Carlo Catani, met many interesting people during his career at the Public Works Department, including John Wren. John Wren (1871-1953) described variously as a man of integrity or a man with a sleazy reputation; a man who was modest, charitable and concerned with freedom; and a man who observed 'the principles of commercial morality'. John Wren supported Conscription and in August 1915, he enlisted in the A.I.F at the age of 44; he was reported as saying that he regarded it as the duty of every able-bodied man, physically fit, to offer his services if he could do so (1). He also gave £500 to Albert Jacka, the first Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross in the First World War. Wren was also a supporter of the Catholic Church and Irish Independence (2). Frank Hardy portrayed Wren as John West in his 1950 novel, Power Without Glory.
This is the story of how Carlo met John Wren. On November 22, 1913 the Richmond Racecourse, owned by John Wren, played host to one of the first motor car racing programmes in Australia. As The Herald reported this new form of sport to Australians has attracted thousands upon thousands in America, on the Continent, and in England, where skill and daring on the part of the drivers have produced thrilling contests. So expert have those engaged on Saturday already proved themselves that stirring racing is assured to those who attend. (3).
Advertisement for the motor car racing
The Argus, November 19, 1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7281315
Thrills and excitement were promised however as The Age reported -
The danger of serious accidents in such motor car races as are to take place at Richmond racecourse on Saturday next has not escaped the attention of the Chief Secretary. Action is to be taken to minimise the danger, both to the competitors and to the spectators themselves. Yesterday Mr. Murray conferred with Mr. Sainsbury, Chief Commissioner of Police, and Mr. Catani, Chief Engineer for Public Works, with a view to determining what steps should be taken for the proper protection of the public. It was resolved that before permission should be given to conduct the races an inspection of the racecourse should be made by officers of the Public Works department, who should report to the Chief Secretary on the suitability or otherwise of the course for such an event, and the probabilities of danger to the spectators resulting from an accident to the cars. Mr. Catani and other officers will accordingly visit the racecourse to-day, and make a thorough inspection. (4).
What was the result of Mr Catani's inspection? The Herald tell us -
After a thorough Inspection by the officers of the Public Works Department the Richmond racecourse has been officially declared to be as safe and as fast as any track of its size in the world. The Chief Secretary had some doubts about the safety of the great crowd of spectators which is sure to assemble there on Saturday to watch the motor car racing, but Mr C. Catani, the Chief Engineer for Public Works, Mr M'Kenzie an expert officer of the department, and other officials, after seeing Rupert Jeffkins, the American champion, send his 120 h.p. car at world's record speed round the turns have reported favorably. More than that, Mr M'Kenzie timed Jeffkins to go at a 72-mile-an-hour speed skimming the inside rails with a precision that showed that the element of danger was very slight. (5).
The Argus also reported in a similar manner on the course inspection -
This was done yesterday morning when Mr C. Catani chief engineer for public works, Mr McKenzie an expert connected with the department and other officials watched Jeffkins the American champion drive his 120 h.p. car at a speed which Mr McKenzie timed as 25 seconds to the circuit. This was equal to 72 miles an hour. Jeffkins kept within a few feet of the inside rails on the turns and so satisfied the officials that they assured Mr Wren that there would not be any interference with the meeting, it being, acknowledged by the officers that a car travelling at a record speed for such a track left ample room for other cars to pace alongside without danger to the drivers of the spectators. (6).
Mr McKenzie would have been in his element at the safety trial. Duncan McKenzie was an Architect in the Public Works Department but was also one of the first men in Melbourne to own and drive a motor car, and he maintained an interest in motoring and cycling throughout his life (7).
The races went ahead with a nineteen event programme, the headline attraction being between a three-heat match between the American, Rupert Jeffkins (8) and the Australian, Dug Campbell (9). The winner was to take home £1000.
Sadly, the day turned out to be a bit of a fizzer, as The Argus reported -
Those who visited the Richmond racecourse on Saturday afternoon were disappointed at the display of motor racing, even though most of it was faster than that provided by the ponies. Those who went to see the racing in a state of half-pleasurable anticipation of an accident - and nearly every one of the 10,000 who attended regarded an accident as more than possible- were agreeably disappointed. Had the cars been driven at their top speed the sharp turn on the northern end of the track would have made accidents inevitable. Along the straight the heavily-engined cars were opened out, but the turns forced reduction in the speed. In one of the races, the visiting American driver, Jeffkins, declared that he had reached 68½ miles an hour, but the recorded time for the two miles was 3min. 1½sec., or a little under 40 miles an hour. The cars had no sooner got up speed in the straight than they had to slow down at the turn. Even nimble-footed ponies find it difficult to negotiate the turn at the northern end, and as the cars rounded this dangerous corner they threw up the cinders in showers against the outer fence as their back wheels skidded. (10).
Rupert Jeffkins, leading Dug Campbell at the Richmond racecourse
The Leader, November 29, 1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198377664
In the battle between Jeffkins and Campbell -
Then came the great event of the day, but by no means the best race, the match between R. Jeffkins and Campbell for £1,000 aside. Owing to a misunderstanding Jeffkins stopped, after leading Campbell for three laps, having mistaken the last lap flag for the winning signal. Campbell, who started at 2 to 1 against, completed the course and won.... The second heat of the match race between Jeffkins and Campbell was won by Jeffkins rather easily. Heavy rain then fell and the track was pretty well soaked, and at the suggestion of Inspector Britt and Mr. D.Mackenzie (of the Public Works department)
the final of the Jeffkins Campbell race was postponed. These gentlemen declared that the track, while safe enough for high speeds when dry, would be dangerous in the state in which the rain left it, and Mr J. Wren, after some demur, accepted their decision (11).
Did Carlo attend the Motor Car racing at Richmond on November 22, 1913? Given that his colleague, Duncan MacKenzie was present, it is highly likely Carlo would also there, and possibly his sons, Enrico and Ettore, to witness the display of nerve, pluck, skill, backed by mechanical power, expert construction and speed (12).
Trove list - a very short list of articles, relating to the motor car race, held November 22, 1913, and the role of Carlo Catani in inspecting the course, can be accessed here.
Footnotes
(1) Weekly Times, August 14, 1915, see here.
(2) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by James Griffin
(3) The Herald, November 19, 1913, see here.
(4) The Age, November 18, 1913, see here.
(5) The Herald, November 19, 1913, see here.
(6) The Argus, November 19, 1913, see here.
(7) The Age, April 16, 1938, see here.
(8) Rupert Jeffkins - photo and a list of his achievements The Herald, November 19, 1913, see here.
(9) Dug Campbell - short biography - Table Talk, November 20, 1913, see here.
(10) The Argus, November 24, 1913, see here.
(11) Ibid
(12) The Argus, November 19, 1913, see here.
