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Surfers 250, 1972 - Doug Whiteford charged with dangerous driving


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#1 KarlLeFong

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 06:10

Whilst flipping through the January 1972 edition of Australian Motor Manual, I came across a report on the above-mentioned touring car race.

The author, who is un-named, apparently drove a Honda in the event, which contained a lot of the so-called big names in that class of racing, but the issue that caught my eye, apart from the references to both Doug Whiteford and Leo Geoghegan, was the fact that after the race, Doug Whiteford was charged with dangerous driving.

The charge, which was brought by a "Mel Mollison" was dismissed, and I wondered if Mr Mollison made himself scarce after the event - but I imagine DW was "getting on a bit" by 1972 anyway.

I was astounded that such a charge could be levelled at a triple AGP winner and the doyen of Australia's racing drivers.

I was reminded of how in the Sherlock Holmes stories, Professor Moriarty penned a monograph on "The Dynamics of an Asteroid" and "there wasn't a brain in Europe capable of reviewing the contents" - surely the stewards here were in a similar position!

Honda versus Datsun 1200 - two extracts:

"....by this time Whiteford had emerged - albeit it a little battered - and was again dicing with Honda. This was fine until we were rapidly being overtaken by Leo's charger and as I gave way to Leo, Doug politely filled the gap and left Leo approachng [/i]me at some 30 extra miles per hour - thank God it was Leo!". [/i]

The mysterious author set off after DW finally passing him on "Datsun Straight"-

".......I didn't touch him but... by then the Datsun was so battered it wouldn't have mattered"

Did anybody actually witness this race?

Who is the author?

Who was Mr Mollison?

Did DW really drive so aggressively in the twilight of his career?

Karl

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#2 john medley

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 06:42

I do recall the name Mel Mollison, but no more than that.... and dont feel interested enough to find out more at this stage

Doug Whiteford was one of my boyhood heroes. I saw him win at Bathurst in 1950. I saw him drive the Patterson Cooper a decade later, and read of his Datsun exploits another decade on. In the last 6 months of his life( I think, from memory) I was able to speak to him at Winton where he was racing Jim Shepherd's black Lotus 23. I approached this silver haired gentleman feeling I was in the presence of greatness. I recall we spoke of Lobethal, and more. I recall he complained of a sore leg.... which was an indicator of the thing that killed him. I admit my bias. I am expressing my vested interest; not a case of in my eyes he could do no wrong, rather I accepted he was known as a hard man and a competitor who was there for sound reasons. That is the way it was. The sort of things mentioned above happened, on a repeated basis. That is the way it was..

At the same time I would be interested to know more about the incident mentioned.

#3 Paul Hamilton

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 07:04

I know nothing of this incident but Mel Mollison was a quite successful competitor in the early 1970's driving small production touring cars. I was at one time involved with the Mazda Dealer Team driving Mazda 1300s for Mason Motors at Brookvale and Mel was then a regular runner in major long distance races in another 1300 entered, I think, by the Melbourne dealer, Bainbridge Motors.

Doug Whiteford often ran in those events partered by John Roxburgh in a very competitive Datsun 1200 which was the major opposition for the Mazda teams. Roxburgh was very well connected with Nissan and the Datsun had various not commonly available homologated options including a long range fuel tank which enabled it to go forever without stopping and frustrated the hell out of the opposition before the regulations were changed to enable all cars to use 'safety' tanks. Not suprisingly the whole field then decided fuel tank safety was a high priority and fitted safety tanks which just happened to be much larger in capacity!!

Doug also ran a very quick Datsun 2000 in marque and production sports car events and was highly respected by the rest of us who had contact with him in those twilight years of an illustrious career. He was certainly known as a tough competitor but I don't recall any incidents of questionable driving tactics although the competition amongst the small touring cars was often pretty fierce with some strong commercial imperatives involved.

#4 cooper997

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 07:27

It would appear Mel Mollison was the driver of a Mazda 1300.

The Honda was probably an Scamp N600 and Paul Buda was driving one in this November 7th, 1971 Surfers Paradise meeting - Round 5 of the Manufacturers' Championship

RCN December 71 report mentions Whiteford's "badly bent fender" and him pitting late and staying there until just before the race finish, to cross the finish line and take 5th in class. This I guess is why the politics began. His Datsun team mate, James Laing-Peach won the class.

Stephen

#5 KarlLeFong

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 08:03

It would appear Mel Mollison was the driver of a Mazda 1300.

