The 1976 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 17th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 3 October 1976 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. The race was open to cars complying with CAMS Group C Touring Car regulations.
The race was dramatically won by the Ron Hodgson Motors entered Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 of Bob Morris and British driver John Fitzpatrick. Second on the same lap was the Holden Dealer Team Torana L34 of Colin Bond and John Harvey. Brothers Peter and Phil Brock in the Team Brock entered Torana L34 completed a second consecutive podium clean sweep for the Torana L34. In fact, Torana L34s filled the top seven places.
The competitors in the over three-litre class included ex-Formula 1 drivers Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss, in a Torana L34 entered by Esmonds Motors of Queanbeyan. Brabham was driving competitively for the first time since 1971, and Moss had not competed in a circuit race since his Goodwood crash in 1962. The two former Grand Prix stars attracted much publicity and ultimately qualified tenth. However, their race effectively ended when Brabham lined up to take the start; the Torana's gears became jammed on the grid and a Triumph Dolomite Sprint rammed it hard from behind (in his attempt to find a gear, Jack had failed to put his arm out the window to warn other drivers). Although the Torana was hastily repaired, and reappeared several hours later simply for appearances, it eventually blew its motor with Moss at the wheel.[1] [2] [3] Unfortunately Moss attracted criticism from other drivers after the Torana's engine blew as he continued to drive the car on the racing line for ¾ of a lap, with smoke billowing from the exhaust and dropping oil on the track.
The 2001 to 3000cc class saw Ford Capri drivers Barry Seton and Don Smith take a one lap victory over the Mazda RX-3 of Don Holland and Lynn Brown. Another Capri, the car of Graham Moore and emerging Queensland driver Dick Johnson was a further lap down in third.
The 1301 to 2000cc class also saw one lap margins between the top three cars with the Ford Escort of Eric Boord and Tom Tymons beating the Alfa Romeo GTV of Phil McDonnell and Jim Hunter. The Bob Holden run Ford Escort of Lyndon Arnel and Peter Hopwood was third.
The John Roxburgh Motors entered Datsun 1200 of Bill Evans and Bruce Stewart took a two lap victory in the Up to 1300cc class over the Honda Civics of Brian Reed and Ian Chilman, and Roger Bonhomme and Doug Whiteford.
The 1976 race continues to be a source of controversy, as it has been claimed that a lap scoring error caused the Hold Dealer Team Torana of Bond and Harvey not to be counted for a lap, thus robbing them of the victory. However HDT, the team backed by Holden, did not appeal the results; some have claimed this is because Holden did not want to appear to be doing a disservice to the Morris/Fitzpatrick team which was run by Ron Hodgson Motors, which at the time was Sydney's largest Holden dealership. The lap counting error has been denied by the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), and by some teams (including the race winners and television broadcaster Channel 7) who carried out their own lap scoring. An appeal of the results was not lodged prior to the expiration date meaning the results as published are final. In 2003 Holden offered Harvey an apology for not appealing the results. This occurred at a testimonial dinner for Harvey who after retiring from racing had gone on to become a senior executive with Holden Special Vehicles. Since that time though, Harvey has caused controversy by publicly stating that he was the winner of the race, though the official results continue to show him finishing second. For his part, Colin Bond has remained in dignified silence.[4]
The field was divided into four classes based on engine capacity.[5]
The class comprised Alfa Romeo 1300, Datsun 1200, Fiat 128 3P, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Mazda 1300, Morris Clubman GT, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Passat.
The class saw a mix of Alfa Romeo Alfetta and 2000 GTV, BMW 2002, Fiat 124 Sport, Ford Escort RS2000, Mazda RX-3, Triumph Dolomite and Volkswagen Golf.
The class featured BMW 3.0Si, Ford Capri and Mazda RX-3.
The class consisted only of Holden Torana and Ford Falcon entries.
