT, I'm getting old fast. This was 8 years before I was born.

[@jimeditorial]

Fragile, underpowered cars, no modifications....an impressive achievement just to finish

[@hisheroship]

I’m not sure that they were fragile.

[@trackdusty]

@@hisheroship No. They weren't. And simple to repair, simple parts and...REDEX Upper Cylinder Lubricant to boot! Hahaha.

[@Aussiehomestead1965]

Fragile? They were built like tanks 😂

[@jimeditorial]

@@Aussiehomestead1965 look at the suspensions, bearings and brakes...

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

Australia's population in 1954 was 9,000,000 which is about one third of its 2024 population of 26,700,000. Infrastructure outside of the major coastal cities was minimal and the Pilbara region in Western Australia which is shown here would have been in the general vicinity of the a***end of the universe. Round Australia trials under different names ran occasionally to 1998 but the Redex Reliabilty Trials in 1954 and 1955 were the one that caught public interest.

[@intricacy9490]

2WD...old technology...incredibly challenging roads and conditions...unfamiliarity of what to expect...a pioneering experience. This is all so much more entertaining and satisfying than the current assortment of 4WD programmes. To be with one of those teams would be a remarkable experience. But .. what's this...at 35.17...a non-Australian chameleon??? Did they not turn left at Albuquerque and wind up in Africa?

[@robynwright8298]

Gorgeous !!!!

[@jacktattis]

Yes they came through Tenterfield on one of the trials wonderful to see.

[@lesklower7281]

1954 the year l was born and every car l reconised all of them

[@uwusmolbean]

I would like to buy one now 👌 😊

[@engineerutube1]

Why aren't these held today??

[@davidholder3207]

Dynamite Jack Murray. When I was younger and a member of Melton Motor Sports Club in late '70/early 80's there was a story going about that in one Redex Trial a rival of Jacks found him beside his upside down car off the road. When asked what happened Jack is said to have replied - "Just adjusting the brakes mate".

[@neilforbes416]

They're *NOT* "FX" Holdens, they are *48-215* Holdens! The *FIRST* Holdens to have the 2-letter designation was the *FJ,* followed by the *FE,* Then the *FC* then finally the *FB* as far as the "F's" went, Then came the "E's" then "H's". The last two-letter designations were the 'V's" of which my car, the VE-Commodore Series 2 Sportswagon is part.

[@olspanner]

Absolutely spot on.!!!!!

[@romemancer7905]

Dinkum Aussies forever !!!

[@rickvaughan1071]

first 2nd hand car Holden FX !!

[@yasi4877]

Not much snow in the Alps in July 1954. Well well?

[@railtrolley]

Resilient people back then. Tackled those 'roads' in those cars, which nowadays they wouldn't risk in a fully accessorised 4WD.

[@boneyboney3575]

Modern Mad Max will has nothing on this archive.

[@kerrykelaher2607]

Gelignite jack murray !! 😅

[@Bomaderry]

Just added this video to the wikipedia page. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_Round_Australia_Trial

[@andrewarmstrong7254]

4:02 Wonder what happened to that bloke?

[@terryirvine7090]

He didn't achieve too much ! 😊

[@morris2450]

Seen one his boy's creations recently...the BT62...not a bad lil hot rod

[@clayauslewis4236]

Well spotted!

[@SteveMagr]

5:17 Sydney Showground (start)

[@Richard_K1630]

Cool.

[@MrRobster1234]

6:09 That dog was almost up her arse.

[@trackdusty]

You'd have got a 'clip in the ear' for saying out aloud that in those days.

[@roderernst9990]

left motorcycles out?

[@Bellbuoy144]

There is some rather inappropriate language about aboriginals in a few place. Some editing might be in order.

[@garygray8226]

oh you poor tender sweetheart... I'm sorry you had to hear such vile language! I hope you (and the aboriginals) are not scarred for the rest of your lives. Do try to move on and forget what was said 70 years ago.

[@oldog2]

I,m not offended, so why are you who by your picture appear to be white would be, or do you have nothing better to do than stir up shit that has nothing to do with you

[@jimeditorial]

@@Bellbuoy144 disagree. This is history and should be preserved for future generations. Sanitizing the past is always a bad idea

[@chiefchook]

Put "pathe redex" in the search window to access the restored clips.