The 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was just reward for John Goss after trailblazing the development of the Ford Falcon GT Hardtop and taking the win alongside F5000 rival Kevin Bartlett, but it proved a bitter loss for the Holden Dealer Team.
Debuting the new L34 Torana at the opening round of the 1974 Australian Manufacturers’ Championship in Adelaide to immediate success through victory for Colin Bond, the Holden Dealer Team didn’t have the Ford competition of previous years.
Ford had pulled its support of motorsport after the 1973 season, with Allan Moffat getting support from Brut and undertaking a testing program in the United States in what was dubbed ‘Project B52’.
Moffat returned to racing at the Sandown 250 and won as the HDT encountered dramas.
Entering Bathurst, the battle appeared to be between Moffat and the HDT L34 Toranas. This failed to take place for a multitude of reasons.
Troubles for Moffat started in practice when ‘Project B52’ encountered oil pressure problems in practice leading to minimal track time and a disappointing 15th in qualifying. Adding to this, HDT team manager Harry Firth lodged a 15-point protest on Moffat’s entry further unsettling the effort.
Meanwhile, Firth’s HDT L34 Toranas locked out the front row as Peter Brock set a 2m 30.8s pole time from Bond at a 2m 31.6s.
Only three Ford Falcons were entered in the field led by Moffat bringing European touring car ace Dieter Glemser, Goss and Bartlett, with Blue Oval loyalist Murray Carter joined by Mike Stillwell. Just one made it to the end of the race.
The pair of HDT L34 Toranas dominated the early part of the race as Moffat rose to fifth, Goss was behind in sixth and Carter struggled with tyres before retiring due to clutch problems.
After his charge to fifth, Moffat’s race ended when an ignition fault proved to be the first of many dramas to afflict ‘Project B52’.
HDT continued to dominate the race out in front enjoying a comfortable margin back to its rivals, with Goss also encountering a puncture to delay his challenge.
Rain began to hit the track just as the first hint of trouble for the HDT occurred when Bond entered the pits due to a black flag for dropping oil from the rear of his smoking L34 Torana.
Brock was a remarkable six laps in the lead and was shown a sign to take it easy, but he too dropped when the engine in his L34 Torana cried enough on lap 118.
Holden’s chances shifted to the privateer Bob Forbes/Wayne Negus combination in another L34 Torana, but momentum was with Goss in the McLeod Falcon.
Having reached his allotted driving time, Goss handed over to Bartlett for the final stint and when Forbes pitted during the closing stages it was the Ford pairing’s to lose.
Conditions were diabolical, but Bartlett put on a masterclass to secure the win.
Of note, Jim Richards was an unknown in Australia until this race where his skill in wet conditions was first displayed when he guided the L34 Torana shared by Rod Coppins to third.
Holden did at least secure the Australian Manufacturers’ Championship as Bond took the next two wins at Surfers Paradise and Phillip Island.