Today marks 90 years since two road patrols – HV Mason and RL Stockbridge – equipped with a motorcycle side car and wearing a brand new khaki and blue uniforms, began RAC Roadside Assistance.
RAC Group CEO Terry Agnew said RAC has come a long way since 1926 when the men literally ‘patrolled’ roads around Perth looking for motorists who had broken down.
“In its first week, Roadside Assistance attended to 31 cars across 180 miles. Within the first month, it was decided to install telephones in the patrols’ homes, so that members could reach them after hours,” Mr Agnew said.
“RAC patrol’s schedules were also being published in The West Australian newspaper.
“Today, a simple telephone call is all that is required to receive immediate assistance and RAC now rescues a member nearly every minute.”
The first patrols were described as being “competent mechanics and of good repute and standing” and they were also pioneers in mapping the State's early roads. As well as sign-posting roads, they were charged with gathering road condition information and road itineraries to relay to RAC Headquarters.
The use of motorcycles continued through to the late 1940s, when the RAC fleet began to be replaced by Austin A40 panel vans and smaller Morris Minor cars. By 1957 the breakdown service became available 24 hours a day. Then in the late 1960s, RAC began its long association with the famous Escort van.
“Today our patrols rescue members in considerably more advanced vehicles,” Mr Agnew said.
“They have advanced safety equipment such as emergency lighting to make them visible on the road and carry specialist equipment so nine out of 10 cars can be repaired at the roadside.
“RAC Roadside Assistance is 90 years strong; a great platform on which we can all build RAC’s future with its members.”
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Today marks 90 years since two road patrols – HV Mason and RL Stockbridge – equipped with a motorcycle side car and wearing a brand new khaki and blue uniforms, began RAC Roadside Assistance.
