1973 Hardie-Ferodo 1000

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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 1973 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 14th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. This was the first race to be held under the new metric

Allan Moffat claimed his third win in the event and Ian Geoghegan his first. They shared a Ford Falcon GT. It was the seventh and final win for the factory Ford Australia racing team. Peter Brock and Doug Chivas dropped from contention after their Holden Torana ran out of fuel, forcing Chivas to push the car uphill along the pit lane to make it to the Holden Dealer Team pit bay. Brock and Chivas finished on the same lap as Moffat and Ian Geoghegan, ahead of their teammates Colin Bond and Leo Geoghegan, also on the same lap, in third position.

Class structure

Replica of the race winning Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop No 9.jpg
Replica of the race winning Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop
The Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 which was driven to 11th place by Brian Ovenden and Max McGinley 1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger E49 (15188820164).jpg
The Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 which was driven to 11th place by Brian Ovenden and Max McGinley

Class A

For cars up to 1300cc capacity, it was contested by Datsun 1200, Fiat 128, Honda Civic, Morris Cooper S and Renault R8.

Class B

For cars 1301cc to 2000cc, it featured Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV, Datsun 180B, Ford Escort, Mazda RX-3 and Subaru 1400 GSR.

Class C

For cars 2001cc to 3000cc, it was contested by 2.8 litre Holden Torana and Mazda RX-2.

Class D

For cars over 3,000cc capacity, it featured Chrysler Valiant Charger, Ford Falcon, Holden Monaro and Holden Torana GTR XU-1.

Race

Pole sitter Goss got off to a great start leading the Falcons of Moffat, French and Gibson from Brock's Torana. Gibson went out early with engine trouble and French made an unscheduled stop. This left Goss to make his first stop on lap 43 with a 40 second lead over Moffat and Brock, the later pair hardly separated by more than a few seconds until Moffat spun at Griffins on lap 44, losing about 20 seconds before making his first stop on lap 45 where he handed over to Geoghegan. Brock stopped on lap 54 and handed the car over to Chivas, whom they hoped could run the car long enough to only make one more pitstop in the race and one less than the Falcons, despite Brock reporting that the fuel gauge on the car had failed. [1] Bond momentarily took the lead of the race until making his stop on lap 61, well past a third distance proving that the Torana could do the race on just two stops.

Despite Moffat's spin and the Torana having a minute shorter pitstop than the Falcon, Geoghegan made up the difference to Chivas - taking second place from brother Leo Geoghegan (driving with Bond) and then retaking the lead of the race on lap 78. Bartlett (driving with early leader Goss) pitted on the same lap but Goss would be involved in a collision with Garth's overturned Torana and pitted for repairs on lap 105 putting them out of contention. Geoghegan was able to build a lead over Chivas before stopping and handing the car back to Moffat. Chivas held a 1'40" advantage over Moffat some time after the stop and was given the instruction from his pit board to "get max laps" only to run out of fuel on the top of the mountain and coast back to the pit entry. However, with the start of pitlane being uphill Chivas had to climb out and push the car, he also had to do this unassisted on penalty of disqualification until he himself had gotten the car far enough for his team to be allowed to assist. Moffat and Leo Geoghegan both passed Chivas as he strained to slowly push the car against the gradient after a long stint at the wheel. [2]

Moffat made his final stop on lap 123 of just 1'24", which was over a minute faster than his first, and was able to resume still leading Bond's Torana and cruise home to victory, the only danger being the #35 Mazda RX-2 rolling over ahead of him on his final lap. Any chance of Brock putting pressure back on Moffat was thwarted by the need to make a 15 second stop for more fuel on lap 147. He did however regain second place when Bond's left rear tyre blew across the top and he had to make an unscheduled stop of 30 seconds. Brock would have his own tyre failure with the right rear blowing out on the final lap but he continued to the finish at pace knowing the car only had to survive the remainder of that lap. [3]

