1965 Australian Drivers' Championship

The 1965 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian national motor racing title open to racing cars complying with the Australian National Formula or the Australian 1½ Litre Formula.[1] The title was contested over a six race series with the winner awarded the 1965 CAMS Gold Star.[1] It was the ninth Australian Drivers' Championship.[2]

The championship was won by Victorian racer Bib Stillwell driving a Repco Brabham[3] BT11A-Coventry Climax.[4] Stillwell won by 19 points from Jack Brabham (Repco Brabham BT11A-Coventry Climax). Three drivers shared third place, Spencer Martin (Repco Brabham BT11A-Coventry Climax), Leo Geoghegan (Lotus 32-Ford) and John McDonald (Cooper T53-Coventry Climax and Cooper T70-Coventry Climax).

Stillwell won three of the six races with the remaining race wins attained by Jim Clark (Lotus 32B-Coventry Climax), Bruce McLaren (Cooper T79-Coventry Climax) and Martin.

Calendar

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The Repco Brabham BT11A with which Bib Stillwell won the 1965 championship. The car is pictured in 2012.

The championship was contested over a six race series.[5]

RaceCircuitDateRace winner[6]Car[6]
International 100[5]Warwick Farm[5]14 February[5]Jim ClarkLotus 32B Coventry Climax
Australian Grand Prix[5]Longford[5]1 March[5]Bruce McLarenCooper T79 Coventry Climax
Victorian Road Racing Championship[7]Sandown Park[7]11 April[7]Bib StillwellRepco Brabham[7] BT11A Coventry Climax
Governor's Trophy[5]Lakeside[5]25 July[5]Spencer MartinRepco Brabham[8] BT11A Coventry Climax
Country Club Gold Star Championship Race[3]Mallala[3]11 October[3]Bib StillwellRepco Brabham[9] BT11A Coventry Climax
Hordern Trophy[10]Warwick Farm[10]5 December[10]Bib StillwellRepco Brabham[10] BT11A Coventry Climax

The International 100 and the Australian Grand Prix were also rounds of the 1965 Tasman Series.

Points system

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Championship points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six placegetters, however only holders of a current and valid full General Competition Licence issued by CAMS were eligible.[1] The title was awarded to the driver gaining the highest points total in the Australian Grand Prix and any four of the other races.[1]

Results

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PositionDriver[6]Car[6]Entrant[6]War.[6]Lon.[6]San.[6]Lak.[6]Mal.[6]War.[6]Total[6]
1Bib StillwellRepco Brabham[3] BT11A Coventry ClimaxBS Stillwell469-9937
2Jack BrabhamRepco Brabham[11] BT11A Coventry ClimaxEcurie Vitesse99----18
3Spencer MartinRepco Brabham[3] BT11A Coventry ClimaxScuderia Veloce---96-15
=Leo GeogheganLotus 32 FordTotal Team3--6-615
=John McDonaldCooper T70 Coventry ClimaxBill Patterson Motors-344-415
6Frank MatichRepco Brabham[11] BT7A Coventry ClimaxTotal Team6-6---12
7John AmptAlexis Mk6 FordJohn Ampt--33--6
8Glyn ScottLotus 27 FordGlyn Scott Motors-4---15
9Garrie CooperElfin Mono Mk1 FordElfin Sports Cars----4-4
10John WalkerElfin Catalina FordGilbert Motor Bodies----3-3
=John HarveyRepco Brabham[10] BT14 FordRC Phillips-----33
=Mel McEwinElfin Mono[12] FordMel McEwin-12---3
13Rocky TresiseCooper T62 Coventry ClimaxEcurie Australie2-----2
=Jack HobdenCooper T51 Coventry ClimaxLewis Hobden Pty Ltd[13]-2----2
=Barry CollersonRepco Brabham[8] BT2 FordHunter & Delbridge---2--2
=Noel PottsElfin Catalina FordNoel Potts----2-2
17Bob JaneElfin Mono Mk1 FordBob Jane Autoland-----22
=Greg CusackRepco Brabham[11] BT10 FordGreg Cusack1-----1
19Don FraserCooper T53 BRMDon Fraser--1---1
=Jimmy OrrAustin Special[3]Jimmy Orr----1-1

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Conditions for Australian Titles, 1965 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 66-68
  2. ^ Past Title Winners, 1980 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 56
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Country Club Gold Star Championship Race (Entry List), Official Souvenir Programme, Mallala Motor Races, Labor Day Holiday, Monday 11 October 1965, page 22
  4. ^ "Gold Star Winners – 1957 – 2009". formula3.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guide to the Gold Star, Racing Car News, August 1972
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 1965 Gold Star As archived at web.archive.org on 9 June 2011
  7. ^ a b c d Victorian Road Racing Championship, Australian Motor Manual, June 1965, page 52
  8. ^ a b Des White, That Lakeside Lark, Racing Car News, September 1965, page 22
  9. ^ Stillwell takes Mallala title, The Advertiser, Tuesday, 12 Oct 1965, page 31
  10. ^ a b c d e Stillwell's Swansong, Racing Car News, January 1966, page 24
  11. ^ a b c Hugh Griffiths, Enter Jim Clark, The Fabulous Farm, 1979
  12. ^ The story of Elfin Mono 6446 Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 June 2012
  13. ^ Programme, 30th Australian Grand Prix Meeting 1965, Longford
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