1962 Australian Touring Car Championship

Layout of the Longford Circuit (1953-1968)

The 1962 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Appendix J Touring Cars.[1][2] It was contested as a single race, staged at the Longford Circuit, in Tasmania, Australia, on 3 March 1962. The title, which was the third Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by Bob Jane, driving a Jaguar Mark 2 3.8.[3]

Classes

Cars competed in six engine capacity classes:[4]

  • Under 1000cc
  • 1000–1600cc
  • 1600–2000cc
  • 2000–2600cc
  • 2600–3500cc
  • Over 3500cc

There were no entries in the 1600–2000cc class.[4]

Race

Jaguars continued their domination of the championship in 1962. Four were entered for the event, though Ian Geoghegan was forced to withdraw his after breaking a rear axle during practice. This left the Jaguars of Bob Jane, defending champion Bill Pitt and Bill Burns to take the front row of the grid. Norm Beechey had entered a Chevrolet Impala but was unable to attend Longford.[3]

Jane led away from the start with Pitt in pursuit. However, Pitt suffered an overdrive problem during the race which allowed Jane to take an easy win, while Burns completed the podium. West was running in fourth during the final lap, but a burned piston meant he had to limp to the finish. He was passed by Brigden, who then went straight ahead at the final corner with fading brakes. West retook fourth heading onto pit straight but Brigden was able to turn around and repass West in the final 400 metres. Ross Farmer finished sixth ahead of Bob Holden, Peter Manton, who had made contact with a lapped car and pitted to check for damage, and George Maguire, the last finisher.[3]

The domination of the Jaguars was proven in the speeds taken from the flying-eighth: Jane was recorded at 134 mph while West and Brigden only managed 117 and 106 mph respectively.[3]

Results

Class winners are indicated by bold text.

Pos. Driver No.[5] Car Entant[5] Class Laps Time/Retired
1 Australia Bob Jane 7 Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 Autoland P/L Over 3500cc 15 47:48.2
2 Australia Bill Pitt 34 Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 Mrs. D. I. Anderson 2600–3500cc 15 +23.8
3 Australia Bill Burns 134 Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 Bill Burns Hire Cars 2600–3500cc 15 +2:27.8
4 Australia Ken Brigden 63 Peugeot 403 Killara Motor Garage 1000–1600cc 14 +1 lap
5 Australia Des West 27 Holden 48-215 D. L. West 2000–2600cc 14 +1 lap
6 Australia Ross Farmer 70 Holden FJ R. Farmer 2000–2600cc 13 +2 laps
7 Australia Bob Holden 64 Peugeot 403 Killara Motor Garage 1000–1600cc 19 +2 laps
8 Australia Peter Manton 55 Morris Cooper Monaro Motors Under 1000cc 12 +3 laps
9 Australia George Maguire 72 Hillman G. T. McGuire 1000–1600cc 8 +7 laps
Ret Australia D. Marshall 17 Morris 850 D. Marshall Under 1000cc 9
Ret Australia Brian Higgins 75 Holden FJ Brian Higgins 2000–2600cc 7
Ret Australia Frank Manley 32 Holden FC F. Manley 2000–2600cc 4
Ret Australia L. Barrett Vauxhall Cresta 4
Ret Australia John Hodgman Hillman 4
DNS Australia Ian Geoghegan 5 Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 Geoghegan Motors 2600–3500cc
Sources:[3][4]

Statistics

  • Pole position: Bob Jane[3]
  • Fastest lap: Bob Jane, 3:07.1[3]
  • Race distance: 15 laps, 108.60 km[3]
  • Average speed: 136.31 km/h[3]

References

  1. ^ Records, Titles and Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-7
  2. ^ Major Australian Touring Car Racing Categories, Commodore 25th Anniversary, Australian Muscle Car Magazine, Special Edition, page 13
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Greenhalgh, David; Howard, Graham; Wilson, Stewart (2011). The official history: Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years. St Leonards, New South Wales: Chevron Publishing Group. pp. 32–36. ISBN 978-0-9805912-2-4.
  4. ^ a b c "Longford Results". The Mercury. 5 March 1962. p. 17.
  5. ^ a b Programme, Longford, 1962, First Day