The 1964 Lowood 4 Hour was a motor race[1] for production touring cars[2] staged at the Lowood circuit in Queensland, Australia on 12 April 1964.[1] The race, which was promoted by the Queensland Racing Drivers' Club Ltd.,[1] was the first of three Lowood 4 Hour races to be held at the circuit.

Layout of the Lowood Airfield Circuit (1946-1966)

Whilst the emphasis was on class results,[1][3][4][5] the Ford Cortina GT driven by Harry Firth and John Raeburn had completed the greatest number of laps at the end of the four hours.[5] This same car,[1] driven by Harry Firth and Bob Jane,[4] had won the 1963 Armstrong 500 endurance race at Bathurst six months before and was using the same set of tyres that had been on the car during its earlier victory.[1]

Classes edit

Cars competed in four classes grouped according to the retail selling price of each car.[1]

  • Class A : Up to £900[1]
  • Class B : £901 to £1,000[1]
  • Class C : £1,001 to £1,200[1]
  • Class D : £1,201 to £2,000[1]

Results edit

Position[1] Drivers[1] No. Car[1] Entrant[1] Laps[1]
Class A (Up to £900)
1 Lionel Ayers, Denis Geary[3] 11[1] Hillman Imp Stradbroke Motors 87
2 Bruce Neville, Brian Tebble[3] Morris 850 B.J. Neville[6] 87
3 Gordon Ferrar,[6] Roy Sawyer[6] 15[3] Morris 850 Downshift Racing Team 83
4 Geoff Sakzewski,[6] Errol Sakzewski[6] Volkswagen Adams Form Pty Ltd 81
Class B (£901 to £1000)
1 Max Volkers, Glynn Scott[3] Ford Cortina 1500 Ford Motor Company 96
2 Ken Peters,[6] K. Shaw Morris Cooper Downshift Racing Team 95
3 W. Bailey, Viv Eddy[6] Morris Cooper W. Bailey[6] 94
4 B. Fleming, G. Symons 26[1] Renault R8 G.P. Cars 93
5 B. Tapsall, D. White Renault R8 92
6 J. Bertram, Bill Gates[3] Renault R8 85
DNF Ron Hodgson, John French[4] Morris Cooper Peter Uscinski Pty Ltd 69
DNF D. Gear, D. Barrett 27[4] Morris Cooper 42[3]
Class C (£1001 to £1200)
1 Harry Firth, John Raeburn[4] 30[5] Ford Cortina GT Ford Motor Company 100
2 G. Perry, B. Flynn Ford Cortina GT M. Volkers[6] 94
Class D (£1201 to £2000)
1 Spencer Martin, Bill Brown[4] 43[3] Fiat 2300 Scuderia Veloce 97
2 Bill Burns, Brian Lawler[4] Fiat 2300 W. Burns[6] 97
3 G. Ward, B. McPhee 41[4] Volvo B18 G. Ward[6] 95
4 Sib Petralia,[6] John Gillmeister[6] 45[1] Fiat 2300 Europa Motors 94
5 G. Griffith, G. Perrin Humber Vogue Sports 92
DNF Fulla, Vine 42[1] Vauxhall VX4/90 Clive Nolan Motors

Notes edit

  • Of the 20 cars which started the race, 17 finished and three retired.[1]
  • The Butler Car Electrics Trophy for the first Queensland entrant was awarded to the Downshift Racing Team (Morris Cooper).[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Cortina GT is first home in Lowood 4-hour touring event, Australian Motor Sports, June 1964, pages 51 to 53
  2. ^ Cover, Official Programme, Lowood 4hr. Production Touring Car Race, Sunday April 12, 1964
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Des White, Lowood 4-Hour Touring Car Race, Racing Car News, May 1964, pages 9 & 10
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Brier Thomas, Four Hours at Lowood, Modern Motor, June 1964, pages 14 to 16
  5. ^ a b c Melb. drivers lead field in, The Courier Mail, Monday, 13 April 1964
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n K. Shaw, Firth - Ford Combine at Lowood, Australian Autosportsman, May 1964, pages Thirty-three to Thirty-five