71 replies to this topic

[Ray Bell]

Pursuing details of the latter part of Greg Cusack's racing career, I believe I am missing some detail about his racing of this car...

From what I can see, the car was ordered for Greg by Bruce Burr on a trip to the US around October, 1966.

It was a long time before it appeared on the circuits, its first race being at Lakeside on May 7, 1967. Easily recalled is the fact that it was painted up the same as Pete Geoghegan's car and they raced under the name of Ford Mustang Team with Castrol backing. Greg had become a Ford dealer in December, 1966.

From what I've found in race reports, it didn't appear again until Warwick Farm's July 16 meeting, then a fortnight later it was at Lakeside for the ATCC meeting.

And that's all I can find! Niel Allen first raced the car on January 7, 1968 at Surfers.

Does anyone have any further information about this car in Cusack's ownership.

We all know it went on to have an illustrious career with Allen (and was driven by Fred Gibson), Gordon Stephenson (WA), Tony Calvert (Tas) and Mike Gore (NSW). I think the car itself is worth discussing, but mainly I'm interested in finding out if Cusack was at any other meetings in this car.

[Ray Bell]

Of interest in Greg's time with this car...

At Warwick Farm he had a big lose off the Western Crossing and came close to smiting the fence at Homestead. At this meeting he also drove the SV Brabham 2.5 and set a new resident lap record (1:31.9), so he wasn't exactly off form.

In the race he went skating off from the Causeway braking area. One report says that Phil Barnes' Mini touched him and precipitated that indicent.

It leaves me wondering whether he felt these two incidents where he covered large distances careering out of control fazed him somewhat?

And the two biggest tin-top events of the year were over - ATCC at Lakeside, AJC Trophy at the Farm - so maybe he was able to say he'd satisfied enough of Castrol's sponsorship. Or maybe the release of the Falcon GT and entering one of them in the same Castrol colours for Bathurst made up for unfulfilled obligations?

[Porsche718]

Ray, I have the following entries...

 

1967 June 25   Lakeside         # 7 1st outing. A 5th place. Probably getting ready for the ATCC in July

1967 July 16   Warwick Farm     # 7 finished well back after a nudge by Barnes

1967 July 30   Lakeside         # 7 5th in ATCC.

1967 August 20 Catalina Park    #17 did not arrive

1967 August 27 Surfers Paradise # 7 dnf after a "wild spin" at Repco

Edited by Porsche718, 14 May 2018 - 07:29.

[Porsche718]

....and Niel Allen's first meet with the 'stang was Surfers on Jan 8, 1968. In atrocious conditions, Neil finished well down after spinning in the Esses.

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, you've added one appearance there that I shouldn't have missed...

A flat tyre to cause that 'wild spinout' too.

True, when I went back and got the date on the first appearance I got the date for the wrong meeting! So the car's total career in Greg's hands was just four meetings plus a DNA.

[Porsche718]

In checking RCN on that final Surfers meeting in August. In practice Cusack got to within 0.2s of the Beechey/Geoghegan lap record (1:24.0). Big Pete quickly jumped back into his 'stang, punched out a 1:23.0, and came back into the pits.

 

Point made?

[Ray Bell]

I really doubt that Greg considered himself as serious opposition for Pete at that early stage...

But he was not slow. Look at the Warwick Farm race report and see how far behind he really was.

[Porsche718]

I sometimes wonder why he, and other drivers as well, make the descision to give another class that is so different a go. Greg was so fast in open wheelers, had some great runs in the Lotus 23b, and the SV Lola Mk 1 IIRC. All delicate cars that require presice touch. He was even one of the first "names" to give Formula Vee a go. Did well during his few runs with the CB (Rennmax).

 

Then to try his hand at a big lump of American iron against Pete, Norm and Jane. Why?

 

Some drivers can do it. But only a few. Maybe spending a lot of time racing against Bartlett, and watching Big Rev able to drive anything with wheels, and challenge the Mustangs with the GTA might have spurred him on to give tourers a go.

 

As a wise old sage once said "how hard can it be?"

[Ray Bell]

Did he race a Vee?

I can only remember him demonstrating the Formcar. And he spun doing that!

[Porsche718]

Actually, you/re probably correct Ray. Apart from the demo laps in the Formcar, and testing of the "Cusack-Burr", he may not have raced it. I will have to get my '60s RCNs down AGAIN. I seem to be able to manage that only once a day now. What, with bad back, shot shoulder and dicky legs!

 

When the wife sees me taking chair, ladder or forklift into the garage, she's knows I'm heading toward the oldest magazines.

Edited by Porsche718, 14 May 2018 - 21:17.

