1977 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing championship open to Group C Touring Cars. It was the 18th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. The championship began at Symmons Plains Raceway on 7 March and ended at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 20 November after eleven rounds.[1] 1977 was the second and final time that the series incorporated the longer distance races which made up the Australian Championship of Makes. These races included the Sandown 400 and the Phillip Island 500K, although notably not the Bathurst 1000.[2]

Reigning champion Allan Moffat (Ford Falcon) dominated the 1977 season. In addition to his victory in the non-championship Hardie-Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst, Moffat won his third Australian Touring Car Championship, leading home new Moffat Ford Dealers teammate Colin Bond for a series 1-2 result. Moffat won the first five rounds of the championship, won a total of seven out of the eleven rounds and won the title by 32 points. Bond recorded a win at Adelaide International Raceway but was put under pressure near the end of the season from Peter Brock after consecutive wins by the Holden Torana driver at Lakeside International Raceway and Sandown Raceway in the Hang Ten 400. In the end Bond finished nine points clear of Brock. The only other round win was claimed by Allan Grice (Holden Torana) at the final round at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

In previous years the class pointscore system saw a consistent performer threaten the top of the points table. In 1977 though the best performer from the smaller cars was Ford Capri racer Lawrie Nelson who finished fourth in the points, 19 behind Brock. Holden Torana racer Bob Morris took points away from the small car class drivers by racing his Triumph Dolomite early in the series, as well as racing Lakis Manticas' Ford Capri on occasion, effectively spoiling the chances of other drivers in the under three-litre class.

Drivers[edit]

Drivers that competed in the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship included the following:

