1976 Hardie-Ferodo 1000

Layout of the Mount Panorama Circuit (1938-1986)
The race winning Morris/Fitzpatrick Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34

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]

Class structure

Reproduction of the Bond/Harvey HDT Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34

The field was divided into four classes based on engine capacity.[5]

Class: Up to 1300cc

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.

Class: 1301cc - 2000cc

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.

Class: 2001cc - 3000cc

The class featured BMW 3.0Si, Ford Capri and Mazda RX-3.

Class: 3001cc - 6000cc

The class consisted only of Holden Torana and Ford Falcon entries.

Top 10 Qualifiers

PosNoTeamDriverCarQual
Pole 9 Moffat-Ford Dealer Team Canada Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 2:25.0
2 5 Team Brock Australia Peter Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:25.1
3 1 Holden Dealer Team Australia Colin Bond Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:26.2
4 7 Ron Hodgson Motors Australia Bob Morris Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:26.4
5 2 John Goss Racing Pty Ltd Australia John Goss Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 2:27.5
6 20 Craven Mild Racing Australia Allan Grice Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:28.1
7 8 Holden Dealer Team Australia Charlie O'Brien Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:28.3
8 12 Craven Mild Racing Australia Frank Gardner Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:29.1
9 15 Captain Peter Janson Australia Kevin Bartlett Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:29.5
10 17 Esmonds Motors Australia Jack Brabham Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2:30.0