The Honda was probably an Scamp N600 and Paul Buda was driving one in this November 7th, 1971 Surfers Paradise meeting - Round 5 of the Manufacturers' Championship

RCN December 71 report mentions Whiteford's "badly bent fender" and him pitting late and staying there until just before the race finish, to cross the finish line and take 5th in class. This I guess is why the politics began. His Datsun team mate, James Laing-Peach won the class.

Stephen


Stephen.

In 1971/2 did RCN use the US term "fender"

Karl

#6 cooper997

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 08:31

Karl,

Certainly does. Des White is credited as the report's author.

Stephen

#7 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 08:59

Stan, what has the fact he is a triple AGP winner go to do with it. Actually when Whiteford raced those cars he had an aggessive reputation, probably needed to race those things anyway.
Mel Mollison as a competitor could only protest, not make the charge.
Later Mel Mollison was a series scrutineer from memory [possible flawed]

#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 09:04

I really am surprised that someone close to motor racing would ask about Mel Mollison...

He not only competed, ran a business he promoted on his cars ('Mel Mollison Motors') and also became part of the CAMS officialdom, a Steward, I think. He was in there for years and did run larger cars like Toranas IIRC.

The RCN report is less than helpful... and it does use the word 'fender', strangely enough... and seems to indicate that Buda was the only Honda runner there.

I would doubt it, however. Unless Whiteford's car was crippled and dicing with the Honda in a poor state. There is no way the Datsun 1200 could not run away from a Honda N600 and hide.

Maybe all of this happened when Doug emerged from the pits to finish the race? Maybe he was on the same lap as the Buda Honda and running badly?

#9 KarlLeFong

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 10:24

I do recall the name Mel Mollison, but no more than that.... and dont feel interested enough to find out more at this stage

Doug Whiteford was one of my boyhood heroes. I saw him win at Bathurst in 1950. I saw him drive the Patterson Cooper a decade later, and read of his Datsun exploits another decade on. In the last 6 months of his life( I think, from memory) I was able to speak to him at Winton where he was racing Jim Shepherd's black Lotus 23. I approached this silver haired gentleman feeling I was in the presence of greatness. I recall we spoke of Lobethal, and more. I recall he complained of a sore leg.... which was an indicator of the thing that killed him. I admit my bias. I am expressing my vested interest; not a case of in my eyes he could do no wrong, rather I accepted he was known as a hard man and a competitor who was there for sound reasons. That is the way it was. The sort of things mentioned above happened, on a repeated basis. That is the way it was..

At the same time I would be interested to know more about the incident mentioned.


Same here John,

I was brought up on Doug Whiteford and the 300S....Albert Park '57 and '58 - the 'Bend '57, '58, '59 and '60, Phillip Island 1960 - I was touched by his majestic authority and his "presence" in that maginficent car.

Later, I saw him drive both Bib and Patto's spare cars and I was always frustrated that he never had a real go in a Cooper of his own - fastest practice time at the opening 'Farm meeting , the dead heat at Phillip Island 1960 etc etc....Later the Zagato Aston ..superb.

I read how he was lifted into the Lotus 23 for his final appearnce at Sandown circa 78/79.

I am sure his final Datsun days were treated wth the respect they deserved.

Karl

#10 cooper997

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 10:40

Karl,

It was probably the Fangio meeting at Sandown. Doug passed away in the service department at Hamiltons Porsche, South Yarra on January 15th, 1979. He was working for Alan H as the service manager and still wanted to be on the tools.

Stephen



#11 john medley

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 20:43

I did not know that. Thank you Stephen.

#12 Ray Bell

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Posted 16 February 2011 - 23:10

It must have been a horrible experience for Allan and his staff...

While we're talking about Doug and Surfers, that is where I managed to meet and spend time with him. It was during the first 12-hour race and I talked to him for a fairly lengthy period... it was in that period that I learned the truth about Lobethal.

#13 KarlLeFong

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 09:55

Karl,

It was probably the Fangio meeting at Sandown. Doug passed away in the service department at Hamiltons Porsche, South Yarra on January 15th, 1979. He was working for Alan H as the service manager and still wanted to be on the tools.

Stephen


Stephen,

Your detailed knowledge is amazing ..

A man with terminal cancer was working ok till the day he died?

Karl

#14 Lola5000

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 10:07

Same here John,

I was brought up on Doug Whiteford and the 300S....Albert Park '57 and '58 - the 'Bend '57, '58, '59 and '60, Phillip Island 1960 - I was touched by his majestic authority and his "presence" in that maginficent car.

Later, I saw him drive both Bib and Patto's spare cars and I was always frustrated that he never had a real go in a Cooper of his own - fastest practice time at the opening 'Farm meeting , the dead heat at Phillip Island 1960 etc etc....Later the Zagato Aston ..superb.

