Colin Bond | |
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![]() Colin Bond in 2016 | |
Nationality | ![]() |
Born | (1942-02-24)24 February 1942 (age 83) |
Retired | 1994 |
Australian Touring Car Championship | |
Years active | 1971–1993 |
Teams | Holden Dealer Team Moffat Ford Dealer Team Masterton Homes Racing Caltex CXT Racing |
Starts | 126 |
Wins | 10 |
Best finish | 1st in1975 Australian Touring Car Championship |
Previous series | |
1970–80 1976 1982–83 | Australian Rally Championship Australian Sports Sedan Championship Australian GT Championship |
Championship titles | |
1971 1971 1972 1974 1975 1988 | South Pacific Touring Car Series Australian Rally Championship Australian Rally Championship Australian Rally Championship South Pacific Touring Car Series AMSCAR Touring Car Series |
Awards | |
2002 | V8 Supercars Hall of Fame |
Colin John BondOAM (born 24 February 1942) is an Australian formerracing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited byHarry Firth to the newly formedHolden Dealer Team. He quickly found success, winning the1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 mile race (now theBathurst 1000) atBathurst, New South Wales in aHolden Monaro.
Bond was a particularly versatile driver, also finding success in theAustralian Rally Championship, winning the title in 1971, 1972 and 1974 driving aHolden Torana. Bond also won the 1975Australian Touring Car Championship in aHolden Torana and was inducted into theV8 Supercars Hall of Fame in 2002.
Bond initially made a reputation as a hillclimber with threeNSW Hillclimb titles in 1965-67 driving a Lynx-PeugeotS/C. Also known as a rally driver he was relatively unknown in circuit racing circles apart from a few forays racing variousIsuzu Belletts, when he was chosen to partnerTony Roberts in one of threeHolden Dealer Team enteredHolden Monaros for the1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 atBathurst. On a day when the Fords crumbled with unsuitable tyres for the race, the HDT stood strong, putting all three Monaros (including one driven byDes West andPeter Brock which finished third) into the top six positions with Bond and Roberts winning.
The nimble 6-cylinder Torana GTR XU-1 debuted in late 1970 and in 1971 Bond began racking up an impressive list of race and rally titles in his Torana. He secured theManufacturer's Championship for Holden by winning 3 out of 5 rounds, including theSandown 250 enduro in his XU-1. He also won the Australian Rally Championship and theSouthern Cross Rally, along with theSouth Pacific Touring Series that year.
Late in 1971 Bond had a couple of drives withFrank Matich's F5000 team. One was in theAustralian Grand Prix at Warwick Farm and driving in a wet practice session Bond put in lap times seconds faster than his more experienced F5000 rivals. After his open-wheeler stint he opted to stay with the Holden Dealer Team.
The following year Bond won the Australian Rally Championship for the second year in a row. Bond also won theCatalina Parkrallycross series, while on the bitumen he won theToby Lee Series andSun-7 Gold Medal. In 1973 he again won the Sun-7 series atAmaroo Park.
In 1974, as well as winning his third national Rally Championship, Bond won his third consecutive Sun-7 Chesterfield Series against a strong challenge byBob Morris.
In late 1974, driving the newHolden Torana SL/R 5000, he contributed toHolden's victory in theAustralian Manufacturers' Championship, again winning three out of five rounds.
Peter Brock left the Holden Dealer Team at the end of 1974 so for the 1975 season Colin Bond was the team's No.1 driver. That year he won his only Australian Touring Car Championship in the new L34 version of the SL/R 5000 Torana, and also won his second South Pacific Touring Car Series. At Bathurst Bond claimed pole position from theFord XB Falcon GT Hardtop ofAllan Moffat and led for much of the early part of the race until a broken axle at half distance put him too far back to challenge the similar Torana Peter Brock andBrian Sampson.
Bond was involved in a dramatic finish in 1976 at theBathurst 1000. Late in the race when it seemed Bond, in theHolden Dealer Team Torana L34, had the race sewn up he was forced to pull into the pits with fanbelt trouble allowing theBob Morris Torana to take the lead. In the final laps Morris's co-driver, British touring car aceJohn Fitzpatrick, nursed home an ailing car trailing smoke ahead of Bond's Torana which finished about 40 seconds behind.
In 1987, motoring writer Bill Tuckey in his bookThe Rise and Fall of Peter Brock claimed that there had been a lap scoring error in the 1976 race and that Colin Bond's Torana was the first car to complete the distance. Tuckey claimedHolden declined to challenge the result because a privately entered Holden team had won in such a memorable, emotional finish, and because Bob Morris' major sponsor wasRon Hodgson Motors, one of Sydney's leading Holden dealerships at the time. It remains however a contested footnote, Bob Morris denies that this was the case, claiming most team lap scorers agreed that the results were correct. Despite this, Bond's co-driverJohn Harvey believes that he and Bond did indeed win the race (Bond himself has kept a dignified silence), despite the official result still showing Morris and Fitzpatrick as race winners.
