1976 Australian Touring Car Championship

Motor racing competition July 2015 January 2020 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship 1975 1977 The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Group C Touring Cars.Australian Title Conditions, 1976 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 81 to 85 It was the 17th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship.Australian Titles, docs.cams.com.au As archived at www.webcitation.org on 31 October 2013 The championship began at Symmons Plains on 29 February and ended at Phillip Island on 28 November in the longest season in the history of the series. 1976 saw a substantial change to the ATCC calendar which was expanded to eleven rounds, incorporating the end-of-season long distance Australian Championship of Makes races for the first time. These races included Sandown's Hang Ten 400 and the Phillip Island 500, although notably not the Bathurst 1000.Howard Graham Wilson Stewart Australian Touring Car Championship 25 fabulous years 1986 R&T Publishing 0-9590378-2-9 168–176 1976: Moffat bounces back After contesting only selected rounds of the 1975 championship, Allan Moffat won his second Australian Touring Car Championship in 1976. He won the Calder, Oran Park and Adelaide rounds, building up a mid-season points lead that his rivals could not bridge. At the Hang Ten 400 at Sandown in September, Moffat re-launched his team as the Moffat Ford Dealers Team with a new Ford XB Falcon GT, built after Moffat's original car and transporter were destroyed by fire in the Adelaide Hills on the way to the Adelaide round in June.Moffat back in race Canberra Times 5 June 1976 page 36 Moffat borrowed the Ford Falcon of John Goss for the Adelaide and Lakeside rounds to stay in the series until a new car was built.Moffat smiling Canberra Times 7 June 1976 page 16 Barry Seton, driving a Ford Capri in the Up to 3000 cc class, was Moffat's main title threat for most of the year, winning his class four times, with a best finish of sixth outright at Sandown. Seton lost second place in the championship to Colin Bond when the Holden Torana driver won the final race of the season at Phillip Island. Bond had previously won at Sandown and Lakeside, but had mechanical failures that Moffat, even in his borrowed machinery, did not. Drivers The following drivers competed in the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship. EntrantNoCarDriver Holden Dealer Team 1 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Colin Bond Allan Moffat RacingMoffat Ford Dealers 2/9 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Allan Moffat Bob Skelton 3 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bob Skelton John Goss 3 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop John Goss O'Brien's TransportRay Bell, Australian Touring Car Championship - Rd. 5, Amaroo Park Racing Car News May 1976 page 72 4 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Charlie O'Brien Jim Keogh 4 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Jim Keogh Team BrockOfficial programme, Hang Ten 400, Sept 12 (1976) 5 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Peter Brock Bruce Hindhaugh 6 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bruce Hindhaugh Ron Hodgson Motors 7 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bob Morris Jack Brabham 7 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Jack Brabham Charlie O'Brien 8 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Charlie O'Brien Jim Richards 10 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Jim Richards Bob Forbes 11 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bob Forbes Gary Cooke 11 Mazda RX-3 Gary Cooke Craven Mild RacingTom Naughton, Moffat's action-packed Calder Racing Car News April 1976 page 76 12 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Allan Grice Bob Holden Motors 13 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Bob Holden B&D Autos,Holden Dealer Team 14 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 John Harvey John English 14 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 John English Phil Brock 15 