[Glenn Moulds]

Actually, you/re probably correct Ray. Apart from the demo laps in the Formcar, and testing of the "Cusack-Burr", he may not have raced it. I will have to get my '60s RCNs down AGAIN. I seem to be able to manage that only once a day now. What, with bad back, shot shoulder and dicky legs!

 

When the wife sees me taking chair, ladder or forklift into the garage, she's knows I'm heading toward the oldest magazines.

Put the ladder away, I think I can save you the trouble! As far as I can tell from all the magazine reports and news articles of the day Cusack only drove a Vee in the Warwick Farm demo, although it is possible he had an unreported drive privately. He certainly didn't race a Vee - he doesn't appear on any entry list and I'm sure his presence in a race would have been reported at the time.

[Porsche718]

Hey Glenn, great to hear from you. Thanks for saving me the search.

[Ray Bell]

Glenn, in all those entry lists, is there anywhere that Greg has loaned the Formcar to someone to race?

I'm sure I read that somewhere last week.

I'm also of two minds about who imported and owned the car. As a prominent VW dealer who raced prominently, Greg was the obvious choice for VWA to use to promote the class, but did they import the car and give it to Greg to use for that promotion or did Greg do it himself?

[GreenMachine]

... so maybe he was able to say he'd satisfied enough of Castrol's sponsorship. Or maybe the release of the Falcon GT and entering one of them in the same Castrol colours for Bathurst made up for unfulfilled obligations?

Unfulfilled obligations? Can you elaborate on this Ray, and how otherwise he might have been short-changing his sponsor?

[Ray Bell]

I'm only guessing at this, but there is some chance that the Castrol contract included a number of race appearances...

So he's only made it to two major races in the year, perhaps Castrol wanted him to turn out for various State Championship events too?

[Glenn Moulds]

Glenn, in all those entry lists, is there anywhere that Greg has loaned the Formcar to someone to race?

I'm sure I read that somewhere last week.

I'm also of two minds about who imported and owned the car. As a prominent VW dealer who raced prominently, Greg was the obvious choice for VWA to use to promote the class, but did they import the car and give it to Greg to use for that promotion or did Greg do it himself?

Yes, he did loan the car to Alan Felton for the 19th Sept 1965 Warwick Farm meeting. To quote the RCN report "Cusack had no 1100cc engine for his Brabham, so he borrowed his 1964 winning car from present owner Alan Felton, in return for a drive in the Formula Vee "Formcar"." There were three entries in the FVee class of this 10 lap Racing Car Race but Felton was the only starter. No separate entrant was listed, the programme just has A Felton as driver.

 

I'm afraid I can't help with the second part of your question - I haven't seen anything that clarifies the ownership of the car at this time. I think it appeared in Victoria shortly after (maybe at a hillclimb) and I seem to recall seeing it entered by or mentioned in connection with a country Vic VW dealer. I'll try to find the report or programme (my Vic material isn't as well organised as the NSW stuff!).

[Porsche718]

Glenn, the Rennmax Mk 1 (not CB) that Cusack had advertised on the Historic FV website for a long time. Did he never run that either?

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, Glenn...

Now I know where I read it!

It's interesting that Cusack borrowed back his Brabham from Felton to run in that F2 title race. There had been a Formula Junior Championship for a couple of years, then when Formula Junior was essentially renamed ANF2 a title race was held for two more years.

If memory serves, it was at this time that the CAMS decided that minor formulae should not have a National Championship, and as ANF1½ came into being alongside ANF2 then it was a logical step to take.

Cusack, of course, won both of those ANF2 titles, the first at Lowood in his Elfin. And to this day there is no National Championship for Vees, Clubmans and other lower classes.

[Glenn Moulds]

Glenn, the Rennmax Mk 1 (not CB) that Cusack had advertised on the Historic FV website for a long time. Did he never run that either?

I didn't know that Cusack was advertising a car there. I do remember a blue, unraced Mk1 that was ex-Cusack advertised elsewhere for a long time but wasn't aware of any direct Cusack connection at that time. Could that be the same one?

 

AFAIK Cusack never raced a Vee but I have just double-checked my files and he DID test a CB at Warwick Farm for a Sports Car World magazine feature which appeared in the January 1966 issue. There is even a photo of him in the car.

[Porsche718]

It is the one I'm thinking of. When you said ex-Cusack and "unraced".  I think it may have been advertised by an ex-family member. Wife? Wonder what happened to it?

[Glenn Moulds]

It is the one I'm thinking of. When you said ex-Cusack and "unraced".  I think it may have been advertised by an ex-family member. Wife? Wonder what happened to it?

Good question. I'm not sure it sold, I believe the asking price was a tad optimistic..........

[Porsche718]

Glenn, do you have that August 20 1967 Catalina programme? I have my doubts about the Cusack Mustang entry. It wasn't from a programme that I got the info.

 

It was logical that he would be running whenever Pete Geoghegan ran. Castrol Team cars an' all. But I don't have a record of Ian G running either at that meet. Can you check? Pleeze

 

Steve W

[Glenn Moulds]

Glenn, do you have that August 20 1967 Catalina programme? I have my doubts about the Cusack Mustang entry. It wasn't from a programme that I got the info.

 

It was logical that he would be running whenever Pete Geoghegan ran. Castrol Team cars an' all. But I don't have a record of Ian G running either at that meet. Can you check? Pleeze

 

Steve W

Hi Steve, didn't realize it was you   I do have a copy of that programme. There were three Mustangs entered that day,

#1 - Mustang Team - I Geoghegan

#7 - Bob Jane Racing Team - R Jane/S Martin

#17 - Mustang Team - G Cusack

Hope this helps.

[Porsche718]

Thanks Glenn. So none turned up. Getting ready for Surfers the next weekend. Just wanted to clarify Ray's original thread inquiry. Cheers

[TerryS]

Pursuing details of the latter part of Greg Cusack's racing career, I believe I am missing some detail about his racing of this car...

From what I can see, the car was ordered for Greg by Bruce Burr on a trip to the US around October, 1966.

It was a long time before it appeared on the circuits, its first race being at Lakeside on May 7, 1967. Easily recalled is the fact that it was painted up the same as Pete Geoghegan's car and they raced under the name of Ford Mustang Team with Castrol backing. Greg had become a Ford dealer in December, 1966.

From what I've found in race reports, it didn't appear again until Warwick Farm's July 16 meeting, then a fortnight later it was at Lakeside for the ATCC meeting.

And that's all I can find! Niel Allen first raced the car on January 7, 1968 at Surfers.

Does anyone have any further information about this car in Cusack's ownership.

We all know it went on to have an illustrious career with Allen (and was driven by Fred Gibson), Gordon Stephenson (WA), Tony Calvert (Tas) and Mike Gore (NSW). I think the car itself is worth discussing, but mainly I'm interested in finding out if Cusack was at any other meetings in this car.

Ray some other Australian owners were Cuthbert, Gibbs, Burchall and Miller.

[TerryS]

Ray there were several posts on this Cusack Mustang on TRS that I was involved with

These included:

http://www.theroarin...&highlight=jane

refer post # 265 down

http://www.theroarin...ighlight=canepa

refer post #128 and down

The car was for sale by Canepa for many years. I see in their sold inventory that it has finally gone, no date or price quoted.
Basic problem was it never competed in the actual Trans Am, coming new to Cusack. So as only actually competed cars are eligible for their Historic Trans Am series (and big money being paid for these) this car was an orphan

[TerryS]

Here for interest are two ads for the ex Cusack Mustang. A slight difference in price....

The first ad was circa 1972

https://www.google.c...f=1527383917258

https://www.google.c...f=1527384127583

[Lola5000]

Ray some other Australian owners were Cuthbert, Gibbs, Burchall and Miller.

Good friend of mine did the resto on the car for Burchall,found as an ex speedway car from memory.

 

Burchall had before  this car had done another car ,trying to pass it off as the Beechey ATCC Mustang ,to many people were aware of where the original  car was .

 

This car was restored /built up with the aim of selling it to a certain Sunshine coast collector ...he passed on the car ,it was then sold to Miller who did a Tour Auto with it,then it ended up in the USA .

Edited by Lola5000, 27 May 2018 - 05:11.

[Lee Nicolle]

I sometimes wonder why he, and other drivers as well, make the descision to give another class that is so different a go. Greg was so fast in open wheelers, had some great runs in the Lotus 23b, and the SV Lola Mk 1 IIRC. All delicate cars that require presice touch. He was even one of the first "names" to give Formula Vee a go. Did well during his few runs with the CB (Rennmax).

 

Then to try his hand at a big lump of American iron against Pete, Norm and Jane. Why?

 

Some drivers can do it. But only a few. Maybe spending a lot of time racing against Bartlett, and watching Big Rev able to drive anything with wheels, and challenge the Mustangs with the GTA might have spurred him on to give tourers a go.

 

As a wise old sage once said "how hard can it be?"

Dare I say there may have been financial incentives, eg prize money? Or at least appearance money.

Though IF you can drive a open wheeler well it should not be that hard to learn a tintop. I would have more trouble going the other way. And the Mustang was hardly a big lump. They were then and are now quite a small car with then reasonable power.

And I suspect even then no real secrets to make them go fast.

[Ray Bell]

I'm sure finances wouldn't have come into it, really...

