1979 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars. [1] It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Adelaide International Raceway after eight rounds. [2] The title, which was the 20th Australian Touring Car Championship, [3] was won by Bob Morris driving a Holden Torana. [2]

1979 was the first time since the ATCC went to a championship series in 1969 rather than the single race it had been previously that a single make and model car had won all rounds of the championship with all 8 rounds being won by the Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback. Including the current season (2016), such a single car domination has only happened once since in the series, that being when the Ford Sierra RS500 won all rounds of the 1988 championship.

Calendar

The Holden Torana of 1979 Australian Touring Car Champion Bob Morris Toranamorris.jpg
The Holden Torana of 1979 Australian Touring Car Champion Bob Morris

The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over an eight-round series. [4]

Rd. [2] Race titleCircuit [2] City / stateDate [2] Winning driver [2] CarTeam
1 Symmons Plains Symmons Plains Launceston, Tasmania 4 March John Harvey Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
2 Calder Calder Park Raceway Melbourne, Victoria18 March Peter Brock Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
3 Oran Park Oran Park Sydney, New South Wales 25 March Bob Morris Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
4 Sandown Sandown Park Melbourne, Victoria7 AprilBob Morris Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
5 Wanneroo Wanneroo Park Perth, Western Australia 6 MayPeter Brock Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
6 Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise, Queensland 20 MayPeter Brock Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
7 Lakeside Lakeside Brisbane, Queensland22 JuneBob Morris Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
8 The Breville Trophy [5] Adelaide International Raceway Adelaide, South Australia 28 JulyBob Morris Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship.

TeamCarNoDriver
King George Tavern Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Gibson
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Negus
05 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock
76 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Harvey
Craven Mild Racing Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Morris
Citizen Watches Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X [7] 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Cooke
Pioneer Car Stereo Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Dickson
Cadbury-Schweppes Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Janson
Bryan Byrt Ford Ford XC Falcon Cobra [8] 17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson
Brian Wood Ford Pty Ltd Ford XC Falcon 18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Murray Carter
Ford XC Falcon 66 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Stevens
Ford Escort RS2000 69 Rod Stevens
Gown-Hindaugh
Roadways Racing
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garth Wigston
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X [9] 21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charlie O'Brien
Colin Hall Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Hall
Tim Slako Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Slako
Warren Cullen Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 23 Warren Cullen
Alan Browne Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X 24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Browne
Allan Moffat Racing Ford XC Falcon Cobra [10] 25 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Allan Moffat
Marshall Brewer Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 27 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Marshall Brewer
Ron Wanless Ford XC Falcon Cobra [11] 27 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ron Wanless
Ray Allford Ford XC Falcon Cobra 28 Ray Allford
Rod Donovan Ford XC Falcon 28 Rod Donovan
Garry Willmington Ford XC Falcon 29 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Willmington
Bill O'Brien Ford XC Falcon 30 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill O'Brien
Greater Pacific Finance Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 33 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Rogers
Bill Evans Ford Escort 36 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Evans
Scotty Taylor Holden Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 37Alan Taylor
Greg Smelt Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 38 Greg Smelt
Terry Shiel Mazda RX-3 39 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Shiel
Ross Burbidge Mazda RX-3 40 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ross Burbidge
Larry Kogge Mazda RX-3 41 Larry Kogge
Geoff Leeds Ford Capri V6 43 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Leeds
Alan Bryant Mazda RX-3 45 Alan Bryant
Ray Farrar Ford Capri V6 46 Ray Farrar
Barry Jones Mazda RX-3 47 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Jones
K.Kemp Mazda RX-3 48 K.Kemp
Capri Components Ford Capri Mk I [12] 50 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lawrie Nelson
Terry Daly Ford Capri V6 51 Terry Daly
Masterton Homes Ford Capri V6 52 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Masterton
Ray Cutchie Ford Capri Mk I [13] 53 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Cutchie
Roger Cartwright Ford Escort RS2000 Mk 1 [13] 54 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roger Cartwright
Craig Volkers Ford Capri V6 55 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig Volkers
Martin Power Triumph Dolomite Sprint 56 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Martin Power
David Cannon Ford Escort RS2000 58 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Cannon
T.Homeyer Ford Capri V6 59 T.Homeyer
Peter Kuebler Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 62 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Kuebler
Ian Chilman Mazda RX-3 62 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Chilman
Ray Gulson Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 64 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Gulson
Graeme Hooley Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 71 Graeme Hooley
John Gates Mazda RX-3 72 John Gates
Brian Hall Toyota Celica 74 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Hall
David Bail Ford Escort RS2000 75 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Bail
Peter Williamson P/L Toyota Celica 77 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Williamson
John Faulkner Ford Capri V6 79 John Faulkner
Ric Rossiter Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 87 Ric Rossiter
Ray Kaleda Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X 97 Ray Kaleda
Bob Shepherd Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 99 Bob Shepherd

