OldRacingCars.com

Australian Gold Star Race

Lakeside, 28 Jul 1968

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Kevin Bartlett Brabham BT23D [1] - Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 V8
#5 Alec Mildren Racing (see note 1)
61m 27.9s
2 Phil West Brabham BT23A [1] - Repco 640 V8
#3 Scuderia Veloce (see note 2)
65
3 Peter Macrow (ANF1) 1.6-litre McLaren M4A [M4A/1] - Cosworth FVA
#10 Argo Racing [Tony Osborne] (see note 3)
65
4 Ian Cook Brabham BT23E [1] - Repco 830 V8
#9 Bob Jane Racing (see note 4)
63
5 Ian Fergusson (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Lotus 27 [27-JM-11] - Ford twin cam
#15 Ian Fergusson
61
6 Malcolm Aldred (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre MRC-Lotus 22 - Ford
Motor Racing Components
60
7 Alton Boddenberg (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Lotus 32 [32-FL-7] - Ford twin cam
#14 Alton Boddenberg
59
8 Brian Page (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Brabham BT2 [FJ-12-62] - Ford twin cam
Brian Page (see note 5)
52
9 Jeff Thompson (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Lotus 20B [20-J-959] - Ford
Motor Racing Components
49
R Glyn Scott (ANF1) 1.6-litre Bowin P3 [P3-101-68] - Cosworth FVA
#20 Glyn Scott Motors
24 differential
R Alfredo Costanzo (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Elfin Mono Mk IIB [MB6550] - Ford twin cam
Maranello Motors
20 wheel
R Leo Geoghegan Lotus 39 [R12] - Repco 740 V8
#1 Geoghegan Racing Division
18 head gasket
R Max Stewart (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Rennmax BN2 - Ford twin cam
#44 Max Stewart Motors
0 bearing
R Clive Millis (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Elfin Mono Mk I [M6445] - Ford twin cam
#50 Clive Millis Motors
0
DNSC Niel Allen (ANF1) 1.6-litre McLaren M4A [M4A/2] - Cosworth FVA
#3 N.E.Allen Competition (see note 6)
Did not start (crashed)

