1979 Australian Touring Car Championship

Motor racing competition

1979 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars.[1] It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Adelaide International Raceway after eight rounds.[2] The title, which was the 20th Australian Touring Car Championship,[3] was won by Bob Morris driving a Holden Torana.[2]

1979 was the first time since the ATCC went to a championship series in 1969 rather than the single race it had been previously that a single make and model car had won all rounds of the championship with all 8 rounds being won by the Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback. Including the current season (2016), such a single car domination has only happened once since in the series, that being when the Ford Sierra RS500 won all rounds of the 1988 championship.

## Calendar

[edit]

The Holden Torana of 1979 Australian Touring Car Champion Bob Morris

The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over an eight-round series.[4]

Rd.[2] | Race title  | Circuit[2] | City / state  | Date[2] | Winning driver[2] | Car  | Team

|
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|
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1  | Symmons Plains | Symmons Plains | Launceston, Tasmania | 4 March  | John Harvey | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
2  | Calder | Calder Park Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria  | 18 March  | Peter Brock | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
3  | Oran Park | Oran Park | Sydney, New South Wales | 25 March  | Bob Morris | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
4  | Sandown | Sandown Park | Melbourne, Victoria  | 7 April  | Bob Morris  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
5  | Wanneroo | Wanneroo Park | Perth, Western Australia | 6 May  | Peter Brock  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
6  | Surfers Paradise | Surfers Paradise | Surfers Paradise, Queensland | 20 May  | Peter Brock  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
7  | Lakeside | Lakeside | Brisbane, Queensland  | 22 June  | Bob Morris  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
8  | The Breville Trophy[5] | Adelaide International Raceway | Adelaide, South Australia | 28 July  | Bob Morris  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing

* Round 3 of the championship at Oran Park featured two separate races, the first for Under 3 litre cars and the second for Over 3 litre cars.[6]

## Teams and drivers

[edit]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship.

Team  | Car  | No  | Driver

|
|
|

King George Tavern  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 2  |  Fred Gibson
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 4  |  Wayne Negus
05  |  Peter Brock
76  |  John Harvey
Craven Mild Racing  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 6  |  Allan Grice
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 7  |  Bob Morris
Citizen Watches  | Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X[7] | 11  |  Gary Cooke
Pioneer Car Stereo  | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | 12  |  Ron Dickson
Cadbury-Schweppes  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 15  |  Peter Janson
Bryan Byrt Ford  | Ford XC Falcon Cobra[8] | 17  |  Dick Johnson
Brian Wood Ford Pty Ltd  | Ford XC Falcon | 18  |  Murray Carter
Ford XC Falcon | 66  |  Rod Stevens
Ford Escort RS2000 | 69  | Rod Stevens
Gown-Hindaugh
Roadways Racing  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 20  |  Garth Wigston
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X[9] | 21  |  Charlie O'Brien
Colin Hall  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 21  |  Colin Hall
Tim Slako  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 22  |  Tim Slako
Warren Cullen  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 23  | Warren Cullen
Alan Browne  | Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X | 24  |  Alan Browne
Allan Moffat Racing  | Ford XC Falcon Cobra[10] | 25  |  Allan Moffat
Marshall Brewer  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 27  |  Marshall Brewer
Ron Wanless  | Ford XC Falcon Cobra[11] | 27  |  Ron Wanless
Ray Allford  | Ford XC Falcon Cobra | 28  | Ray Allford
Rod Donovan  | Ford XC Falcon | 28  | Rod Donovan
Garry Willmington  | Ford XC Falcon | 29  |  Garry Willmington
Bill O'Brien  | Ford XC Falcon | 30  |  Bill O'Brien
Greater Pacific Finance | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 33  |  Garry Rogers
Bill Evans  | Ford Escort | 36  |  Bill Evans
Scotty Taylor Holden  | Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 | 37  | Alan Taylor
Greg Smelt  | Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 | 38  | Greg Smelt
Terry Shiel  | Mazda RX-3 | 39  |  Terry Shiel
Ross Burbidge  | Mazda RX-3 | 40  |  Ross Burbidge
Larry Kogge  | Mazda RX-3 | 41  | Larry Kogge
Geoff Leeds  | Ford Capri V6 | 43  |  Geoff Leeds
Alan Bryant  | Mazda RX-3 | 45  | Alan Bryant
Ray Farrar  | Ford Capri V6 | 46  | Ray Farrar
Barry Jones  | Mazda RX-3 | 47  |  Barry Jones
K.Kemp  | Mazda RX-3 | 48  | K.Kemp
Capri Components  | Ford Capri Mk I[12] | 50  |  Lawrie Nelson
Terry Daly  | Ford Capri V6 | 51  | Terry Daly
Masterton Homes  | Ford Capri V6 | 52  |  Steve Masterton
Ray Cutchie  | Ford Capri Mk I[13] | 53  |  Ray Cutchie
Roger Cartwright  | Ford Escort RS2000 Mk 1[13] | 54  |  Roger Cartwright
Craig Volkers  | Ford Capri V6 | 55  |  Craig Volkers
Martin Power  | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 56  |  Martin Power
David Cannon  | Ford Escort RS2000 | 58  |  David Cannon
T.Homeyer  | Ford Capri V6 | 59  | T.Homeyer
Peter Kuebler  | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | 62  |  Peter Kuebler
Ian Chilman  | Mazda RX-3 | 62  |  Ian Chilman
Ray Gulson  | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | 64  |  Ray Gulson
Graeme Hooley  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 71  | Graeme Hooley
John Gates  | Mazda RX-3 | 72  | John Gates
Brian Hall  | Toyota Celica | 74  |  Brian Hall
David Bail  | Ford Escort RS2000 | 75  |  David Bail
Peter Williamson P/L  | Toyota Celica | 77  |  Peter Williamson
John Faulkner  | Ford Capri V6 | 79  | John Faulkner
Ric Rossiter  | Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 | 87  | Ric Rossiter
Ray Kaleda  | Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X | 97  | Ray Kaleda
Bob Shepherd  | Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 | 99  | Bob Shepherd

