OldRacingCars.com

Australian Formula 2 Race

Oran Park, 23 Jun 1974

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Leo Geoghegan Birrana 274 [274-015] - Ford twin cam
39 28m 38.8s
2 Johnnie Walker Elfin 622 [74441] - Ford twin cam
39 28m 51.3s
3 Bob Muir Rennmax BN6 - Ford twin cam
39 28m 53.5s
4 Max Stewart March 722 [37] - Ford twin cam
(see note 1)
39 28m 53.7s
5 John Leffler Bowin P8 [P8-118-72] - Ford twin cam
(see note 2)
39 29m 10.6s
6 Tony Stewart Brabham BT36 (Dolphin) ['1'] - Ford twin cam
38
7 Enno Buesselman Birrana 273 [273-009] - Ford twin cam
38
8 Ken Smith March 732 [15 as '9'] - Ford twin cam
(see note 3)
38
9 Alfredo Costanzo Elfin Mono Mk IID [MD6756] - Ford twin cam
37
10 Paul Hamilton Elfin 600 [6801] - Ford twin cam
37
11 Sonny Rajah March 732 [712M-7] - Ford twin cam Hart
37
12 Terry Hook Rennmax BN3 - Ford twin cam
35
13 Dean Hosking Birrana 374 [374-011] - Ford twin cam
35
14 Tony Maw Elfin 623 [74439] - Ford twin cam
35
15 Chas Talbot Birrana 274 [274-016] - Ford twin cam
35
R Bruce Allison Birrana 274 [274-017] - Ford twin cam
30 Wing
R Ian Fergusson Bowin P3a [P3a-103-69] - Ford twin cam
26 Crash
R Ray Winter Mildren 'Mono' - Ford twin cam
(see note 4)
19 No Oil
R Chris Farrell Lola T360 ['AU1'] - Ford twin cam
(see note 5)
3 Engine
R Graeme Crawford Birrana 273 [273-010] - Ford twin cam
2

All cars are 1.6-litre ANF2 unless noted.

Qualifying
Qualifying information not available

Notes on the cars:

  1. March 722 [37] (Max Stewart): New to Chris Oates (Kimberley, Notts) and entered by Alida Graham Eden Racing in a couple of Formula Atlantic races in April 1972, but Oates was well off the pace and the car was not seen again until January 1973, when it had been acquired by Baron Robertson in New Zealand, and fitted with a Cosworth FVC for the 1973 Tasman series. It was dreadfully slow, and Robertson traded it to Max Stewart for his Elfin MR5. Stewart entered the March-FVC for John Leffler in the Australian rounds of the 1974 Tasman series. Then fitted with a Ford twin cam engine for Stewart to drive in the Australian F2 races later in 1974. It was later acquired by Paul Feltham, a high-profile Australian Rules Football player who was attempting to break into motor racing, and raced by him at Hume Weir in March 1975. This car remains in Australia.
  2. Bowin P8 [P8-118-72] (John Leffler): Built in August 1972, supplied to Bob Jane Racing and fitted with a Repco Holden V8 for John Harvey to race in the Australian Gold Star series. First appeared at Surfers Paradise 27 Aug 1972 but failed to start with fuel problems. Then raced in a non-championship event at Warwick Farm a week later, where Harvey finished fifth in Heat 1 but collided with Kevin Bartlett at the start of the Heat 2. The car was then stored for 18 months, until sold to John Leffler to replace his damaged ANF2 Bowin P8/2. Converted to ANF2 specification and raced in the Australian F2 series in 1974, and in Australian Gold Star events. Leased to Sue Ransom for a one-off race at Wanneroo Park in May 1975. The car remained in Western Australia, and is reported to have been owned by Rod Housego and Ian Wookey, before reappearing at Wanneroo Park in the hands of Rob Richards in 1980. Richards raced it as late as 1982, in Formula Pacific specification. Then unknown until 2004, when it was being restored by Matthew Lloyd. Lloyd died in 2008, just as the car was being completed, and in 2009 it was bought by Dean Saunders.
  3. March 732 [15 as '9'] (Ken Smith): A new car for Andy Sutcliffe at Karlskoga run by Brian Lewis Racing and replacing 732-9, crashed by Mike Beuttler earlier in the year. To save paperwork, the team put the "732/9" chassis plate onto the car and it still wears it today. Sold to Ken Smith in New Zealand after Sutcliffe's money did not appear and raced by him in the 1974 Tasman series. Then rebuilt as a ANF2 car with a Ford twin cam for the 1974 Australian Formula 2 series and sold to Ken Shirvington mid-season. The car remains in Australia in 2012.
  4. Mildren 'Mono' (Ray Winter): Designed by Len Bailey and built by Alan Mann Racing for Alec Mildren Racing in Australia in late 1968, when it was raced by Frank Gardner using one of 2.5-litre Alfa T33 V8 engines from the team's Brabham BT23D. Raced by Gardner in the 1969 Tasman series, then by Kevin Bartlett in the 1969 Gold Star series. Later in 1969 it was fitted a Waggott TC4V engine, and Bartlett used it in this form in the 1970 Tasman and the 1970 Gold Star. It was sold to Bob Muir at the end of 1970 and raced by him through 1971 and early 1972, both with his 2-litre Waggott engine and with a Ford twin cam engine for Southeast Asian events. Then to Ray Winter and used in ANF2 in 1973 and 1974. Winter used the car again on occasion in 1975 and 1976. Later on, when the new single-cam Australian F2 was introduced, the old Mildren was raced in that category by Greg Ferrall. Then unknown until acquired by Lionel Ayres and restored. The car was retained by Bruce Ayres after his father Lionel's death in 2013.
  5. Lola T360 ['AU1'] (Chris Farrell): Believed to be the prototype T360, which was tested at Silverstone and then used to facilitate construction of production jigs. It was a complete car when acquired by Don Baker of Dolphin Racing and Lola agent Glen Abbey, but dismantled and shipped to Australia in parts, where it was given the identity 'AU1'. Fitted with a Ford twin cam engine for ANF2, and raced by Chris Farrell, Graeme Lawrence, and Kevin Bartlett. Acquired by Fred Gibson from the Bartlett-Abbey organisation in mid-1974. To Doug McArthur for 1975 and 1976, then to Andrew Miedecke and rebuilt as a Formula Pacific for the 1977 New Zealand series. Returned to Australia for John Davis to race as an ANF2 in 1977, then converted to the new single-cam ANF2 and raced by Davis in 1978. Then to Jim Hunter but remained unused until it reappeared in historic racing in 1989. Bought by Colin Haste (Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia) in 2002, and still with him in 2013.

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.