Classes

For championship points allocation purposes, cars competed in two displacement classes: [1]

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 9,6,4,3,2,1 basis to the first six placegetters in each class and on a 4,3,2,1 basis to the first four placegetters irrespective of class [1] (at each round). Only the best seven results counted towards the total [6] (for each driver).

Championship results

Pos. [6] Driver [6] Rd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6Rd 7Rd 8Pts. [6]
1 Bob Morris 4th(4)2nd(9)1st(13)1st(13)4th(4)4th((4))1st(13)1st(13)69 (73)
2 Peter Brock 5th(2)1st(13)3rd(6)3rd(6)1st(13)1st(13)5th((2))2nd(9)62 (64)
3 John Harvey 1st{13)3rd(6)4th(4)6th((1))2nd(9)3rd(6)2nd(9)3rd(6)53 (54)
4Peter Williamson*8th(6)DNS(9)6th(9)8th(9)33
5 Charlie O'Brien 5th(2)2nd(9)2nd(9)3rd(6)26
5Roger Cartwright*9th(4)(1)5th(2)(4)(6)(9)26
7 Allan Grice 3rd(6)Ret2nd(9)Ret3rd(6)DNS21
8Garth Wigston2nd(9)6th(1)4th(4)4th(4)18
8Lawrie Nelson*7th(9)Ret1st{9)DSQ18
10Brian Hall*(9)(3)12
10Steve Masterton*(6)2nd(6)DNSDSQ12
12 John Faulkner*(4)(6)10
12Craig Volkers*(6)(4)10
14Bill Evans*(9)9
15Ray Cutchie*(6)6
16Peter Janson4th(4)6th(1)5
17Bill O'Brien4th(4)4
17Geoff Leeds3rd(4)4
17David Bail44
17Ross Burbidge*4th(3)6th(1)1
21Gary Cooke6th(1)(2)3
21Ray Gulson*10th(3)3
21Barry Jones*4th(3)3
21Larry Kogge*(3)3
21Peter Kuebler*(3)3
21Martin Power*(2)(1)3
27Garry Rogers5th(2)2
27 Allan Moffat RetRet5th(2)2
27Tim Slako5th(2)2
27 Dick Johnson 5th(2)7th2
27Ray Farrar*(2)2
27Ian Chilman*(2)2
33Rod Stevens(1)Ret1
33Colin Hall(1)1
33Garry Willmington6th(1)1
33 Murray Carter 6th(1)1
33David Cannon*(1)1
PosDriverRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6Rd 7Rd 8Total
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 4 5 Conditions for Australian Titles, 1979 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pp. 96–97.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, pp. 68–87.
  3. Records, Titles & Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pp. 14-17.
  4. 2005 V8 Supercars TV Guide, p. 73.
  5. The Breville Trophy, Official Souvenir Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, 29 July 1979, pp. 44–45.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Graham Howard, Stewart Wilson, David Greenhalgh, Privateer pips them, The official history – Australian Touring Car Championship – 50 Years, pp. 190–199.
  7. Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 74.
  8. Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 81.
  9. Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 80.
  10. Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 68.
  11. Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 83.
  12. Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 75.
  13. 1 2 Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 85.