OldRacingCars.com

Australian Gold Star Race

Surfers Paradise, 28 Aug 1977

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 John McCormack (F5000) 4.9-litre McLaren M23 [2] - Leyland P76 Repco V8
38 42m 38.4s
2 Garrie Cooper Elfin MR8-C [8761] - Chevrolet V8
38 42m 55.6s
3 John Leffler Lola T400 [HU15] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 1)
38 42m 56.1s
4 Kevin Bartlett Lola T400 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 2)
38
5 Terry Hook Lola T332 ['071-084'] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 3)
37
6 Chas Talbot Begg FM5 [2] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 4)
32
R Jon Davison Lola T332 [HU34] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 5)
27 engine
R Alan Hamilton Lola T430 [HU2] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 6)
9 engine threw rod
DNS Bob Johns (ANF2) 1.6-litre Cheetah - Ford twin cam
Did not start
DNP Alfredo Costanzo Lola T332 [HU36] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 7)
Did not take part in official practice
(no engine)

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Qualifying
Qualifying information not available

Notes on the cars:

  1. Lola T400 [HU15] (John Leffler): See full history: Lola T400 HU15.
  2. Lola T400 [HU1] (Kevin Bartlett): See full history: Lola T400 HU1.
  3. Lola T332 ['071-084'] (Terry Hook): See full history: Lola T330 HU7.
  4. Begg FM5 [2] (Chas Talbot): Built new in 1973 by Fred McLean for Allan McCully for the 1973/74 New Zealand Gold Star, and regarded by McLean as a FM5, not a Begg FM5. To Graham Baker 1974 and raced in Tasman 1974, the 1974/75 and 1975/76 Gold Star, and the 1976 NZ Internationals. To Charles Talbot (Australia) 1976, and raced by him in the 1977 and 1978 Rothmans Australian Internationals. Presumably the car raced by Allan R. Nitschke in Australia from 1979 to 1982. Then unknown until acquired by Bryan and Graham Sala about 1990. Bought at auction in Australia by Gavin Hicks (Auckland, NZ) about 1991 and sold by him to Lindsay O'Donnell (Christchurch, NZ) 2001. Raced by O'Donnell in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to the 2012/13 season. Returned two years later for the New Zealand Festival at Hampton Downs in January 2015. More information about Begg FM5/2
  5. Lola T332 [HU34] (Jon Davison): See full history: Lola T332 HU34.
  6. Lola T430 [HU2] (Alan Hamilton): VDS spare car US 1976 (raced by Peter Gethin: 3 races; Warwick Brown: 2 races); VDS for Warwick Brown Australian Internationals 1977 (won at Oran Park and Surfers Paradise, crashed in practice at Sandown Park, second at Adelaide) - Alan Hamilton (Australia): Australian Gold Star 1977 (debut R1 Surfers Paradise 28 Aug 1977); Australian Internationals 1978 (driven by Derek Bell at Oran Park); crashed at Australian GP 1978 and broken in half. All the surviving running gear from the wreck stayed with HU1 through various owners until reaching David Abbott in New Zealand in 2005. Over the next two years David, with Alan Hamilton's agreement, recreated this car and it first ran, with Hamilton driving, at Christchurch in October 2007. Raced by Abbott in the Formula 5000 Tasman Cup Revival at the Australian GP meeting 28 Mar 2009.
  7. Lola T332 [HU36] (Alfredo Costanzo): See full history: Lola T332 HU36.

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.

Australian Gold Star results for the period 1971-1976 are now available from a variety Australian magazines and yearbooks. As well as Racing Car News, results have been cross-checked against the 1972 Australian Motoring Yearbook and the 1973 and 1974 Australian Competition Yearbooks. Information is added from Autosport where available. The 1975 season was collated by Glenn Moulds using Racing Car News, Australian Auto Action, Chequered Flag, Australian Competition Year, "50 Years Of The Australian Grand Prix" and "Australia's Elfin Sports and Racing Cars". For the 1976 season, Glenn was also able to use Motor Sport Reporter from R3 Calder onwards.

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.