Results

Pos Class No Entrant[5] Drivers Car Laps Qual
Pos
1 3001cc - 6000cc 7 Ron Hodgson Motors Australia Bob Morris
United Kingdom John Fitzpatrick
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 163 4
2 3001cc - 6000cc 1 Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Australia Colin Bond
Australia John Harvey
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 163 3
3 3001cc - 6000cc 5 Team Brock Australia Peter Brock
Australia Phil Brock
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 160 2
4 3001cc - 6000cc 8 Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Australia Charlie O'Brien
Australia Wayne Negus
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 160 7
5 3001cc - 6000cc 15 Captain Peter Janson New Zealand Peter Janson
Australia Kevin Bartlett
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 158 9
6 3001cc - 6000cc 14 Bob Forbes Australia Bob Forbes
Australia Russ McRae
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 157 15
7 3001cc - 6000cc 3 Max Wright Motors Pty Ltd Australia Bob Skelton
Australia Alan Hamilton
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 157 13
8 2001cc - 3000cc 26 Barry Benson Australia Barry Seton
Australia Don Smith
Ford Capri Mk.I 156 18
9 2001cc - 3000cc 23 Penrith Mazda Centre Pty Ltd Australia Don Holland
Australia Lynn Brown
Mazda RX-3 155 28
10 2001cc - 3000cc 28 Bryan Byrt Ford Australia Graham Moore
Australia Dick Johnson
Ford Capri Mk.I RS3100 154 19
11 2001cc - 3000cc 21 Mazda House Racing Team Australia Geoff Leeds
Australia Jim McKeown
Mazda RX-3 154 25
12 1301cc - 2000cc 51 Fischer Ford Racing Team Australia Eric Boord
Australia Tom Tymons
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I 152 30
13 2001cc - 3000cc 30 Wyong Tyres & Spares Australia Russell Skaife
Australia Brian Potts
Ford Capri Mk.I 151 26
14 1301cc - 2000cc 39 Quick Fit Spares & Accessories Australia Phil McDonnell
Australia Jim Hunter
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 151 39
15 1301cc - 2000cc 45 Bob Holden - Shell Sport Australia Lyndon Arnel
Australia Peter Hopwood
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 150 38
16 1301cc - 2000cc 60 Clemens Sporting Car Servies Pty Ltd Australia Frank Porter
Australia Tony Roberts
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm 149 34
17 1301cc - 2000cc 59 Autodelta Racing Australia Australia John Leffler
Australia Richard Carter
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm 148 33
18 1301cc - 2000cc 40 Pye Racing Australia Peter Wherrett
Australia David Jones
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 148 35
19 3001cc - 6000cc 18 Murray Carter Australia Murray Carter
Australia Ray Winter
Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 148 14
20 2001cc - 3000cc 34 Craven Mild Racing Australia Paul Older
Australia Barry Lake
BMW 3.0 Si 147 31
21 1301cc - 2000cc 50 Computer Accounting Services Pty Ltd Australia Terry Daly
Australia Barry Jones
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I 146 42
22 2001cc - 3000cc 25 Eurocars Pty Ltd Australia Brian Wheeler
Australia Neil Mason
Mazda RX-3 143 32
23 1301cc - 2000cc 48 De Bortolis Wines Pty Ltd Australia Bruce Hodgson
Australia Dave Morrow
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 142 37
24 Up to 1300cc 71 John Roxburgh Motors Pty Ltd Australia Bill Evans
Australia Bruce Stewart
Datsun 1200 139 49
25 2001cc - 3000cc 24 Bangalow Motors Pty Ltd Australia John Duggan
Australia Doug Angus
Mazda RX-3 139 29
26 Up to 1300cc 64 Ian Chilman Australia Brian Reed
Australia Ian Chilman
Honda Civic 137 55
27 3001cc - 6000cc 13 Tim Slako New Zealand Tim Slako
Australia Brian Rhodes
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 137 17
28 Up to 1300cc 62 Mollison Motors Pty Ltd Australia Roger Bonhomme
Australia Doug Whiteford
Honda Civic 137 53
29 Up to 1300cc 75 Jeff Harris Australia Jeff Harris
Australia Arthur Hardwick
Morris Clubman GT 136 56
30 Up to 1300cc 65 James Mason Motors Pty Ltd Australia Brian Porter
Australia John Ainsley
Mazda 1300 130 61
31 3001cc - 6000cc 2 John Goss Racing Pty Ltd Australia John Goss
New Zealand Jim Richards
Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 129 5
32 Up to 1300cc 67 Peter Williamson Pty Ltd Australia Greg Toepfer
Australia Greville Arnel
Toyota Corolla 127 57
33 Up to 1300cc 76 Ray Molloy Motors Preston Australia Ray Molloy
Australia Alan Braszell
Morris Clubman GT 125 51
34 Up to 1300cc 73 Avant Motors - Alfa Australia Robin Dudfield
Australia Tony Niovanni
Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior 116 59
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 41 Gil Gordon Alfa Australia Ron Gillard
Australia Graham Harrison
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 120 41
DNF 2001cc - 3000cc 31 ATP (Aust) Pty Ltd Australia Alan Cant
Australia George Morrell
Ford Capri Mk.I 111 20
DNF Up to 1300cc 63 Auto Village - Nowra Australia Ken Brian
Australia Noel Riley
Honda Civic 104 58
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 37 Ron Hodgson Motors Australia Ron Dickson
New Zealand Graeme Lawrence
Triumph Dolomite Sprint 103 22