Maybe, however, Ford Australia thought that their new Canberra dealer should be in a Mustang?

[Porsche718]

Cusack started running the Lotus 32 with Castrol sponsorship in June/July of 1966. Maybe Castrol's plans included Greg to acquire a Mustang as a perfect fit to team up with Pete Geoghegan.

 

As Ray points out it was only a few months later that the car was ordered from the US.

[Ray Bell]

He had the Castrol sponsorship from the beginning of 1965...

Until February '66 (plus Singapore in April) he ran the BT10 and the Lotus 23, then he began running the 32B early in May, still with the 23 alongside until October/November.

Yes, Castrol might have had some input, but I think it's more likely that Ford were tapping him on the shoulder.

That said, Greg and Niel Allen had a lot in common, both having successes in little cars before getting a Mustang. How do their transitions to the Mustang compare?

Certainly Neil gave it more time.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by Ray Bell, 13 March 2021 - 11:03.

[Porsche718]

Could it be, Ray, that he simply was "over it"? We have already mentioned the "offs" he had in the Mustang, but his last 12 months results are interesting. In the BT23A he had 2 largish accidents at Lakeside and Sandown and a string of dnfs. He was regularly on pole, but many times something went wrong in the race.

 

His 1968 Tasman were all dnfs until Longford where his practice crash was a biggun' and did not start. Did he simply take stock, look at his growing motor dealerships and his committments and decide "enough"?

 

I notice he had an appearance in the Brabham at Catalina in April, perhaps that was a shakedown run after repairs, prior to looking for a buyer.

 

 

 

Though IF you can drive a open wheeler well it should not be that hard to learn a tintop. I would have more trouble going the other way. 

 

I appreciate your point Lee but there have been drivers who have excelled at open-wheelers, and not been quite as quick in sports/tourers. It was always said of Fangio that he needed to see his wheels to be able to race at his best. But Stirling Moss, on the other hand, could simply drive anything.

 

Sadly, we don't see that in these modern times as F1 drivers never compete in any other class. Mind you, Alonso just recently won in the sports endurance round at Spa.

Edited by Porsche718, 27 May 2018 - 11:09.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Porsche718
Could it be, Ray, that he simply was "over it"? We have already mentioned the "offs" he had in the Mustang, but his last 12 months results are interesting. In the BT23A he had 2 largish accidents at Lakeside and Sandown and a string of dnfs. He was regularly on pole, but many times something went wrong in the race.
 
His 1968 Tasman were all dnfs until Longford where his practice crash was a biggun' and did not start. Did he simply take stock, look at his growing motor dealerships and his commitments and decide "enough"?

Even before the Longford crash he was planning retirement, possibly as soon as at the end of that meeting. The Lakeside crash in the BT23 was relatively minor, but the car suffered from a lot of 'modern technical' problems. Once at Bathurst he failed to start because the metering unit failed and the same thing happened on the grid of the Saturday race at Longford. At Surfers the wires fell off the ignition contacts under the engine (on the flywheel?) and he had to put them back out on the circuit before he went scorching back into the event. Apparently the same thing had happened more than once to Brabham.
 

.....I notice he had an appearance in the Brabham at Catalina in April, perhaps that was a shakedown run after repairs, prior to looking for a buyer.....

Which April? Which Brabham?

[Porsche718]

Sorry Ray. My mistake AGAIN. That's what happens when I don't check before I post. It was 1967.

 

 

Autopics have a dozen photos all dated 23 April 1968. I scrolled down and found a pic of Beechey's NOVA. Should have twigged then!

[Ray Bell]

April '67?

That was that dreadful meeting for which RCN didn't report one of the races! I would love to get the details on that one, I can't remember the meeting either as I was busy running (last?) in a 24-hour slot car race at Crows Nest. The only Catalina I missed from early '63 to the end.

[Porsche718]

Greg Cusack's career from 1966. I don't think I've missed too much - but.......

 

1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    Racing Cars                            7  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    1

1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    NSW Sportscar Champs                   7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 FL

1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    Blue Mountains Trophy                  7  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64  dnf gearbox input shaft

1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    Sports cars                            7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dns

1966 Feb 13 Warwick Farm     Warwick Farm 100      Castrol Team    14  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64  dnf gear selector

1966 Feb 13 Warwick Farm     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 FL

1966 Feb 19 Lakeside         Sports Div 1                           7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole

1966 Feb 20 Lakeside         GP - Heat 2                               Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    5

1966 Feb 20 Lakeside         Australian GP                             Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64  dnf universal

1966 Feb 20 Lakeside         Sports Car Feature                     7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole

