This is a bit trivial...

Most maps of the original Albert Park circuit show the corners with the same names as those listed in 'The 50 Race History of the AGP'. I've got a map from a 1953 newspaper though that has them all labelled differently. Were the naming rights to corners simply sold to the highest bidder?

Are the names those of newspapers? If so, it's likely the papers were backing the events.
Unfortunately, I can't at present find my Fast Tracks book, by the same cartographer, and it might well show different names...
Otherwise I would say that people contributing to the success of the meeting, monetary or otherwise, would have a prospect of getting a corner named for them.

I don't have it in front of my right now, but all corners were named after motoring companies, which is why I'm guessing that there was some kind of sponsorship deal going on. I don't remember all of the names, but the left-hander leading to pit straight (that all the other maps show as 'Jaguar Cnr') was labelled Dunlop, and the one at the end of the straight (Melford Cnr) was Repco.

I thought that maybe the corners were renamed for the 1956 GP, but none of my 1953 race reports mention any of the corners by name so I can't check!

Of coure, it could also be that these companies had advertising banners at those corners and the newspaper simply got confused.

If I had my Fast Tracks book at hand I could answer more completely. I know that Terry frequently discussed corner naming and changes in the book, and his corner names as laid down are given at a certain date... sorry, can't find it at the moment.

Ray and others. Is this the circuit?

More information and photographs if possible................please.

Henry

That's Albert Park as it now is. "Old" Albert Park was much simpler. I have an air photo from the olden days somewhere, but I'm off to a BBQ shortly so I can't scan it and put it up today.

As best as I can remember the corners on the old Albert Park circuit went thusly:

(Anti-clockwise direction of racing remember)

First corner at end of straight : Lucas Corner - name reason obvious
Next corner after short straight: Lanes Corner- new car distributor -later Mercedes Benz not sure earlier
Next corner : Powerhouse Corner - named after Powerhouse Rowing Club- clubrooms adjacent to the corner
Next corner after a curved straight: Golf Links Bend - adjacent to the Albert Park Public Golf Links
A sweeping straight past the South Melbourne Football Ground to: Jaguar Corner - name reason obvious

I wasnt aware that the corner names were altered, even though the Argus newspaper was a sponsor of some of the early Moomba Car Races.

Also, I may have the first two mixed up

Hope this helps
Derek

In the fifties I believe that Lanes sold MGs.

This is the source of the names I used in "Fast Tracks": Australian Motor Sports Review 1958-59, published by the Wylie Publishing Co: