Classic Motor Sport

A tournament atmosphere prevails as, with flags flying, Ian Geoghegan thunders out of Energol Corner at Oran Park, to win the second round of the Hordern's Toby Lee series on June 29, 1969. (Photograph by Nigel Foote) 

To the delight of the record crowd, Geoghegan emerged victorious once again, having earlier in the day triumphed over the threat of Allan Moffat's new Trans-Am Mustang when it left the track at around 100 mph after blowing an oil line. Moffat's car was an awesome machine, but despite what some people believe, Geoghegan's two white Mustangs were easily the most successful touring cars to ever compete in this country.

Ian Geoghegan was one of the most naturally gifted drivers Australia has ever produced, and he dominated the touring car scene in the mid-to-late '60s, winning the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) five times – a record that has never been beaten. Geoghegan's first victory was in 1964 driving a black Cortina GT, followed by four consecutive titles from 1966-69 in his two famous Mustangs. 'Pete' broke the lap record for touring cars on every circuit he competed on.

Geoghegan's first Mustang was sponsored by Total (white, with blue and red stripes), then later in the year by Castrol (green stripes), and in that car he won 68 races from 74 starts! (Winning 91% of races contested – a world record that still stands in the Guinness Book of Records). Geoghegan won the 1966 ATCC in the same car, which reflected the thorough preparation it received from his brilliant mechanic, John Sheppard.    

In 1967 Ian Geoghegan bought his second Mustang (pictured), and over the next few years this legendary car and driver combination ruled the Australian touring car scene, recording 75 wins  from 118 starts (63%), including three consecutive ATCC titles in 1967, 1968 and 1969 in the same car – a record that's never been equalled. Even if we combine Geoghegan's two Mustangs win/start statistics of 143 wins from 192 starts (winning 74% of those races), he still beats Moffat's Trans-Am Mustang percentage of 66%. To put these figures into perspective, it's interesting to note that both Geoghegan and Moffat beat Peter Brock's results by a long way (see below).

Although Moffat's Mustang accumulated 101 wins from 151 starts, which is an excellent result by anyone's standards, it falls a long way short of Ian Geoghegan's first Mustang's record. Perhaps more important is the fact that Allan Moffat and his Trans-Am Mustang failed to win a single Australian Touring Car Championship. (He had great success in later years, winning four ATCCs in Falcons and a Mazda RX7).

Big Pete's battles with Norm Beechey, Bob Jane and Allan Moffat are legendary, with Geoghegan usually the victor. He also won the Australian Sports Car Championship (The Tourist Trophy), three times, and along with his brother Leo, who also excelled at the sport, especially in open-wheelers, is remembered as one of the great drivers of the Golden Era.   

If we could put Pete Geoghegan in one of today's so-called V8 Supercars and set him free for a few laps on Mount Panorama, there is little doubt (in the author's opinion), that we would be witnessing a new lap record. 

Peter Brock's win/start percentages are as follows:

48% for races in his Austin A30 (13 wins from 27 starts) 

51% for the ATCC (from the best five individual years: 1973-74-78-79-80) (18% ATCC overall) 

45% for races in his HDT Torana GTR XU1 

42% for races in his HDT Torana SLR 5000 & L34

31% for all races in his career (175 wins from 550 starts)

Most ATCC Winners:

Ian Geoghegan (5) 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 (a record four times in a row)

Dick Johnson    (5)  1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989   

Mark Skaife       (5)  1992, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002

Allan Moffat       (4)  1973, 1976, 1977, 1983

Bob Jane          (4)   1962, 1963, 1971, 1972

Jim Richards    (4)    1985, 1987, 1990, 1991

Peter Brock      (3)    1974, 1978, 1980

Craig Lowndes (3)    1996, 1998, 1999

(Dick Johnson and Mark Skaife both equalled Pete Geoghegan's record of five ATCCs, but they took many more years to do it, and can't really be compared in the same light).

Note: These statistics have been derived from close analysis of race results freely available on the Internet, and every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy. They have been presented here to help establish the truth, and to help recognise the fact that, to date, Ian Geoghegan is the greatest touring car driver in the history of Australian motor racing. His statistics prove it.

Peter Brock fans (of which I am one) will probably disagree, but most of them were not around to see how good Pete was, and when it's all said and done, facts are facts. Brock had a wonderful career, and he will undoubtedly remain 'King of the Mountain' for he earned it, and was a master of The Great Race.

I included a tribute to Peter Brock, on the Tasman Revival DVD, that I filmed during the 2003 24 Hour Sports Car Race at Bathurst. The DVD also contains some current footage of Geoghegan's Mustang ... and it still sounds as good as ever!

Nigel Foote