1966 Feb 27 Sandown Park     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dnf clutch

1966 Feb 27 Sandown Park     Sandown Park Cup                      17  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    7

1966 Feb 27 Sandown Park     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dnf

1966 Apr 10                  Singapore GP                           7  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    4

1966 May 15 Warwick Farm     Racing Cars                            7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf seized engine

1966 May 15 Warwick Farm     RAC Trophy                            14  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dnf ignition

1966 May 22 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    3

1966 May 22 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Feature                     7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    3

1966 Jun 26 Sandown Park     Sports Car Heat                           Lotus 23B           23-S-15    2

1966 Jun 26 Sandown Park     Racing Car Feature                        Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dns practice crash

1966 Jun 26 Sandown Park     Ferodo Trophy                             Lotus 23B           23-S-15    4

1966 Jul 10 Lakeside         Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole

1966 Jul 10 Lakeside         Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf accident     

1966 Jul 10 Lakeside         Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole

1966 Jul 17 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Feature                     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    3

1966 Aug 14 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Trophy                      7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 new lap record

1966 Aug 14 Surfers Paradise Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    3

1966 Aug 14 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 

1966 Sep  4 Oran Park        Div 1 Race                             7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    4

1966 Sep  4 Oran Park        Diamond Trophy                         7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    5

1966 Sep 18 Warwick Farm     Sports Car Race                           Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 FL

1966 Sep 18 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Feature                    14  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dns half-shaft

1966 Oct 16 Sandown Park     Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf front suspension

1966 Oct 30 Catalina Park    Div 1                                  7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    2

1966 Oct 30 Catalina Park    Sports Feature                            Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1

1966 Oct 30 Catalina Park    Div 1 Feature                          7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf brakes/crash

1966 Nov 13 Symmons Plains   Gold Star - Heat      Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    2

1966 Nov 13 Symmons Plains   Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    1

1966 Dec  4 Warwick Farm     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1

1966 Dec  4 Warwick Farm     Hordern Trophy        Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    5

1967 Feb 12 Lakeside         Lakeside 99                           14  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf gear linkage

1967 Mar 25 Bathurst         Racing Car Event                          Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3

1967 Mar 27 Bathurst         NSW Champs                                Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dns fuel metering

1967 Apr 23 Catalina Park    Racing Car Event                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1 FL

1967 Apr 23 Catalina Park    Sports & Racing                        7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1 FL

1967 May 14 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Event                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf oil breather

1967 May 21 Surfers Paradise Racing Car Event                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    2    

1967 Jun 25 Lakeside         Touring Car Race                       7  Ford Mustang                   5

1967 Jun 25 Lakeside         Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf accident pole

1967 Jul 16 Warwick Farm     AJC                                    7  Ford Mustang                   8

1967 Jul 16 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Feature                     7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1

1967 Jul 16 Warwick Farm     Touring Car Race                       7  Ford Mustang                 dns

1967 Jul 30 Lakeside         ATCC - Heat                            7  Ford Mustang                   9

1967 Jul 30 Lakeside         ATCC                                   7  Ford Mustang                   5

1967 Aug 20 Catalina Park    Touring Car Race                      17  Ford Mustang                 dna

1967 Aug 27 Surfers Paradise Racing Car Scratch    Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1

1967 Aug 27 Surfers Paradise Touring Car Race                       7  Ford Mustang                 dnf spun

1967 Aug 27 Surfers Paradise Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    4

1967 Sep  3 Surfers Paradise 12 Hour Race          Scuderia veloce  4  Ferrari 250LM       6321       1    with Bill Brown

1967 Sep 10 Warwick Farm     Motor Show Trophy                      7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1

1967 Sep 17 Sandown Park     Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf accident pole

1967 Oct  2 Bathurst         Gallaher 500          Gregory's Mtrs  50D Ford Falcon XR GT             17 7^th class with Bill Brown

1967 Oct  9 Mallala          Gold Star - Heat      Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3

1967 Oct  9 Mallala          Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3

1967 Nov 12 Symmons Plains   Gold Star - Heat      Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf driver injured

1967 Nov 12 Symmons Plains   Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1 pole

1967 Nov 26 Bathurst         NSW Hillclimb Champs                   7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1

1967 Dec  3 Warwick Farm     Hordern Trophy        Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3

1968 Feb 11 Surfers Paradise Racing Car Scratch                     7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    5

1968 Feb 11 Surfers Paradise Surfers 100                            7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf spun off

1968 Feb 18 Warwick Farm     Warwick Farm 100                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf brakes

1968 Feb 25 Sandown Park     Australian GP                          7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf

1968 Mar  4 Longford         South Pacific                          7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dns crashed

Edited by Porsche718, 28 May 2018 - 09:59.

[Ray Bell]

Quite a list...

