BROCK VS MOFFAT

The rivalry for the ages that was born at Bathurst

The 50th Anniversary of HDT coincides with the debut of Peter Brock at Bathurst where he finished third partnering the experienced Des West.

It was also the first time Brock and Allan Moffat competed against each other on The Mountain, a rivalry that lasted many years and accounted for a number of Bathurst victories. Auto Action’s Mark Fogarty details the beginnings of one of Australia’s greatest sporting contests, that defined the Bathurst race through the 1970s and for much of the 1980s.

Fifty years ago, Peter Brock was a relatively unknown and Allan Moffat was a foreign interloper. Little did we know that they would become the greatest rivals in Australian touring car racing history.

Both made their big-stage debuts at Bathurst in 1969. They were Mount Panorama rookies driving for the Holden and Ford factory teams respectively.

Brock co-drove veteran Des West to third in an HDT Monaro, while Moffat was fourth after a late – and unnecessary – tyre-scare pit stop in his Falcon GT-HO.

They weren’t direct rivals on the day, but they came to define the Ford versus Holden war.

Pin-up boy Brock became the fan-favourite as recalcitrant Canadian Moffat adopted the anti-hero persona.

The new Holden Dealer Team was run by wily veteran Harry Firth, who saw potential in the unproven lad from Melbourne’s semi-rural outer north.

On top of third in his Bathurst debut, Brock would go on to be Moffat’s nemesis.

Brock and Moffat would maintain their on-track rivalry throughout the ’70s and early ’80s before becoming friends and teammates at what had become the Mobil Holden Dealer Team in the mid-80s, remaining close friends until Brock’s death on September 8 2006.

Read the full feature in the latest issue of AUTO ACTION (1769) on sale now.

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