Geoffrey BROWN

Geoffrey a Victoria POLICE Mobile Traffic Section HIGHWAY PATROL DRIVER was privileged as such a young age and a car enthusiast to drive the brand new XA FORD FALCON GT-HO POLICE VARIANT in 1972 & 1973 the car was built in the same production run with the 8 XA CANDY CARS It was the sole Q CAR on the CALDER HIGHWAY

'THE 148MPH CHASE'

My name is Senior Constable Geoffrey Robert Brown, 15761, of No 1 Division, Mobile Traffic Section located at 20 Dawson Street Brunswick.

On (on or about, for this only) Sunday the 8th of April, 1973

Approximately 3 miles south of Diggers Rest the road has a reasonably gentle left curve before again straightening to pass the Calder Raceway. By the time I rounded the curve and straightened up I was traveling at 130mph (the limit denomination on my cars speedometer) and about 100 yards behind the Jaguar but I was not gaining on the speeding Jaguar. I continued to accelerate as hard as the car could

I reached for the Police Radio Microphone and radioed to D 24 of the vehicles description and speed as I was not close enough to read the registration number but I could see it was a yellow colour so I deduced a possible NSW car, to which D 24 acknowledged and commenced to call assistance from other cars.

I had passed the Calder Raceway on a straight roadway with good ahead visibility and as I was now gaining on the speeding vehicle. I could see my speedometer needle was approximately 3/4 of an inch to an inch past the 130mph limit and I was flashing my car's headlights and had the siren sounding. I stayed reasonably but safely behind the vehicle but there was no response and the speed continued. My car then gained on the Jaguar and I diverged to the incorrect side of the road beside the Jaguar, which I saw had a single male occupant, and sounded my car horn as well to which I saw the driver who looked in my direction and appeared shocked, then braked. I braked heavily and diverged back left then at an appropriate speed onto the nearside gravel verge. The Jaguar with four wheel disc brakes compared to my front wheel only disc brakes and rear drum brakes, had stopped some 50 yards behind me. He drove up to me as I reversed back toward him

I alighted from my car as he did. The 40 year old male drivers opening words to me were "what the hell have you got under the bonnet of that thing?" to which I replied, "why, what was your speedo showing?"

He said, "148mph." I then informed D 24 of the interception and to cancel assistance.