Rothmans_Sun-7_Series

Sun-7 Chesterfield Series

Sun-7 Chesterfield Series

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The Sun-7 Chesterfield Series was an Australian touring car racing series staged at Amaroo Park in Sydney, New South Wales from 1971 to 1981. The actual series name varied from year to year, according to the commercial sponsorship secured by the series promoters, the Australian Racing Drivers Club.

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Initially run for Group E Series Production Touring Cars the series switched to the new Australian Group C Touring Car regulations in 1973. The series was a precursor to the later AMSCAR touring car series which was run at Amaroo Park from 1982.

History

In 1971 Lakis Manticas won the inaugural "Sun-7" title driving a Morris Cooper S, with points being allocated evenly among the three engine capacity classes.

The tight Amaroo Park circuit suited the Holden Torana GTR XU-1s. Leading Sydney-based Torana drivers, such as the Holden Dealer Team's Colin Bond, Bob Morris, Don Holland and Allan Grice were prominent in the series. John Goss in the McLeod Ford entered Ford Falcon GT and Ford stalwart Fred Gibson were regular front-runners, while Chrysler drivers Leo Geoghegan and Doug Chivas also appeared. Colin Bond won the series three times in a row, from 1972 to 1974.

For 1975 the Sun-7 Rothmans Series was restricted to cars with an engine capacity of under 3 litres, meaning that larger engined cars such as the Holden Torana SL/R 5000 and Ford Falcon GT could no longer compete. In the 3 litre era some of the main contenders included Bo Seton's Ford Capri, Don Holland and Allan Grice in Mazda RX-3's and Bob Morris in a Triumph Dolomite.

For the 1981 series the engine capacity limit of the competing cars was increased from 3.0 litres to 3.5 litres[1] and the following year the 3.5 litre capacity limit was removed for what was now entitled the AMSCAR.[2]

Winners

Colin Bond placed third in the 1981 Better Brakes 3.5 Litre Series in a Ford Capri.[1] The car is pictured in 2005
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Multiple winners

By driver

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By manufacturer

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References

  1. Better Brakes 3.5 Litre Series, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook, 1981/82, pages 188 to 189
  2. Better Brakes AMSCAR, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook, 1982/83, page 198
  3. Peter Wherrett, Holland takes Sun-7 opener, Racing Car News, April 1971
  4. Racing Car News, October 1971
  5. David Hassall, Into the Lion's Den, Brocky, 2009
  6. Racing Car News, October 1972
  7. Official Programme, Sun 7 Better Brakes Gold Medal Series, Amaroo Park Raceway, Sunday 18 Aug. 1973
  8. Sydney Morning Herald - 19 August 1973 - pg 15
  9. Bob Morris's LJ XU-1 Torana, www.bowdensown.com.au Retrieved via web.archive.org on 24 February 2014
  10. Official Programme, Sun 7 Rothmans Series, Amaroo Park Raceway, Sunday 20 July 1975
  11. Amaroo Park 3-Litre Series, Australian Competition Yearbook, 1976 Edition, pages 82 to 84
  12. Rothmans Sun-7 Series, Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977 Edition, pages 114 to 120
  13. Programme of Events, Official Programme, Amaroo Park, 14 August 1977, page 5
  14. Seton wins by a point, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 August 1977, page 22
  15. Rothmans SUN-7 Series, Australian Competition Yearbook Number 8, pages 142 to 143
  16. Motor Racing, The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 August 1979, page 24
  17. Motor Racing, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 1980, page 23

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