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 56 Bob Glazier Australia Peter Granger
Australia Gerry Murphy
BMW 2002 Tii 97 47
DNF 3001cc - 6000cc 6 Warren Cullen Wrecking Pty Ltd Australia Warren Cullen
Australia Max Stewart
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 95 11
DNF 3001cc - 6000cc 9 Moffat-Ford Dealer Team Canada Allan Moffat
Australia Vern Schuppan
Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 87 1
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 61 Bob Williamson's Mini Factory Tyre
Traders & Merchants Pty Ltd
Australia Gary Cooke
Australia Bob Williamson
Mazda RX-3 83 62
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 38 Endrust (Australia) Pty Ltd Australia James Laing-Peach
Australia Paul Gulson
Triumph Dolomite Sprint 82 23
DNF 3001cc - 6000cc 12 Craven Mild Racing Australia Allan Grice
Australia Frank Gardner
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 72 8
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 35 B & G Meyer Leyland Australia John Dellaca
Australia Kerry Wade
Triumph Dolomite Sprint 67 36
DNF Up to 1300cc 78 Hugh Donaldson Australia Hugh Donaldson
Australia Mike Quinn
Morris Clubman GT 58 52
DNF 3001cc - 6000cc 4 Gown-Hindhaugh Engine Developments Australia Garth Wigston
Australia Bruce Hindhaugh
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 56 12
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 58 Brian Foley Pty Ltd France Marie-Claude Charmasson
Australia Christine Gibson
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm 52 48
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 52 Allan Nuttall Australia Allan Nuttall
Australia Richard Bailey
Fiat 124 Sport 51 46
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 53 Lennox Motors Australia Chris Heyer
Australia Peter Lander
Volkswagen Golf 38 45
DNF 3001cc - 6000cc 17 Esmonds Motors Australia Jack Brabham
United Kingdom Stirling Moss
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 37 10
DNF 2001cc - 3000cc 32 Head Mod Engineering Australia Lawrie Nelson
Australia Nick Louis
Ford Capri Mk.I 32 24
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 49 Brian Wood Ford Pty Ltd Australia Rod Stevens
Australia Jim Murcott
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I 28 44
DNF Up to 1300cc 72 Caroline O'Shanesy Australia Caroline O'Shanesy
Australia Garry Leggatt
Fiat 128 3P 27 60
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 43 Bob Holden - Shell Sport Australia Bob Holden
Australia Ray Cutchie
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 23 43
DNF Up to 1300cc 69 Ken Harrison - Shell Sport Australia Ken Harrison
Australia David Turnbull
Ford Escort 1300 Mk.I 22 54
DNF Up to 1300cc 70 Blackwood Cars Pty Ltd Australia Bernie Stack
Australia Keith Poole
Volkswagen Passat 19 50
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 57 Ralph Radburn Australia Ralph Radburn
Australia Peter Williamson
BMW 2002 Tii 14 27
DNF 2001cc - 3000cc 27 City Ford Australia Lakis Manticas
Australia Doug Chivas
Ford Capri Mk.I 3 21
DNF 1301cc - 2000cc 36 Orange City Leyland Australia David Seldon
Australia Bob Martin
Triumph Dolomite Sprint 0 40
DNS 3001cc - 6000cc 20 Craven Mild Racing Australia Frank Gardner
Australia Allan Grice
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6
DNS 3001cc - 6000cc 16 Breville Holdings Pty Ltd Australia Ray Kaleda
Australia Bob Stevens
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 16
DNQ 3001cc - 6000cc 10 Barry Sheales Holden Pty Ltd Australia Kel Gough
Australia Tom Naughton
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
DNQ 2001cc - 3000cc 29 Geoff Moran Australia Geoff Moran
Australia Graeme Ibbotson
Ford Capri Mk.I
DNQ 1301cc - 2000cc 47 Peak Performance Pty Ltd Australia John English
Australia Gary Scott
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II
DNQ Up to 1300cc 68 Peter Mac's Towing Pty Ltd Australia Geoff Wade
Australia John Stoopman
Ford Escort 1300 Mk.I
DNQ Up to 1300cc 74 Fred's Treads Pty Ltd Australia Gordon Rich
Australia David Crowther
Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior

Statistics

  • Pole Position - #9 Allan Moffat - 2:25.0
  • Fastest Lap - #9 Allan Moffat & #5 Peter Brock - 2:28.4
  • Average Speed - 141 km/h
  • Race Time of winning car - 7:07:12.0[5]

References

  1. "Brabham, Moss to drive at Bathurst". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 1976. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. Wood, Brian (19 May 2014). "Sir Jack Brabham remembered in Bathurst". Western Advocate (Bathurst). Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. "When Sir Jack Took on the Mountain". Holden Motorsport website. Holden Motorsport. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. Noonan, Aaron (26 July 2010). "Who really won the 1976 Bathurst 1000?". Speed Cafe. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. 1976 Official Programme, Hardie-Ferodo 1000, Entry List, pages 35 & 37
  • Greenhalgh, David; Thomas B. Floyd; Bill Tuckey (2000). Australia's Greatest Motor Race 1960-1999. Chevron Publishing Group. pp. 218–225 & 464. ISBN 1-875221-12-3.
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