1962 Australian Touring Car Championship Explained

The 1962 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Appendix J Touring Cars.[1] [2] It was contested as a single race, staged at the Longford Circuit, in Tasmania, Australia, on 3 March 1962. The title, which was the third Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by Bob Jane, driving a Jaguar Mark 2 3.8.[3]

Classes

Cars competed in six engine capacity classes:[4]

There were no entries in the 1600–2000cc class.

Race

Jaguars continued their domination of the championship in 1962. Four were entered for the event, though Ian Geoghegan was forced to withdraw his after breaking a rear axle during practice. This left the Jaguars of Bob Jane, defending champion Bill Pitt and Bill Burns to take the front row of the grid. Norm Beechey had entered a Chevrolet Impala but was unable to attend Longford.

Jane led away from the start with Pitt in pursuit. However, Pitt suffered an overdrive problem during the race which allowed Jane to take an easy win, while Burns completed the podium. West was running in fourth during the final lap, but a burned piston meant he had to limp to the finish. He was passed by Brigden, who then went straight ahead at the final corner with fading brakes. West retook fourth heading onto pit straight but Brigden was able to turn around and repass West in the final 400 metres. Ross Farmer finished sixth ahead of Bob Holden, Peter Manton, who had made contact with a lapped car and pitted to check for damage, and George Maguire, the last finisher.

The domination of the Jaguars was proven in the speeds taken from the flying-eighth: Jane was recorded at 134 mph while West and Brigden only managed 117 and 106 mph respectively.

Results

Class winners are indicated by bold text.

Pos.DriverNo.[5] CarEntant ClassLapsTime/Retired
1 Bob Jane7Jaguar Mark 2 3.8Autoland P/LOver 3500cc1547:48.2
2 Bill Pitt34Jaguar Mark 1 3.4Mrs. D. I. Anderson2600–3500cc15+23.8
3 Bill Burns134Jaguar Mark 1 3.4Bill Burns Hire Cars2600–3500cc15+2:27.8
4 Ken Brigden63Peugeot 403Killara Motor Garage1000–1600cc14+1 lap
5 Des West27Holden 48-215D. L. West2000–2600cc14+1 lap
6 Ross Farmer70Holden FJR. Farmer2000–2600cc13+2 laps
7 Bob Holden64Peugeot 403Killara Motor Garage1000–1600cc19+2 laps
8 Peter Manton55Morris CooperMonaro MotorsUnder 1000cc12+3 laps
9 George Maguire72HillmanG. T. McGuire1000–1600cc8+7 laps
Ret D. Marshall17Morris 850D. MarshallUnder 1000cc9
Ret Brian Higgins75Holden FJBrian Higgins2000–2600cc7
Ret Frank Manley32Holden FCF. Manley2000–2600cc4
Ret L. BarrettVauxhall Cresta4
Ret John HodgmanHillman4
DNS Ian Geoghegan5Jaguar Mark 1 3.4Geoghegan Motors2600–3500cc
Sources:

Statistics

External links

Notes and References

  1. Records, Titles and Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-7
  2. Major Australian Touring Car Racing Categories, Commodore 25th Anniversary, Australian Muscle Car Magazine, Special Edition, page 13
  3. Book: The official history: Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years . Greenhalgh . David . Howard . Graham . Wilson . Stewart . Chevron Publishing Group . 2011 . 978-0-9805912-2-4 . . 32–36.
  4. News: Longford Results . The Mercury . 5 March 1962 . 17.
  5. Programme, Longford, 1962, First Day