Goulburn/Breadalbane/Collector NSW

Whatever the truth, the term stuck, and fairly soon there were TTs springing up in places other than the Isle of Man, including Australia. The achievements of Australian Les Bailey, who starred at Brooklands, led the 1912 Junior TT for the opening lap, and won the 350cc French Grand Prix later in the year, added traction to the increasing interest in staging a Tourist Trophy in these parts.

Many of the pioneer racing motorcyclists, both here and abroad, came from the ranks of the competitive cyclist, who were usually affiliated with their various State Bicycle Unions, and it was some time before motorcyclists were able to take control of their own sport. By 1909 the Motor Cycle Club of New South Wales joined with other clubs to set up the Auto Cycle Union of NSW (ACU) along similar lines to the established organisation in UK that had come into being in 1907. Due to various rules and regulations, the ACU of NSW became the Auto Cycle Association of NSW (ACA) on October 12th 1912.

The period between 1912 and 1915 was certainly highlighted by an explosion of races, time trials, hill climbs and other events in most states of Australia, with most events occurring on public roads, sometimes without any approval from relevant authorities. In 1912, Western Australia staged the first of its annual “Tourist Trophy”). Both of these races were run under the auspices of the State controlling body, the A.C.A. who were firmly of the belief that only one annual event could be termed a “Tourist Trophy” race.