Arthur Waite (racing driver)

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2012}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Arthur Waite

| image = File:Austin 7 of Arthur Waite.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Waite won the 1928 100 Miles Road Race (later known as the 1928 Australian Grand Prix) driving an Austin 7

| nationality =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1894|4|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|1991|1|26|1894|4|9|df=y}}

| retired = Kingswood, Surrey, United Kingdom

| related to = Herbert Austin (father-in-law)

| last series = Australian Grand Prix

| years active = 1928

| teams = A Waite

| starts =

| wins =

| poles =

| fastest laps =

| best finish = 1st

| year = 1928 Australian Grand Prix

| prev series =

| titles = Australian Grand Prix

| title years = 1928

| awards =

| award years =

}}

Colonel Arthur Cyril Roy Waite{{Cite web |title=Arthur Cyril Roy WAITE MC |url=https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/184254|access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Virtual War Memorial Australia}} MC., OSt.J., DL., JP., (1894–1991) was an Australian racing driver.[http://www.historicwinton.org/waite_stamp.htm Waite Stamp – Austin 7 Club Inc.]

Born in Adelaide, Arthur Waite served at Gallipoli and was later hospitalised where he met his later wife, Irene Austin, who was the daughter of Herbert Austin. After World War I Colonel Waite joined his father-in-law's firm, the Austin Motor Company. While in the employ of Austin, Waite was sent back to Australia, where in Melbourne he established Austin Distributors. Prior to leaving for Australia he had established the firm's motor racing efforts, winning races himself at Brooklands and Monza.[http://www.technispec.com/a50/page3a.htm Between the Wars Austin 50 Years of Progress]

While in Australia he sent for his Austin 7 racing car in order to compete in the 100 Miles Road Race, later to become known as the 1928 Australian Grand Prix. A different car was sent however, but despite it being a relatively standard sports model it was a supercharged for racing version of the Austin 7.{{cite book |last=Bell |first=Ray |title=The official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix |year=1986 |publisher=R&T Publishing |isbn=0-9588464-0-5 |pages=14–24 |chapter=1928 }} Despite this, Waite won the Grand Prix (held at Phillip Island).[http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/records/1401_Australian_Grand_Prix_Q408.pdf CAMS Manual on the Australian Grand Prix]