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1972 Marlboro Cup

Oran park Raceway, Narellan, New South Wales, Australia

Date: 6/8/1972
Track length: 2.012 m
Attendance:
Entries accepted:
Starters: 14
Finishers:

Pole position: Geoghegan in 0.45,8
Fastest lap: Moffat in 0.46,3

Distance: 40 laps
Average speed: 151,923 kmh
Weather:
Ruleset: Australian Group C and Group E
Car info:  

 

The exact position in the touring car title was a little uncertain when the final round was due to be run. It was rumoured, though not confirmed, that Moffat had appealed, or was about to appeal, against his disqualification from the Warwick Farm round. If he did appeal, and was successful in having himself reinstated, he still had to win this final round and have Bob Jane not finish at all, to win the title. As it transpired, Jane did finish, and Moffat did not appeal. The Australian Touring Car Championship fell to the Victorian millionaire businessman for the fourth time (1962, 1963, 1971 and now 1972). Moffat had everything go right for him for once, which must have been something of a novelty after his past two frustrating years, but his luck came too late to give him that long sought-after title.

Jane opted to drive the Camaro again, with Harvey in the Monaro, Moffat in the TransAm, Geoghegan not only had the Grace Bros Falcon present but had it really cracking with a claimed 605 bhp from the 5.7 litre engine and a whole week of practising on this circuit behind him. Dick Johnson came down from Queensland with the Zupps sponsored Torana XU-1, and Mike Gore was in the ex-Niel Allen Mustang. Missing were Mike Stillwell who had already scored his maximum of seven class wins from seven starts, and Mal Ramsay with the City-State Racing Team Kingswood V8. The 14 car field was made up of Brown's and Holdens under 2 litre contenders, and several series cars. "Pete" Geoghegan showed them all the way around as he sprinted into the distance right from the word 'go'. No one could get near him. Further back, Moffat was trailing the two Bob Jane team cars, sitting in a safe and comfortable fourth spot. On only the sixth of the scheduled 40 laps, Jane slowed suddenly when his gear selectors became jumbled and he was Oft with only third gear. Moffat moved up one. The TransAm was able to move up to second on lap 24 when Harvey too slowed drastically with brake troubles that had bothered him from the start. Moffat looked to have no chance of catching Geoghegan. Harvey retired as he was about to lap his boss, for he was aware of the vague situation for the title and thought Jane might need that extra placing for a valuable point or two. Motor racing is full of the unexpected and, it was noticed that Geoghegan's car had slowed and begun to sound rough shortly after half distance. Moffat closed relentlessly and took the lead to the cheers of the same crowd who had earlier booed him, just four laps from the end. Geoghegan finished two seconds back in second, then Jane and Johnson were two laps behind. No matter what happened now, Jane had won the title, and Moffat has to try again next year.
(Australian Motoring Yearbook 1973)


Overall result
Pos Pos in class # Team / Entrant
Car- Engine
Drivers, Nationality Engine
vol. (cc)
Engine
Type
Group Distance,
time
Qualifying position Qualifying time Fastest lap Reason out,
remarks
1 1 9 Allan Moffat Racing
Ford Mustang Boss 302
Allan Moffat, CDN
  V8 Over 2000 cc 40 laps, 31.35,7 2 0.46,3 0.46,3  
2 2 1 Geoghegan's Sporty Cars
Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III
Ian "Pete" Geoghegan, AUS
5763 V8 Over 2000 cc/E 40 laps, ca. 31.37,7 1 0.45,8 0.46,4  
3 3 76 Bob Jane Racing
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Bob Jane, AUS
4956 V8 Over 2000 cc 38 3 0.46,4 0.47,3 Gearbox
4 4 10  
Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1
Dick Johnson, AUS
3330 L6 Over 2000 cc 38 5 0.49,8 0.49,9  
5 5 5  
Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III
John Goss, AUS
5763 V8 Over 2000 cc/E   6 0.50,8 0.50,7  
6 6 13 Max Wright Motors Pty Ltd.
Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1
Don Holland, AUS
3330 L6 Over 2000 cc/E   10 0.51,3 0.51,1  
7 7    
Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49
Tony Allen, AUS
4342 L6 Over 2000 cc   8 0.51,0 0.50,8  
8 8    
Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1
Arnold Ahrenfeld, AUS
3330 L6 Over 2000 cc   13 no time 0.52,2  
9 1   Dr. Allan Hogan
Ford Escort TC
Bob Holden, AUS
1558 L4 Under 2000 cc   11 0.51,6 0.53,9  
10 10    
Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1
John Stoopman, AUS
3330 L6 Over 2000 cc   14 no time 0.52,2  
11 9    
Holden EH S4 Special Sedan
Herb Taylor, AUS
2933 L6 Over 2000 cc   12 0.53,5 0.54,8  
DNF   7 Bob Jane Racing
Holden HT Monaro GTS350
John Harvey, AUS
5736 V8 Over 2000 cc   4 0.46,6   Brakes
DNF      
Ford Mustang
Mike Gore, AUS
  V8 Over 2000 cc   7 0.50,8    
DNF   11 Alfa Romeo Australia
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Peter Brown, AUS
1962 L4 Under 2000 cc   9 0.51,1