OldRacingCars.com

Australian Gold Star Race

Phillip Island, 14 Oct 1973

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Johnnie Walker Lola T330 [HU23] - Repco Holden V8
(see note 1)
34 56m 36.9s
170.43 kph
2 Garrie Cooper Elfin MR5 [5723] - Repco Holden V8
(see note 2)
33
3 Kevin Bartlett Lola T330 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 3)
31
4 Bruce Allison (ANF2) 1.6-litre Bowin P6 [P6F-129-73] - Ford twin cam
30
5 Chas Talbot (ANF2) 1.6-litre Elfin 600B [7124] - Ford twin cam
30
DSQ John McCormack Elfin MR5 [5711] - Repco Holden V8
(see note 4)
32 pushed car across line (3rd)
DNS John Leffler Elfin MR5 [5722] - Repco Holden V8
(see note 5)
Did not start
(engine failed to fire)
DNS Max Stewart Lola T330 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 6)
Did not start
(blown engine - lent car to Bartlett)
T Kevin Bartlett Lola T330 [HU22] - Chevrolet V8
(see note 7)
(Only used in practice)

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Kevin Bartlett (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8 1m 38.2s
2 Johnnie Walker (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU23] - Repco Holden V8 1m 38.3s
3 John McCormack (F5000) 5-litre Elfin MR5 [5711] - Repco Holden V8 1m 38.8s
4 Max Stewart * (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU1] - Chevrolet V8 1m 41.9s
5 John Leffler * (F5000) 5-litre Elfin MR5 [5722] - Repco Holden V8 1m 52.8s
6 Garrie Cooper (F5000) 5-litre Elfin MR5 [5723] - Repco Holden V8 1m 56.1s
7 Chas Talbot (ANF2) 1.6-litre Elfin 600B [7124] - Ford twin cam 1m 58.7s
8 Bruce Allison (ANF2) 1.6-litre Bowin P6 [P6F-129-73] - Ford twin cam 2m 02.1s
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Lola T330 [HU23] (Johnnie Walker): See full history: Lola T330 HU23.
  2. Elfin MR5 [5723] (Garrie Cooper): Works Elfin Sports Cars entry for Garrie Cooper in the 1972 Tasman and Australian Gold Star, the 1973 Tasman and Australian Gold Star, the 1974 Tasman and Australian Gold Star, and the 1975 Tasman and Australian Gold Star. Rebuilt in August 1975 as the MR5-B. Sold to John Edmonds for the last race of the Australian Gold Star, then the 1976 New Zealand and Australian Internationals, the 1976 national season, and the 1977 Australian Internationals. Then to Phil Ward 1977, and then with Mike Pope from 1980 to 1986. History then unknown until bought from Geoff Munday by Gavin Sala. Sold by Sala to Ken Smith in Nnew Zealand, and reportedly with Barrie Flett in 1994. The car is said to have spent time in a museum in NZ, before being bought by Smith again, and sold back to Geoff Munday some time before 2014.
  3. Lola T330 [HU1] (Kevin Bartlett): Works car for Frank Gardner at the end of 1972, then to Max Stewart for the 1973 Tasman series, the 1973 US series, 1973 Australian Gold Star, 1974 Tasman, and 1974 Gold Star. In ecember 1974, Kevin Bartlett used the car to win a New Zealand Gold Star race. Driven by David Oxton in the 1975 New Zealand Tasman races, then by Stewart for last two races of Tasman 1975 after he gave up on his Lola T400. Driven by John Leffler, Stewart and Paul Bernasconi during 1975. To Ian Adams (NSW, Australia) 1976, and raced until 1982. Sold by Adams to Darcy Russell (Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia) in 1988, and raced in historic racing from 1992 onwards. Appeared regularly at the VHRR Phillip Island Classic from 1997 to 2016, and in the Australian GP support races in 2009 and 2010. More information about Lola T330 HU1
  4. Elfin MR5 [5711] (John McCormack): New to John McCormack in September 1971, and raced in Australian Gold Star, taking two second places and a win from three races. Raced by McCormack in the 1972 Tasman series, and the 1972 Australian Gold Star, where he won one race. Then raced in the 1973 Tasman series, where he won the NZ GP and the Adelaide '100', and in the 1973 Australian Gold Star, when he won two races and the championship. Raced again in the 1974 Tasman, again winning the NZ GP. Raced by Phil Moore in the 1974 Gold Star. Sold to Glen Nichols December 1975, and entered for the Rothmans Internationals, but did not start a race. History then unknown until bought from Les Swallow by Gavin Sala, and sold to John McCormack for restoration some time before 1992.
  5. Elfin MR5 [5722] (John Leffler): New to Max Stewart in time for the start of the 1972 Tasman series. Also raced by Stewart in the 1972 Australian Gold Star. Entered by Stewart for John Leffler in a few raced in October/November 1973. Then sold to Baron Robertson and raced in the Tasman series in 1974 and 1975, and in the New Zealand and Australian Internationals in 1976. History then unknown until bought from David Davidson (Melbourne) by Gavin Sala. By 1994, this car was with Adrian Tweedle (Victoria). Subsequent history again unknown, but reported to be with Max Pearson by 2012.
  6. Lola T330 [HU1] (Max Stewart): Works car for Frank Gardner at the end of 1972, then to Max Stewart for the 1973 Tasman series, the 1973 US series, 1973 Australian Gold Star, 1974 Tasman, and 1974 Gold Star. In ecember 1974, Kevin Bartlett used the car to win a New Zealand Gold Star race. Driven by David Oxton in the 1975 New Zealand Tasman races, then by Stewart for last two races of Tasman 1975 after he gave up on his Lola T400. Driven by John Leffler, Stewart and Paul Bernasconi during 1975. To Ian Adams (NSW, Australia) 1976, and raced until 1982. Sold by Adams to Darcy Russell (Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia) in 1988, and raced in historic racing from 1992 onwards. Appeared regularly at the VHRR Phillip Island Classic from 1997 to 2016, and in the Australian GP support races in 2009 and 2010. More information about Lola T330 HU1
  7. Lola T330 [HU22] (Kevin Bartlett): New to Kevin Bartlett (Aus) 1973. First raced in Australia September 1973, then in the 1974 Tasman series, but crashed in practice at Pukekohe and effectively written off.

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.

Individual sources for this event

Racing Car News November 1973 pp64-65. Kevin Bartlett drove Max Stewart's car in the race after both drivers suffered engine problems in practice. Stewart blew an engine in unofficial practice on Friday, then damaged his second engine on the Saturday. Bartlett lent him his spare engine, only for that to catch fire, and then for Bartlett's main engine to bend its rocker gear. With only Bartlett's spare engine, now in Stewart's car, still operational, Stewart kindly agreed to lend Bartlett his car for the race, wearing Bartlett's body panels and with the fuire damage repaired. Leffler's car then wouldn't fire, so only six cars started the race. Bartlett's cobbled-together engine lost all its water early on, but continued smokily to the finish. McCormack's engine also expired just before the finish line, and he pushed it across the line to claim third, but was disqualified after a CAMS inquiry.