1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500

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Layout of the Mount Panorama Circuit (1938-1986) Mount Panorama 1938-1986.png
Layout of the Mount Panorama Circuit (1938-1986)

The 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 was a production car race held on 6 October 1968 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. It was the ninth running of the Bathurst 500.

For the first time factory supported teams of Ford and Holden V8s raced against each other, setting a pattern that continued in Australian racing into the 21st century. It was not one of the factory cars that won however. The race was won by the Wyong Motors entered Holden Monaro driven by Bruce McPhee (apart from one lap mid-race driven by Barry Mulholland) who defeated the big teams with a tactical strategy of running a buffed hard wearing street tyre rather than a racing tyre. Initially Des West and Ron Marks were classified second but were later disqualified for illegal engine modifications. Second place was then awarded to the factory supported Holden Dealer Racing Team Holden Monaro of Jim Palmer (to that point the best finish by a New Zealander) and Phil West. The AM Roberts entered Holden Monaro driven by Tony Roberts and Bob Watson finished third.

Future two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Allan Grice made his Mount Panorama debut in 1968. Driving with author Bill Tuckey in a Class D Fiat 124 Sport for Scuderia Veloce, the pair finished the race in 18th outright and 9th in class, 11 laps down on the McPhee/Mulholland Monaro.

Midge Whiteman and Christine Cole, driving in a Morris Mini De Luxe, contested the race as an all female duo, placing fifth in their class.

Class structure

Cars competed in five classes based on the purchase price (in Australian dollars) of the vehicle.

A replica of the winning Holden Monaro GTS327 1968 Holden Monaro GTS 327 Bathurst winner (28421213031).jpg
A replica of the winning Holden Monaro GTS327
The Seton / Gibson Ford XT Falcon GT at the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 Barry Seton at the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 (2).jpg
The Seton / Gibson Ford XT Falcon GT at the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500

Class A

Class A was for cars which cost up to $1,850. It was contested by Datsun 1000, Ford Cortina, Hillman GT, Morris Mini De Luxe and Toyota Corolla.

Class B

The $1,851 to $2,250 class entries were dominated by the Datsun 1600, but also included Hillman Arrow, Hillman Gazelle and Morris 1100S.

Class C

The $2,251 to $3,000 class was contested by Ford Falcon, Holden Kingswood, Fiat 125 and Morris Cooper S.

Class D

The $3,001 to $4,500 class featured the outright contenders, Ford Falcon GT and Holden Monaro GTS 327, and also included single entries of Chrysler VE Valiant, Fiat 124 Sport and Studebaker Lark.

Class E

For cars over $4,500, the class was contested by Alfa Romeo 1750 GTVs and a single Citroen DS21 Pallas.

Top 10 Qualifiers

PosNoTeamDriverCarQual
Pole13Wyong Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce McPhee Holden HK Monaro GTS327 2:56.7
214Lorack Motors (Granville) Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Des West Holden HK Monaro GTS327 2:56.9
323 Holden Dealer Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Hawkins Holden HK Monaro GTS327 2:59.3
48 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Geoghegan Ford XT Falcon GT 2:59.8
525 Holden Dealer Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Muir Holden HK Monaro GTS327 3:00.1
624 Holden Dealer Racing Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Palmer Holden HK Monaro GTS327 3:00.5
77 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Spencer Martin Ford XR Falcon GT Auto 3:00.5
89 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Gibson Ford XT Falcon GT 3:00.9
915AM Roberts Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roberts Holden HK Monaro GTS327 3:02.1
103Brian Foley Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Foley Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV 3:02.4

