Layout of the Mount Panorama Circuit (1938-1986)
The Official Peter Brock Merchandise Truck features an image of the 1972 Hardie-Ferodo 500 winning Holden Torana

The 1972 Hardie-Ferodo 500 was an endurance motor race open to Group E Series Production Touring Cars.[1] The race was held on 1 October 1972 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. Cars competed in four classes defined by Capacity Price Units, where the engine capacity, expressed in litres (to three decimal places), was multiplied by the purchase price in Australian dollars to arrive at a CP value for each vehicle.[2] It was the 13th running of the Bathurst 500 race and the last to be held over the original distance of 500 miles. It was also the last to allow drivers to compete for the full distance without a relief driver. The race was the third round of the 1972 Australian Manufacturers' Championship.

1972 marked the first year in which rain had significantly affected the race. It was won by Peter Brock driving a Holden Dealer Team prepared Holden Torana, the first of Brock's record nine victories. Brock finished a lap ahead of Queensland racer John French driving a Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III, this despite Brock being penalised one minute at his last pit stop for starting his car while the HDT crew were still re-fueling (under the ARDC's race regulations of the day, car engines had to be switched off during pit stops and could only be restarted once the re-fueling had been completed). A further lap behind was the Chrysler Valiant Charger of Doug Chivas. It was the only time the big three manufacturers of Australia in the 1960s and 1970s all had representatives in the first three outright positions in the race.

Pole sitter and winner of the previous two Bathurst 500's, Allan Moffat, had a trying race. After contesting the lead with Brock in the early laps, Moffat spun his factory entered Ford Falcon at Sulman Park on top of The Mountain in the wet conditions. Although he would fight his way back, he would twice be penalised one minute for restarting his car during pit stops before the re-fueling had been completed. Later in the race the Falcon would also encounter brake problems and Moffat dropped back to finish the race in 9th place, 8 laps down on Brock.

1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 winner Colin Bond's race ended early when he rolled his Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana on lap 3 while in fourth place. 1967 winner Fred Gibson also rolled his Works GTHO Falcon at McPhillamy Park in the early wet conditions after being forced offline when lapping a slower car. The Falcon spun into the bank and rolled onto its roof on lap 22.[3]

Class structure

Class A

The class for cars under 3000 CP units was contested by Chrysler Valiant Galant, Datsun 1200, Fiat 850 and Mazda 1300.

Class B

The 3001 to 9000 CP units class saw a mix of Datsun 1600, Fiat 124 Sport, Ford Escort, 2.8 litre Holden Torana and Mazda RX-2.

Class C

The 9001 to 18000 CP units class featured Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, E38 version of the Chrysler Valiant Charger and 3.3 litre Holden Torana GTR XU-1.

Class D

For cars over 18001 CP units, the class consisted only of E49 version of the Chrysler Valiant Charger and Ford Falcon GT-HO.

Top 10 Qualifiers

PosNoEntrant [4]DriverCarQual
Pole 1 Ford Motor Company of Australia Canada Allan Moffat Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III 2:35.8
2 12 McLeod Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia John Goss Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III 2:36.7
3 5 Bryan Byrt Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia John French Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III 2:37.5
4 8 Ford Motor Company of Australia Australia Fred Gibson Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III 2:38.2
5 28 Holden Dealer Team Australia Peter Brock Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:38.2
6 2 Geoghegan Sporty Cars Australia Leo Geoghegan Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 2:39.1
7 24 Holden Dealer Team Australia Colin Bond Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:39.5
8 29 N. G. Booth Pty. Ltd. Australia Graham Moore Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2:40.1
9 15 D. Beck Australia Doug Chivas Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 2:41.1
10 13 Gold Power Automotive Australia Pty. Ltd. Australia Des West Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III 2:41.7

Results

Results sourced in part from:[5]