I read how he was lifted into the Lotus 23 for his final appearnce at Sandown circa 78/79.

I am sure his final Datsun days were treated wth the respect they deserved.

Karl

Lets not forget he drove in minor events the Leech bros cars.
My parents knew him and his family very well.I think mum said he never got over the death of his daughter?

#15 cooper997

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 10:25

Karl,

I don't know about amazing. We're all just tragic enthusiasts on TNF that have a snippet of information that helps put the jigsaw together. It's a matter of knowing where to look or who to ask. My source about Doug's passing (as told a few years ago) also worked at Hamiltons.

And as Rob (Lola) has just mentioned about Doug not getting over the death (in a car accident of his daughter - and only child), Kaye with her husband, Peter David - as well. Is indeed true. Happened around September 1967.

Stephen

#16 Lola5000

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 10:33

Karl,

I don't know about amazing. We're all just tragic enthusiasts on TNF that have a snippet of information that helps put the jigsaw together. It's a matter of knowing where to look or who to ask. My source about Doug's passing (as told a few years ago) also worked at Hamiltons.

And as Rob (Lola) has just mentioned about Doug not getting over the death (in a car accident of his daughter - and only child), Kaye with her husband, Peter David - as well. Is indeed true. Happened around September 1967.

Stephen

while my father is still alive I must go down and see him get his photos of the period scan and post.He was born in 1931 and has a very good memory of the 50s racing in Victoria,he was great mates with in QLD Les Agnew and spent much time with Firth and the Hunts,Jones ect.
he has some fab photos of himself and Norm B and there Cussos at Albert Park.

#17 David Shaw

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 12:36

Stephen,

Your detailed knowledge is amazing ..

A man with terminal cancer was working ok till the day he died?

Karl


Sounds like the Doug Whiteford I know of to me. Cancer isn't something that always leaves you frail and incapacitated for a long duration before it has its way with you.

Edited by David Shaw, 17 February 2011 - 12:38.


#18 Ray Bell

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 12:38

I would imagine that Doug lived for Kaye in many ways...

She was born in 1954, apparently, as she was just 23 when on the sixteenth day of her marriage to Peter David they were killed at Gunning.

Worse for Doug, they were returning from Surfers where they'd been watching, perhaps helping, him run in the 12-hour race.

I don't know, and maybe someone here can answer this, but where did the name 'Kaye' come from the hold such a special place for Doug? Recall that he named his Lincoln Zephyr-based race car the 'Kaye Special'?

Was it, perhaps, his mother's name?

Another snippet... Ron Egerton went to school with Doug.

#19 David Shaw

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 12:43

Ron Edgerton?

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#20 David McKinney

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 13:01

She was born in 1954, apparently, as she was just 23 when on the sixteenth day of her marriage to Peter David they were killed at Gunning.

Bad maths, Ray! Must have been 1944
Wasn't the late '40s V12 Kaye Special named in her honour?


#21 Ray Bell

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Posted 17 February 2011 - 13:22

Mental block, David... you're dead right...

In fact, both Davids are right, not only about Edgerton, but about Kaye's birthdate.

I always thought the Kaye Special was named after her, but when I had the mental block calculating back from 1967 (how could I do that?) it set me wondering.

What a waste of time!

Edited by Ray Bell, 17 February 2011 - 17:34.


#22 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 February 2011 - 00:05

Came across something about Mel Mollison that should cause various monocular Victorian posters to swallow again...

He was racing in the sixties and competed at the 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 1000.

So that's nothing? Read this and weep:

http://forums.autosp...p;#entry2786220

Now... who was he co-driving with?

I'll also add, in keeping with this thread, that when Doug was racing in the two Sandown 6-hours, Kaye was co-driving with Dianne Leighton. In '64 she drove a Morris 1100 (there's a pic here somewhere of that!) and in '65 a Vauxhall Viva. Finished both times, too.

#23 David Shaw

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Posted 18 February 2011 - 06:02

Now that is funny.

#24 2Bob

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Posted 18 February 2011 - 07:14

I'm not sure that I am adding anything here but I have results from a Calder meeting 18/1/1970 showing Mel Mollison in a Rallye Imp (entered by Monty Leasure Wear). For what it is worth also had John Roxburgh in a Datsun SSS and Leonard Teale in a Toyotta Corolla (as well as yours truly in a Cooper S). I think that people would drive whatever they could afford (or get sponsership for) - nothing has changed really!

Another Calder meeting of around the same time shows Doug Whiteford in a Datsun 2000 Sports.