1966 Australian Tourist Trophy

Layout of the Longford Circuit (1953-1968)

The 1966 Australian Tourist Trophy was a motor race staged at the Longford Circuit in Tasmania, Australia on 7 March 1966.[1] It was the tenth annual Australian Tourist Trophy race.[2] The race was open to sports cars as defined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) in its Appendix C regulations,[3] and it was recognized by CAMS as the Australian championship for sports cars.[2] It was won by Frank Matich[1] driving an Elfin 400 Traco Oldsmobile.[4][1]

## Results[edit]

Frank Matich won the 1966 Australian Tourist Trophy driving an Elfin 400, similar to the example pictured above

The Lolita won the Up to 1100cc class driven by Bob Holden. The car is pictured in 2018.

Position[1] | Driver[1] | No. [5] | Car[1] | Entrant [5] | Class pos.[1] | Class[1] | Laps[1] | Time[6] /
Remarks

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1  | Frank Matich | 2  | Elfin 400 Traco Oldsmobile[4][1] | Laurie O'Neill Peterbilt  | 1  | 3001cc and over  | 23  | 60:40.4
2  | Alan Hamilton  | 60  | Porsche 904 Spyder [7] [1] | Porsche Distributors Pty. Ltd.  | 1  | 1501 to 2000cc  |  | 60:53.8
3  | Spencer Martin | 1  | Ferrari 250LM[8] | Scuderia Veloce | 2  | 3001cc and over  |  | 61:22.3
4[9] | Lionel Ayers[9] | 11  | Lotus 23B[8] | Motor Racing Components  | 1  | 1101 to 1500cc  |  |
5[9] | Dick Thurston[9] | 66  | Monaco Oldsmobile | Pitstop Car Sales  | 3  | 3001cc and over  |  |
6[9] | Kerry Cox[9] | 28  | Paramount Jaguar | Mowbray Shell Service Station  | 4[10] | 3001cc and over  |  |
?  | Wally Mitchell  | 9  | RM1  | East Burwood Motors Pty. Ltd.  | 1  | 2001 to 3000cc  |  |
?  | Bruno Carosi  | 19  | Carosi B Type  | Bruno Carosi  | 2  | 2001 to 3000cc  |  |
?  | Greg Ellis  | 52  | MGA | Greg Ellis  | 2  | 1501 to 2000cc  |  |
?  | Ross Ambrose  | 50  | Elfin Ford Cortina | R. Ambrose  | 2  | 1101 to 1500cc  |  |
?  | Bob Holden[1][11] | 113  | Lolita  | Killara Motor Garage  | 1  | Up to 1100cc  |  |
?  | John Stillard[12] | 13  | Elfin[12] | Motor Improvements  | ?  | 1501 to 2000cc [5] |  |
?  | Alan Ling[12] | 30  | Lotus Super 7 | Alan Ling  | ?  | 1101 to 1500cc [5] |  |
DNF[13] | Paul Bolton[13] | 3  | Lotus 23 | Town & Country Garage Pty. Ltd.  | \-  | 1101 to 1500cc [5] | 11[13] | Gearbox[12]
DNF[14] | Frank Demuth[14][8] | 5  | Lotus 23B[14] [15] | Lane Cove Auto Port  | \-  | 1101 to 1500cc [5] | 8[8] | Head gasket[12]
DNF[12] | Steve Holland[12] | 23  | Lotus 23[12] | Team Harper  | \-  |  |  | Brakes[12]
DNF[14] | Kevin Bartlett[14] | 47  | Alfa Romeo GTA[14] | Alec Mildren Racing Pty. Ltd. | \-  | 1501 to 2000cc [5] |  | Head gasket[12]
DNF[12] | Max Brunninghausen[13] | 32  | Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ[13] | Ralph Sach Motors  | \-  | 1501 to 2000cc [5] |  | Head gasket[12]
DNF[16] | Bob Wright[12] | 111  | Tasma 1500[12] | Burnie Speed Shop  | \-  | 1501 to 2000cc [5] | 1[16] |
DNS[12] | Les Howard[12] | 16  | Lotus 23[12] | Howard & Sons Racing Team  | \-  | Up to 1100cc [5] | \-  | Engine failure[12]

Race statistics:

* Race distance: 23 laps – 103½ miles[1]
* Pole position: Frank Matich[17]
* Number of starters: 19[1]
* Number of finishers: not yet ascertained
* Fastest lap: Frank Matich \- 2:28.7[6]
* First Tasmanian: Kerry Cox (Paramount Jaguar)[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Record average speed proves Stewart now world’s best, The Mercury, Tuesday, 8 March 1966, page 23
2. ^ a b Australian Tourist Trophy, Australian Motor Racing and Sporting Guide - Motor Manual's Year Book for 1967, page 85
3. ^ Conditions for Australia Titles, 1966 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 70 to 72
4. ^ a b Frank Matich Elfin 400 Longford 1966, www.oldracephotos.com Retrieved on 29 June 2014
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Programme, Longford, 4th South Pacific Championship Meeting 1966
6. ^ a b Last years results, Official Programme, Longford, 1967
7. ^ Alan Hamilton Porsche 904 Spyder Longford 1966, www.oldracephotos.com Retrieved on 29 June 2014
8. ^ a b c d Sports car aces and machines, Courier Mail, Saturday, 5 March 1966
9. ^ a b c d e f Jim Shepherd, A History of Australian Motor Sport, 1980, page 167
10. ^ Class position not quoted in the Mercury report
11. ^ Bob Holden Lolita Long Bridge Longford 1966, www.oldracephotos.com Retrieved on 29 June 2014
12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Racing Car News, April 1966, pages 32-33
13. ^ a b c d e Romsey Quints, Longford Anti-Climax, Sports Car World, May 1966, pages 48 to 50
14. ^ a b c d e f Longford, Modern Motor, May 1966, page 33
15. ^ Frank Demuth Lotus 23B Pub cnr Longford 1966, www.oldracephotos.com Retrieved on 29 June 2014
16. ^ a b Quints in the Sports Car World report notes that "lap two saw the first retirement, a Tasmanian special"
17. ^ Barry Green, Longford - Fast Track Back, page 134

## External links[edit]

* Images from 1966 Longford, www.oldracephotos.com