1978 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)
Peter Brock and Jim Richards replica of the 1979 race winning Holden LX Torana SS A9X on display at the 2009 Historic Sandown 1978 Holden LX Torana SS A9X - Peter Brock - Jim Richards.jpg
Peter Brock and Jim Richards replica of the 1979 race winning Holden LX Torana SS A9X on display at the 2009 Historic Sandown
The Allan Grice/John Leffler Holden LX Torana SS A9X which placed second in race. The car is pictured in 2015. Holden Torana SS A9X Craven Mild.JPG
The Allan Grice/John Leffler Holden LX Torana SS A9X which placed second in race. The car is pictured in 2015.

The 1978 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 19th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 1 October 1978, at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst. The race was open to cars eligible to the locally developed CAMS Group C touring car regulations with three engine capacity based classes.

The race was won by Peter Brock, his third win, and Sports Sedan racer Jim Richards, his first. The pair drove a Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana to a single lap victory over another Torana, that of Allan Grice and Formula 5000 driver John Leffler. Third was the first of the Ford Falcons, that of veteran Murray Carter and New Zealand open wheel great Graeme Lawrence. Richards became the first New Zealander to win the race and it was the Holden Dealer Teams third win.

Class structure

Class A

The 3001 - 6000cc class consisted entirely of compact muscle cars including V8 Holden Toranas and Ford Falcons.

Class B

The 2001 – 3000cc class featured Mazda RX-3, Ford Capri, and BMW 3.0Si.

Class C

Harris/Clark Toyota Celica Celicaharris.jpg
Harris/Clark Toyota Celica

The Up to 2000cc class saw a mix of Alfa Romeo Alfetta and GTV 2000, Ford Escort RS2000, Holden Gemini, Toyota Celica, Triumph Dolomite and VW Golf.

Hardies Heroes

1978 saw the introduction of the Hardies Heroes Top 10 runoff (now referred as the Top Ten Shootout) for pole position, devised by race broadcaster Channel 7 and the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) for extra television time on the day before the race. With official qualifying now held on the Friday (previously held on the Saturday before the race from 1963-1977), the runoff was held on the Saturday morning with Seven showing half-hour highlights around Australia later in the afternoon. Drivers drew the order in which they would run out of a hat with the order being Allan Grice, Peter Brock, Jack Brabham, Dick Johnson, Derek Bell, Bob Morris, Garth Wigston, Colin Bond, John French and lucky last Allan Moffat. Each driver had two, one lap runs to set a quick time, though the second lap was optional.

Morning showers meant that the track was damp during the first run and with most cars on wet weather tyres, times reflected this with Grice recording a first up 2:38.2 and Brock a 2:35.6. No other driver was then able to lap better than 2:27 until Allan Moffat went out and ignoring the puddles (plus a little help from team members on top of the mountain who radioed in that the track was now dry enough for slicks), ran a 2:21.59 lap while hitting 159 mph (256 km/h) on Conrod Straight. Moffat's time in his 5.8 L V8 powered Ford Falcon Cobra was some 6 seconds faster than anyone else had managed and 4.8 seconds under his own Group C Touring Car lap record set in 1977. [1] Taking Moffat's cue that the track was now dry enough for quick times, Brock then ran a 2:20.006 in his HDT Torana which was enough to give him his second Bathurst pole in succession and his third overall (his pole time would not be beaten until 1982). Moffat's team mate Colin Bond then joined Brock on the front row with a 2:20.871 lap (0.865 slower than Brock), [2] and while Moffat then tried to respond, he had to settle for the inside of the second row with a time of 2:21.597. Bob Morris, the fastest in official qualifying with a 2:21.7 would start in fourth after equaling his time in the runoff, with his team mate Derek Bell rounding out the top 5, though he was some 2.8 seconds slower than Morris. John French in the second Bryan Byrt Ford Falcon was the slowest in the runoff, his time some 10.2 seconds slower than Brock's pole time and 4.6 seconds slower than team mate Dick Johnson.

