Frank Matich

I can not remember the 15 racing at Oran Park in th hands of Matich but do remember the 19 at a meeting where it took the track record at the end of the meeting.

What I do remember very clearly is that at that meeting there was a demonstration race of what was known as Super Karts who were very very quick, the rumor at the end of practice is that Matich asked the Organisers of the meeting to tell the Kart drivers not to go so fast on Sunday as they were up there with his times if not quicker, as I said that was the rumor going around the pits post practice.

Thank you for your courtesy John, it is appreciated.

What I should have said is, "most of us Australians who understand and appreciate our motor racing heritage reject..." etc etc.

It has been subsequently shown, to our everlasting disgrace, that the public would accept Mickey Mouse driving a mobile garbage bin, as REAL motor racing, if it was fed up to them by a manipulative corrupt and vauleless media.

Derek

Those names are always a give away....again Alec.

Who am I?

 

First name John?

Was a NSW Hill Climber

Rallied a (red?) Lancia Stratos!

Franch Matich (it is alleged, your honour!) paid him to take flying lessons to ferry him to Tassie etc as part of his duties with Team Matich

 

When was this, Mick?

I don't think Frank ever raced in Tassie after 1966. That would have been under the title of 'Laurie O'Neil Peterbilt', while previously he might have been 'Team Total' and maybe even 'Leaton Motors'.

Who am I?

 

First name John?

Was a NSW Hill Climber

Rallied a (red?) Lancia Stratos!

Franch Matich (it is alleged, your honour!) paid him to take flying lessons to ferry him to Tassie etc as part of his duties with Team Matich

 

 

 

 

No idea Mick,Ron Marks rally car was yellow unless David Mckay imported a second one,the one in the Targa Tassy many years later was blue.

Edited by Ian G, 24 November 2014 - 02:09.

No idea Mick,Ron Marks rally car was yellow unless David Mckay imported a second one,the one in the Targa Tassy many years later was blue.

Thanks Ian...yes, believe Ron's yellow car is still around and in his hands (he won several rallies in the NSW Champs and Lancia was WRC in 75/76/77)....the mystery man's Stratos was red. 

 

I have heard that there are a small number of genuine units in Oz, some bastardised examples (Nissan and Beta engined) and some fakes.

 

[Edit after more Ron Marks research]

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 25 November 2014 - 07:33.

Slightly OT, but for clarification purposes if a Stratos isn't running a Dino V6 it's not 'bastardised', but more than likely a replica.

PS:  I'm not aware of any red Stratii in Oz, but here's a link to a red replica that was in NSW a few years ago.  Maybe it's the car referred to?

 

http://turbo124.com/....php?f=1&t=9410

Who am I?
 
First name John?
Was a NSW Hill Climber
Rallied a (red?) Lancia Stratos!
Franch Matich (it is alleged, your honour!) paid him to take flying lessons to ferry him to Tassie etc as part of his duties with Team Matich
 

Thanks to all but we could start a whole new thread on Stratos...

The John may be John Anderson? He was listed as a mechanic on one of Frank's forays to the USA. Does anyone know if this John was an Aussie? (that is, did Frank take a group over with him or use locals?)

Quote from an earlier thread:

The sponsorship for the L&M series in 1973 is as follows.

The Travelodge Repco-Matich Racing Team

Entrant Dr. Tom Early, Early Racing Enterprises

Driver. Frank Matich

Repco-Matich A51 (two)

Team Manager Carroll Smith

Merchanics: Robert Riley, Ken Symes, Chris Miles, Derek Kneller, John Anderson, Leon Jarvis.

The press kit is by Autosport Promotions - Alan Bouverat.

The "sleepy bear" symbol was the TraveLodge logo.

Aaron

I have heard that there are a small number of genuine units in Oz, some bastardised examples (Nissan and Beta engined) and some fakes.

 

 

 

Getting OT but there is a register of all the genuine(known)ones in Oz.,colour, owner etc,i just did a quick Google and didn't show,Shannons did.

 

http://www.shannons....plica-register/

 

 

http://wwwbollyblog....-australia.html

Edited by Ian G, 25 November 2014 - 23:17.

Mark Bisset has just added a lengthy feature on the Matich SR4 compiled by Nigel Tait and himself.

 

https://primotipo.co...nd-mark-bisset/

 

There's also other Matich features on primotipo that you'll find links for in this new feature.

 

Stephen

Chaps,

'Fresh', I think, 'stash' of Matich photos around the 1972 Warwick Farm 100 weekend- one dominated by FM and the A50 Repco

https://primotipo.co...mrs-motorsport/

Mark

Edited by MarkBisset, 03 November 2018 - 08:25.

Shortish pictorial piece about FM's last and greatest F5000- the A53 Repco-Holden

https://primotipo.co...tich-a53-repco/

Mark

I posted this article several weeks back but have since had a long chat to Derek Kneller, FM’s Chief Mechanic and fleshed out aspects of the A52 and A53 inclusive of the great drivers last few meetings. For the Matich nutters, of whom I am one!
https://primotipo.co...tich-a53-repco/
Mark

 

 

Getty Images date is 4 September 1963 and the comment that FM sits aboard his rebuilt Lotus 19- so I guess it’s the 19B after the Bruce Richardson accident ? 

 

Nice portrait, FM always worked his PR hard, as he should

Scrounging through an old Motoring News International (Australian racing newspaper).

 

3 Matich rolling chassis, at what even at November 1973 prices seem fair.

 

Stephen