Seeking info re "Pete" Geoghegan's ATCC 'Tina

[kndturner]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if I may get some assistance please?

I am an avid model builder, and wish to make a 1:18 scale model of Ian "Pete" Geoghegan's 1964 ATCC winning Cortina. (I am aware that Biante are producing a 1:43 scale one...eventually)

I have seen conflicting references that state it was a GT and others that it was a Lotus-Cortina. Pardon my "numpty" question (I know Mustangs, not Cortinas), but what was the difference?

I have some grainy photos from Autopics, but that is all. I am after any photos, or other appropriate references. All submissions would be for private use only and are not for any commercial enterprise.

Any help is gratefully accepted.

Have a great week.

Kind regards...Dave

[jewels]

hello and

kndturner, the difference between a GT and Lotus Cortina is huge

although the appearance/body from the outside is mainly the colour (MK1 lotus only available in white with green stripe)

twin cam engine with twin side draught webers ... underneath power train, suspension was very different

instrumentation was also different

if you are building a model you would need to start with a biante lotus first

would be like comparing a shelby mustang to stock standard mussy

[kndturner]

hello and

kndturner, the difference between a GT and Lotus Cortina is huge

if you are building a model you would need to start with a biante lotus first

would be like comparing a shelby mustang to stock standard mussy

Many thanks for the welcome and the great info.

I have a 1:18 Biante (AutoArt) Lotus-Cortina ready to go. Now I just need to ascertain if "Pete" Geoghegan was driving his GT or Lotus Cortina when he won the 1964 ATCC title.

Many thanks.

Regards...Dave

[jewels]

dave im not up with that but others here will no the answer for sure

give it a day of so...

[a1topdog]

Dave - I am also unable to help with the answer - but try the folks on the Autosport forum as they have a wealth if historical motorsport knowledge:

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showforum=10

[Swampy]

The Autopics site shows both cars and are descibed as Lotus Cortinas, so I see your confusion.
During that time the touring car championship was decided over one race and not a series of races.
So the 64 race he used a GT and only Jim McKeown had a lotus in the field. The neptune team had only just been formed and the lotus had a few teathing problems.
I have confirmed this with Harry Firth who came 10th in a GT.
The link below is pretty accurate and the car he used was given to him by Ford to use after he rolled his.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Au...r_Championship

http://theracingline.net/racingcircu...champ_aus.html

There is one of the Autopics (64033) that shows the car. It was black and with the chrome mouldings, so you would maybe have to use the 1/18 SA safari car as your base to start with.

Hope this helps.
Swampy

[GT500]

It was a Lotus Cortina - Black. The car is still around (after being put on its lid. I believe it is in a shed in Northern NSW.

Cheers,

[kndturner]

The Autopics site shows both cars and are descibed as Lotus Cortinas, so I see your confusion.
So the 64 race he used a GT and only Jim McKeown had a lotus in the field. The neptune team had only just been formed and the lotus had a few teathing problems.
I have confirmed this with Harry Firth who came 10th in a GT.
Hope this helps.
Swampy

G'day Swampy,

Fantastic information...Many thanks indeed.

Regards...Dave

[Paul T]

It was a Lotus Cortina - Black. The car is still around (after being put on its lid. I believe it is in a shed in Northern NSW.

Cheers,

It is and a long away along to be restored. It's repaired and painted just needs fitting out last photo's of it I saw.

[Swampy]

The car he raced in the championship race was not the rolled one but a factory GT given to him to use for that race.

[Cortina GT500]

I was at Lakeside in 1964 when the Touring Car Championship was decided by just the one race over 75 laps.
It was won by Ian Geoghegan in a black Cortina GT. Norm Beechey was second in a Holden and Bob Jane third in a Jaguar.

Norm

[zombie289]

It is and a long away along to be restored. It's repaired and painted just needs fitting out last photo's of it I saw.

Yeah but is it the REAL one??..............

[Paul T]

Yeah but is it the REAL one??..............

