1964 Tasman Series

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The 1964 Tasman Series was an international motor racing series contested in New Zealand and Australia over eight races beginning on 4 January and ending on 2 March. It was the first Tasman Series. The series, which was officially known as the Tasman Championship for Drivers, was organised jointly by the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs Inc. and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport with the winning driver awarded the Tasman Cup. [1] The championship was open to racing cars using unsupercharged engines of up to 2,500 c.c. capacity. [2]

Contents

The inaugural series was a battle of the British-based expatriates with a two-car team led by Australian Jack Brabham and a two-car team of Coopers from Bruce McLaren Motor Racing, led by the New Zealander Bruce McLaren. Although Denny Hulme won the opening round of the series, McLaren took a trifecta of wins in New Zealand setting up the title win. When the teams moved to Australia, Brabham won the first three races, ensuring a thrilling finish, however Brabham was unable to better his score and therefore McLaren emerged as champion. The last round of the series at Longford was won by the Englishman, Graham Hill, securing sixth place in the final standings as a result. Brabham led the final race until the last laps before his car suffered a transmission failure. [3]

The most successful of the local-based drivers was John Youl. Although the Cooper T55 he was driving was three-years old, he took the aging car to six top five finishes. Australian Bib Stillwell only completed in three races, twice beating Youl, including a second place in the Australian Grand Prix. Another competitive local was Frank Matich in his Repco Brabham BT7A, taking pole at Warwick Farm. Whilst leading, his suspension broke and he was forced to retire. With a further four retirements, Matich only finished one race, gaining a third place at Longford. [3]

Results and standings

Races

Jack Brabham won three of the eight races driving a Repco Brabham BT7A, similar to that pictured above Brabham BT7A.jpg
Jack Brabham won three of the eight races driving a Repco Brabham BT7A, similar to that pictured above
RoundNameCircuitDateWinning driverWinning carWinning teamReport
New
Zealand
1Vic Hudson Memorial Race [4] Levin 4 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme Repco Brabham BT4 Coventry Climax Motor Racing Developments Report
2 Eleventh New Zealand International Grand Prix [5] Pukekohe 11 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren Cooper T70 Coventry Climax Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Report
3 10th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race [6] Wigram 18 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren Cooper T70 Coventry Climax Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Report
4Teretonga International Teretonga 25 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren Cooper T70 Coventry Climax Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Report
Australia5 29th Australian Grand Prix [7] Sandown 9 February Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham Repco Brabham BT7A Coventry Climax Ecurie Vitesse Report
6International 100 Race [8] Warwick Farm 16 February Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham Repco Brabham BT7A Coventry Climax Ecurie Vitesse Report
7Lakeside International 99 [9] Lakeside 23 February Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham Repco Brabham BT7A Coventry Climax Ecurie Vitesse Report
8South Pacific Trophy Longford 2 March Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill Repco Brabham BT4 Coventry Climax Scuderia Veloce Report
Source: [3]

Points system

Championship points were awarded at each race on the following basis:

Position [1] 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th
Points [1] 964321

Championship placings were determined by points won by drivers in the New Zealand Grand Prix and any two of the other three races held in New Zealand, plus the Australian Grand Prix and any two of the other three races held in Australia. [2]

