1979 Hardie-Ferodo 1000


The 1979 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 20th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 30 September 1979, at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst. The race was open to cars eligible to the locally developed CAMS Group C touring car regulations with four engine capacity based classes.
Peter Brock and Jim Richards won their second successive Bathurst 1000 driving a Holden Dealer Team A9X SS Hatchback Torana. In the most dominant performance in the races history, Brock, starting from pole position, got a perfect start and from that point the #05 MHDT Torana was never headed. Brock and Richards won the race by a record six laps, easily beating the old winning margin of 2 laps set in 1975 with Brock claiming the lap record of 2:21.1 on the last lap of the 6.172 km long circuit. Brock later claimed that he just wanted to show how good the Torana was even after 1000 km of hard racing. Brock didn't have a clear lap in which to set the lap record and actually passed 7 cars over the lap, though luckily all but one were on either Mountain or Conrod Straights which did not hinder him. It was Brock's fourth and Richards second win. Brock's win put him equal on most wins with Harry Firth, Bob Jane and his longtime rival Allan Moffat. Toranas swept the podium with Peter Janson and Larry Perkins finishing second ahead of Ralph Radburn and John Smith.
With Holden ending production of the Torana, 1979 would be the 5th and last Torana victory in the race. From 1980 Holden's flagship would be the European based Commodore.

Class structure

Cars competed in four classes defined by engine capacity.

3001cc - 6000cc

The 3001cc - 6000cc class featured the V8 Holden Toranas, Ford Falcons and a pair of Chevrolet Camaros, making their Bathurst debut. Class A cars would fill the first eight positions in the outright results, all of the Holden Toranas. Mirroring the outright result, Brock and Richards took a six lap victory over the similar Torana of Janson and Perkins. Smith and Radburn were two laps further behind.

2001cc - 3000cc

The 2001cc - 3000cc class saw the debut of the Mazda RX-7 which raced alongside its predecessor, the Mazda RX-3 and against Ford Capris, a BMW 3.0Si and a largely unmodified Volvo 242GT entered as a publicity exercise by veteran journalist-racer David McKay. Mechanical issues struck this class more than most, with the class winning car finishing in 13th outright, 26 laps behind Brock and Richards. That car was the Mazda RX-3 of Barry Lee and John Gates. Second in class was the Ford Capri of Peter Hopwood and Alan Cant, nine laps behind Lee and Gates. Third in class, finishing on the same lap as Hopwood/Cant was the Mazda RX-3 of Stephen Stockdale and John Duggan. The Volvo of McKay and Spencer Martin finished a creditable fourth in class, just a lap behind second and third.

1601cc - 2000cc

The 1601cc - 2000cc class saw a mix Alfa Romeo Alfettas, Ford Escort RS2000s, Toyota Celicas and Triumph Dolomites. Class C outperformed Class B with the Toyota Delaer Team Toyota Celica of Peter Williamson and Mike Quinn winning the class and finishing ninth outright and 17 laps behind Brock and Richards. The Brian Foley Alfa Romeo entered Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV of Phil McDonnell and British sportscar legend Derek Bell finished tenth outright, a lap behind the Celica. Frank Porter and Tony Niovanni were three laps further back in third in another Alfetta.
The Celica of Peter Williamson was the first in the world to have an in car race cam.

Up to 1600cc

The entry in the Up to 1600cc class was dominated by Holden Geminis, but also included an Isuzu Gemini, a 1.6 litre Ford Escort, a Toyota Corolla, and a Volkswagen Golf. The Isuzu Gemini of Garry Leggatt and David Seldon won the class, finishing 21st outright, 36 laps down. Bernie McClure and David Langman's Holden Gemini was second, a lap behind the class winners with the Holden Gemini of Jim Faneco and Gary Rowe two laps further behind. Eight laps behind was the first non-Gemini, the Ford Escort of Bob Holden and David Earle.