I have no reason to believe it's not the real one but anything is possible

[Kenz]

kndturner,
Pete's 64 ATCC winning Cortina was a two door GT. It was developed by the legendary John Sheppard, who's still active in Melbourne. In fact, John wrote an interesting series on it in Racing Car News not long after it won the ATCC and there were some good detail photos in that. Max Stahl, RCN editor is still around and should be able to help you.
I was at Lakeside that day and the race was a ripper and a great result for Ford, and especially Cortina, lovers!
Sports Car World also published a track test on it following the race, and there were some good photos in that article. Also, 'Australian Touring Car Champioship - 25 fabulous years' (Graham Howard and Stewart Wilson) has a good full side-on photo of the car in action on Page 51, as well as a comprehensive race report. I have a copy of this book.
Other detail for accuracy is: front brake scoops - these were made by Alan Stansfield (currently lives in Grafton, I think) and are identical to those on the GT500, which I think Allan produced also; bungee cords held down the bonnet and boot; race number is '5'.
The car passed to George Garth, who later also bought Pete's black Lotus Cortina. This is the car rolled by Pete at Catalina Park and later again by Frank Melit at Lowwod, Qld. I curently work with Frank's nephew.
Hope this helps - please contact me by e-mail if you'd like ay more info.
I have a mate who has a vast collection of 60's mags and race programs.
Also, there are the Brier Thomas 60's photo collections available on CD's - there may be some stuff on the Lakeside set that's useful.

[jewels]

hell and kenz

great first post

any old historic shots and info is fantastic

there is actually a thread on old racing images etc

[GT500]

Wow,

Great info - for some reason I had the two images in my head mixed up - the GT coming down the hill at lakeside and Mr G standing next to that rolled Lotus.
Thanks again.

Andy

[Swampy]

Look forward to seeing a model of it and as mentioned the AutoArt south african safari model has the correct engine in it and is the pre airflow version.

Love your work Kenz

[Cortina GT500]

I was at Lowood in 1965 or 66 (not sure now, it's a long time ago) spectating at the corner leading into the main straight and witnessed the roll over of the ex-Geoghegan Lotus Cortina referred to by Kenz.The car appeared "over-tyred", leapt into the air and as it went over the driver's arm came out the window.Luckily, I think he escaped any serious injury.
Things are a bit hazy but I was at a 4 hour race there in 1966 which I think was won by Harry Firth in a GT500. Anyone know for sure?

Norm

[Kenz]

Yep, the Lotus roll-over was Frank Melit, probably '66 (post George Garth's ownership). Suspect he may have rolled it again, somewhere else - will ask his nephew to check. Will shame reduce his recall of the rollover count?

Harry Firth & John Raeburn won their class in the '65 Lowood 4 hour in a GT. It was like Bathurst in those days - ostensibly no "outright winner", except finishing first counted for everything. Harvey and Foley (Cooper S) did 102 laps to Harry's 101. This was March '65 and pre-GT500, I think.
Cortinas won 3 (A, B and C) of the four classes (Coooper S's were in Class D).
They should have won all four classes, as Graham Perry had built up a runaway lead in a Lotus Cortina (Class D), but its owner, Ron O'Neill was a first-timer and hopelessly off the pace. They only made 97 laps, which was pathetic on such a quick track, given that Perry was a bloody quick driver.

In '64 Firth & Raeburn 4 door GT completed the most laps (100) in a 4 door GT.
The '66 and final 4-hour was won by David McKay & Bill Orr in a Volvo Amazon (122S) on 107 laps. Harry and Bo Seton ran a GT500, and finished second (1st in Class), one lap behind. Ron O'Neill's Lotus (this time shared with Johnny Reilly (dec'd?) managed 102 laps.

[zombie289]

Harry and Bo Seton ran a GT500, and finished second (1st in Class), one lap behind.

Good stuff mate, great to get this info from people like yourself...was this GT500 the same car that Bo won Bathurst in??