1962 Australian Touring Car Championship
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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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
Class winners are indicated by bold text.
| Pos. | Driver | No.[5] | Car | Entant[5] | Class | Laps | Time/Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bob Jane | 7 | Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 | Autoland P/L | Over 3500cc | 15 | 47:48.2 |
| 2 | Bill Pitt | 34 | Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 | Mrs. D. I. Anderson | 2600–3500cc | 15 | +23.8 |
| 3 | Bill Burns | 134 | Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 | Bill Burns Hire Cars | 2600–3500cc | 15 | +2:27.8 |
| 4 | Ken Brigden | 63 | Peugeot 403 | Killara Motor Garage | 1000–1600cc | 14 | +1 lap |
| 5 | Des West | 27 | Holden 48-215 | D. L. West | 2000–2600cc | 14 | +1 lap |
| 6 | Ross Farmer | 70 | Holden FJ | R. Farmer | 2000–2600cc | 13 | +2 laps |
| 7 | Bob Holden | 64 | Peugeot 403 | Killara Motor Garage | 1000–1600cc | 19 | +2 laps |
| 8 | Peter Manton | 55 | Morris Cooper | Monaro Motors | Under 1000cc | 12 | +3 laps |
| 9 | George Maguire | 72 | Hillman | G. T. McGuire | 1000–1600cc | 8 | +7 laps |
| Ret | D. Marshall | 17 | Morris 850 | D. Marshall | Under 1000cc | 9 | |
| Ret | Brian Higgins | 75 | Holden FJ | Brian Higgins | 2000–2600cc | 7 | |
| Ret | Frank Manley | 32 | Holden FC | F. Manley | 2000–2600cc | 4 | |
| Ret | L. Barrett | Vauxhall Cresta | 4 | ||||
| Ret | John Hodgman | Hillman | 4 | ||||
| DNS | Ian Geoghegan | 5 | Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 | Geoghegan Motors | 2600–3500cc | ||
| Sources:[3][4] | |||||||
Statistics[edit]
- 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[edit]
- ^ Records, Titles and Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-7
- ^ Major Australian Touring Car Racing Categories, Commodore 25th Anniversary, Australian Muscle Car Magazine, Special Edition, page 13
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Longford Results". The Mercury. 5 March 1962. p. 17.
- ^ a b Programme, Longford, 1962, First Day