| Pos | No | Team | Driver | Car | Qual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pole | 9 | Moffat-Ford Dealer Team |  Allan Moffat | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | 2:25.0 |
| 2 | 5 | Team Brock |  Peter Brock | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:25.1 |
| 3 | 1 | Holden Dealer Team | Colin Bond | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:26.2 |
| 4 | 7 | Ron Hodgson Motors | Bob Morris | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:26.4 |
| 5 | 2 | John Goss Racing Pty Ltd | John Goss | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | 2:27.5 |
| 6 | 20 | Craven Mild Racing | Allan Grice | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:28.1 |
| 7 | 8 | Holden Dealer Team | Charlie O'Brien | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:28.3 |
| 8 | 12 | Craven Mild Racing | Frank Gardner | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:29.1 |
| 9 | 15 | Captain Peter Janson | Kevin Bartlett | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:29.5 |
| 10 | 17 | Esmonds Motors | Jack Brabham | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 2:30.0 |
| Pos | Class | No | Entrant | Drivers | Car | Laps | Qual Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 7 | Ron Hodgson Motors | Bob Morris John Fitzpatrick | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 163 | 4 |
| 2 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 1 | Marlboro Holden Dealer Team | Colin Bond John Harvey | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 163 | 3 |
| 3 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 5 | Team Brock | Peter Brock Phil Brock | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 160 | 2 |
| 4 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 8 | Marlboro Holden Dealer Team | Charlie O'Brien Wayne Negus | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 160 | 7 |
| 5 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 15 | Captain Peter Janson |  Peter Janson Kevin Bartlett | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 158 | 9 |
| 6 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 14 | Bob Forbes | Bob Forbes Russ McRae | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 157 | 15 |
| 7 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 3 | Max Wright Motors Pty Ltd | Bob Skelton Alan Hamilton | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 157 | 13 |
| 8 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 26 | Barry Benson | Barry Seton Don Smith | Ford Capri Mk.I | 156 | 18 |
| 9 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 23 | Penrith Mazda Centre Pty Ltd | Don Holland Lynn Brown | Mazda RX-3 | 155 | 28 |
| 10 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 28 | Bryan Byrt Ford | Graham Moore Dick Johnson | Ford Capri Mk.I RS3100 | 154 | 19 |
| 11 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 21 | Mazda House Racing Team | Geoff Leeds Jim McKeown | Mazda RX-3 | 154 | 25 |
| 12 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 51 | Fischer Ford Racing Team | Eric Boord Tom Tymons | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I | 152 | 30 |
| 13 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 30 | Wyong Tyres & Spares | Russell Skaife Brian Potts | Ford Capri Mk.I | 151 | 26 |
| 14 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 39 | Quick Fit Spares & Accessories | Phil McDonnell Jim Hunter | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | 151 | 39 |
| 15 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 45 | Bob Holden - Shell Sport | Lyndon Arnel Peter Hopwood | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II | 150 | 38 |
| 16 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 60 | Clemens Sporting Car Servies Pty Ltd | Frank Porter Tony Roberts | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm | 149 | 34 |
| 17 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 59 | Autodelta Racing Australia | John Leffler Richard Carter | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm | 148 | 33 |
| 18 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 40 | Pye Racing | Peter Wherrett David Jones | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | 148 | 35 |
| 19 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 18 | Murray Carter | Murray Carter Ray Winter | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | 148 | 14 |
| 20 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 34 | Craven Mild Racing | Paul Older Barry Lake | BMW 3.0 Si | 147 | 31 |
| 21 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 50 | Computer Accounting Services Pty Ltd | Terry Daly Barry Jones | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I | 146 | 42 |
| 22 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 25 | Eurocars Pty Ltd | Brian Wheeler Neil Mason | Mazda RX-3 | 143 | 32 |
| 23 | 1301cc - 2000cc | 48 | De Bortolis Wines Pty Ltd | Bruce Hodgson Dave Morrow | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II | 142 | 37 |
| 24 | Up to 1300cc | 71 | John Roxburgh Motors Pty Ltd | Bill Evans Bruce Stewart | Datsun 1200 | 139 | 49 |
| 25 | 2001cc - 3000cc | 24 | Bangalow Motors Pty Ltd | John Duggan Doug Angus | Mazda RX-3 | 139 | 29 |
| 26 | Up to 1300cc | 64 | Ian Chilman | Brian Reed Ian Chilman | Honda Civic | 137 | 55 |
| 27 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 13 | Tim Slako | Tim Slako Brian Rhodes | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 137 | 17 |