Entrant No Car Driver
Moffat Ford Dealers 1 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Allan Moffat
Moffat Ford Dealers 1 Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop Allan Moffat
Moffat Ford Dealers 2 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Colin Bond
Moffat Ford Dealers 2 Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop Colin Bond
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team 3 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 John Harvey
Bob Jane T-Marts 3 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Bob Jane
Gown-Hindhaugh 4 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Bruce Hindhaugh
Bill Patterson 05 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Peter Brock
Craven Mild 6 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Allan Grice
Craven Mild 6 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Allan Grice
Channel 7 7 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Bob Morris
Channel 7 7 Holden LX Torana A9X SLR5000 Bob Morris
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team 8 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Charlie O'Brien
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team 8 Holden LX Torana A9X SLR5000 Wayne Negus
Peter Janson 9 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Larry Perkins
Mercury Outboards 9 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Charlie O'Brien
Sidchrome/Melford 10 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Jim Richards
Bob Forbes 11 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Bob Forbes
Pioneer Electronics 12 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Ron Dickson
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team 14 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback John Harvey
Kevin Bartlett 14 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Kevin Bartlett
Ipec 15 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Peter Janson
Bryan Byrt Ford 17 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Dick Johnson
Brian Wood Ford 18 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Murray Carter
Phillip Industries 19 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Ian Diffen
Gown-Hindhaugh 20 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Garth Wigston
Gown-Hindhaugh 20 Holden LX Torana A9X SLR5000 Garth Wigston
Maurice Andrews 21 Holden Torana Maurice Andrews
Citizen Quartz 21 Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop John Goss
Pioneer Electronics 22 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Warren Cullen
John Goss 22 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop John Goss
Pioneer Electronics 22 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Warren Cullen
Pioneer Electronics 23 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Warren Cullen
Rusty French 23 Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop Rusty French
Bill Patterson 24 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Basil Van Rooyen
Bill Patterson 25 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Peter Brock
Bill Patterson 25 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Peter Brock
Bill Patterson 26 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Phil Brock
Craven Mild 26 Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Allan Grice
Kevin Kennedy 27 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Kevin Kennedy
HM Headers 28 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Jim Keogh
Rod Donovan 28 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Rod Donovan
Phillip Arnull 29 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Phillip Arnull
Graham Ryan 29 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Graham Ryan
Garry Willmington 30 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Garry Willmington
Lawrie Nelson 32 Ford Capri V6 Lawrie Nelson
Lynn Brown 32 Mazda RX-3 Lynn Brown
Russell Skaife 34 Ford Capri V6 Russell Skaife
Tim Slako 34 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Tim Slako
Barry Seton 35 Ford Capri V6 Barry Seton
Arthur Hardwick 36 Mazda RX-3 Arthur Hardwick
Lakis Manticas 37 Ford Capri V6 Lakis Manticas
Alan Taylor 37 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Alan Taylor
Phil McDonnell 38 BMW 3.0Si Phil McDonnell
David Seldon 38 Triumph Dolomite Sprint David Seldon
Allan Bryant 38 Mazda RX-3 Allan Bryant
ATP Australia 40 Ford Capri V6 Alan Cant
Geoff Leeds 41 Mazda RX-3 Geoff Leeds
Brian Sampson 43 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Brian Sampson
Rogar Automotive 43 Mazda RX-3 Nick Louis
Kim Harley 44 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Kim Harley
Ben Penhall 44 Mazda RX-3 Ben Penhall
Paul Gulson 44 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Paul Gulson
John Stoopman 44 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 John Stoopman
TB Penhall 45 Mazda RX-3 Ben Penhall
Barry Lawrence 45 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Barry Lawrence
Brian Wood Ford 46 Ford Capri V6 Ray Farrar
Ross Burbidge 46 Mazda RX-3 Ross Burbidge
Graham Parsons 47 Holden Torana Graham Parsons
Graeme Wilson 47 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Graeme Wilson
Terry Shiel 48 Mazda RX-3 Terry Shiel
Ian Messner 49 Ford Escort Ian Messner
Brian Wood Ford 49 Ford Escort MkII RS2000 Lyndon Arnel
Brian Potts 50 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Brian Potts
Brian Potts 50 Mazda RX-3 Brian Potts
Jim Hunter 51 Mazda RX-3 Jim Hunter
Warren Torr 51 Mazda RX-3 John Duggan
Vic Wilson 52 Ford Capri V6 Vic Wilson
Ian Messner 52 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 Ian Messner
Lennox Motors 53 Volkswagen Golf GTI Chris Heyer
Allan Gough 53 Holden Gemini Allan Gough
Mike Minear 54 Holden Gemini Mike Minear
Roger Stanley 55 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Roger Stanley
Peter Stoopman 55 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Peter Stoopman
Gordon Rich 57 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Gordon Rich
Ron Gillard 57 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Ron Gillard
Ray Cutchie 58 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 Ray Cutchie
David Cannon 58 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 David Cannon
Douglas Hi-Fi 59 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTAm Frank Porter
Ray Gulson 61 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Ray Gulson
Geoff Wade 61 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Geoff Wade
Gil Gordon Alfa Geelong 62 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT Warwick Henderson
Wayne Mitchell 63 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Wayne Mitchell
Alfa Romeo Club 63 Alfa Romeo GT1300 Junior Robin Dudfield
Peter Kuebler 63 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Peter Kuebler
Martin Power 64 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Martin Power
Ian Chilman 64 Honda Civic Ian Chilman
Jim Liang-Peach 65 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Jim Liang-Peach
David Clement 66 Mazda RX-3 David Clement
John White 66 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 John White
Ross Bond 66 Holden Torana Ross Bond
Peter Granger 67 BMW 2002 Peter Granger
Brian Wood Ford 69 Ford Escort RS2000 Rod Stevens
Ralph Radburn 69 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Ralph Radburn
Ferris Car Radios 70 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Barry Allen
Peter Williamson Toyota 70 Toyota Celica Peter Williamson
Alan Welling 71 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Alan Welling
Brian Wood Ford 71 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 Rod Stevens
Alf Grant 71 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Alf Grant
Roger Stanley 72 Holden Torana Roger Stanley
Neville Bridges 73 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Neville Bridges
Bernie Stack 74 Volkswagen Passat 1300 Bernie Stack
Stephen Land 74 Datsun 1200 Stephen Land
Hair Affair 75 Morris Clubman GT Jim Stewart
Ray Molloy 76 Morris Clubman GT Ray Molloy
Ron Hodgson 77 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Bob Morris
Bob Morris 77 Ford Capri V6 Bob Morris
Barry Sheales Holden 77 Holden Gemini Allan Gough
Geoff Newton 78 Ford Capri V6 Geoff Newton
Hugh Donaldson 78 Fiat 124 Hugh Donaldson
Darryl Wilcox 79 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Darryl Wilcox
Ian Wells 79 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 Ian Well
Wynn's Friction Proofing 79 Ford Capri V6 John Faulkner
John Millyard 80 Ford Capri V6 John Millyard
Ian Lees 80 Ford Capri V6 Ian Lees
Graeme Blanchard Holden 81 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Graeme Blanchard
Tony Niovanni 82 Holden Gemini Tony Niovanni
Graeme Wilson 84 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Graeme Wilson
Graeme Wilson 84 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 Graeme Wilson
Stuart Saker 85 Ford Escort Stuart Saker
Pat Hogan 86 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 Pat Hogan
Graham Mein 87 Ford Escort MkI RS2000 Graham Mein
David Seldon 88 Triumph Dolomite Sprint David Seldon
Bob Holden/Shell Sport 88 Ford Escort RS2000 Greg Toepfer
Kerry Cox 89 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Kerry Cox
Peter Lander 89 Morris Clubman GT Peter Lander
Wayne Sweetland 90 Holden Torana Wayne Sweetland
Graham Harrison 91 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Graham Harrison
Ken Harrison 91 Ford Escort Ken Harrison
Gary Whittaker 92 Toyota Corolla Gary Whittaker
Robyn Hamilton 93 Holden Gemini Robyn Hamilton
Gary Leggatt 94 Fiat 128 3P Gary Leggatt
Deane Hill 95 Holden Gemini Deane Hill
Ray Kaleda 97 Holden Torana Ray Kaleda
Greville Arnel 97 Ford Escort Greville Arnel
Martin Power 97 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Martin Power
David Langman 98 Holden LH Torana SLR5000 L34 David Langman
Graeme Adams 99 Ford Capri V6 Graeme Adams
Louis Stoopman Jr 99 BMW 2002tii Louis Stoopman J
Russell Worthington 100 Mazda RX-3 Russell Worthington
Jeff Ogg 101 Mazda RX-3 Jeff Ogg
Geoff Moran 102 Ford Capri V6 Geoff Moran
Eric Olsen 103 Mazda RX-3 Eric Olsen
Barry Jones 108 Mazda RX-3 Barry Jones
Mollison Motors 109 Honda Civic Matthew Phillip
Max Patterson 111 Honda Civic Max Patterson
John Nelson 114 Datsun 1600 John Nelson
Annette Williams 118 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Annette Williams
  Three litre class competitors

