1973 Australian Touring Car Championship

Motor racing competition

1973 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship was an Australian motor racing competition for Group C Touring Cars. It began at Symmons Plains on 5 March 1973 and ended at Warwick Farm after eight rounds. The championship, which was authorised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian National Title, was the 14th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship.

The championship was won by Allan Moffat in a Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III.

The night before Round 6 of the series at the Adelaide International Raceway, Moffat's GTHO Falcon was stolen from Stillwell Ford in the northern Adelaide suburb of Medindie. Rather than see Moffat out of the race (he was the series points leader at the time having won the opening 4 rounds and finishing 3rd in round 5), Murray Carter loaned Moffat his GTHO Falcon for the race. Peter Brock won the race while Moffat kept his points lead by finishing second. Moffat's stolen Falcon was later found abandoned in the Adelaide Hills where the thieves who had taken it for a "joy ride" dumped it when it ran out of fuel.

## Entrants and drivers

[edit]

The following drivers competed in the 1973 ATCC. The series consisted of eight rounds held in six different states. As of 2022, Elemer Vajda's entry is still the only Subaru to have contested an ATCC/V8 Supercars race.[1]

Entrant  | Car  | No  | Driver

|
|
|

Holden Dealer Team | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 1  | Peter Brock
Grace Brothers Racing  | Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 | 1  | Ian Geoghegan
Holden Dealer Team | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 2  | Peter Brock
Murray Carter - Shell Racing  | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | 3  | Murray Carter
Dick Johnson  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 4  | Dick Johnson
McLeod Ford  | Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop | 5  | John Goss
Road & Track Auto Services  | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | 6  | Fred Gibson
Bob Jane Racing  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 7  | Bob Jane
Allan Moffat Racing | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | 9  | Allan Moffat
Grace Brothers Racing  | Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 | 10  | Ian Geoghegan
Holden Dealer Team | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 11  | Peter Brock
Ron Hodgson Motors  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 11  | Bob Morris
Bob Holden  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 13  | Bob Holden
Peter Robinson Motors Lilydale  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 14  | Tony Niovanni
John Stoopman  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 15  | John Stoopman
Graeme Blanchard  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 16  | Graeme Blanchard
Bryan Thomson  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 17  | Bryan Thomson
Ted Mudie  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 18  | Ted Mudie
Cessnock Motor Works  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 19  | Allan Grice
Rod McRae  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 20  | Rod McRae
Phil Barnes  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 21  | Phil Barnes
Phillip Lyon  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 23  | Phillip Lyon
Holden Dealer Team | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 24  | Colin Bond
Graham Parsons  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 25  | Graham Parsons
Lakis Manticas  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 27  | Lakis Manticas
Stuart Saker  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 29  | Stuart Saker
Don Holden  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 30  | Don Holland
Gary Cooke  | Mazda RX-3 | 31  | Gary Cooke
Graham Ryan  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 32  | Graham Ryan
Ken Loughan  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 34  | Ken Loughan
Alan Cant  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 37  | Alan Cant
John Duggan  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 39  | John Duggan
John French  | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | 44  | John French
Rod Housego  | Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 | 45  | Rod Housego
Lyndon Arnel  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 47  | Lyndon Arnel
Geoff Leeds  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 49  | Geoff Leeds
Tony Farrell  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 52  | Tony Farrell
Barry Bassingthwaite  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 57  | Barry Bassingthwaite
Strapp Ford Doncaster  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 58  | Graham Ritter
David Jamieson  | Ford Mustang | 60  | David Jamieson
Campbell Lambert  | Morris Cooper S | 61  | Campbell Lambert
Tony Watts  | Morris Cooper S | 62  | Tony Watts
Chris Pawson  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 63  | Chris Pawson [2]
Westland Autos  | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | 64  | Bill Dickson
Werner Tulipan  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 66  | Werner Tulipan
Peter Granger  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 67  | Peter Granger
Nick Munting  | Toyota Corolla | 68  | Nick Munting [3]
John Dellaca  | Morris Cooper S | 69  | John Dellaca
Rod Miles  | Morris Clubman GT | 72  | Rod Miles
Stewart McLeod  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 73  | Stewart McLeod
Gary Keen  | Mazda RX-3 | 75  | Gary Keen
Bob Jane Racing  | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | 76  | Bob Jane
Garry Rowe  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 77  | Garry Rowe
Martin Anderson  | Morris Cooper S | 78  | Martin Anderson
Jim Stewart  | Morris Cooper S | 79  | Jim Stewart
Brett Keightley  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 80  | Brett Keightley
Elemer Vajda  | Subaru 1300 | 81  | Elemer Vajda
Eric Olsen  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 83  | Eric Olsen
Paul Gulson  | Fiat 128 Coupe | 85  | Paul Gulson
Tony Allen  | Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 | 87  | Tony Allen
Lawrie Nelson  | Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 | 88  | Lawrie Nelson
John Piper  | Ford Escort Twin Cam | 90  | John Piper
Mel McEwin  | Toyota Corolla | 91  | Mel McEwin
Keith McCloy  | Morris Cooper S | 94  | Keith McCloy
Rod Boyle  | Morris Cooper S | 95  | Rod Boyle
Graeme Adams  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 96  | Graeme Adams
Bill Nitschke  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 97  | Bill Nitschke
World of Tyres  | Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 | 98  | Ian Diffen
Alfred Colledge  | Morris Cooper S | 99  | Alfred Colledge
W. S. Nitschke  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 101  | John Lewis
Paul Moore  | Toyota Corolla | 102  | Paul Moore
Rod Morris  | Morris Cooper S | 107  | Rod Morris
Motorama  | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | 154  | Ray Thackwell