| 28 | Up to 1300cc | 62 | Mollison Motors Pty Ltd | Roger Bonhomme Doug Whiteford | Honda Civic | 137 | 53 |
| 29 | Up to 1300cc | 75 | Jeff Harris | Jeff Harris Arthur Hardwick | Morris Clubman GT | 136 | 56 |
| 30 | Up to 1300cc | 65 | James Mason Motors Pty Ltd | Brian Porter John Ainsley | Mazda 1300 | 130 | 61 |
| 31 | 3001cc - 6000cc | 2 | John Goss Racing Pty Ltd | John Goss Jim Richards | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | 129 | 5 |
| 32 | Up to 1300cc | 67 | Peter Williamson Pty Ltd | Greg Toepfer Greville Arnel | Toyota Corolla | 127 | 57 |
| 33 | Up to 1300cc | 76 | Ray Molloy Motors Preston | Ray Molloy Alan Braszell | Morris Clubman GT | 125 | 51 |
| 34 | Up to 1300cc | 73 | Avant Motors - Alfa | Robin Dudfield Tony Niovanni | Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior | 116 | 59 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 41 | Gil Gordon Alfa | Ron Gillard Graham Harrison | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | 120 | 41 |
| DNF | 2001cc - 3000cc | 31 | ATP (Aust) Pty Ltd | Alan Cant George Morrell | Ford Capri Mk.I | 111 | 20 |
| DNF | Up to 1300cc | 63 | Auto Village - Nowra | Ken Brian Noel Riley | Honda Civic | 104 | 58 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 37 | Ron Hodgson Motors | Ron Dickson Graeme Lawrence | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 103 | 22 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 56 | Bob Glazier | Peter Granger Gerry Murphy | BMW 2002 Tii | 97 | 47 |
| DNF | 3001cc - 6000cc | 6 | Warren Cullen Wrecking Pty Ltd | Warren Cullen Max Stewart | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 95 | 11 |
| DNF | 3001cc - 6000cc | 9 | Moffat-Ford Dealer Team | Allan Moffat Vern Schuppan | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | 87 | 1 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 61 | Bob Williamson's Mini Factory Tyre Traders & Merchants Pty Ltd | Gary Cooke Bob Williamson | Mazda RX-3 | 83 | 62 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 38 | Endrust (Australia) Pty Ltd | James Laing-Peach Paul Gulson | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 82 | 23 |
| DNF | 3001cc - 6000cc | 12 | Craven Mild Racing | Allan Grice Frank Gardner | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 72 | 8 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 35 | B & G Meyer Leyland | John Dellaca Kerry Wade | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 67 | 36 |
| DNF | Up to 1300cc | 78 | Hugh Donaldson | Hugh Donaldson Mike Quinn | Morris Clubman GT | 58 | 52 |
| DNF | 3001cc - 6000cc | 4 | Gown-Hindhaugh Engine Developments | Garth Wigston Bruce Hindhaugh | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 56 | 12 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 58 | Brian Foley Pty Ltd |  Marie-Claude Charmasson Christine Gibson | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm | 52 | 48 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 52 | Allan Nuttall | Allan Nuttall Richard Bailey | Fiat 124 Sport | 51 | 46 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 53 | Lennox Motors | Chris Heyer Peter Lander | Volkswagen Golf | 38 | 45 |
| DNF | 3001cc - 6000cc | 17 | Esmonds Motors | Jack Brabham Stirling Moss | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 37 | 10 |
| DNF | 2001cc - 3000cc | 32 | Head Mod Engineering | Lawrie Nelson Nick Louis | Ford Capri Mk.I | 32 | 24 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 49 | Brian Wood Ford Pty Ltd | Rod Stevens Jim Murcott | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I | 28 | 44 |
| DNF | Up to 1300cc | 72 | Caroline O'Shanesy | Caroline O'Shanesy Garry Leggatt | Fiat 128 3P | 27 | 60 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 43 | Bob Holden - Shell Sport | Bob Holden Ray Cutchie | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II | 23 | 43 |
| DNF | Up to 1300cc | 69 | Ken Harrison - Shell Sport | Ken Harrison David Turnbull | Ford Escort 1300 Mk.I | 22 | 54 |
| DNF | Up to 1300cc | 70 | Blackwood Cars Pty Ltd | Bernie Stack Keith Poole | Volkswagen Passat | 19 | 50 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 57 | Ralph Radburn | Ralph Radburn Peter Williamson | BMW 2002 Tii | 14 | 27 |
| DNF | 2001cc - 3000cc | 27 | City Ford | Lakis Manticas Doug Chivas | Ford Capri Mk.I | 3 | 21 |
| DNF | 1301cc - 2000cc | 36 | Orange City Leyland | David Seldon Bob Martin | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 0 | 40 |
| DNS | 3001cc - 6000cc | 20 | Craven Mild Racing | Frank Gardner Allan Grice | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 6 | |
| DNS | 3001cc - 6000cc | 16 | Breville Holdings Pty Ltd | Ray Kaleda Bob Stevens | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | 16 | |
| DNQ | 3001cc - 6000cc | 10 | Barry Sheales Holden Pty Ltd | Kel Gough Tom Naughton | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | ||
| DNQ | 2001cc - 3000cc | 29 | Geoff Moran | Geoff Moran Graeme Ibbotson | Ford Capri Mk.I | ||
| DNQ | 1301cc - 2000cc | 47 | Peak Performance Pty Ltd | John English Gary Scott | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II | ||
| DNQ | Up to 1300cc | 68 | Peter Mac's Towing Pty Ltd | Geoff Wade John Stoopman | Ford Escort 1300 Mk.I | ||
| DNQ | Up to 1300cc | 74 | Fred's Treads Pty Ltd | Gordon Rich David Crowther | Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior | ||