“The alpine trio; Hear No Noises, See No oil spills and Do no Evil.”

AUSTIN-HEALEYS THAT RACED IN AUSTRALIA No 22
Mischa Ravdell raced a number of significant cars before
he started racing an Austin-Healey in 1955. He was the
grandson of a wealthy Jewish businessman who had been
kidnapped at gun point from his home in South Yarra in
1949 when a sizeable ransom was demanded. The
newspapers reported that Mischa picked his grandfather
up from Russell Street Police Station in his little sports car.
In 1948 Mischa bought and raced the Wylicar which had
been built by Arthur Wylie and which had won the
Australian Hillclimb Championship in 1947. Arthur
continued to race the car in the Scratch races and Mischa
drove it in the Handicap events. He then bought one of the
HRG’s which had been imported by Tony Gaze. Later in
1949 at a Race Meeting at Fishermans Bend, Mischa was
having his first drive of the HRG when he hit a straw bale
and overturned three times. He was quickly released. He
only suffered abrasions and a minor back injury which kept
him in plaster for some weeks. Police investigated the
incident as it was believed the steering had been tampered
with. On the same day the house of a barrister was
bombed and police questioned the man charged in
connection with the earlier kidnapping.
One of the corners at Fishermans Bend was called Ravdell
Corner. I haven’t been able to determine if this was
because the Company sponsored the Corner or if this was
the corner where Mischa rolled the HRG. In 1957 the track
layout was altered and Ravdell Corner was eliminated.
The HRG was eventually sold to Bill Clark, but in the
meantime Mischa had bought the Cooper Vincent of John
Snow., and he ran it in the 1952 Australian Grand Prix at
Bathurst. When Mischa sold the Cooper Vincent in 1955 it
became known as the Irving- Cooper Vincent in which Lex
Davison won the Australian Hillclimb Championship in
1955, 1956, and 1957.
Mischa made his first competition appearance in an Austin-
Healey at Rob Roy in November 1955. At that Meeting –
“Mischa Ravdell driving his Healey to good purpose made
fastest time on his first and second climbs”. He beat Jeff
Brotherton who was making his first appearance in the
Austin Distributors 100/S, managing a time of 32.25 sec
compared to Mischa’s time of 31.34 sec. which was first in
class.
Mischa Ravdell at Fishermans Bend in 1956
He advertised the car for sale in October 1956, and again
in November.
The Ravdell family ran Ravdell Rubber Company in
Melbourne, and later in Richmond, but also had an interest
in buying wartime disposal stocks in Britain for sale in
China and allegedly to Palestine. The later activity was the
background to the kidnapping and a number of court
appearances for Mischa’s father and grandfather.
Very few people I have spoken to remember him. The
closest I have got was a fellow competitor in an Austin-
Healey who recalled that he was aloof and didn’t mix with
the ‘ordinary” people. Mischa does not appear to have
continued in Motor Sport.
The identity of this car is unknown. I have never been able
to find out what its registration number was, what colour it
was, nor anyone claiming to later own the car.
RACING RESULTS Rob Roy 1 November 1955 Sports Car 31.34 sec
Fishermans Bend 11/12 February 1956 The Lucas Trophy
Albert Park 11/18 March 1956 The Argus Cup Best lap 2.30 min 18 th
Rob Roy 29 April 1956
32.73 sec
Fishermans Bend 1/2 October 1956 The Argus Cup 3 rd, The RACV Trophy, 7 th.
Iain McPherson
Hundreds & Thousands December 2012 9