## Calendar

[edit]

The 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship consisted of eight rounds.[4]

Rd.  | Race title  | Circuit  | City / state  | Date  | Winning driver  | Winning car  | Entrant

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Symmons Plains | Symmons Plains Raceway | Launceston, Tasmania | 5 March  | Allan Moffat | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | Allan Moffat
2  | Calder | Calder Park Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | 18 March  | Allan Moffat | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | Allan Moffat
3  | Sandown | Sandown International Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | 15 April  | Allan Moffat | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | Allan Moffat
4  | Wanneroo | Wanneroo Park | Perth Western Australia | 6 May  | Allan Moffat | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | Allan Moffat
5  | Surfers Paradise | Surfers Paradise International Raceway | Surfers Paradise, Queensland | 20 May  | Peter Brock | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team
6  | Datsun Trophy[5] | Adelaide International Raceway | Adelaide, South Australia | 10 June  | Peter Brock | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team
7  | Oran Park | Oran Park Raceway | Sydney, New South Wales | 24 June  | Allan Moffat | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III | Allan Moffat
8  | Warwick Farm | Warwick Farm Raceway | Sydney, New South Wales | 15 July  | Peter Brock | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team

## Points system

[edit]

Car competed in two classes:

* Up to and including 2000 cc
* Over 2000 cc

Points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first six positions in each class at each round with additional points awarded on a 4-3-2-1 basis for the first four positions, regardless of class, at each round.

## Championship standings

[edit]