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Phil Brock Garth Wigston 15 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Garth Wigston Graeme Blanchard 16 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Graeme Blanchard Ray Kaleda 17 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Ray Kaleda Bob Forbes 17 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bob Forbes Shell Racing 18 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Murray Carter Garth Wigston 19 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Garth Wigston Christine Gibson 19 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Christine Gibson Peter Janson 20 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Peter Janson Gown-Hindhaugh 21 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Frank Gardner Kevin Kennedy 22 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Kevin Kennedy Don Holland 23 Mazda RX-3 Don Holland Johnnie Walker 24 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Johnnie Walker John Duggan 24 Mazda RX-3 John Duggan Graham Parsons 25 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Graham Parsons Barry Seton 25 Ford Capri V6 Barry Seton Craven Mild 25 Mazda RX-3 Allan Grice Warren Cullen 26 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Warren Cullen Lakis Manticas 27 Mazda RX-3 Lakis Manticas Lakis Manticas 27 Ford Capri V6 Lakis Manticas Kelvin Gough 28 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Kelvin Gough Dick Johnson 28 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Dick Johnson Garry Willmington 29 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Garry Willmington Graeme Ibbotson 29 Ford Capri V6 Graeme Ibbotson Russell Skaife 30 Ford Capri V6 Russell Skaife Graham Parsons 31 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Graham Parsons Alan Cant 31 Ford Capri V6 Alan Cant Lawrie Nelson 32 Ford Capri V6 Lawrie Nelson Paul Older 34 BMW 3.0Si Paul Older Jim Murcott 35 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Jim Murcott Ron Dickson 36 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Ron Dickson John Pollard 37 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 John Pollard Bob Morris 37 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Bob Morris David Seldon 38 Triumph Dolomite Sprint David Seldon Phil Arnull 39 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Phil Arnull Wally Scott 42 Toyota Corolla Wally Scott Bernie Stack 44 Volkswagen Passat 1300 Bernie Stack Lyndon Arnel 45 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Lyndon Arnel Ben Penhall 45 Mazda RX-3 Ben Penhall Ray Farrar 46 Ford Escort Mark I 1300 Ray Farrar Jeremy Braithwaite 47 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Jeremy Braithwaite Graham Moore 49 Ford Capri V6 Graham Moore Brian Wheeler 51 Mazda RX-3 Brian Wheeler Eric Boord 51 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Eric Boord Fred Gibson 51 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Fred Gibson Allan Nuttall 52 Fiat 124 Sport Coupé Allan Nuttall John Wharton 53 Mazda RX-3 John Wharton Chris Heyer 53 Volkswagen Golf GTI Chris Heyer Geoff Newton 54 Ford Capri V6 Geoff Newton Bernie McClure 58 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Bernie McClure Frank Porter 59 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT Frank Porter Wayne Negus 61 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Wayne Negus Max McGinley 61 Honda Civic Max McGinley Roger Bonhomme 62 Honda Civic Roger Bonhomme Craig Bradtke 63 Mazda RX-3 Craig Bradtke Wayne Mitchell 63 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Wayne Mitchell Peter Kuebler 63 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Peter Kuebler Peter Brown 63 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Peter Brown David Langman 64 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 David Langman Barry Wraith 64 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Barry Wraith Ken Brian 64 Honda Civic Ken Brian James Liang-Peach 65 Triumph Dolomite Sprint James Liang-Peach David Crowther 66 Alfa Romeo GT1300 Junior David Crowther Robin Dudfield 67 Alfa Romeo GT1300 Junior Robin