Calendar[edit]

The 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over eleven rounds.[1]

Rd.[1] Race / circuit[1] City / state Date[1] Format Winner[1] Car Team Report
1 Symmons Plains
Symmons Plains Raceway 		Launceston
Tasmania 		7 March Two heats Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
2 Calder
Calder Park Raceway 		Melbourne
Victoria 		20 March One race Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
3 Oran Park
Oran Park Raceway 		Sydney
New South Wales 		27 March One race Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
4 Amaroo Park
Amaroo Park 		Sydney
New South Wales 		10 April One race Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
5 Sandown
Sandown International Raceway 		Melbourne
Victoria 		17 April One race Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers [3]
6 Silver Jubilee Trophy[4]
Adelaide International Raceway 		Adelaide
South Australia 		5 June One race Colin Bond Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
7 The Governor's Trophy[4]
Lakeside International Raceway 		Brisbane
Queensland 		26 June One race Peter Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bill Patterson Racing
8 Hang Ten 400
Sandown International Raceway 		Melbourne
Victoria 		11 September 1 x 500 km race Peter Brock Holden LX Torana SS A9X Bill Patterson Racing report
9 Rothmans 250[5]
Adelaide International Raceway 		Adelaide
South Australia 		23 October 1 x 250 km race Allan Moffat Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
10 Rothmans 300[6]
Surfers Paradise International Raceway 		Surfers Paradise
Queensland 		6 November 1 x 300 km race Allan Moffat Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
11 Ready Plan Insurance Phillip Island 500K
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 		Phillip Island
Victoria 		20 November 1 x 500 km race Allan Grice Holden LX Torana SS A9X Craven Mild Racing report

Classes[edit]

For points-scoring purposes, cars competing in the Australian Touring Car Championship were classified into one of two classes defined by engine capacity.[7]

  • Up to and including 3000cc[7]
  • 3001 to 6000 cc[7]

Points system[edit]

Australian Touring Car Championship points were awarded to drivers as follows:

Pos 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
All Rounds
Outright[7] 		4 3 2 1
Rounds 1–7
each class[7] 		9 6 4 3 2 1
Rounds 8–11
each class[7] 		12 8 6 4 2 1

Only the best six scores from the first seven rounds and the best two scores from the last four rounds counted towards the championship totals.[7]

Points were awarded only where a car completed 75% of race distance and was running at the completion of the final lap.

Results[edit]

Results of the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship were as follows:

Pos.[8] Driver[8] Sym Cal Ora Ama San Ade Lak San Ade Sur Phi Pts[8]
1 Allan Moffat 1st(13) 1st(13) 1st(13) 1st(13) 1st(13) 2nd(9) Ret 3rd((8)) 1st(16) 1st(16) 106(114)
2 Colin Bond 2nd(9) 2nd(9) 8th 2nd(9) 2nd(9) 1st(13) 2nd(9) 5th(5) 2nd(11) Ret 5th((2)) 74(76)
3 Peter Brock 3rd(6) 3rd(6) 3rd(6) 7th 4th(4) 3rd(6) 1st(13) 1st(16) 9th 3rd(8) Ret 65
4 Lawrie Nelson (9) (4) (9) 10th(6) 6th(12) (6) 46
5 Bob Morris (6) Ret (9) 10th(9) Ret (9) Ret 2nd(11) 44
6 John Harvey 8th 4th(4) 2nd(9) Ret 3rd(6) 5th(2) 3rd(6) Ret 3rd(8) 4th(5) 40
7 Allan Grice Ret Ret 5th(2) 3rd(6) 4th(4) 2nd(11) 1st(16) 39
8 Rod Stevens 10th(9) (6) Ret 10th(12) 27
9 Ray Gulson (4) (6) 10th(8) 18
Frank Porter 9th(6) 9th(12) 18
11 Peter Janson Ret 10th Ret 5th(2) 2nd(11) 13
12 Barry Seton 7th(12) 12
13 Jim Richards Ret Ret 6th(1) 5th(2) 3rd(8) 11
Nick Louis 9th(9) Ret (2) 11
15 Murray Carter 4th(4) 6th(1) 8th 8th 6th(1) 4th(4) Ret 7th 10th 10
Charlie O'Brien 6th(1) 5th(2) 4th(4) 5th(2) 6th(1) Ret 8th 10
Ray Farrar 18th (6) (4) 10
Russell Worthington 8th(6) (4) 10
19 Lyndon Arnel Ret (8) 8
Paul Gulson (8) 8
John Duggan 7th(8) 8
22 Dick Johnson Ret 5th(2) Ret Ret 4th(5) 7
Warren Cullen 8th 9th 6th(1) 6th(1) 4th(5) 7
Arthur Hardwick (3) (4) 7
25 John Millard (6) 6
Alan Cant (6) 6
Russell Skaife (6) 6
28 John Goss 4th(4) Ret 8th 6th(1) 5
Peter Granger (3) (2) 5
Roger Cartwright (4) (1) 5
31 George Adams (4) 4
Ray Cutchie (4) Ret 4
Deane Hill (4) 4
Ralph Radburn 10th(4) 4
35 Jim Laing-Peach (3) Ret 3
David Clement (3) 3
37 Ian Diffen 5th(2) 7th 2
Ron Dickson 9th 9th 7th 5th(2) 2
Graeme Blanchard 5th(2) 2
Ron Gillard (2) 2
Ben Penhall (2) Ret 2
Warwick Henderson (2) 2
Peter Hopwood (2) 2
Ross Burbidge (2) 2
John Faulkner (2) 2
46 Garth Wigston 7th 6th(1) 7th 7th 1
Neville Bridges 6th(1) 1
Wayne Negus Ret 6th(1) 1
Gordon Rich (1) 1
Chris Heyer (1) 13th 1
Brian Potts 9th (1) 1
Jim Stewart (1) 1
Alf Grant (1) 1
Pos Driver Sym Cal Ora Ama San Ade Lak San Ade Sur Phi 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)
  Three litre class competitors

Note: South African driver Basil van Rooyen placed fourth at Round 8 (the Hang Ten 400 at Sandown) but was not eligible to score points.[8]

Australian Championship of Makes[edit]

The 1977 Australian Championship of Makes was awarded on the results of the final four rounds of the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship.[7] It was the seventh circuit racing championship for manufacturers to be awarded by CAMS and the second to carry the Australian Championship of Makes name.

Classes[edit]

For pointscoring purposes, cars competed in four classes defined by engine capacity[7]

  • Class A: Up to 1300cc[7]
  • Class B: 1301 to 2000cc[7]
  • Class C: 2001 to 3000cc[7]
  • Class D: 3001 to 6000cc[7]

Points[edit]

Points were awarded for the six best placed cars in class in each of the four rounds on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis with only the highest scoring car of each make attracting points.[7]

Results[edit]

Position Make[9] Points[9]
1 Ford 87
2 Alfa Romeo 37
3 Honda 30
4 Holden 28
5 Mazda 12
= Datsun 12
= Leyland 12
8 Fiat 10
9 Toyota 3
10 Volkswagen 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Australian Competition Yearbook, 1978 edition
  2. ^ Howard, Graham; Wilson, Stewart (1986). "1977: Falcons' clean-sweep". Australian Touring Car Championship 25 fabulous years. R&T Publishing. pp. 178–186. ISBN 0-9590378-2-9.
  3. ^ 1977 ATCC Rd.5 - Sandown
  4. ^ a b "1977 ATCC". The Programme Covers Project. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. ^ Jennings, Bob (24 October 1977). "Moffat leads Falcons home". The Advertiser.
  6. ^ Touring Title to Moffat, The Courier Mail, Monday, 7 November 1977, page 19
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Conditions for Australian Titles, 1977 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 86-91
  8. ^ a b c d Howard, Graham; Wilson, Stewart; Geenhaigh, David (2011). The official history - Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years. p. 178.
  9. ^ a b "Championship of Makes" Final Pointscore, Racing Car News, January 1978, page 29

External links[edit]

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