PosNoTeamDriverCarTime
Pole05 Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 2:20.006
22 Moffat Ford Dealers Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Bond Ford XC Falcon Cobra 2:20.871
31 Moffat Ford Dealers Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Allan Moffat Ford XC Falcon Cobra 2:21.597
47 Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Morris Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 2:21.766
527 Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Bell Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 2:24.602
617 Bryan Byrt Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 2:25.632
76Craven Mild Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 2:25.950
88Jack Brabham Holdings Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham Holden LX Torana SS A9X 4 Door 2:25.988
920Roadways / Gown-Hindhaugh Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garth Wigston Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 2:26.144
1032 Bryan Byrt Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg John French Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 2:30.244

* Bob Morris was fastest qualifier going into Hardies Heroes in his Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback with a 2:21.7 lap, and although he equalled this time in the shootout, he fell to 4th on the grid.
* Dick Johnson made the first of 20 consecutive starts in the Top 10 runoff at Bathurst. He finished the shootout in 6th position in his Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop.
* Peter Brock's pole time of 2:20.006 would stand as the fastest pole time at Bathurst until Allan Grice recorded a 2:17.501 to claim pole in a Holden VH Commodore SS in 1982. Brock's 5.0L, 308 cui V8 Torana was timed at 157 mph (253 km/h) on Conrod Straight, only 2 mph (3 km/h) slower than the big 5.8L, 351 cui V8 Ford Falcon Cobra of rival Allan Moffat.
* Triple Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham qualified for his only top 10 shootout at Bathurst in a 4-Door version of the A9X Torana, finishing in 8th position. The Brabham name would not appear in another Bathurst Top 10 runoff until his son David qualified 8th in 1993 in a Holden VP Commodore.
* The top 10 consisted of 6 Holden Torana's and 4 Ford Falcons. While the Torana's were spread over 5 different teams, the Falcons only came from Moffat Ford Dealers and Bryan Byrt Ford.