## Classes

[edit]

For championship points allocation purposes, cars competed in two displacement classes:[1]

* Up to and including 3000 cc[1]
* 3001 to 6000 cc[1]

## Points system

[edit]

Championship points were awarded on a 9,6,4,3,2,1 basis to the first six placegetters in each class and on a 4,3,2,1 basis to the first four placegetters irrespective of class[1] (at each round). Only the best seven results counted towards the total[6] (for each driver).

## Championship results

[edit]

| Pos.[6] | Driver[6] | Rd 1  | Rd 2  | Rd 3  | Rd 4  | Rd 5  | Rd 6  | Rd 7  | Rd 8  | Pts.[6]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Bob Morris | 4th(4)  | 2nd(9)  |  | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | 4th(4)  | 4th((4))  | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | 69 (73)
2  | Peter Brock | 5th(2)  | 1st(13)  |  | 3rd(6)  | 3rd(6)  | 1st(13)  | 1st(13)  | 5th((2))  | 2nd(9)  | 62 (64)
3  | John Harvey | 1st{13)  | 3rd(6)  |  | 4th(4)  | 6th((1))  | 2nd(9)  | 3rd(6)  | 2nd(9)  | 3rd(6)  | 53 (54)
4  | Peter Williamson*  | 8th(6)  |  | DNS  |  | (9)  | 6th(9)  |  | 8th(9)  |  | 33
5  | Charlie O'Brien |  |  |  | 5th(2)  | 2nd(9)  |  | 2nd(9)  | 3rd(6)  |  | 26
5  | Roger Cartwright*  | 9th(4)  | (1)  | 5th(2)  |  | (4)  |  |  | (6)  | (9)  | 26
7  | Allan Grice | 3rd(6)  | Ret  |  | 2nd(9)  | Ret  | 3rd(6)  | DNS  |  |  | 21
8  | Garth Wigston  | 2nd(9)  | 6th(1)  |  |  | 4th(4)  |  |  |  | 4th(4)  | 18
8  | Lawrie Nelson*  | 7th(9)  | Ret  | 1st{9)  |  | DSQ  |  |  |  |  | 18
10  | Brian Hall*  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (9)  | (3)  |  | 12
10  | Steve Masterton*  |  | (6)  | 2nd(6)  |  | DNS  |  | DSQ  |  |  | 12
12  | John Faulkner*  |  | (4)  |  |  | (6)  |  |  |  |  | 10
12  | Craig Volkers*  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6)  | (4)  |  | 10
14  | Bill Evans*  |  | (9)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9
15  | Ray Cutchie*  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6)  | 6
16  | Peter Janson  |  | 4th(4)  |  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  |  |  | 5
17  | Bill O'Brien  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4th(4)  |  | 4
17  | Geoff Leeds  |  |  | 3rd(4)  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4
17  | David Bail  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4  | 4
17  | Ross Burbidge*  |  | 4th(3)  | 6th(1)  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
21  | Gary Cooke  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  |  |  |  |  | (2)  | 3
21  | Ray Gulson*  | 10th(3)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3
21  | Barry Jones*  |  |  | 4th(3)  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3
21  | Larry Kogge*  |  |  |  |  | (3)  |  |  |  |  | 3
21  | Peter Kuebler*  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3)  | 3
21  | Martin Power*  | (2)  |  |  |  | (1)  |  |  |  |  | 3
27  | Garry Rogers  |  | 5th(2)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
27  | Allan Moffat |  | Ret  |  | Ret  | 5th(2)  |  |  |  |  | 2
27  | Tim Slako  |  |  |  |  |  | 5th(2)  |  |  |  | 2
27  | Dick Johnson |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5th(2)  | 7th  |  | 2
27  | Ray Farrar*  |  | (2)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
27  | Ian Chilman*  |  |  |  |  | (2)  |  |  |  |  | 2
33  | Rod Stevens  | (1)  |  | Ret  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
33  | Colin Hall  |  |  |  |  |  | (1)  |  |  |  | 1
33  | Garry Willmington  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  |  | 1
33  | Murray Carter |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6th(1)  | 1
33  | David Cannon*  | (1)  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Pos  | Driver  | Rd 1  | Rd 2  | Rd 3  | Rd 4  | Rd 5  | Rd 6  | Rd 7  | Rd 8  | Total
| 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)

* Drivers marked with a * competed in the under 3000 cc class.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Conditions for Australian Titles, 1979 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pp. 96–97.
2. ^ a b c d e f Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, pp. 68–87.
3. ^ Records, Titles & Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pp. 14-17.
4. ^ 2005 V8 Supercars TV Guide, p. 73.
5. ^ The Breville Trophy, Official Souvenir Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, 29 July 1979, pp. 44–45.
6. ^ a b c d e Graham Howard, Stewart Wilson, David Greenhalgh, Privateer pips them, The official history – Australian Touring Car Championship – 50 Years, pp. 190–199.
7. ^ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 74.
8. ^ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 81.
9. ^ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 80.
10. ^ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 68.
11. ^ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 83.
12. ^ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 75.
13. ^ a b Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, p. 85.

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