Standings

Pos [10] [11] Driver [10] [11] Car [11] [5] [7] [8] [9] [12] Entrant [11] [5] [7] [8] [9] [12] LevPukWigTerSanWarLakLonPts [10]
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren Cooper T70 Coventry Climax Bruce McLaren Motor Racing (3)111Ret2(3)239 (47)
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham Repco Brabham BT7A Coventry Climax Motor Racing Developments
Ecurie Vitesse
Ret2111Ret33
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme Repco Brabham BT4 Coventry Climax Motor Racing Developments
Ecurie Vitesse
123Ret55923
4 Flag of the United States.svg Timmy Mayer Cooper T70 Coventry Climax Bruce McLaren Motor Racing 238243RetDNS23
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Youl Cooper T55 Coventry Climax John Youl444DNS3Ret2521
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill Repco Brabham BT4 Coventry Climax Scuderia Veloce 4112
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham BT4 Coventry Climax BS Stillwell26410
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Palmer Cooper T53 Coventry Climax Jim Palmer(6)55361089 (10)
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Shelly Lotus 18/21 Coventry Climax
Lola Mk4A Coventry Climax
Shelley Motors Ltd
AL Shelley
56(6)487578 (9)
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Matich Repco Brabham BT7A Coventry Climax Total TeamRetRetRetRet34
11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Gardner Repco Brabham BT6 Ford Alec Mildren Racing Pty Ltd 1013493
12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bill Thomasen Cooper T53 Coventry Climax Corsair Racing TeamRetDNS52
13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Roly Levis Lotus 22 Ford RA Levis791061
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lex Davison Cooper T62 Coventry Climax Ecurie AustralieRet861
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glynn Scott Lotus 27 Ford Glyn Scott MotorsRetRet61
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rex Flowers Lotus 20B Ford Flowers Transport8127Ret1280
Flag of New Zealand.svg Andy Buchanan Brabham BT6 Ford Wilson Motors Ltd10790
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Cusack Repco Brabham BT6 Ford Scuderia Veloce 117100
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Arnold Glass Lotus 27 Ford Capitol Motors7RetRetRet0
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Boyd Valour Ford JA MalcolmRet70
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Sager Lotus 20 Ford JH Sager111180
Flag of New Zealand.svg David Young Cooper T59 Ford David Young8Ret0
Flag of New Zealand.svg Neil Whittaker Cooper T43 Coventry Climax 90
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Walker Repco Brabham BT2 Ford David Walker9RetRetRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leo Geoghegan Lotus 27 Ford Total TeamRet90
Flag of New Zealand.svg Dene Hollier Cooper T52 Ford Dene Hollyer Limited100
Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Slocombe Lotus 18 Ford 110
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Hobden Cooper T51 Coventry Climax Louis Hobden110
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mel McEwin Elfin Ford Mel McEwinRet120
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon Lola Mk4A Coventry Climax Reg Parnell Racing RetRetRetRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charlie Smith Elfin Ford CG SmithRetRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Hunnam Elfin Mono Ford Jack Hunnan MotorsRetRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Patterson Cooper T53 Coventry Climax Bill Patterson MotorsRetRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Osborne Cooper T53 Coventry Climax AJR OsborneRetRet0
Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce Abernethy Cooper T41 Coventry Climax Ret0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Whiteford Cooper T53 Coventry Climax Bill Patterson MotorsRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Keith Rilstone Elfin Ford KN RilstoneRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Fletcher Lola Mk5 Ford DK FletcherRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wally Mitchell MRD Brabham Ford East Burwood MotorsRet0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lionel Ayers Lotus 20 Ford Ret0
Flag of New Zealand.svg Barry Porter Lotus 15 Coventry Climax DNS0
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith Lola Mk2 Ford M SmithDNQ0
PosDriverCarEntrantLevPukWigTerSanWarLakLonPts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Tasman Championship for Drivers, Racing Car News, September 1963, page 25
  2. 1 2 Agreement and articles, The Tasman Championship for Drivers – Season 1964, Manual of Motor Sport, Confederation of Australian Motor Sport, 1964 ed., pages 40 to 46
  3. 1 2 3 "Tasman Cup 1964 «". Oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. Official Programme, Vic. Hudson Memorial Meeting, Levin, Saturday, January 4th, 1964
  5. 1 2 3 Programme, Eleventh New Zealand International Grand Prix, Pukekohe, Jan 11, '64
  6. Programme, 10th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race, Saturday, Jan. 18 1964
  7. 1 2 3 Official Programme, 29th Australian Grand Prix, Sandown, Sun., 9 Feb
  8. 1 2 3 Official Programme, International 100 Meeting, Tasman Championship, Warwick Farm, Sunday, February 16, 1964
  9. 1 2 3 Official Programme, Lakeside International 99, Lakeside, Feb 22–23, 1964
  10. 1 2 3 Tasman Series 1964, sergent.com.au Retrieved 31 March 2016
  11. 1 2 3 4 Tasman Cup 1964, www.oldracingcars.com Retrieved 31 March 2016
  12. 1 2 Programme, South Pacific Championships, Longford, 1964