Although the best surviving highlight reel of the day available now [4] clearly promotes the narrative of a certain Holden victory being lost due to miscalculation (Chivas running out of fuel) this is questionable at best with the benefit of hindsight (the film is credited to General Motors and their sponsors at the time). Clearly Moffat slowed significantly when no longer challenged for the race lead, so while it is possible he may have had his own trouble if pressed harder, it is certainly a hollow claim that because Brock and Chivas were able to finish within a lap of Moffat and Geoghegan despite running out of fuel they lost a certain race win. The race pace of the Torana's may have been compromised by trying to run to only two stops with Geoghegan able to make up about two and a quarter minutes over Chivas in his stint alone. Brock was the only driver to not haemorrhage time to the race winner but never got close to achieving the fuel economy required for his strategy to work, falling short on both his stints by as much as 16 laps. Brock obviously would have had to slow significantly more to complete the required laps. The real victim of this narrative is the incredible effort by John Goss not being a bigger part of the story. Despite Goss building his race car in his spare time [5] he was able to take pole position, set a new lap record and lead the factory entered cars by 40 seconds at his first pitstop. If not for some small exhaust issue, and a collision with a car that had illegally re-joined the race (after being towed), the 1973 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 may well have been celebrated as a Goss/Bartlett victory in the David versus Goliath style.

Top 10 Qualifiers

PosNoEntrant [6] DriverCarQual
Pole5McLeod Ford Pty Ltd - Shell Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Goss Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 2:33.4
21 Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:34.4
39 Ford Motor Company Australia Ltd. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Allan Moffat Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 2:34.5
44Bryan Byrt Ford Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg John French Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 2:35.3
524 Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Bond Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:35.4
67 Ron Hodgson Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Morris Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:36.3
76 Ford Motor Company Australia Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Gibson Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 2:38.2
819Cessnock Motor Works Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:38.2
92 Bob Jane Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Jane Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:39.3
103Pacific Film Laboratories Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Holland Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:40.5

Results

In part sourced from: [7] [8]

