94 replies to this topic

[ripplestrip]

What was your favourite or memorable moment in the Bathurst 500 or 1000 era?
With the 50th Anniversary arriving fast, I thought it would be great to have a thread highlighting some of these moments in time.

Some for me would be "That Rock" for Johnson, the 1992 Wet Finish, the Moffat / Bond 1-2 finish, Bill Browns flip into McPhillamy, Ambrose / Murphy entanglement in '05, Lap of the Gods....
Im sure there would be many many more ... so let's hear some of them... maybe even something in the crowd on the mountain, or a chance meeting?

Cheers

[Hank the Deuce]

What was your favourite or memorable moment in the Bathurst 500 or 1000 era?

Cheers

for mine, Bartlett's Hardies Heroes runs in the wet in 1981... LP in the early laps of 1994 with it ALL hanging out... Alan Jones' opening stanza in 1996 - a former World Driver's Champion showing the rest of them how it was done...

[Ray Bell]

Seeing McPhee closing on team-mate Moffat and looking sure to beat him...

Spoiled by team orders, of course, but it was good to see.

[GMACKIE]

Most memorable for me was getting a phone call from Bill Ford, asking me to drive a VW Beetle in the 1963 Armstrong 500.....and then the drive.

[wagons46]

The Moffat/Bond 1-2 was memorable in that it ceased to be a race when Colin Bond was relegated to finish 2nd. It may have photographed well but the feeling live at the circuit was that a great 'wrong' had been orchestrated much to the disgust of most.

[Ray Bell]

Moffat has said more than once, and I'm pretty sure Bond has confirmed it, that he offered to swap cars at one point in the race so that it didn't matter which car won, they both had a hand in the win...

That wasn't as bad as McPhee being told to slow down, however.

[wagons46]

Maybe, but the 77 staged result was so blatantly obvious that the lead car was ailing and the Bond car could have passed easily were he allowed.

[mymemoryfails]

I want to take the opportunity to find out more about a moment that ruined the Charger's chances of victory in '72

Could somebody please explain the wheel stud issue? And as I understand the same wheel and tyre was forced to go the entire distance on the Chivas Beck Charger.

Help me understand this memorable pit-stop moment.

Thanks
mymemoryfails

[DanTra2858]

For me the most memorable moment at Bathurst was Doug Chivers pushing the Torana into the pits, the TV coverage said it all.

The other was Denny Hume pulling up the BMW on Mountain Straight after suffering a Heart attack that was fatal.

To me the rest of the Famous moments do not come close.

[Ray Bell]

Doug, for all I liked the man, lost that race for he and Brocky...

He could have coasted right into the pits. Peter proved this to be true in 1976 (or '77?) when he had fuel pickup problems, he stopped on Con-Rod to see if he could do anything about it rather than risk not getting to the pits. He couldn't do anything, so he coasted down the hill, took a wide line and then rolled right up to his pit bay.

Originally posted by wagons46
Maybe, but the 77 staged result was so blatantly obvious that the lead car was ailing and the Bond car could have passed easily were he allowed.

So was the McPhee incident to anyone who was watching the gap shrink as Moffat slowed more and more.

[Lee Nicolle]

For me a few, good and bad. Brockys 73 win and the full on last lap waving to the crowd. He did that other times too.
Bill Browns infamous cutting a HO in half,, and surviving!
Lap 1 crash in 70?
KBs qualifying the Chev in the wet, that was very special.
KB trying to break the Chev with the broken rim!
Seton almost winning and breaking a timing chain, probably the best driver never to win
Seton driving that pig handling Skyline with the windscreen crack growing as the pig flexed.
Gricey and the Chickenmans win as a privateer.
Dick binning the green XE. The race for a replacement was very brave but doomed to fail.
The crowds reaction to Richards as a 'winner'
Murphys 06? qualifier, As he said it could have been better, but it was very good.
Since then has there been any? Larry and Russels win from the back was noteworthy but in the days of the pacecar 10 times a race.

Which has spoilt those memorable moments as the pacecar will always come out to close the race up

[GMACKIE]

One of the most exiting wins, in my book, was that of Bob Morris and John Fitzpatrick in 1976.

[ellrosso]

Yes that '76 Morris/Fitz win was one of my favourites too Greg - always a fan of Bob Morris, so good to see him crack a win. Bloody pace cars! I was shooting up there in '97,'98, 99 and 2000 and I think in 2000 there was maybe 14 safety car periods or something ridiculous. What a pain....... I always thought Chivo pushing the XU-1 was pretty special too.

