1976 Holden Torana L34

A month or so back, Vintage Racecar interviewed Leo Geoghegan, a true icon of Australian motorsport. While Leo may have started his racing career in an early model Holden, he later became a household name from his successes with a series of Lotus open-wheelers. While this interview will feature in a future edition but it was interesting what Leo said first, even without a question being asked.

“Real racing cars in Australia account for only about 5% of the cars being raced. It was explained to me once by Ivan Stibbard, who used to be the manager of the Australian Racing Drivers Club. He said that we have got to accept the fact that our Formula 1 are touring cars. And this was before the racing saloons that we have these days, back when we had racing Cortinas, Stangs and the like. That’s what drew the crowd. Sports cars are sort of on a par with open-wheelers but it’s the sedans that are on the top of the hill with the paying public.”