PosClassNoEntrant [6] DriversCarLapsQual
Pos
1D9 Ford Motor Company Australia Ltd. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Allan Moffat
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Geoghegan
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 1633
2D1 Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Chivas
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 1632
3D24 Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Bond
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leo Geoghegan
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 1635
4D2 Bob Jane Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Jane
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Harvey
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 1619
5D10Lakis Manticas Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Forbes
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 15411
6D21Roamer Watches Australia Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Kaleda
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Granger
Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 15018
7D15Murray Carter - Shell Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Murray Carter
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lawrie Nelson
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 15019
8B49A.F. & M. Beninca Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Harrison
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Robertson
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 14923
9B45Mazda Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mel Mollison
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Hindhaugh
Mazda RX-3 14436
10C34Bernie Haehnle Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bernie Haehnle
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Rogerson
Mazda RX-2 14436
11D31Tony Roberts Automotive Centre Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Ovenden
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Max McGinley
Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 14329
12C37John Palmer Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Beasley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Enno Buesselmann
Mazda RX-2 14339
13B44Camper-Ford Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Leeds
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Murcott
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 14332
14B41Datsun Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Roxburgh
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Whiteford
Datsun 180B SSS 14340
15A56Datsun Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Evans
Flag of Australia (converted).svg James Laing-Peach
Datsun 1200 14246
16A55Formula 1 Europa Garage Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lakis Manticas
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Lander
Fiat 128SL 14243
17C33W.H. Motors Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Herb Taylor
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Smith
Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 14128
18D3Pacific Film Laboratories Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Holland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Max Stewart
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 14110
19B39Ray Gulson Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Gulson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brown
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 14027
20D29Peter Kilmore Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Kilmore
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Kennedy
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 13841
21A66Clement Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Clement
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Mason
Morris Cooper S 13650
22A54Lordoco Aust Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Lord
Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Janson
Honda Civic 13453
23B38Chris Heyer Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Heyer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Mill
Subaru 1400 GSR 13355
24A63Bennet & Wood Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Brian
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Noel Riley
Honda Civic 13152
25A68Bob Williamson Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chick Audsley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Williamson
Morris Cooper S 13156
26A67Caroline O'Shanesy Flag of Australia (converted).svg Caroline O'Shanesy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Williamson
Morris Cooper S 13157
27A64David Frazer Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Frazer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Edgerton
Renault R8 Gordini 13049
28B43Bryan Byrt Ford Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Holden
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lyndon Arnel
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 12944
29B48Mazda Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Perry
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Reed
Mazda RX-3 12634
30A59Phillip Arnull Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Symon
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Philip Arnull
Datsun 1200 12558
DNFC35James Mason Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Cooke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Len Searle
Mazda RX-2 14238
DNFD8Muirs Motors (Ashfield) Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Dickson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Stevens
Holden HQ Monaro GTS 13020
DNFB50Chesterfield Filter Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Herb Vines
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Batger
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 11654
DNFD5McLeod Ford Pty. Ltd. - Shell Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Goss
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 1101
DNFD4Bryan Byrt Ford Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg John French
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Skelton
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 914
DNFA57Geoff Newton Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Newton
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cam Richardson
Morris Cooper S 8951
DNFD17G. Ryan Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Ryan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Lintott
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 8914
DNFD26Ray Thackwell Racing Flag of New Zealand.svg Ray Thackwell
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Coleman
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 8922
DNFA58Jack Haywood Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lynn Brown
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Hamilton
Morris Cooper S 7745
DNFC36McLeod Kelso & Lee Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Stewart
Flag of Australia (converted).svg George Garth
Holden LC Torana GTR 7531
DNFD12Dustings of Burwood Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod McRae
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Niovanni
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 6421
DNFB42Strapp Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Ritter
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Farrell
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 6425
DNFD27Leo Leonard Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ernie Sprague
Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 6217
DNFD30John Stoopman Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Stoopman
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dennis Martin
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 6130
DNFD23Bob Holden Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Hunter
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Ward
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 5816
DNFA53Rolls Motors Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Cook
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Finnigan
Honda Civic 5648
DNFD16Formula 1 Europa Garage Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Allen
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Brock
Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 4513
DNFD19Cessnock Motor Works Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Keith Murray
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 428
DNFD13Bruce McPhee Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce McPhee
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tom Nailard
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 4115
DNFB47W.D. Electrics Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warren Thompson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Dale
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 3633
DNFA60Fourway Motors Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Leggatt
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Wedd
Morris Cooper S 2742
DNFD20Chas Tierney Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Strong
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Gillard
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2537
DNFD11Geoghegans Sporty Cars Flag of Australia (converted).svg Des West
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Brown
Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 1712
DNFD6 Ford Motor Company Australia Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Gibson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Seton
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop 177
DNFB40Grace Bros. Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Christine Gibson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sue Ransom
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 524
DNFD7 Ron Hodgson Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Morris
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Leffler
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 46
DNFA66Mini Bits Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Dellaca
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jon Leighton
Morris Cooper S 347
DNFD25D & P Traders Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat Peck
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darrylyn Huitt
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 326
DNS [9] D14Freds Treads Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Duggan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gordon Rich
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
DNS [9] D28B. Nitschke Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Nitschke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Lewis
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
DNS [9] B46Alan Cant Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Cant
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Maw
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I
DNS [9] D32Gosford Motors Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kingsley Hibbard
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Shead
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
DNS [9] B51Barry Lee Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Lee
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ron McPhail
Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I
DNS [9] A62Pete Mac's Towing Service Pty. Ltd. Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Wade
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robin Dudfield
Morris Cooper S

Statistics

References

  1. "1973 FIRST HARDIE-FERODO 1000 Bathurst -15'17"". YouTube. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. "1973 FIRST HARDIE-FERODO 1000 Bathurst - 19'12"". YouTube. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. "1973 FIRST HARDIE-FERODO 1000 Bathurst - 26'12"". YouTube. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. "1973 FIRST HARDIE-FERODO 1000 Bathurst". YouTube. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. "Legends: John Goss". TradeUniqueCars.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 Hardie-Ferodo 1000, 1973 Official Programme - Mount Panorama - Sunday 30th
  7. Greenhalgh, David; Thomas B. Floyd; Bill Tuckey (2000). Australia's Greatest Motor Race 1960-1999. Chevron Publishing Group. pp. 194–201 & 461. ISBN   1-875221-12-3.
  8. Noonan, Aaron (2018). Holden At Bathurst - The Cars: 1963-2017. AN1 Media Pty. Ltd. pp. 45–52.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bill Tuckey and David Greenhailgh, Australia's Greatest Motor Race - The first 30 years, Second edition, updated and revised in 1990, Chevron Publishing Group Pty. Limited, page 303
  10. 1 2 Australian Competition Yearbook, 1974 Edition, page 131