Hardies Heroes

PosNoTeamDriverCarTime
Pole05Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Peter BrockHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback2:20.500
27Ron Hodgson Racing Bob MorrisHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback2:22.466
36Craven Mild Racing Allan GriceHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback2:23.539
425Allan Moffat Racing Allan MoffatFord XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop2:24.270
521Roadways / Gown-Hindhaugh Charlie O'BrienHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback2:24.579
634Greater Pacific Finance Coy Garry RogersHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback2:25.918
719Cadbury Schweppes Larry PerkinsHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback2:26.212
811Citizen Watches Aust. P/L Gary CookeHolden LX Torana SLR 5000 A9X Sedan2:27.043
917Bryan Byrt Ford Dick JohnsonFord XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop2:27.655
104Thompson Ford Colin BondFord XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop2:30.018

PosClassNoTeamDriversCarLapsQual
Pos
Shootout
Pos
13001cc - 6000cc05Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Peter Brock
Jim Richards
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback1631
23001cc - 6000cc19Cadbury Schweppes Peter Janson
Larry Perkins
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback1577
33001cc - 6000cc14Ralph Radburn Ralph Radburn
John Smith
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X 4-Door15517
43001cc - 6000cc6Craven Mild Racing Allan Grice
Alfredo Costanzo
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback1543
53001cc - 6000cc34Greater Pacific Finance Coy Garry Rogers
Bob Stevens
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback1526
63001cc - 6000cc15Scotty Taylor Holden Alan Taylor
Kevin Kennedy
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback15115
73001cc - 6000cc8Unipart Australia Barry Seton
Don Smith
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback14816
83001cc - 6000cc21Roadways / Gown-Hindhaugh Charlie O'Brien
Garth Wigston
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback1475
91601cc - 2000cc66Peter Williamson P/L Peter Williamson
Mike Quinn
Toyota Celica14633
101601cc - 2000cc58Brian Foley P/L Phil McDonnell
Derek Bell
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV14527
111601cc - 2000cc59Beninca Motors Frank Porter
Tony Niovanni
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV14239
121601cc - 2000cc64Ray Gulson Ray Gulson
Paul Gulson
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV14037
132001cc - 3000cc48Barry Lee Barry Lee
John Gates
Mazda RX-313929
143001cc - 6000cc12Rusty French Racing Jim Keogh
John Mann
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop13822
151601cc - 2000cc65Lockyer Wreckers Walter Scott
Peter Walton
Toyota Celica13330
162001cc - 3000cc46Fury Ford P/L Terry Daly
Eric Boord
Ford Capri Mk.II13330
173001cc - 6000cc24Re-Car Racing Alan Browne
Brian Sampson
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X 4-Door13315
182001cc - 3000cc41Jag Racing P/L Peter Hopwood
Alan Cant
Ford Capri Mk.II13032
192001cc - 3000cc39Stephen Stockdale Stephen Stockdale
John Duggan
Mazda RX-313031
202001cc - 3000cc44Scuderia Veloce P/L Spencer Martin
David McKay
Volvo 242 GT12947
21Up to 1600cc70Garry Leggatt Garry Leggatt
David Seldon
Isuzu Gemini12943
22Up to 1600cc71Rejon Industries P/L Bernie McClure
David Langman
Holden Gemini12852
23Up to 1600cc75Victoria Police MSC Jim Faneco
Gary Rowe
Holden Gemini12648
24Up to 1600cc74Modulaire Air Conditioning Ken Price
Ian Wells
Holden Gemini12455
251601cc - 2000cc56Jagparts Terry Wade
Gerald Kay
Triumph Dolomite Sprint12040
26Up to 1600cc68Bob Holden Bob Holden
David Earle
Ford Escort Mk.II 1.611661
271601cc - 2000cc62Jagparts Martin Power
Peter Kuebler
