For the Record

For some time after Munro’s triumph there was considerable argy-bargy as to who could rightfully claim to be the first motorcyclist to circumnavigate the Australian continent. In 1924, Douglas Motors Ltd. of Kingswood, Bristol had published a promotional booklet titled Around a continent by Motor Cycle claiming that Arthur Grady had circumnavigated Australia on a 348cc TS Douglas. However, the published account omits any mention of how Arthur travelled almost 800km between Port Hedland and Derby. And, it appears, Arthur never claimed to have ridden the entire distance.

Two years later, Len Jones was welcomed at Sydney GPO by Haigh Miller, Manager of the Indian Motorcycle distributors, and an enthusiastic group of Indian enthusiasts. It was true Len had ridden his Indian Scout and sidecar around Australia, and then some as the Indian had 11,500 miles on the odometer after the journey. Len had been away for over seven months, including a month in Broome where he, and his then sidekick Alfie Clarke, worked to top up their finances. And though they spent the best part of a month in the Northern Territory they never attempted the Overland Telegraph Track to Darwin.

Yet the controversy continued until the following letter, written by Mr. Harvey Sangster, Overseas Manager, Ariel Works Limited, was published in Sydney’s Daily Sun on Friday 8 February 1929. “We beg to claim that Mr. Munro’s ride was the first round the continent on any make of machine of any horse power, with or without a sidecar, and either officially or unofficially. Neither of the two cases you cite can be considered as true circuits for the following reasons: Mr. Grady shipped for a considerable section of the north-west coast. Mr. Jones avoided much difficult country by not going to Darwin. Proofs of my allegations are available for your inspection at your convenience.”

With the publication of Sangster’s letter all further discussion was dismissed as irrelevant.