The date for the Catalina must have been October 30, however, as Catalina didn't run races on Saturdays.

A lot of research behind this. I didn't follow up so much on the 23's races when I was going through them and I think I missed that Symmons DNS.

Driver injured?

[Porsche718]

I was quickly looking in the first paragraph or so of every meeting.

 

I just re-read it and Peter Wherrett had written "practice got under way on Saturday October 29". Typical Peter to mess with me! Actually, I did my first ever driver training with Wherrett and Hartnett.

 

I have now edited the correction.

 

Which Symmons dns do you refer to? 

 

"driver injured" - In the Gold Star prelim, Greg was following Bartlett when a stone flew up and hit Cusack in the face, breaking his goggles, and gashing his forehead. Which makes his following win the main event even more impressive.

 

Edit: There may other races/meetings that Cusack was entered and did not appear. As your thread, Ray, was in relation to the Mustang, I definitely think this is the case.

 

There were quite a few meeting mid year in 1967 that both other Castrol cars, Pete's Mustang and Leo's 39 competed in and it would have been logical to expect the 2nd Castrol Mustang to run - but no mention.

 

Maybe Glenn Moulds would be able to fill in the gaps? Go Glenn!

Edited by Porsche718, 28 May 2018 - 10:17.

[Ray Bell]

You definitely didn't want Peter Wherrett to 'mess with you'...

I'm pretty sure you have got all the Mustang entries.

I have an idea there was another meeting where Peter put the Saturday date. It was a part of the RCN policy to put the date in the first or second paragraph of the story.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
April '67?

That was that dreadful meeting for which RCN didn't report one of the races! I would love to get the details on that one, I can't remember the meeting either as I was busy running (last?) in a 24-hour slot car race at Crows Nest. The only Catalina I missed from early '63 to the end.

So do you have the results of this race?

The report covers the combined Racing & Sports Car 6-lapper and the earlier Racing Car event for Divisions 1 & 2 cars.

There is no report on the race for faster Sports Cars running on their own, just a photo of Brown and Gibson in the fog with the caption:

Bill Brown (Ferrari) leads Fred Gibson's Elan out of the murky fog into Energol. This race was stopped, run later when the fog lifted.

[Porsche718]

Off-topic, but as a researcher, it's sometimes frustrating when the correspondent didn't put any date at all in their report. Early years of RCN was poor at times, but AMS, Autosportsman were dreadful. 

 

When researching early years I always have newspaper archives open at the same time to get dates correct. Oh, how I wish Trove would go past 1954!!!!!

[Porsche718]

Ask and ye shall receive..............

 

 

Event 5 - Sports Car scratch - 10 laps

Over 2000cc

1 W Brown       Ferrari LM250  3285 2:39.3

1501-2000cc

1 F Gibson      Lotus Elan     1594 2:40.4

2 M Ryves       Lotus Super 7  1498 2:41.1

3 D Moline      Lotus Super 7  1498 2:48.3

Clubman

1 J Tuxford     Lotus Super 7  1098 2:43.4 

2 R Rollinghoff Nota Sportsman 1098 2:44.3

3 M Collins     Nota Sportsman 1098 2:49.7

Outright

1 W Brown       Ferrari LM250  3285 2:39.3

2 F Gibson      Lotus Elan     1594 2:40.4

3 M Ryves       Lotus Super 7  1498 2:41.1

4 J Tuxford     Lotus Super 7  1098 2:43.4 

5 R Rollinghoff Nota Sportsman 1098 2:44.3

6 D Moline      Lotus Super 7  1498 2:48.3

Fastest lap: Rollinghoff 1:16.7

 

Race stopped after completion of two laps

due to poor visibility.

 

Interpretation - "couldn't see yer hand in front of yer face"!

 

Race report? I guess Bill Brown took off like a mad thing, and frightened himself silly, where-as Bobby Rollinghoff must have had tail-lights to follow as he got fastest lap on the 2nd. He wanted to keep going. May have won in a canter.

Edited by Porsche718, 28 May 2018 - 12:27.

[Ray Bell]

But that's not the race...

The race, the caption says, was stopped and run again later. With more than two laps.

[Porsche718]

This is what I have for the April 23 Catalina meeting...