[Librules]

There's no doubt different memories will be highlights for different people. I first went as a spectator in '83 (and kicked myself many times for not going earlier) and will never forget Brock's run, having taken over the Harvey/Splitpin car. It was visibly a handful to get across the top compared to '05' but he achieved the required result at the end of the day. I am/was a Brock fan (but not blind to his faults) and also enjoyed his run sans windscreen chasing the Jags in '85, and the spectacular driving by himself and others including Glenn Seton in '87 through McPhillamy when wet. Having done many laps in road cars and a couple of hillclimbs on portions of the track, I commend any driver combo who have completed any enduro race on the Mount.......

[Librules]

Yes that '76 Morris/Fitz win was one of my favourites too Greg - always a fan of Bob Morris, so good to see him crack a win. Bloody pace cars! I was shooting up there in '97,'98, 99 and 2000 and I think in 2000 there was maybe 14 safety car periods or something ridiculous. What a pain....... I always thought Chivo pushing the XU-1 was pretty special too.

Too true. I now call it the Safety Car 1000......... I went every year from '83 to '98, then again in 2002 and 2004. I have no desire to go again but there's not doubt it is the track that best suits the V8'S. Having said that I did go up (from Melbourne) to see Button have a squirt in an F1 last year and that will live with me until Alzeheimers or the Grim Reaper gets me.

[Ray Bell]

Bond taking the lead from the HOs in the early laps with the XU-1...

That had the crowd on their feet.

[Lola5000]

The Moffat Falcon in '75 and '76.
"Big Pete" in '73.
The Group C year were Bartlett,Brock,Johnson and Morris carved each other up in the opening laps.

[Lola5000]

'82 Bartlett in the Chev and Harvey in the Commodore.

[gouldo]

For me, I loved the 1st time the in car cameras were used. Watching Peter Williamson in the Celica harass the bigger cars across the top and onto conrod was brilliant.

The year that Denny Hulme died was very tough on Richo. I was in the Gibson team for a number of years & that was very hard on JR. That night there was no race celebration. A couple of quiet beers & that was that.

[Lola5000]

Derek Bell in 1977 in the little Alfa GTV.

[Ray Bell]

Rod McRae's attempt to flatten a forest...

That L34 was pretty badly bent when they pulled it off the tree he knocked out of the ground!

[redgts]

The year, 1968 when the Holden Monaros and Falcons battled it out ,it was a big jump in technical changes and professional approaches by the factories.
The most exciting pass ever ,was Colin Bond out braking Allan Moffat's Falcon at the end of Conrod.

[Lola5000]

one of the best looking cars,Janes A9x from 1977.

[Ray Bell]

I was standing in the esses, just below the Shell Tower, when we heard some tyres being tortured, some bangs and then a Falcon appeared in view going backwards...

This was right at the end of the race, the driver was Tony Roberts and he was sliding backwards up against the Armco. Well, that is until the rear lifted itself over the Armco and he shot off backwards into space.

redgts... if you mean in the XU-1 in the opening lap of the 1970 race, I'd agree with you. I mentioned that already.

[Ian G]

I was standing in the esses, just below the Shell Tower, when we heard some tyres being tortured, some bangs and then a Falcon appeared in view going backwards...

This was right at the end of the race, the driver was Tony Roberts and he was sliding backwards up against the Armco. Well, that is until the rear lifted itself over the Armco and he shot off backwards into space.

That was amazing,we saw the car about a week later,we were on our way to Silverdale and it was on the forecourt of a Dealer that was in that area.Roberts was lucky to walk away,it had no roll cage and was a mess inside.

[GeoffR]

1970 - John Keran's terrible crash at McPhillamy Park, that ended his motorsport career. Also the debut of the XU-1 and Moffat's first win. A long drive from Mildura on Friday night after work & Sunday night to be back in time for work on Monday! Also no decent beer to be had in Bathurst!!

[king_crud]

well my first motorsport memory is the start of 1984 Bathurst, when the track was blocked, so I would say that!

[GMACKIE]

I prefer to remember the good, skillful driving, rather than the crashes. This probably puts me in the minority, as the TV now seems to emphasize the 'crash & burn' stuff.

[275 GTB-4]

1966 nine Mini win...and 50 years later, a parade of shoeboxes on the mountain...

From a purely personal view....seeing Brockie slam on the brakes, back up 50 yards (in the old money), look, shake head, look and wave...at the Flaggie trying to cool his noggin

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 23 August 2012 - 22:31.