All cars are 2.5-litre Tasman unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Kevin Bartlett (Tasman) 2.5-litre Brabham BT23D [1] - Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 V8 54.0s
2 Leo Geoghegan (Tasman) 2.5-litre Lotus 39 [R12] - Repco 740 V8 54.0s
3 Glyn Scott (ANF1) 1.6-litre Bowin P3 [P3-101-68] - Cosworth FVA 55.9s
3 Niel Allen * (ANF1) 1.6-litre McLaren M4A [M4A/2] - Cosworth FVA 54.9s
4 Phil West (Tasman) 2.5-litre Brabham BT23A [1] - Repco 640 V8 55.9s
5 Peter Macrow (ANF1) 1.6-litre McLaren M4A [M4A/1] - Cosworth FVA 56.8s
6 Ian Cook (Tasman) 2.5-litre Brabham BT23E [1] - Repco 830 V8 57.8s
7 Alfredo Costanzo (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Elfin Mono Mk IIB [MB6550] - Ford twin cam 58.1s
8 Clive Millis (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Elfin Mono Mk I [M6445] - Ford twin cam 58.7s
9 Ian Fergusson (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Lotus 27 [27-JM-11] - Ford twin cam 59.3s
10 Alton Boddenberg (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Lotus 32 [32-FL-7] - Ford twin cam 1m 00.6s
11 Brian Page (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Brabham BT2 [FJ-12-62] - Ford twin cam 1m 01.0s
12 Malcolm Aldred (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre MRC-Lotus 22 - Ford 1m 01.6s
13 Jeff Thompson (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Lotus 20B [20-J-959] - Ford 1m 02.2s
14 Max Stewart (ANF1.5) 1.5-litre Rennmax BN2 - Ford twin cam 1m 23.2s
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Brabham BT23D [1] (Kevin Bartlett): The one-off BT23D was built for Alec Mildren Racing for Tasman racing and fitted with a 2.5-litre Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 V8. It debuted in Frank Gardner's hands at the Warwick Farm Gold Star race in Dec 1967 and was then raced by Garder in every race of the 1968 Tasman series. Kevin Bartlett took over the drive for the 1968 Australian Gold Star season and the 1969 Tasman series. It was then sold to Jim Abbott who acquired a 5-litre Traco Oldsmobile engine from Frank Matich and built what was claimed to be the first Formula 5000 in Australia. It was displayed at Abbott's Melbourne Racing Car Show and thereafter mainly used in hillclimbs. It was sold to Gavin Sala for the 1974 Victorian hillclimb season, and was then sold to Peter Neilsen, who had Gordon Dobie restore it to its original Alfa Romeo specification. Its racing career ended after the death of a later pilot, Chris Murphy, but the remains were acquired in 1985 by Paul Moxham who had it fully restored with its original Autodelta engines. It was advertised by oldtimeraustralia.com from 2011 to 2015, noting that it had been owned by the same person for 31 years.
  2. Brabham BT23A [1] (Phil West): Built for Jack Brabham to use in the 1967 Tasman series and fitted with a 2.5-litre Repco 640 V8. Brabham won the last race of the series at Longford in March. The car was then sold to David McKay's Scuderia Veloce and entered for driver Greg Cusack in the 1967 Australian Gold Star. Cusack finished second in the series having won the Gold Star round at Symmons Plains in November, and two weeks later also took the Australian Hill Climb Championship in the car. Cusack then raced the BT23A in the Australian rounds of the 1968 Tasman series but was injured when he crashed at Longford in March, and decided to retire. Although extensively damaged, the car was repaired and Phil West took over the drive for the 1968 Gold Star, starting with victory at Bathurst on Easter Monday. The Brabham was then sold to Brian Page, who used it in Gold Star and regional events during 1969. After being missig for a couple of seasons, the Brabham was mentioned again in 1972 when Monarch-Ford racer Alan Stewart was said to have it for ANF2. At some point the car was crashed, and the rear of the chassis was replaced. Acquired by Peter Simms (Kurrajong, NSW Australia) in January 1980, restored and raced for the first time at Amaroo in August 1984. Raced in Australian historics by Simms for many years.
  3. McLaren M4A [M4A/1] (Peter Macrow): Entered by Bruce McLaren Motor Racing for Bruce McLaren in F2 in 1967. Sold to Jim Palmer (NZ) 1968, then to Tony Osborne's Argo Racing in Australia July 1968, driven by Peter Macrow in 1968 and then Alfredo Costanzo from 1968 to 1971. To Ken Hastings mid-1971, who swapped the FVA for a Ford twin-cam for 1972, and the to John Sheppard August 1973. Fitted with a 1300cc Toyota Corolla engine by Geoff Kennett 1974. Later Tony Armstrong (Victoria, Australia) in November 1982 and rebuilt around 1985. At Christie's Melbourne auction 1990 where it was sold to Art Valdez (Torrance, CA). It remained in Valdez' collection for many years, until sold to a UK consortium in 2017.
  4. Brabham BT23E [1] (Ian Cook): Built for Jack Brabham to use in the 1968 Tasman series and fitted with a 2.5-litre Repco V8. Sold to Bob Jane Racing but crashed by John Harvey in practice at Bathurst in April. Crashed again by Allan Moffat in practice at Sandown Park in September. For Harvey again in the 1969 Australian Gold Star, the 1970 Tasman series (Warwick Farm and Sandown Park only) and for the first race of the 1970 Australian Gold Star (won at Symmons Plains March 1970). Then sold to Bob 'Woody' Curran and fitted with a Ford twin cam for ANF2 racing in Tasmania from 1971 to 1977. From Curran to David Madrers in the early 1980s and started restoration before selling to Bill Marshall in 1983 who completed the restoration and used it in historic racing in Australia. Then sold via Ray Delaney (Melbourne, Australia) to Art Valdez (Torrance, CA) in late 1990, and remained in his collection for many years, until sold to the Rare Metals consortium in the UK in 2017. Bought from the consortium by Aaron Lewis (Australia) and rebuilt for him by Tony Ditheridge's Hawker Racing (Milden, Suffolk).
  5. Brabham BT2 [FJ-12-62] (Brian Page): Sold via Brabham's Australian agent Alec Mildren Pty Ltd to David Walker, and raced by Walker in 1963, 1964 and early 1965. Raced by Ralph Sach in 1965 then a Mildren entry with a 1500cc Ford twin cam for Frank Gardner and Kevin Bartlett during the 1965/66 season. To Competition Cars (Aust) for Mike Champion in the 1966 and 1967 Gold Star seasons, then to Brian Page for 1968. Entered by Graham Collier for Jack Bono in 1969. Through Australian owners Chris Farrell 1971, James Crawford 1973, Greg Kinlin 1977 and Graham Healey 1984 to Bryan Miller 1984 who restored it to Alec Mildren late 1965 spec with Ford twin-cam and raced extensively. To Colin Haste (Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia) 1998 and raced extensively in Australian Formula Junior Association events.
  6. McLaren M4A [M4A/2] (Niel Allen): Entered by John Coombes for Piers Courage in F2 in 1967. Crashed at Brands Hatch in August 1967 and believed to have been rebuilt on a new tub before its next race at Albi four weeks later, but Autosport makes no mention of a rebuild nor of it being a new car. Raced by Piers Courage in the 1968 Tasman series. Sold to Niel Allen and raced in Australian events in 1968 until Allen crashed heavily at Lakeside in July, reportedly requiring another new tub to be fabricated. Raced again by Allen in 1969, then to Pat Burke for drivers Len Goodwin 1970-71 and Warwick Brown 1971. Sold by Burke and Peter Malloy to Erol Richardson but bought back by Pat Burke around 1982. Restored by Molloy for Burke and retained until sold to John Hugenholtz. To David Coplowe (England) by 1994. Raced in the HSCC Historic Formula Racing Car Championship in 1995. Raced by Coplowe until 2010, and sold to Gareth Williams (Oxfordshire) in 2012.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.