1968 Australian Touring Car Championship Explained

The 1968 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group C Improved Production Touring Cars.[1] It was contested over a single race staged at the Warwick Farm circuit in New South Wales, Australia on 8 September 1968. The title, which was the ninth Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by Ian Geoghegan driving a Ford Mustang. It was the final Australian Touring Car Championship held as a single race, with the title being contested over a series of races from 1969 onwards.[2]

Report

Ian Geoghegan qualified on pole position, half a second faster than Norm Beechey who was now driving a Chevrolet Camaro SS. Bob Jane was third on the grid, with Jim McKeown and Peter Manton rounding out the top five. Geoghegan won the start and took the lead into the first corner ahead of Beechey and Jane, with the latter two almost touching halfway through the first lap. McKeown retired on lap 3 with a broken rear axle. Ian Dawson spun on the following lap while Nick Petrilli lost a wheel; a lap later Rod Coppins slowed with a loose exhaust.

Jane's engine blew on lap 9, leaving Beechey as the sole challenger to Geoghegan. Fred Gibson's pit crew displayed a sign reading 'Jane in' to inform him of Jane's retirement, but Gibson misread the sign. He slowed on the following lap and pitted, losing six positions in the process. Beechey retired on lap 12 with mechanical problems, while Foley followed suit on the next lap. This left Geoghegan with a lead of twenty seconds over Paul Fahey and Manton.

Fahey retired on lap 22, while Gibson had been making his way back through the field. Manton ran into problems on lap 28, allowing the Porsche 911 of Alan Hamilton into second and the Morris Cooper S of Darrell King into third. King attempted to close the gap to Hamilton, but collided with Graham Ryan and backed off to settle for third place. However, on the final lap, Hamilton went off the circuit and damaged a rear guard, folding it onto the tyre. King went through into second and finished over ninety seconds behind race winner Geoghegan, while Hamilton brought his car home with a blown tyre for third.

Results

Class winners are indicated by bold text.

Pos.ClassNo.DriverEntrantCarLapsTime/Retired
1Over 3000cc1 Ian GeogheganThe Mustang TeamFord Mustang3459:06.8
21101–1500cc26 Darrell KingD. KingMorris Cooper S34+1:31.0
31501–2000cc19 Alan HamiltonPorsche Distributors (Aust./N.Z.) Pty LtdPorsche 91134+2:07.0
4Over 3000cc2 Fred GibsonN.E. Allen Competition Pty LtdFord Mustang33+1 lap
5Up to 1100cc9 Laurie StewartBrian Foley MotorsMorris Cooper S33+1 lap
6Up to 1100cc30 John MillyardMartinz PlaceMorris Cooper S33+1 lap
71101–1500cc12 Peter MantonPeter Manton RacingMorris Cooper S33+1 lap
81101–1500cc32 Graeme SpenceK. TownsendAustin Cooper S33+1 lap
9Up to 1100cc29 John HumphreyHumphreys Golden Fleece Service StationAustin Cooper S33+1 lap
10Over 3000cc17 Bryan ThomsonBryan Thomson RacingFord Mustang32+2 laps
11Up to 1100cc37 Richard ThurstonA.M.I. Racing TeamToyota Corolla31+3 laps
122001–3000cc23 Herb TaylorH.E. TaylorHolden EH28+6 laps
132001–3000cc24 Graham RyanGraham Ryan Auto RepairsHolden EH28+6 laps
RetOver 3000cc35 Ian DawsonI.W. (Red) DawsonFord Mustang23Tyres
RetOver 3000cc6 Paul FaheyP.B. FaheyFord Mustang21Gearbox
Ret1101–1500cc11 Phil BarnesPhil Barnes Motor ServiceMorris Cooper S19
Ret1101–1500cc28 Fred SeeryF.R. SeeryMorris Cooper S15
Ret1101–1500cc8 Brian FoleyBrian Foley Motors Pty LtdMorris Cooper S12Mechanical
Ret1501–2000cc16 Chris BrauerC.D. BrauerFord Cortina Mark I Lotus12Steering
RetOver 3000cc4 Norm BeecheyNorm BeecheyChevrolet Camaro SS11Mechanical
Ret1101–1500cc20 Don HollandDon Holland MotorsMorris Cooper S8
RetOver 3000cc3 Bob JaneBob Jane's AutolandFord Mustang8Camshaft
Ret1101–1500cc33 Barrie BroomhallBarrie Broomhall MotorsMorris Cooper S6
RetOver 3000cc10 Rod CoppinsR. CoppinsFord Mustang6Exhaust
Ret1101–1500cc27 Bruce JonesBruce A. JonesMorris Cooper S4
Ret2001–3000cc21 Nick PetrilliN. PetrilliHolden EH3Wheel
Ret1501–2000cc7 Jim McKeownJim McKeown MotorsFord Cortina Mark II Lotus2Axle
Ret1101–1500cc38 Howie SangsterH.G. SangsterMorris Cooper S1
Ret2001–3000cc22 Martin CheneryM.R. CheneryHolden EH0
RetUp to 1100cc36 Bob MorrisBill Buckle AutosToyota Corolla0
Sources:[3] [4]

Statistics

External links

Notes and References

  1. Conditions for Australian Titles, 1968 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 70–73.
  2. 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 . . 76–81.
  3. 8 September 1968 . Event 6, The 1968 Australian Touring Car Championship . Warwick Farm, 1968 Australian Touring Car Championship Official Programme . 30–31.
  4. Floyd . Thomas . November 1968 . Geoghegan Holds Title . Sports Car World . 16–28.
  5. Cooke . Barry . November 1968 . Touring Car Title - sound and fury . Modern Motor . 57, 104.