15 replies to this topic

[island]

He raced for two Ohio dentists that year.
Ray, if you need more information on that
adventure, please let me know.

[Ray Bell]

Not me, I never went to Ohio... but my son is in Indiana... too late, though, maybe 20 years too late... Kent Price would know. I might have a look and see if there's anything about it in Racing Car News.

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[island]

Sorry, Ray, not dentists but podiatrists...
I have dug out a few things which may be
useful for your forthcoming Matich book...
Matich`s team owners were Dr. ET Earley of
Dover,Ohio, and his son Dr. TE Earley, both
podiatrists. Team manager was Carroll Smith,
a graduate from the University of Rochester,
NY (BS degree). Smith joined Carroll Shelby
in 1965 as chief engineer and team engineer
followed by a stint at Roy Woods Racing.
Sponsors of Earley Racing Enterprises were
Penfolds Winerey and Travelodge Inns.
The team had two "brand new Matich-Repco A51s. The A51s have a couple of extra inches
in the wheelbase as well as an engine that is
half an inch lower than in the A50" ("Autosport"). "Autoweek" reckoned Matich as
20-1 outsider, McRae was 5-1 favourite for
a second title... At Riverside (29.4.73),
Matich qualified the first car for heat one
(1.16.120, fifth fastest) and the second for
heat two (1.15.891, fourth fastest). The
Earley team then scratched one car and that
"upset the odd-numbered qualifier (Heat 1)
and even-numbered qualifier (Heat 2) gridding
method" (Autosport). Because of that trouble,
the SCCA later invented the "Matich rule"
which stated "If a driver qualifies two cars,
he must notify the Series Chief Steward within one hour of qualifying as to which car
he will drive in the race".
Matich started in heat one (24 laps) and was
passed by a charging Graham McRae on lap nine... But the Kiwi retired with engine trouble. Matich finished third.
In the final, Matich ran in fifth place when
the shift linkage broke after half a dozen
laps. He had to pit and finished 17th, six
laps down.
Interested in more, Ray? Please let me know.

[Ray Bell]

Always interested in more... Racing Car News seems to give no coverage at all... it's in the period when I was 'between assistant editorships'..
It's no surprise that there had to be a Matich rule... once at Warwick Farm he had a brake lock on during the warm-up lap... he calmly drove to pole position, where the mechanics smartly changed the whole assembly.. upright, brakes, wheel and all. Max Stewart was fuming.. and the Clerk of Course was charge for allowing it to happen!
Always a need for a Matich rule!

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[island]

At Laguna Seca (6.5.73), Matich qualified
11th (1.01.45). He dropped out in the first
heat and was allowed to start the final from
the back of the grid. But again he was out of
luck. Electrics caused his retirement on
lap 7.

[island]

The third round on the 3.0 miles road course
of Michigan International Speedway (20.5.73)
looked like another disaster for Matich. He
qualified tenth (1.39.273), 5 and a half
seconds slower than Scheckter but could not
start the heat because of a broken gearbox.
It was replaced in time for the final when
Matich started again as promotor`s option
from 21st place. That final (25laps) saw a
real "Gold Star" performance (sorry for the
pun). Matich drovewith "great enthusiasm from
the back of the grid to be rewarded with
fifth place" ("Autosport"). Seven laps from
the end, he passed another Matich, raced by
John Walker (who would finish eighth). Best
Australian, however, was Max Stewart (Lola
T330) in fourth.
At Mid-ohio (3.6.73) Matich scored again
10th fastest time, troubled by a "flexing
chassis" (Autosport). He could only manage
a distant fifth in his heat (30 laps), one
lap down. There were intermittent rain showers during the final (42 laps). Matich
placed 13th, five laps behind Scheckter.
Walker finished 11th.

[island]

Watkins Glen (17.6.73) was a major catastophe
for the Earley team. Matich and new teammate
Vern Schuppan went through four Repco engines! "On Friday neither got in very many laps before the oil pressure zeroed and both
engines had to be changed. On Saturday, exactly the same happened even tough the oil
pump and pick-up had been repositioned to a
more central position in the Repco." (Autosport). Both A51s were withdrawn after
practice.
The other Australians fared badly, too. Stewart broke his wrist in a practice crash.
Bartlett and Muir (second fastest qualifier)
suffered from sick engines. Only John Walker
had some luck. He finished eighth.
Matich (5000 Us-dollars prize money), Stewart
(6800 dollars), Walker (5550 dollars plus a
Lola T330!) and Bartlett returned to Australia after Watkins Glen.

[Ray Bell]

It's hard to believe we had so little information about this series here... we knew about Stewart's wrist, and we learned some things, but nothing in the way of a comprehensive story about any of it.

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[island]

I have dug out another fact concerning the
Repco`s power output.
There was a speed trap at the Watkins Glen
back straight. Walker`s Matich had the third
highest speed with 174.0 mph. Fastest were
the Hogan Lolas of Brett Lunger (175.9 mph)
and David Hobbs (174.9 mph).

[Ray Bell]

The Repco engine was based on a Holden V8, not a Chevy, which was a little lighter - I believe - but lacked sheer horsepower. It did have superior torque, however.

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[island]

Tony Adamowicz`"Autoweek" column reveals
another facet of Matich`s Watkins Glen
adventure. Adamowicz raced a Lola T330 for
Roy Woods Racing (sponsored by Carling Black
Label beer). He had a practice crash in turn
3. Debris everywhere. Adamowicz exited the
Lola to warn oncoming drivers. He writes:
"As the car slowly approaches, I recognized
the driver as Frank Matich. He calmly shut
down his engine and asked " Would you like
a liftback?" Of course I said yes, and then
he added " By the way Tony, what`s it really
like out there...?"
The Woods team then rented Bartlett`s Lola
T330 for the race (Bartlett took over the
T330 of the injured Max Stewart). In the
final, Adamowicz`engine went south laying a
thick smoke screen. That caused the following
Graham McRae to spin out.
Adamowicz continues: " When the race was over
Graham approached me and said, " The very
least you could do is offer me a beer." So
I handed him a Black Label, opened one for
myself and we sat down to discuss "what it
is REALLY like out there...

[island]

Ray,
Matich`s first foray into US-F5000 in 1971
was more successful. Did RCN cover it
comprehensively? If you are interested in
more, please let me know

[Ray Bell]

Was that the year he scored a first-up win? That got good coverage.

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[island]

A first and a second in two races-that was
not bad! In fact his 35 points were good
enough for sixth place in the final standings. And do not forget the 13500 US-dollars prize money.
You can see the development of the F5000s
if you compare Matich`s 1971 qualifying
times at Riverside (2.54 miles, 1.18.18)
and at Laguna Seca (1.9 miles, 1.03.27)
with his 1973 times.

[Ray Bell]

Didn't he race there in the McLaren too? 1971 must have been in the Matich A50 ..

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[island]

Ray,
in 1971 Matich raced his blue Rothmans
Mclaren M10B-Repco in the US.