Francis Birtles - Australian Adventurer written by Warren Brown

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Warren, thanks for introducing so many us to the Birtles story, and what a fantastic story it is too. I can't beleive that an Aussie who was a mixture of Phil Irving, Len Beadell, Gelignite Jack Murray and Christopher Skase has disappeared from modern day conciousness. I note that the generation older than mine seem to know of him, so I wonder if his fame was lost in the plethora of Aussie Motorsport Icons that followed, from the 50's to the 80's.
What this guy put himself, and others through, he must have been as mad as a cut snake.
Are there any centenary projects planned to replicate some of his feats?
Thanks again
Rich.