Ian Geoghegan; Aussie motor racing great
Hyfler/Rosner
November 18, 2003 Tuesday
HEADLINE: Aussie motor racing great diesSOURCE: MATP
BYLINE: DAVID FITZSIMONS
ONE of Australia's greatest motor racing drivers, Ian Geoghegan, has died
suddenly aged 64.
Geoghegan, better known to race fans by his nickname, Pete, died in hospital
on Saturday.
The Epping father of three won the Australian Touring Car Championship five
times, from 1964-1969, a feat equalled only by Dick Johnson and Mark Skaife.
Fans still consider Geoghegan's victory in the Bathurst round of the ATCC in
1972 after an epic duel with Allan Moffat as one of the greatest motor races
in Australia.
Geoghegan also won the Australian Sports Car Championship in 1963, 1965 and
1976, the Australian Tourist Trophy for sports cars in 1977 and the Bathurst
Six Hour with younger brother Leo in 1962.
The brothers teamed together for many Bathurst 500 attempts, as official
Ford factory drivers, but despite being fast were let down by mechanical
failures. Geoghegan eventually won the Bathurst 1000 in 1973 in a Falcon
with Moffat.
Even in the twilight of his career his extraordinary natural talent as a
race driver shone through when he finished third in the 1980 Bathurst 1000
in a privately-entered Holden Commodore.
Fans have offered their condolences to Geoghegan's family on several
Australian motorsport websites in the past two days, many reminiscing about
his amazing car control skills, particularly in his famous white Ford
Mustang.
Geoghegan's funeral will be at the All Saints Catholic Church at Liverpool
on Thursday at 10am