Dudfield Barry Sharp 69 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Barry Sharp Tony Niovanni 69 Holden Gemini Tony Niovanni Fred Sayers 70 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Fred Sayers Colin Campbell 70 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Colin Campbell Bill Evans 71 Datsun 1200 Bill Evans Jeff Harris 74 Morris Clubman GT Jeff Harris Jim Stewart 75 Morris Clubman GT Jim Stewart Ray Molloy 76 Morris Clubman GT Ray Molloy Martin Power 77 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Martin Power Garry McGrath 77 Ford Escort Mark I 1600 Garry McGrath Peter Granger 78 BMW 2002tii Peter Granger Hugh Donaldson 78 Morris Clubman GT Hugh Donaldson Pat Crea 79 Ford Escort Mark I RS2000 Pat Crea John Millyard 80 Ford Escort Mark I 1300 John Millyard Geoff Moran 88 Ford Capri V6 Geoff Moran Brian Rhodes 89 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Brian Rhodes Jim Richards 90 Mazda RX-3 Jim Richards Chris Trengrove 91 Renault 12 Chris Trengrove Terry Wade 95 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Terry Wade Herb Vines 96 Ford Capri V6 Herb Vines Geoff Wade 96 Ford Escort Mark I 1300 Geoff Wade Bob Nissen 98 Ford Capri V6 Bob Nissan Graham Harrison 99 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Graham Harrison Russell Worthington 100 Mazda RX-3 Russell Worthington Frank Brewster 110 Honda Civic Frank Brewster Calendar The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over eleven rounds.Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977 Edition, pages 48 to 73 Rd.Event titleCircuitLocation / stateDateFormatWinnerTeamReport 1 Symmons Plains Symmons Plains Launceston, Tasmania 29 February John Harvey B&D Autos 2 Calder Calder Melbourne, Victoria 17 March Allan Moffat Allan Moffat Racing 3 Oran Park Oran Park Sydney, New South Wales 28 March Allan Moffat Allan Moffat Racing 4 Sandown Sandown Melbourne, Victoria 11 April Colin Bond Holden Dealer Team 5 Amaroo Park Amaroo Park Sydney, New South Wales 18 April Charlie O'Brien O'Brien's Transport Shell Sport 6 Datsun Trophy Adelaide International Raceway Adelaide, South Australia 6 June Two heats Allan Moffat John Goss Racing Pty Ltd 7 The Governor's Trophy1976 ATCC http://www.progcovers.com/motor/atcc1976.html The Programme Covers Project 14 February 2019 Lakeside Brisbane, Queensland 27 June Colin Bond Holden Dealer Team 8 Hang Ten 400 Sandown Melbourne, Victoria 12 September One race (400 km) Peter Brock Team Brock report 9 Rothmans 250 Adelaide International Raceway Adelaide, South Australia 24 October One race (250 km) Allan Grice Craven Mild Racing 10 Rothmans 300Brock Torana races away in record 300 The Courier-Mail 8 November 1976 page 18 Surfers Paradise International Raceway Surfers Paradise, Queensland 30 October One race (300 km) Peter Brock Team Brock 11 Rover 500K Phillip Island Phillip Island, Victoria 28 November One race (500 km) Colin Bond Holden Dealer Team report Class system Cars competed in two classes, based on engine capacity: Up to 3000 cc 3001 to 6000 cc Points system Championship points were awarded to drivers on the following basis: Pos. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th All RoundsOutright 4 3 2 1 Rounds 1-7each class 9 6 4 3 2 1 Round 8-11each class 12 8 6 4 2 1 Points were only awarded to a driver where the car had completed 75% of race distance and was running at the completion of the final lap. Only the best two results from the four long distance races could be counted by each driver. Championship standings Pos.Graham Howard, Stewart Wilson & David Greenhalgh, 1976 ATCC, The Official History of Australian Touring Car Championship – 50 Years, page 169 Driver Car Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Rd 8 Rd 9 Rd 10 Rd 11 Pts. 1 Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT 6th(1) 1st(13) 1st(13) Ret 2nd(9) 1st(13) 2nd(9) 2nd(11) 4th((5)) 2nd(11) 80 2 Colin Bond Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2nd(9) 2nd(9) 4th(4) 1st(13) Ret 3rd(6) 1st(13) Ret 5th(2) Ret 1st(16) 72 3 Barry Seton Ford Capri V6 9th(9) (4) 8th(9) (4) 8th(9) 7th(9) 6th(12) 9th((6)) 7th(8) 64 4 Allan