 

Event  1 - cancelled

Event  2 - Series Production            10 laps  

Event  3 - cancelled

Event  4 - cancelled

Event  5 - Sports Car Scratch           10 laps no report only photo

Event  6 - Formula Vee Scratch           6 laps  

Event  7 - Sports Cars (Closed)          6 laps  

Event  8 - Div 1 & 2 Racing              6 laps  

Event  9 - Sports Handicap               6 laps  

Event 10 - NSW Touring Champs           30 laps  

Event 11 - Racing Car Handicap           6 laps  

Event 12 - Formula Vee                   6 laps  

Event 13 - Marque Sports & Clubman       6 laps  

Event 14 - Sports & Racing Div 1         6 laps  

Event 15 - Series & Improved Production  6 laps  

 

I think Mr Wherrett either got it wrong, or the "re-run" was with the Div 1 racing cars. Peter mentions four races being cancelled, I had assumed he included the 2 lap Sports Car Race in that, but maybe the re-run?

 

I have the results from the 12 events above. Unfortunately, June 1967 Autosportsman is one of the few editions I don't have so I can't double check there, and AMS was fairly useless by the later 60's.

Edited by Porsche718, 28 May 2018 - 12:44.

[Ray Bell]

If you mean 'got it wrong' in the photo caption, then he wouldn't have done that...

I'm inclined to believe it as mentions of Bill Brown were many. Maybe I should try to track him down and ask him?

Bob Rollinghoff getting fastest lap in the race which was stopped is interesting.

[TerryS]

Greg Cusack's career from 1966. I don't think I've missed too much - but.......
 
1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    Racing Cars                            7  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    1
1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    NSW Sportscar Champs                   7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 FL
1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    Blue Mountains Trophy                  7  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64  dnf gearbox input shaft
1966 Jan 31 Catalina Park    Sports cars                            7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dns
1966 Feb 13 Warwick Farm     Warwick Farm 100      Castrol Team    14  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64  dnf gear selector
1966 Feb 13 Warwick Farm     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 FL
1966 Feb 19 Lakeside         Sports Div 1                           7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole
1966 Feb 20 Lakeside         GP - Heat 2                               Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    5
1966 Feb 20 Lakeside         Australian GP                             Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64  dnf universal
1966 Feb 20 Lakeside         Sports Car Feature                     7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole
1966 Feb 27 Sandown Park     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dnf clutch
1966 Feb 27 Sandown Park     Sandown Park Cup                      17  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    7
1966 Feb 27 Sandown Park     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dnf
1966 Apr 10                  Singapore GP                           7  Brabham BT10 Ford   IC-6-64    4
1966 May 15 Warwick Farm     Racing Cars                            7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf seized engine
1966 May 15 Warwick Farm     RAC Trophy                            14  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dnf ignition
1966 May 22 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    3
1966 May 22 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Feature                     7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    3
1966 Jun 26 Sandown Park     Sports Car Heat                           Lotus 23B           23-S-15    2
1966 Jun 26 Sandown Park     Racing Car Feature                        Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dns practice crash
1966 Jun 26 Sandown Park     Ferodo Trophy                             Lotus 23B           23-S-15    4
1966 Jul 10 Lakeside         Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole
1966 Jul 10 Lakeside         Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf accident     
1966 Jul 10 Lakeside         Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 pole
1966 Jul 17 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Feature                     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    3
1966 Aug 14 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Trophy                      7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 new lap record
1966 Aug 14 Surfers Paradise Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    3
1966 Aug 14 Surfers Paradise Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 
1966 Sep  4 Oran Park        Div 1 Race                             7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    4
1966 Sep  4 Oran Park        Diamond Trophy                         7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    5
1966 Sep 18 Warwick Farm     Sports Car Race                           Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1 FL
1966 Sep 18 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Feature                    14  Lotus 23B           23-S-15  dns half-shaft
1966 Oct 16 Sandown Park     Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf front suspension
1966 Oct 30 Catalina Park    Div 1                                  7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    2
1966 Oct 30 Catalina Park    Sports Feature                            Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1
1966 Oct 30 Catalina Park    Div 1 Feature                          7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf brakes/crash
1966 Nov 13 Symmons Plains   Gold Star - Heat      Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    2
1966 Nov 13 Symmons Plains   Gold Star             Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    1
1966 Dec  4 Warwick Farm     Sports Car Race                        7  Lotus 23B           23-S-15    1
1966 Dec  4 Warwick Farm     Hordern Trophy        Castrol Team     7  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8    5
1967 Feb 12 Lakeside         Lakeside 99                           14  Lotus 32B Climax    32-FL-8  dnf gear linkage
1967 Mar 25 Bathurst         Racing Car Event                          Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3
1967 Mar 27 Bathurst         NSW Champs                                Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dns fuel metering
1967 Apr 23 Catalina Park    Racing Car Event                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1 FL
1967 Apr 23 Catalina Park    Sports & Racing                        7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1 FL
1967 May 14 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Event                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf oil breather
1967 May 21 Surfers Paradise Racing Car Event                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    2    
1967 Jun 25 Lakeside         Touring Car Race                       7  Ford Mustang                   5
1967 Jun 25 Lakeside         Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf accident pole
1967 Jul 16 Warwick Farm     AJC                                    7  Ford Mustang                   8
1967 Jul 16 Warwick Farm     Racing Car Feature                     7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1
1967 Jul 16 Warwick Farm     Touring Car Race                       7  Ford Mustang                 dns
1967 Jul 30 Lakeside         ATCC - Heat                            7  Ford Mustang                   9
1967 Jul 30 Lakeside         ATCC                                   7  Ford Mustang                   5
1967 Aug 20 Catalina Park    Touring Car Race                      17  Ford Mustang                 dna
1967 Aug 27 Surfers Paradise Racing Car Scratch    Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1
1967 Aug 27 Surfers Paradise Touring Car Race                       7  Ford Mustang                 dnf spun
1967 Aug 27 Surfers Paradise Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    4
1967 Sep  3 Surfers Paradise 12 Hour Race          Scuderia veloce  4  Ferrari 250LM       6321       1    with Bill Brown
1967 Sep 10 Warwick Farm     Motor Show Trophy                      7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1
1967 Sep 17 Sandown Park     Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf accident pole
1967 Oct  2 Bathurst         Gallaher 500          Gregory's Mtrs  50D Ford Falcon XR GT             17 7^th class with Bill Brown
1967 Oct  9 Mallala          Gold Star - Heat      Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3
1967 Oct  9 Mallala          Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3
1967 Nov 12 Symmons Plains   Gold Star - Heat      Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf driver injured
1967 Nov 12 Symmons Plains   Gold Star             Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1 pole
1967 Nov 26 Bathurst         NSW Hillclimb Champs                   7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    1
1967 Dec  3 Warwick Farm     Hordern Trophy        Scuderia Veloce  7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    3
1968 Feb 11 Surfers Paradise Racing Car Scratch                     7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1    5
1968 Feb 11 Surfers Paradise Surfers 100                            7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf spun off
1968 Feb 18 Warwick Farm     Warwick Farm 100                       7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf brakes
1968 Feb 25 Sandown Park     Australian GP                          7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dnf
1968 Mar  4 Longford         South Pacific                          7  Brabham BT23A Repco BT23A-1  dns crashed

