1968 Australian Tourist Trophy

Layout of the Mallala Race Circuit (1964-present)

The 1968 Australian Tourist Trophy was a motor race staged at the Mallala Race Circuit in South Australia, Australia on 29 January 1968.[1] The race was open to Group A Sports Cars and was recognized by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian national title race.[2] It was the twelfth Australian Tourist Trophy.[1]

The race was won by Frank Matich driving a Matich SR3 Repco Brabham.[3] It was his fourth Australian Tourist Trophy victory.[4]

## Results

[edit]

Frank Matich won the 1968 Australian Tourist Trophy driving a Matich SR3. The car is pictured at Surfers Paradise International Raceway in August 1968 The Elfin in which Noel Hurd placed fifth in the race. The car is pictured in 2017 Ian Cook drove this Elfin 400, retiring after 23 laps. The car is pictured at Mallala in 2011 in its Bob Jane Racing Team colours Position[5][6] | Driver[5][6] | No.[5] | Car[1] | Entrant[1] | Class pos.[5] | Class[5] | Laps[5]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Frank Matich | 1  | Matich SR3 Repco Brabham[3] | Frank Matich Pty. Ltd.  | 1  | Over 3000 cc  | 47
2  | Geoff Vercoe  | 34  | Cicada Ford | Trengove & Vercoe  | 1  | 1101 - 1500 cc  | 44
3  | Ralph Boord  | 60  | Olympus Ford | D. Smith & Sons  | 2  | 1101 - 1500 cc  | 41
4  | Granton Harrison  | 52  | Elfin Clubman | G. Harrison  | 1  | 1500 - 2000 cc  | 40
5  | Noel Hurd  | 12  | Elfin Globe Ford | Globe Products  | 2  | Over 3000 cc  | 38
6  | Gary Chapman  | 79  | Honda S800 | Dalton Honda Motors  | 1  | Up to 1100 cc  | 38
7  | G. Mobbs  | 102  | Elfin Clubman | G. Mobbs  | 2  | Up to 1100 cc  | 37
8  | G. Evans  | 69  | MGA s/c  | MG Racing Team  | 2  | 1500 - 2000 cc  | 32
9  | Charlie Tuckey[7] | 61  | Nova III  | Aunger Racing  | 3  | Up to 1100 cc[1] | 20
DNF  | Malcolm Ramsay  | 26  | Elfin 300 Ford | Gilbert Motor Bodies  | \-  | 1101 - 1500 cc  | 25
DNF  | Ian Cook  | 8  | Elfin 400 Repco | Bob Jane Racing Team  | \-  | Over 3000 cc  | 23

### Race statistics

[edit]

* Race distance: 47 laps, 75 miles[1]
* Pole position: Frank Matich, 1:14.5[8]
* Number of starters: 11[5]
* Winner's race time: 64:37.3[5]
* Fastest lap: 1:16.5, Frank Matich, (Matich SR3) - lap record for Sports Cars[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Official Souvenir Program, Mallala Motor Races, 12th Australian Tourist Trophy, Australia Day Holiday, Monday, 29 January 1968
2. ^ Conditions for Australian Titles, 1968 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 70 to 73
3. ^ a b c Fourth TT Race To F Matich, The Advertiser, Tuesday, 30 January 1968, page 12
4. ^ Past Title Winners, CAMS Manual of Motorsport 1969, page 60
5. ^ a b c d e f g h 12th Australian Tourist Trophy Race Meeting - Results, Eric Rainsford Library, Sporting Car Club of South Australia
6. ^ a b Matich wins Tourist Trophy, Australian Motor, April 1968, page 56
7. ^ Official Programme has C. Tuckey, official Results use C. Tuckey, race report in Racing Car News has Col Tuckey, race report in Australian Motor has Chis Tuckey, race report in Australian Motor Manual has Charlie Tuckey, track test report of the Nova III "Shoestring Racer? - Perhaps" written by Barry Catford and published in Sports Car World, March 1968, pages 32 to 34, uses Charlie Tuckey.
8. ^ John Brownsea, Mallala: Matich still No.1, Racing Car News, March 1968, pages 78 & 79

## Further reading

[edit]

* Matich all the way in Australian Tourist Trophy, Australian Motor Manual, April 1968, pages 42 & 43
* Jim Shepherd, A History of Australian Motor Sport, 1980, page 168