Results

PosClassNoTeamDriversCarLapsQual
Pos
Shootout
Pos
1A05 Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 1631
2A6Craven Mild Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Leffler
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 1627
3A18Brian Wood Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Murray Carter
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Lawrence
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 16031
4A11Citizens Watches Australia Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Cooke
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Chivas
Holden LX Torana SLR5000 A9X 4 Door 15827
5A17 Bryan Byrt Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vern Schuppan
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 1536
6A8Jack Brabham Holdings Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Muir
Holden LX Torana SLR5000 A9X 4 Door 1538
7A23Settlement Road Motor Wreckers Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warren Cullen
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Johnnie Walker
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 15213
8A33Amco Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Seton
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Smith
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 15215
9C69Brian Wood Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Stevens
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Evans
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I 14938
10B52Amco Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Masterton
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Lucas
Ford Capri Mk.I 14940
11C70Peter Williamson Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Williamson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Quinn
Toyota Celica 14936
12B41B&J Tyre Co Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Shiel
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ross Burbidge
Mazda RX-3 14837
13B42Fury Ford Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Daly
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Eric Boord
Ford Capri Mk.I 14830
14B37Shell Sport Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Hopwood
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Davidson
Ford Capri Mk.II 14735
15B35Amco Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Holland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lawrie Nelson
Ford Capri Mk.II 14529
16C62Greater Pacific Finance Co Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Gulson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Gulson
Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 14355
17B48James Mason Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Jones
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Potts
Mazda RX-3 14263
18C57Thomson Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Stanley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Messner
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 14252
19A15 Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Harvey
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charlie O'Brien
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 13911
20B51JD Duggan Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Duggan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Wheeler
Mazda RX-3 13745
21B36Arthur Hardwick Flag of Australia (converted).svg Arthur Hardwick
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg McCombie
Mazda RX-3 13634
22A10Garry & Warren Smith Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Forbes
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 13612
23A29 Garry Willmington Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Willmington
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jeff Barnes
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 13623
24A19Bonds Coates Patons Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Ryan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phillip Arnull
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 13520
25C73B&G Myers Leyland Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Wade
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Myers
Triumph Dolomite Sprint 13447
26C60Peter Brown Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brown
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Ritter
Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 13341
27B43Gough Motors Mazda Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nick Louis
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stephen Stockdale
Mazda RX-3 13243
28C54Bruce T Hodgson Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Hodgson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dave Morrow
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 13046
29C66Brian Hilton Toyota Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jeff Harris
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Doug Clark
Toyota Celica 12858
30A28Rod Donovan Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Donovan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig McAllister
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 12524
31C61Consolidated Pneumatic Tools Co (Aust) Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Sonneman
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John English
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.I 12150
DNFA26Craven Mild Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ralph Radburn
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robyn Hamilton
Holden LX Torana SLR5000 A9X 4 Door 14821
DNFB49ABE Copiers Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sue Ransom
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Brown
Ford Capri Mk.I 14433
DNFA31Norm G Smith Racing Flag of New Zealand.svg Leo Leonard
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Sprague
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 11918
DNFA20Roadways / Gown-Hindhaugh Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garth Wigston
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Negus
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 1189
DNFC65LR Morris Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Morris
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Finnigan
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 11556
DNFA9ReCar Racing / Cadbury - Schweppes Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Janson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Brock
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 11014
DNFC59Kevin Dennis Motors (Sunshine) Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Gough
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kel Gough
Holden Gemini 10959
DNFA14Thomson Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Dickson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John McCormack
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 10016
DNFC56Paul-Francois Berthier Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Berthier
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Wootton
Triumph Dolomite Sprint 9549
DNFC63 Bob Holden / Shell Sport Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Holden
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lyndon Arnel
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 9348
DNFA34Tim Slako Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Slako
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Hall
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 9226
DNFB50ATP Australia Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Cant
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Stewart
Ford Capri Mk.I 9161
DNFA4 John Goss Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rusty French
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Moore
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 9025
DNFC64Bob Holden / Shell Sport Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greville Arnel
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Toepfer
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk.II 8951
DNFB39Citizens Watches Australia Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Lee
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Clement
Mazda RX-3 8244
DNFA1 Moffat Ford Dealers Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Allan Moffat
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx
Ford XC Falcon Cobra 813
DNFA24Hendersons Federal Spring Works / Shell Sport Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Keogh
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Grant Walker
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 7419
DNFA7 Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Morris
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Fitzpatrick
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 734
DNFA13Scotty Taylor Holden Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan "Scotty" Taylor
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Kennedy
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 6822
DNFA3 John Goss Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Goss
Flag of France.svg Henri Pescarolo
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 6728
DNFB46Brian Wood Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Farrar
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerry Wittenden
Ford Capri Mk.I 6662
DNFB47Selby's Steering & Suspension Service Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dean Gall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Bryant
Mazda RX-3 6154
DNFA2 Moffat Ford Dealers Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Bond
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Gibson
Ford XC Falcon Cobra 592
DNFA32 Bryan Byrt Ford Flag of Australia (converted).svg John French
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 5710
DNFC53Lennox Motors Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Heyer
Flag of Germany.svg Rudi Dahlhauser
Volkswagen Golf GTi 3560
DNFB44Geoff Leeds Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cam Worner
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Leeds
Ford Capri Mk.I 2932
DNFA12 Bob Jane T-Marts Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Geoghegan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Rogers
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 2917
DNFB45Robert Darley Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Hunter
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Lake
BMW 530i [3] 2753
DNFB40Phil McDonell Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil McDonnell
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lynn Brown
BMW 3.0Si 2139
DNFC72Alf Grant Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alf Grant
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Russell
Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 2157
DNFA27 Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Bell
Flag of Austria.svg Dieter Quester
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 55
DNFC71Brian Foley Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Leggatt
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Patrick Nève
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 342
DNSA30Everlast Battery Service Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill O'Brien
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Winter
Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
DNSC74Rejon Industries Pty Ltd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bernie McClure
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Langman
Holden Gemini

Statistics

References