| Pos.[6] | Driver [6] | SYM | CAL | SAN | WAN | SUR | ADE | ORA | WAR | Pts [6]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Allan Moffat | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | 3rd(6)  | 2nd(9)  | 1st(13)  | Ret  | 80
2  | Peter Brock | 2nd(9)  | Ret  | Ret  | 2nd(9)  | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | DSQ  | 1st(13)  | 57
3  | Graham Ritter  | 8th(9)  | 9th(9)  | (9)  | 7th(9)  | DNS  | 7th(9)  | Ret  | 6th(9)  | 54
4  | Bob Holden |  |  | (4)  | Ret  | (4)  | Ret  | 10th(9)  | 7th(6)  | 23
Eric Olsen  | Ret  | 10th(6)  | (3)  | 8th(6)  | 10th(6)  | (2)  |  |  | 23
6  | Ian Geoghegan |  | Ret  | 3rd(6)  | Ret  | 2nd(9)  | Ret  | Ret  | 3rd(6)  | 21
7  | Fred Gibson |  | 2nd(9)  |  |  | 4th(4)  |  | 3rd(6)  | Ret  | 19
8  | Murray Carter | 5th(2)  | 5th(2)  | 3rd(6)  | 4th(4)  | 7th  | DNS  | 7th  | 5th(2)  | 16
9  | Lawrie Nelson |  | DSQ  | 2nd(9)  |  |  | 3rd(6)  |  |  | 15
10  | Bob Morris |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4th(4)  | 2nd(9)  | 13
11  | Colin Bond |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2nd(9)  |  | 9
Lyndon Arnel  |  |  |  |  | 5th(9)  |  |  |  | 9
Tony Farrell  |  | (3)  | (6)  |  |  |  |  |  | 9
14  | John Goss | 3rd(6)  | DSQ  | Ret  |  | 5th(2)  | Ret  | Ret  |  | 8
15  | Bill Dickson  |  |  |  | 3rd(6)  |  |  |  |  | 6
John Stoopman  |  | 6th(1)  | 6th(1)  |  |  | 4th(4)  |  |  | 6
Tony Watts  | 9th(6)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6
Mel McEwin  |  |  |  |  |  | (6)  |  |  | 6
Paul Gulson  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6)  |  | 6
20  | Bryan Thomson  |  |  | 4th(4)  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  |  | 5
Rod Morris  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2)  | (3)  | 5
22  | Bob Jane | 4th(4)  | DSQ  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4
Graham Blanchard  | 10th  | 4th(4)  | 8th  |  |  |  |  |  | 4
Don Holland  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9th  | 4th(4)  | 4
Ian Diffen  | 6th(1)  | 7th  |  | 5th(2)  | 8th  | 6th(1)  | 8th  |  | 4
John Piper  |  | (4)  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4
Rod Miles  |  |  |  | (4)  |  |  |  |  | 4
Peter Moore  |  |  |  |  |  | (4)  |  |  | 4
Gary Cooke  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4)  |  | 4
Geoff Leeds  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (4)  | 4
31  | Adrian Lewis  |  |  |  | (3)  |  |  |  |  | 3
Keith McCloy  |  |  |  |  | (3)  |  |  |  | 3
Nick Munting  |  |  |  |  |  | (3)  |  |  | 3
Peter Granger  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3)  |  | 3
35  | Rod McRae  |  | DSQ  | 5th(2)  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Tony Niovanni  |  | DSQ  | 7th  |  |  | 5th(2)  |  |  | 2
Lakis Manticas  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5th(2)  |  | 2
Alf Colledge  |  | (2)  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Phillip Lyons  |  |  | (2)  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Elemer Vajda  |  |  |  | (2)  |  |  |  |  | 2
Alan Cant  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2)  | 2

John Lewis  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  |  |  |  |  | 1
Dick Johnson |  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  |  |  |  | 1
Ted Mudie  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1)  | 1
| Garry Rowe  |  |  | (1)  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Pos  | Driver  | Sym.  | Cal.  | San.  | Wan.  | Sur.  | Ade.  | Ora.  | War.  | Pts
| Colour | Result

|

Gold | Winner
Silver | Second place
Bronze | Third place
Green | Points finish
Blue | Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple | Retired (Ret)
Red | Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black | Disqualified (DSQ)
White | Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank  | Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Up to and including 2000 cc class competitors

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Howard, Graham (1986). Australian Touring Car Championship - 25 fabulous years. Sydney, Australia: R & T Publishing. p. 280\. ISBN 0959037829.
2. ^ Peter Oliver, Brock's Sensational Sixth, Racing Car News, July 1973, pages 62 & 63
3. ^ Official Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, Sunday, June 10, 1973
4. ^ V8 Central website
5. ^ "1973 Australian Touring Car Championship Programmes". The Programme Covers Project. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
6. ^ a b c The official history - Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years, page 137

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