In February 1957 a dirt track at Carrathool was the site for record breaking Australian land speed records.

Behind the wheel of an AC race car was a glamourous young British socialite, Mary Seed (nee Morton).

Seed has raced an Austin Healy in the UK in 1955 but after coming to Australia as a new bride in 1956 she drove an AC.

On February 19, 1957 at the sleepy hamlet of Carrathool Mary Seed set a new Australian Land Speed Record for woman, reaching 113.3 miles per hour (182.3 kilometres).

Beside her coach, motoring journalist and race driver David Mackay, the pair set new Australian records, sprinting along an earthen track, in conditions so very different to the high-tech industry of today’s motorsports.

Mackay set his own record in the harsh conditions, reaching 143.19 miles per hour (230.14 kilometres per hour) in a spiffy Austin Martin DB3S.

“The young English wife of an Australian Navy officer today drove at 113 miles an hour to beat a 20-year-old Australian record for the flying kilometre.

She is Mrs. Mary Seed, 26, who set the new record in an A.C sports car given to her by her husband in England last March as a wedding present.

The husband is Lieut. Commander Peter Seed, officer commanding a squadron of Venom jet fighter planes on H.M.A.S. Melbourne.

Mrs. Seed's flying kilometre was timed by officials of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports on a stretch of earth road at Carrathool, near Hay, today.

Her coach, Mr. David Mackay, a leading Australian sports car and trials driver, will attempt a new Australian land speed record at Carrathool tomorrow.

Mackay, driving an Aston Martin sports car, reached 160 miles an hour on one run to-day, but C.A.M.S. officials disallowed the time because of incorrect recording.”

The Canberra Times, February 19, 1957. Mary Seed’s AC – chassis number BE167, remained in Australia when the couple returned to the UK and was then raced by Ray Hogwood and Rex Marshall until 1962.

It was restored in the early 1980s by Sydney based collector Geoff Dowdle, who is known in the restorer’s community as the guru of classic race cars.