Pos Class No Entrant[4] Drivers Car Laps Qual
Pos
1 C 28 Holden Dealer Team Australia Peter Brock Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 130 5
2 D 5 Bryan Byrt Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia John French Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 129 3
3 D 15 D. Beck Australia Doug Chivas
Australia Damon Beck		 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 128 9
4 D 2 Geoghegan Sporty Cars Australia Leo Geoghegan Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 127 6
5 C 19 Max Wright Motors Pty. Ltd. Australia Don Holland Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 125 11
6 C 27 R. Forbes Australia Bob Forbes Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 124 12
7 D 10 C. P. Gulson Australia Paul Gulson
Australia Ray Gulson		 Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 123 16
8 C 20 Roamer Watches of Australia Pty. Ltd. Australia Ray Kaleda
Australia Paul Pressler		 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E38 122 26
9 D 1 Ford Motor Company of Australia Canada Allan Moffat Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 122 1
10 D 3 M. Carter Australia Murray Carter Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 120 22
11 D 4 Eastside Chrysler Australia Tony Farrell
Australia Tom Naughton		 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 118 21
12 B 44 Rowell Thiele Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia Digby Cooke
Australia Geoff Leeds		 Ford Escort GT 1600 Mk.I 117 31
13 B 37 Mazda Dealer Team Australia Wayne Rogerson Mazda RX-2 117 27
14 B 41 Mazda Dealer Team Australia Bernie Haehnle Mazda RX-2 116 39
15 B 36 Finnie Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia Barry Seton
Australia Herb Taylor		 Ford Escort GT 1600 Mk.I 116 34
16 B 38 Slideaway Car Roofs Pty. Ltd. Australia Pat Hogan
Australia Lakis Manticas		 Ford Escort GT 1600 Mk.I 116 28
17 C 25 A. F. & M. Beninca Pty. Ltd. Australia Ray Harrison
Australia Mal Robertson		 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV 115 33
18 B 52 Bruce Lynton Car Sales Australia Bob Holden Ford Escort GT 1600 Mk.I 115 38
19 B 43 Rolls Motors Pty. Ltd. Australia Ron Kearns Fiat 124 Sport 115 37
20 C 32 Leach Motors Australia George Giesberts Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 113 24
21 B 49 Mazda Dealer Team Australia George Garth Mazda RX-2 112 30
22 B 51 Chas Tierney Pty. Ltd. Australia Mal Brewster
Australia Ray Strong		 Holden LC Torana GTR 112 40
23 B 39 R. Wedd Australia Bob Cracknell
Australia Bob Wedd		 Holden LC Torana GTR 111 36
24 A 73 Datsun Racing Team Australia Bill Evans Datsun 1200 107 50
25 A 72 Mazda Dealer Team Australia Gary Cooke Mazda 1300 106 48
26 A 63 Datsun Racing Team Australia Jon Leighton Datsun 1200 106 53
27 A 62 Mazda Dealer Team Australia Lynn Brown Mazda 1300 106 49
28 A 64 Bainbridge Motors Australia Mel Mollison
Australia M Hayson		 Mazda 1300 105 47
29 B 53 B. Bassingthwaighte / R. Hanger Australia Ray Hanger
Australia Barry Bassingthwaite		 Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 105 43
30 A 75 W.H. Motors Pty. Ltd. Australia Bruce Stewart Datsun 1200 105 57
31 A 70 John Palmer Motors Australia John Leffler Mazda 1300 104 55
32 A 61 W.H. Motors Pty. Ltd. Australia Don Smith Datsun 1200 103 56
33 B 45 Davidson Motors Australia Doug Grimson
Australia Morrie Miller		 Datsun 1600 103 54
34 A 71 L. C. Giddings & Son Australia Ray Lintott Datsun 1200 102 60
35 A 69 Formula 1 Europa-Garage Australia Gary Leggatt Fiat 850 Coupe 101 52
DNF B 48 Olbis Industries Australia Eric Olsen Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 104 32
DNF C 21 G. Lister Australia Gerry Lister
Australia David Seldon		 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 103 15
DNF B 42 A. R. Keith Australia Alan Keith Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 42
DNF A 66 Collins Motors Australia Roger Bonhomme Chrysler Valiant Galant 94 59
DNF B 47 Pacific Film Laboratories Pty. Ltd. Australia Christine Gibson
Australia Jan Holland		 Holden LJ Torana 2850 88 44
DNF D 14 Essendon Chrysler Australia Lawrie Nelson
Australia Tony Roberts		 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 13
DNF A 68 Datsun Racing Team Australia Doug Whiteford Datsun 1200 76 51
DNF D 13 Gold Power Automotive Australia Pty. Ltd. Australia Des West Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 74 10
DNF C 29 N. G. Booth Pty. Ltd. Australia Graham Moore Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 72 8
DNF C 30 D. & P. Traders Pty Ltd Australia Pat Peck Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 71 25
DNF B 46 M. Grayson Australia Max Grayson
Australia Bill Gates		 Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 68 41
DNF C 31 Ron Hodgson Motors Australia Bruce McPhee Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 66 19
DNF B 54 Bryan Byrt Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia Lyndon Arnel Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 64 35
DNF A 65 Datsun Racing Team Qld. Australia Barry Tapsall Datsun 1200 46 58
DNF D 11 Formula 1 Europa-Garage Australia Tony Allen
Australia Len Searle		 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 36 20
DNF D 12 McLeod Ford Pty. Ltd. Australia John Goss Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 24 2
DNF B 40 Brian Wood Ford Australia Jim Murcott Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 23 29
DNF D 8 Ford Motor Company of Australia Australia Fred Gibson Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III 22 4
DNF C 33 W. S. Negus Australia Wayne Negus
Australia Neville Grigsby		 Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 21 14
DNF C 22 P. Ramsay Australia Bill Brown Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 20 18
DNF D 9 Lakemba Chrysler Australia Graham Ryan Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 14 17
DNF B 50 H. L. Vines Australia Herb Vines
Australia Chris Batger		 Ford Escort Twin Cam Mk.I 8 45
DNF C 24 Holden Dealer Team Australia Colin Bond Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 2 7
DSQ A 67 Bainbridge Motors Australia Geoff Perry Mazda 1300 107 46
DNS A 74 Victorian Police Motor Sports Club Australia Fred Sutherland Mazda 1300
DNS C 35 Cessnock Motor Works Pty. Ltd. Australia Allan Grice Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1

Statistics

  • Pole Position - #1 Allan Moffat - 2:35.8
  • Fastest Lap - #1 Allan Moffat - 2:36.5 (lap record)
  • Average Speed - 133 km/h
  • Race time of winning car - 6:01:53 (including one minute penalty) [6]
  • One minute penalties were applied to #28 Peter Brock (starting car while refueling), #3 Murray Carter and #53 Bassingthwaite/Hanger (push starts)
  • Two one minute penalties were applied to both #1 Allan Moffat (starting car while refueling) and #2 Leo Geoghegan (push starts)

References

  1. ↑ 1972 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 89
  2. ↑ 1972 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 190
  3. ↑ 1972 Bathurst 500 highlights
  4. 1 2 Entry List, 1972 Official Programme, Mt. Panorama, Bathurst, Sunday, 1 October, pages 46-47
  5. ↑ Greenhalgh, David; Thomas B. Floyd; Bill Tuckey (2000). Australia's Greatest Motor Race 1960-1999. Chevron Publishing Group. pp. 186–1193 & 460. ISBN 1-875221-12-3.
  6. ↑ How They Finished Last Year, 1973 Official Programme - Mount Panorama, Bathurst - Sunday, 30th September, page 53
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