Grice Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Mazda RX-3 13th 3rd(6) 2nd(9) 5th(2) 2nd(9) Ret 1st(16) 5th(12) 54 5 Peter Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 4th(4) 2nd(9) 1st(16) 1st(16) Ret 45 6 Charlie O'Brien Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 11th 6th(1) 5th(2) 1st(13) 5th(2) 3rd(6) 4th((5)) 3rd(8) 5th((2)) 2nd(11) 43 7 Murray Carter Ford XB Falcon GT 14th 3rd(6) 5th(2) 4th(4) 5th(2) 5th((2)) 2nd(11) 3rd(8) Ret 35 8 Don Holland Mazda RX-3 9th(6) (4) (3) (9) (2) 10th(4) (2) 31 9 Bob Morris Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Triumph Dolomite Sprint 3rd(6) Ret Ret 7th(12) 6th(12) Ret 30 10 Lyndon Arnel Ford Escort RS2000 8th(9) Ret (9) (6) (4) 28 11 John Harvey Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 1st(13) 4th(4) 3rd(6) Ret 23 12 Lawrie Nelson Ford Capri V6 Ret 10th(6) (6) 8th(6) Ret 18 13 Paul Older BMW 3.0Si 10th(4) (3) (1) (3) 9th(6) 17 14 Peter Janson Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 5th(2) 10th 10th 3rd(8) 10 Alan Cant Ford Capri V6 (6) (4) 10 16 Graeme Blanchard Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6th(1) 3rd(8) 9 Garth Wigston Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 4th(4) 7th Ret Ret 4th(5) 9 Russell Skaife Ford Capri V6 10th(6) (3) 9 Bob Holden Ford Escort RS2000 12th(3) Ret (2) (1) (2) (1) 9 20 Lakis Manticas Ford Capri V6 7th(8) 8 Paul Gulson Triumph Dolomite Sprint 8th(8) Ret 8 Frank Porter Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT 9th(8) 8 Graham Moore Ford Capri V6 9th(4) 9th(4) 8 24 Frank Gardner Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 3rd(6) 6 Barry Wheeler Mazda RX-3 8th(6) 6 Bob Nissen Ford Capri V6 10th(6) 6 27 Jack Brabham Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 4th(5) 5 28 Dick Johnson Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 4th(4) 4 Bob Forbes Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6th(1) 4th(3) 4 Pat Crea Ford Escort RS2000 10th(4) 4 Geoff Newton Ford Capri V6 (4) 4 32 John Wharton Mazda RX-3 (3) 3 Bruce Hindhaugh Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 5th(2) 6th(1) 3 34 John Stoopman Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 6th(2) 2 Martin Power Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 6th(2) 2 Craig Bradtke Mazda RX-3 (2) 2 Barry Wraith Ford Escort RS2000 (2) 2 David Seldon Triumph Dolomite Sprint (2) 2 Peter Granger BMW 2002 (2) 2 Roger Bonhomme Honda Civic (2) 2 40 Ray Kaleda Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 9th 6th(1) 1 Phil Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6th(1) 1 Wayne Negus Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 10th(1) 1 Warren Cullen Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Ret 6th(1) 1 Kevin Kennedy Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 10th(1) 1 John Pollard Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 7th(1) 1 Jeremy Braithwaite Ford Escort RS2000 (1) 1 Russell Worthington Mazda RX-3 (1) 1 Ron Dickson Triumph Dolomite Sprint (1) 1 Graeme Ibbotson Ford Capri V6 (1) 1 John Duggan Mazda RX-3 (1) 1 Chris Heyer Volkswagen Golf (1) 1 Pos. DriverCar Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Rd 8 Rd 9 Rd 10 Rd 11 Pts. #D0E7FF Up to 3000 cc class competitors solid 1px #AAAAAA Points scored in the long distance races which were not retained for championship totals are shown in the above table within double brackets. Australian Championship of Makes The 1976 Australian Championship of Makes was contested over a four-round series, staged concurrently with the final four rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It was the sixth championship for manufacturers to be awarded by CAMS, and the first to be contested under the Australian Championship of Makes name. The title was won by Holden. Class system Cars competed in four classes based on engine capacity. Up to 1300 cc 1301 to 2000 cc 2001 to 3000 cc 3001 to 6000 cc Points system Championship points were awarded in each class on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis, with the results of all four races counting towards the championship. References Category:Australian Touring Car Championship seasons Touring Cars