I found this event report event in the December 1963 edition of Australian Motor Sports & Automobiles, and have reproduced some bits, including results, below. It's interesting to get some insight into the kind of tracks being used back then, and to see that issues such as poor rider turn-out have been around since the beginning.
Far too much water in the creek crossings almost ruined the Dandenong club’s open scramble at Beaconsfield on Sunday, October 27, and practically every rider was in trouble with water problems at one stage or another.
Of the original 20 starters, only four were still mobile just before halfway through the 10-lap main event…
The sidecars were unable to handle the extremely wet sections, and a smaller circuit which completely bypassed the deep water was later used…
A and B Grade Scratch…the two events were combined to make a reasonable sort of race, which was altered slightly to include an artificial jump in the starting straight. Again Wales led the field away, but fell in the esses through the trees…
Dandy Derby… Geoff Taylor was well established in front, but the water crossing took its toll and he dropped out altogether. Consistency paid off for Mark Green, who came from midfield and took over the lead when several others fell by the wayside. By the eighth lap Green had built up his wining lead over Lindsay Bull, who finished second, and N. Watts, who was over a lap in arrears.
RESULTS
250cc SCRATCH RACE – 5 Laps
1. J. Bell (Triumph), Hartwell.
2. R. Bradley (Jawa), Preston.
Time 9 mins. 25 secs
350cc SCRATCH RACE – 6 Laps
1. M. Burrows (BSA), Hartwell
2. C. Medwin (BSA), Franskston
3. K. Glen (AJS), Swan Hill.
Time 10 mins. 21 secs.
A GRADE SCRATCH – 6 Laps
1. G. Taylor (BSA), Dandenong.
2. J. Armstrong (BSA), East Malvern.
3. M. Burrows (BSA), Hartwell.
Time 9 mins. 27 secs
B GRADE SCRATCH – 6 Laps
1. J. Mapperson (BSA), Preston.
2. L. Bull (AJS), Dandenong.
3. D. Cann (BSA), East Malvern.
Time 9 mins. 30 secs.
C GRADE FINAL – 6 Laps
1. K. Glen (AJS), Swan Hill.
2. J. Brown (AJS), Maffra-Sale.
3. M Green (Ariel), Hartwell.
Time 9 mins. 30 secs
SIDECAR SCRATCH
1. K. Rutter (Ariel), Korumburra.
2. K. Garrett (Norton), Dandenong.
3. J. Verdon (Ariel), Korumburra.
Time 8 mins. 55 secs.
DANDY DERBY – 10 Laps
1. M. Green (Ariel), Hartwell
2. L. Bull (AJS), Dandenong.
3. N. Watts (Velocette), Maffra-Sale.
Time 23 mins. 40 secs.
Tex