Triumph Dolomite Sprint11446
28Up to 1600cc73Lennox Motors Chris Heyer
Peter Lander
Volkswagen Golf11149
DSQ2001cc - 3000cc42Brian Boyd Lynn Brown
Brian Boyd
BMW 3.0Si13838
DNF3001cc - 6000cc25Allan Moffat Racing Allan Moffat
John Fitzpatrick
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop1364
DSQUp to 1600cc76Re-Car Racing Allan Gough
Kel Gough
Holden Gemini13542
DNF2001cc - 3000cc52Masterton Homes Pty Ltd Steve Masterton
Phil Lucas
Ford Capri Mk.II13028
DNF3001cc - 6000cc32King George Tavern Fred Gibson
Joe Moore
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X 4-Door12518
NC3001cc - 6000cc3John Goss Racing P/L John Goss
Henri Pescarolo
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop11858
DNF3001cc - 6000cc13TJ Slako Tim Slako
Colin Hall
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback11119
DNF2001cc - 3000cc47Barry Jones Barry Jones
Terry Finnigan
Mazda RX-310626
DNF3001cc - 6000cc33Tony Packard Holden Bob Skelton
Don Holland
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback10544
DNF2001cc - 3000cc50Capri Components Lawrie Nelson
Tony Farrell
Ford Capri Mk.III10553
NC1601cc - 2000cc55Graham Mein Graham Mein
Geoff Russell
Ford Escort Mk.II RS200010541
DNF3001cc - 6000cc7Ron Hodgson Racing Bob Morris
Dieter Quester
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback952
DNF3001cc - 6000cc29Garry Willmington Performance Garry Willmington
John Wright
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop9524
DNF3001cc - 6000cc18Brian Wood Ford Murray Carter
Graeme Lawrence
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop7414
DNF2001cc - 3000cc40Ross Burbidge Terry Shiel
Ross Burbidge
Mazda RX-77236
DNF2001cc - 3000cc43Unipart Australia Lakis Manticas
Geoff Leeds
Ford Capri Mk.II6934
DNF3001cc - 6000cc9Nine Network Racing Team John McCormack
Bob Forbes
Chevrolet Camaro Z286260
DNF3001cc - 6000cc30Everlast Battery Service Bill O'Brien
Ray Winter
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop6221
DNF3001cc - 6000cc26Marlboro Holden Dealer Team John Harvey
Ron Harrop
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback5711
DNF3001cc - 6000cc11Citizen Watches Aust. P/L Gary Cooke
Warwick Brown
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X 4-Door578
DNFUp to 1600cc69Victoria Police MSC Mal Smith
Mal Owen
Holden Gemini5156
DNF1601cc - 2000cc61Brian Hilton Toyota Graeme Bailey
Doug Clark
Toyota Celica4635
DNFUp to 1600cc77Peter Williamson P/L Mark Thatcher
Kiyoshi Misaki
Toyota Corolla Levin4154
DNF3001cc - 6000cc35B Parsons / T Rabold Barry Parsons
Tom Rabold
Ford XC Falcon Cobra #35 Hardtop3863
DNF3001cc - 6000cc22Settlement Road Motor Wreckers Warren Cullen
Graham McRae
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback3013
DNF3001cc - 6000cc36Brian Wood Ford Rod Stevens
Bill Evans
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop2425
DNF1601cc - 2000cc54Roger Cartwright Roger Cartwright
Greg Toepfer
Ford Escort Mk.II RS20002462
DNF3001cc - 6000cc17Bryan Byrt Ford Dick Johnson
Gary Scott
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop249
DNF3001cc - 6000cc4Thompson Ford Colin Bond
John French
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop2310
DNF1601cc - 2000cc60Bill Stanley Bill Stanley
Ian Messner
Ford Escort Mk.II RS20002345
DNF3001cc - 6000cc27Denmac Ford P/L Ron Wanless
Leo Leonard
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop2112
DNF3001cc - 6000cc2AWA-Thorn Consumer Products Ron Dickson
Dick Barbour
Chevrolet Camaro Z281659
DNF2001cc - 3000cc45Precinct Performance P/L Dean Gall
Allan Bryant
Mazda RX-71657
DNF3001cc - 6000cc10Rusty French Racing Rusty French
Graham Moore
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop923
DNS1601cc - 2000cc53Ken Harrison Ken Harrison
Ray Cutchie
Ford Escort Mk.II RS200051
DNSUp to 1600cc72Lennox Motors Peter Lander
Paul Bernasconi
Volkswagen Golf

Statistics