[Hank the Deuce]

I prefer to remember the good, skillful driving, rather than the crashes. This probably puts me in the minority, as the TV now seems to emphasize the 'crash & burn' stuff.

well, you're not really alone... when I listed the three memories I did, I suddenly realised that they were memories centred around what I regarded as sublime car control in difficult conditions. One that I had heard about, but nothing more, was Ian Geoghegan practicining in Bob Jane's A9X in 1977, several second under the the eventual pole time. To be that quick relative to the rest of them must've been something to see!

Tom Walkinshaw's 1985 Hardies Heroes run is also as watchable now (thanks to YouTube) as it was then too.

[GMACKIE]

The Morris/Fitzpatric win that I mentioned earlier was special, because of the way John F. managed to 'nurse' the Torana over the final laps - with a broken rear drive shaft.....that's good driving.

[Ray Bell]

Was it a broken driveshaft or (as I understood it...) the diff almost destroyed?

I think this Kevin Cassidy (Philip Morris photographer) photo says a lot:

[GMACKIE]

Was it a broken driveshaft or (as I understood it...) the diff almost destroyed?

What's the diff? It was good driving......and considering the lap times he was doing, the diff. would be 'destroyed' soon after breaking a drive shaft.

[Ray Bell]

If it was a broken driveshaft, there would be a fair chance the bearing would fail and the wheel come off over any distance...

I agree, it was a stellar drive. If you watch the video you'll see a moment when the tears all stop halfway through the last lap and there's some real hope in the Ron Hodgson camp. That moment begins when someone in a denim jacket walks up to Bob, what he points out is that Fitz was over Skyline, he could coast home from there... so they all eased up on their anxiety and headed out to the pit wall.

[ripplestrip]

Now THAT is a Photograph !!!
Not because of Brocky or the Torana but the pure emotion that the image portrays.

Kudos to photographer

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by ripplestrip
Now THAT is a Photograph !!!
Not because of Brocky or the Torana but the pure emotion that the image portrays.

Kudos to photographer

Yes, it is something special...

This is when Brock pulled up at the close of the qualifying session prior to the first (1978) Hardies Heroes to console Charlie O'Brien...

Charlie's car, shared with John Harvey, had qualified in the top ten, but the crunching he had just given it meant it wouldn't be there.

[Lola5000]

well, you're not really alone... when I listed the three memories I did, I suddenly realised that they were memories centred around what I regarded as sublime car control in difficult conditions. One that I had heard about, but nothing more, was Ian Geoghegan practicining in Bob Jane's A9X in 1977, several second under the the eventual pole time. To be that quick relative to the rest of them must've been something to see!

Tom Walkinshaw's 1985 Hardies Heroes run is also as watchable now (thanks to YouTube) as it was then too.

Does anyone remember 'Big Pete's" time?

[Ray Bell]

I don't think it was a completed lap...

The story goes that Pete was on a real flyer when the oil filter came undone. He buttoned off, of course, but everyone reckoned it would have been in the realms of 2:22 compared to Brock's pole time of 2:24.1. It could be, of course, that someone timed him from a point other than the pit straight and he did set such a time, but not officially.

[Lola5000]

I don't think it was a completed lap...

The story goes that Pete was on a real flyer when the oil filter came undone. He buttoned off, of course, but everyone reckoned it would have been in the realms of 2:22 compared to Brock's pole time of 2:24.1. It could be, of course, that someone timed him from a point other than the pit straight and he did set such a time, but not officially.

yep......that would be about the time I now remember,with Pat P building that car and all the knowledge he would have gained from Sheppo,there is no reason for that car ,not to have been one quick car as per the HDT team cars of '77.
Pity it never got to run a clean race .From memory early in the race Pete,was in the top half dozen battle cruisers racing nose to tail?
Ray, did Jane spend much time in the car before the race?

[gtsmunro]

Pete Geoghegan getting Moffats car to the lead in '73. Goss looking good to win the '73 race until he hit the Torana in the cutting. Goss And KB winning in deplorable conditions the following year with the Forbes Torana closing.

[brucemoxon]

+1 for Pete Geoghegan's almost-lap in 1977. Off the air - impressed the hell out of this 15-year-old. Wasn't the problem sump / crankcase pressurisation blowing the filters off?

Rickard Rydell's pole lap in the Volvo - silky-smooth and blindingly fast. As was Greg Murphy's pole lap in 2003 - the 'Lap of the Gods' - and John Bowe's reaction to it.

Craig Lowndes taking the lead from John Bowe in 1995.

Craig Lowndes in the McLaren. Jensen Button in the McLaren. F3s at the Mountain this year - absolutely flat from The Cutting to Skyline - idiotically fast through Reid and McPhillarmy Parks.

Brock's last lap in 1979 - after he'd already humiliated the opposition. The most arrogant and magnificent virtual flipping of the bird ever.

