Arthur Waite (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Colonel Arthur Waite MC
., Ost.J
., DL
., JP., (1894–1991) was an Australia
n-born racing driver.
Born in Adelaide, Arthur Waite served at Gallipoli and was later hospitalised where he met his later wife, Irene Austin, who was the daughter of Herbert Austin
. After World War I
Captain Waite joined his father-in-law's firm, the Austin Motor Company
. While in the employ of Austin, Waite was sent back to Australia, where in Melbourne
he established Austin Distributors. Prior to leaving for Australia he had established the firms motor racing efforts, winning races himself at Brooklands
and Monza
.
While in Australia he sent for his Austin 7
racing car in order to compete in the race that later became known as the 1928 Australian Grand Prix
. A different car was sent however, but despite it being a relatively standard sports model it was a supercharged for racing version of the Austin 7
. Despite this, Waite won the Grand Prix
(held at Phillip Island).
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
., Ost.J
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
., DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
., JP., (1894–1991) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born racing driver.
Born in Adelaide, Arthur Waite served at Gallipoli and was later hospitalised where he met his later wife, Irene Austin, who was the daughter of Herbert Austin
Herbert Austin
Herbert 'Pa' Austin, 1st Baron Austin KBE was an English automobile designer and builder who founded the Austin Motor Company.-Background and early life:...
. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Captain Waite joined his father-in-law's firm, the Austin Motor Company
Austin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
. While in the employ of Austin, Waite was sent back to Australia, where in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
he established Austin Distributors. Prior to leaving for Australia he had established the firms motor racing efforts, winning races himself at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
and Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
.
While in Australia he sent for his Austin 7
Austin 7
The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the "Baby Austin", it was one of the most popular cars ever produced for the British market, and sold well abroad...
racing car in order to compete in the race that later became known as the 1928 Australian Grand Prix
1928 Australian Grand Prix
The 1928 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held on the Phillip Island road course, on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia on 31 March 1928...
. A different car was sent however, but despite it being a relatively standard sports model it was a supercharged for racing version of the Austin 7
Austin 7
The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the "Baby Austin", it was one of the most popular cars ever produced for the British market, and sold well abroad...
. Despite this, Waite won the Grand Prix
1928 Australian Grand Prix
The 1928 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held on the Phillip Island road course, on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia on 31 March 1928...
(held at Phillip Island).