This incident was bugging me so I went looking...
I knew I remembered Moffat going in backwards at Shell some time, it was at the '71 Tasman Cup meeting and the report reads so:
Moffat in Trouble
In practice for the main supporting race, the second round of the 1971 South Pacific Touring Car Championship, interest was more centred on the string of Toranas rather than the Falcons who have essentially had it their way in Series racing on this circuit. But Bond made it clear right from the outset that he was the one to beat in this class, with a 1:25.8, and Leffler was best of the rest with 1:27.7 in his Allan Mason car till Brian Reed did a scorching 1:25.5 in the final session.
Predictably, Moffat spreadeagled the Class E cars and the field with a 1:23.3 with only McPhee in the other works car to keep him company at 1:24.3. But what was not predictable was a moment's indiscretion at Shell and Moffat converted the HO to the appearance of a utility against the Armco. "Brain failure" was Allan's only comment when asked what was the cause of the accident, but it meant a lot of work overnight.
McPhee for a Change
When they lined up on race day, Moffat was there on pole, although the car looked distinctly like a new one. At the flagfall, Moffat was away, but it was McPhee who led them up the back straight...
I'm pretty sure this was the occasion where Bruce McPhee told me his car had been changed overnight. Apparently he had nothing to do with the setting up of the cars and just turned up to drive, maybe getting involved in debriefs, but not going to the workshop etc.
Anyway, he was pretty upset that Moffat was always given what he wanted and that his own lot was just to take what he was given.
Edited by Ray Bell, 12 December 2014 - 00:25.