Results

PosClassNoEntrant [1] DriversCarLapsQual
Pos
1D13Wyong Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce McPhee
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Mulholland
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 1301
2D24 Holden Dealer Racing Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Palmer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil West
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 1306
3D15AM Roberts Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roberts
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Watson
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 1299
4E1Alec Mildren Racing Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Chivas
Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV 12911
5D25 Holden Dealer Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Muir
Flag of Australia (converted).svg George Reynolds
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 1275
6E3Brian Foley Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Foley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Laurie Stewart
Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV 12610
7D10Wright Ford Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce McIntyre
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Stacey
Ford XR Falcon GT 12515
8E5Canberra Speed Shop Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brown
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Gulson
Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV 12518
9D17Stanmore Auto Port Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Brauer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Murray Harrod
Ford XT Falcon GT 12517
10C30C Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Holland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charlie Smith
Morris Cooper S 12323
11C34 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Arentz
Flag of New Zealand.svg Mike Champion
Ford XT Falcon 500 V8 12320
12D8 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Geoghegan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leo Geoghegan
Ford XT Falcon GT 1234
13D21Needhams Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warren Weldon
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Hall
Studebaker Lark 12313
14C29Marque Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Digby Cooke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Brewster
Morris Cooper S 12122
15B50Datsun Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Roxburgh
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Whiteford
Datsun 1600 12032
16C38Denis Geary Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Damon Beck
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Hodge
Morris Cooper S 12021
17C63R Marquet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Cant
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Marquet
Morris Cooper S 12024
18D26 Scuderia Veloce Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Tuckey
Fiat 124 Sport 11930
19B46Peter Langwill Autos Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Stewart
Flag of Australia (converted).svg George Garth
Datsun 1600 11838
20C36W Gracie Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warren Gracie
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don James
Morris Cooper S 11836
21B49Datsun Racing Team Flag of Japan.svg Kunimitsu Takahashi
Flag of Japan.svg Yoshikayo Sunago
Datsun 1600 11828
22B65Vern Curtin Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alton Boddenberg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rusty French
Hillman Gazelle 11735
23C61Varsity Auto Centre Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Prisk
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Cameron
Morris Cooper S 11631
24B42Dependable Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dennis Cooke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hans Tholstrup
Datsun 1600 11644
25C33Tony Basile Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Basile
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Leggatt
Fiat 125 11642
26B41Dependable Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Darke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Ford
Datsun 1600 11545
27C27 Scuderia Veloce Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Kable
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Kearns
Fiat 125 11440
28C35Young & Green Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sib Petralia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Sullivan
Holden HK Kingswood 186S 11443
29D22C Hodgins Flag of Australia (converted).svg Clyde Hodgins
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stan Pomroy
Chrysler VE Valiant Auto 11334
30A56 AMI Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Hindhaugh
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Morris
Toyota Corolla 11349
31D9 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Gibson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Seton
Ford XT Falcon GT 1138
32A55 AMI Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Ferguson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Sampson
Toyota Corolla 11347
33B45WH Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Smith
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Herb Taylor
Datsun 1600 11233
34B64MG Car Club NSW Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matt Daddo
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Ulbrich
Datsun 1600 11156
35C66A Olsen Flag of Australia (converted).svg Arthur Olsen
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Scanlen
Morris Cooper S 11046
36B47Austen & Butta Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joe Butta
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Genders
Hillman Arrow 10953
37B48Tynan Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trevor Mason
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Mason
Morris 1100S 10954
38A52Central Auto Sales & Services Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lionel Ayers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Max Volkers
Ford Cortina Mk.II 220 10758
39B43Kenthurst Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Carl Kennedy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Mullins
Datsun 1600 10755
40A58A Johns Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Frazer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Johns
Hillman GT 10757
41A54P & R Williams Flag of Australia (converted).svg Christine Gibson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Midge Whiteman
Morris Mini De Luxe 9860
42D7 Ford Motor Company of Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Spencer Martin
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim McKeown
Ford XT Falcon GT Auto 957
43C32W & N Howes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Martin Chenery
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ernie Johnson
Fiat 125 8839
44C28Marque Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lindsay Adcock
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Stanley
Morris Cooper S 8126
45A57 AMI Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Reed
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Thurston
Toyota Corolla 7450
46A60North Shore Sporting Car Club Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Drane
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Laing-Peach
Toyota Corolla 7452
47C31Frank Croft Motors Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Cooke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Muir
Fiat 125 6929
48D16M Savva Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Savva
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Wilkinson
Ford XT Falcon GT 6216
DNFC39Vern Potts Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rick Radford
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Seldon
Morris Cooper S 37
DNFC40Vern Potts Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Heylen
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Smailes
Morris Cooper S 8825
DNFD11Wright Ford Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Beasley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Morris
Ford XT Falcon GT 8714
DNFB44Eiffeltower Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg "Jack Eiffeltower"
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David O'Keefe
Hillman Gazelle 5427
DNFE4Citroen Cars (Citco) Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Daly
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glyn Scott
Citroen DS21 Pallas [1] 41
DNFD19I Haynes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Haynes
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Max Stahl
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 19
DNFA62Imp Spares & Repairs Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mel Mollison
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roger Withers
Hillman GT 59
DSQD14Lorack Motors (Granville) Pty Ltd [2] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Des West
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Marks
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 1302
DSQE2Alec Mildren (Qld) [3] Flag of Australia (converted).svg John French
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Gardner
Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV 12
DSQD23 Holden Dealer Racing Team [2] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Hawkins
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Brown
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 3
DSQA51Datsun Racing Team [4] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Evans
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Colwell
Datsun 1000 11248
DSQA53Datsun Racing Team [4] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Sorenson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bevan Gibson
Datsun 1000 11251
DNSD12Jubilee Motors Pty Ltd [2] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Griffiths
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Rogerson
Ford XT Falcon GT
DNSA59Bryan Thompson Racing [5] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adrian Ryan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bryan Thompson
Ford Cortina 220 [4] Mk.I [6]
DNS [7] D [7] 20 [7] Ken Waggott Speed Equipment [2] Flag of Australia (converted).svg N Petrilli [2]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg W Slattery [2]
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 [2]

Note : Jack Nougher competed in car 44 under the name "Jack Eiffeltower" in this race.

Statistics

References

  1. 1 2 3 How they finished last year..., Official Programme, 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500, Mount Panorama, Sunday, October 5, page 27
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Class D (entry list), Official Programme, 1968 Hardie Ferodo 500, Mount Panorama, Sunday, October 6, page 35
  3. Adrian Ryan, Alfa's uncontested win, Racing Car News, November 1968, pages 30 to 32
  4. 1 2 3 George Stefanoff, All conquering Corollas, Racing Car News, November 1968, pages 24 to 25
  5. Class A (entry list), Official Programme, 1968 Hardie Ferodo 500, Mount Panorama, Sunday, October 6, page 13
  6. Images of the No 59 Ford Cortina in the "1968 Bathurst" section of the autopics.com.au DVD "The Great Race – 1960 to 1996 – 30,000 images" shows the car to be a Mark 1 rather than a Mark II
  7. 1 2 3 Australian Muscle Car, Issue 17, January /February 2005, page 38