Slightly o/t but the Brabham BT 10 that Cusack drove in 1966 had chassis # IC-6-64, as listed above.

The last two digits indicate the year of manufactur, ie 1964.

So this must have been the car I photographed in 1964. Per post #38 of the Lotus 27 thread.

So he had it for a couple of years.

[Glenn Moulds]

I was quickly looking in the first paragraph or so of every meeting.

 

I just re-read it and Peter Wherrett had written "practice got under way on Saturday October 29". Typical Peter to mess with me! Actually, I did my first ever driver training with Wherrett and Hartnett.

 

I have now edited the correction.

 

Which Symmons dns do you refer to? 

 

"driver injured" - In the Gold Star prelim, Greg was following Bartlett when a stone flew up and hit Cusack in the face, breaking his goggles, and gashing his forehead. Which makes his following win the main event even more impressive.

 

Edit: There may other races/meetings that Cusack was entered and did not appear. As your thread, Ray, was in relation to the Mustang, I definitely think this is the case.

 

There were quite a few meeting mid year in 1967 that both other Castrol cars, Pete's Mustang and Leo's 39 competed in and it would have been logical to expect the 2nd Castrol Mustang to run - but no mention.

 

Maybe Glenn Moulds would be able to fill in the gaps? Go Glenn!

You rang..... I'll need to drag out my 1967 programmes but leave it with me.

[Glenn Moulds]

But that's not the race...

The race, the caption says, was stopped and run again later. With more than two laps.

Chaps, I have the AAS report of this meeting. For Event 5 it only says "It was supposedly a ten-lap Sports Car race but was called off with the red flag before two laps were out. The Scuderia Veloce Ferrari 250LM led all the way and was awarded the winning slot from Fred Gibson's Lotus Elan and Alex MacArthur (Lotus Super 7)." The report then describes each subsequent race in event order but there is no mention of a re-run. Steve, I suspect you're right about the "re-run" being the scheduled Div 1 Racing and Sports Car event as the programme was seriously behind schedule so it's unlikely they squeezed another one in.

[Ray Bell]

If that's the case, it would be treated as an abandoned race...

IIRC, a race stopped at less than 33% of its intended distance is no longer a race. It can, however, be re-run as a new race.

After two-thirds distance it is deemed to be a completed race and results are taken as at the last time the leader crossed the finish line.

Remember the crowd hoo-haa at Bathurst? They didn't know the rules.

And a race stopped in between those distances can be resumed to the finish taking the times from the lap before the red flag and adding them to the times of the resumption.