1977 Rothmans 500
The 1977 Rothmans 500 was an endurance race for Group C Touring Cars. The event was staged at the Oran Park Raceway in New South Wales on 12 June 1977 over 222 laps of the “Grand Prix”circuit, totalling 582 km. Competing cars were divided into the following three classes based on engine capacity:
- Class A: Over 3000 cc
- Class B: 2001 - 3000 cc
- Class C: Up to 2000 cc
This was the first of two “Rothmans 500” events held at Oran Park, the second and final race being the 1978 Rothmans 500.
Results
| Position | Drivers | No. | Car | Entrant | Class | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warren Cullen, Brian Sampson | 12 | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Pioneer Electronics | A | 222 |
| 2 | Bob Forbes, Kevin Bartlett | 10 | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Andronicus Coffee | A | 221 |
| 3 | Lakis Manticas, Doug Chivas | Ford Capri V6 | City Ford | B | 220 | |
| 4 | Murray Carter, Bob Stevens | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | Brian Wood Ford | A | 219 | |
| 5 | Don Holland, Terry Shiel | Mazda RX-3 | Penrith Mazda Centre | B | 217 | |
| 6 | Garth Wigston, Bruce Hindhaugh | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Roadways | A | 216 | |
| 7 | David Seldon, Graeme Lawrence | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | Orange City Leyland | C | 215 | |
| 8 | Garry Willmington, Jeff Barnes | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | Austral Hardware | A | 215 | |
| 9 | Lynn Brown, Bruce Stewart | Mazda RX-3 | James Mason Motors | B | 214 | |
| 10 | John Duggan, Brian Wheeler | Mazda RX-3 | W. Torr | B | 214 | |
| 11 | Frank Porter, Jim Murcott | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT | Beninca Motors | C | 211 | |
| 12 | Brian Potts, Steve Land | Mazda RX-3 | Brian Potts | B | 211 | |
| 13 | Gary Cooke, Ben Penhall | Mazda RX-3 | Mayrack Manufacturers | B | 210 | |
| 14 | Ron Gillard, Bill Slattery | Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | Freds Treads | C | 208 | |
| 15 | Arthur Hardwick, Phil Alexander | Mazda RX-3 | Arthur Hardwick | B | 208 | |
| 16 | Geoff Leeds, Ralph Radburn | Mazda RX-3 | Craven Mild Racing | B | 204 | |
| 17 | Les Grose, Bill Stanley | Ford Capri V6 | Les Grose | B | 196 | |
| 18 | Barry Lee, Milton Leslight | BMW 2002 | Chevelle Motors | C | 170 | |
| 19 | Peter Granger, Terry Ryan | BMW 2002 | Bob Glazier | C | 127 | |
| 20 | Stephen Evans, Joe Butta | Morris Cooper S | Stephen Evans | C | 111 | |
| DNF | Stanley, Mahnken | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | A | 196 | ||
| DNF | Daly, Barry Jones | Ford Escort RS2000 | C | 193 | ||
| DNF | Barry Seton, Don Smith | Ford Capri V6 | Amco | B | 159 | |
| DNF | Schofield, Lucas | Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1 | A | 148 | ||
| DNF | Brian Callaghan, Pellatt | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | A | 140 | ||
| DNF | John Goss, Leo Leonard | 2 | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | John Goss Racing | A | 120 |
| DNF | John Harvey, Wayne Negus | 76 | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Holden Dealer Team | A | 111 |
| DNF | Allan Moffat, Colin Bond | 1 | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | Allan Moffat Ford Dealers | A | 91 |
| DNF | Peter Brock, Phil Brock | 15 | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Bill Patterson Racing | A | 84 |
| DNF | Russell Skaife, Bob Muir | Ford Capri V6 | B | 73 | ||
| DNF | Ron Dickson, Fred Gibson | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | A | 58 | ||
| DNF | Farrar, Millard | Ford Capri V6 | B | 52 | ||
| DNF | Allen, Ray Gulson | Chrysler Valiant Charger | A | 49 | ||
| DNF | Allen, Martin | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | A | 39 | ||
| DNF | Booth, Christie | Triumph Dolomite Sprint | C | 27 | ||
| DNF | Allan Grice, Jack Brabham | Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Craven Mild Racing | A | 24 | |
| DNF | Bryant, Gall | Mazda RX-3 | B | 8 | ||
| DNF | Nuttall, White | Fiat 124S | C | 6 | ||
| DNF | Chris Heyer, Lander | Volkswagen Golf | C | 2 | ||
| DNF | Dick Johnson, Jim Richards | 19 | Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop | A | 0 |
References
- A History of Australian Motor Sport © 1980
- Holden, The Official Racing History © 1989
- Racing Car News, July 1977
- Racing Car News, July 1987
- The History of the Falcon GT, by Stewart Wilson
- The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 13 June 1977