The start of the race. Any year.

The stampede across the track, any year.

That spot on the Great Western Highway, about 10km before you get to Bathurst, when you first catch sight of Mount Panorama.




Bruce Moxon

[racer69]

As a 9 year old Dick Johnson fan, his pole lap in 1992 sticks out as a great memory.

Hated everything Nissan a day later.... then i grew up and learnt the regulations

[Welby]

aye Bruce, 'tis always a toss up for me when this question inevitably pops up.

Is it '79, setting the lap record on the last lap, while six laps in front and never having been headed, not even when pitted?

Or is it '85, in the 'parts bin' second car, sans front and rear screens, chasing down the ailing Jag?

Hang on, maybe '75 , as a privateer in the L34?

always the same name though......

[Lee Nicolle]

If it was a broken driveshaft, there would be a fair chance the bearing would fail and the wheel come off over any distance...

I agree, it was a stellar drive. If you watch the video you'll see a moment when the tears all stop halfway through the last lap and there's some real hope in the Ron Hodgson camp. That moment begins when someone in a denim jacket walks up to Bob, what he points out is that Fitz was over Skyline, he could coast home from there... so they all eased up on their anxiety and headed out to the pit wall.

I always understood it was a diff but from memory Fitz said last year on this site that it was the gearbox that ran out of oil.

[Lee Nicolle]

Pete Geoghegan getting Moffats car to the lead in '73. Goss looking good to win the '73 race until he hit the Torana in the cutting. Goss And KB winning in deplorable conditions the following year with the Forbes Torana closing.

With a very battered Lola limp driver in KB. An excellent drive by both.

[Ray Bell]

I think you have to give some credit to Wayne Negus in that race as well...

Remembering that his history was blotted with a lockup into the Murray's Corner fence in 1972, he was entrusted with bringing that Torana up to be the challenger in that '74 race.

[Tim Murray]

I always understood it was a diff but from memory Fitz said last year on this site that it was the gearbox that ran out of oil.

Would this be the post? - from the RIP Frank Gardner thread:

Yes, Frank had been driving for Ron Hodgson and put me into the drive when he had to withdraw. The oil seal had gone between the bell housing and the crank case
towards the end of the race and the clutch was slipping like hell. Brockie and Bondie had been leading and had problems which allowed us to go into the lead but when we started to get the clutch slip he was catching fast. I could see the emotion in our pit from the car. It was a big win for me but even bigger for Bobby. I drove with Bobby on many other occasions but never quite made it. We would have won in the Falcon in the early eighties when we had a comfortable lead, but Bobby was caught up in the big accident on the mountain which stopped the race. I was also leading with Moffat in the Falcon one year when it expired. I used to love my trips to Bathurst and it was there in late '79 that Dick Barbour asked me to drive for him in the IMSA series in 1980.

Couldn't believe it when Brockie died. He was a great driver and a great Australian. We had been together the week before at the Goodwood Revival, both in Corvettes, having fun.

[Lola5000]

Fitz,nice story,from day one at Bathurst he was on the pace,did he ever drive an Alfa there

[Lee Nicolle]

Would this be the post? - from the RIP Frank Gardner thread:

Thats the one, a rear main seal in the engine soaking the clutch, at least I was the right end of the car!
The Stonie cartoon of that with Fitz running inside the r/r corner of the car is I think what skewed most people. The diffs and axles on the L34 were quite fragile. I think too the commentary on the day got it wrong. There was quite a coating of oil up the back of the car at the end.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Lola5000
.....did he ever drive an Alfa there?

Indeed he did, in 1975...

Co-driver was to be Fred Gibson, but Fred didn't get into the car during the race. It dropped a valve on lap 13 with Fitz driving and was out. In practice he was 1.5s behind Boord's Escort for the fastest time in class, under a second behind the Schenken/Bernasconi car.

I should have looked at the race report for the '76 race... but what would I have found? Interference, actually, which gives the following things wrong with the Ron Hodgson Torana:

1. In the race introduction we are told that it had a broken axle and that the diff was being tortured.

2. In the concluding laps of the race report, in the blow-by-blow stuff, there is smoke as Fitz passes the pits on the third last lap. Then it's clear the clutch is slipping and knowing noses sniff the air - "Gearbox!" is the concensus. Gearbox oil getting through the front seal is causing the clutch to slip worse each lap.

3. Right at the end, a Castrol-oriented comment has been added that the oil had kept 'the ailing gearbox' going.

In other words, additions to the report at an editorial level have diluted the information to make it essentially untrustworthy. All of the above has been transferred across to the Australia's Greatest Race book, by the way.