After 7 years with the Holden Dealer Team, Bond shocked the establishment in 1977 when he left the HDT and joinedAllan Moffat'sFord Dealers Team. Bond came close to becoming the first driver to achieve victories for bothHolden andFord Motor Company at theBathurst 1000 (a feat which wouldn't be achieved untilSteven Richards in 1999). He was driving the second of Moffat'sFord XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop's, with Moffat driving the lead car which was experiencing mechanical problems in the closing laps of the race (Moffat's Falcon had run out of brakes after they were given a caning by his co-driver, ex-Formula One driver and multiple24 Hours of Le Mans winnerJacky Ickx). Although Bond had the opportunity to pass Moffat and take victory, he controversially chose to observe Moffat's team orders and allowed him to pass the line first in the now famous 1-2 formation finish.
Bond has stated in interviews since then that he regretted not taking victory from Moffat. Moffat himself later revealed that during the race he had offered Bond a drive in his Falcon which would have seen Bond not only win the race but finish second as well. Bond confirmed that he turned down Moffat's offer, preferring instead to stick to his own car which was co-driven by open wheel driver Alan Hamilton (Bond was to have driven withGregg Hansford, but the Queenslander had to withdraw through injury suffered in aMotorcycle racing accident). Moffat also claimed that had the third placedPeter Janson /Larry PerkinsHolden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback or the similar Torana of fourth placed Peter andPhil Brock been on the same lap (both Torana's were one lap down) and closing in on the pair that Bond would have been free to pass him for the win if it meant that the Moffat Ford Dealers team won the race.
From 1977 to 1980 Bond ran the Ford works rally team, withGreg Carr and Bond driving the very competitive BDAEscort. The highlight for the Ford team was Greg Carr winning the 1978 Australian Rally Championship.
During the 1980s Bond was less prominent than he had been the previous decade, due mainly as others recognised his engineering ability and he was hired to front smaller operations like Steve Masterton's Capri team, Alfa Romeo's three-year factory effort and in the 1990s Toyota's short-lived foray intoSupertouring. But he did register two more Bathurst 1000 placings, finishing 3rd in1983 withAllan Grice in aRoadways RacingHolden VH Commodore SS, and1988; the latter occasion with1980Formula One World ChampionAlan Jones as co-driver in aFord Sierra RS500. And in1985 Bond and former motorcycle racerGregg Hansford won their class and finished 7th outright at Bathurst in anAlfa Romeo GTV. He was also third in the1981 and1988 Australian Touring Car Championships, 1981 in aFord Capri Mk.II for the Masterton Homes team and 1988 in aFord Sierra RS500 in what was his first ATCC in an outright car since1978.
Bond drove a great variety of machinery during this period including the Ford Capri,Chevrolet Camaro Z28,Triumph TR8, Alfa Romeo GTV,Alfa Romeo 75, Ford Sierra RS500,Toyota Corolla, andPorsche (including aPorsche 944 Turbo for Allan Hamilton's Porsche Cars Australia team in the1982 and1983Australian GT Championships).
Bond also teamed with then open wheel racerAndrew Miedecke to drive aJohn Fitzpatrick RacingPorsche 962 in the1984 Sandown 1000. The race, which was the final round of the1984 World Endurance Championship, was the first everFIA world championship motor race held in Australia. Driving an unfamiliar car with 650 bhp (485 kW; 659 PS) (approximately 200 bhp (149 kW; 203 PS) more than either had driven previously), Bond and Miedecke acquitted themselves well against the likes of Sports car racing starsStefan Bellof,Jacky Ickx,Jochen Mass,Derek Bell, and Aussie internationals Alan Jones andVern Schuppan. Bond qualified the car in 11th place, 4.4 seconds slower than pole winner Bellof in hisRothmansPorsche 956B. Bondy and "Mad Andy" then drove a steady race, staying out of trouble, to record a 6th-place finish at Melbourne'sSandown Park. Bond would claim that racing the 962 was "A lot of fun".
Colin Bond made an impact on the Touring Car Championship in 1990, winning two consecutive rounds of the championship atLakeside andMallala driving a Caltex sponsored Ford Sierra. Both these wins involved memorable drives where Bond came from behind to pass the leading cars one by one until taking the lead and holding off his rivals to win.
In 1994 Bond was lured back for one last tilt at the Bathurst 1000 byFred Gibson, manager of the Winfield Racing Team. Driving aHolden VP Commodore with SwedeAnders Olofsson, Bond briefly led the race early on when many cars were pitting to change tyres. He finished in 6th place on the same lap as the winning car.
Bond retired as a driver in 1994, but continued to contribute to the sport as a driving standards observer forV8 Supercar until he was replaced byTomas Mezera after the 2006 season.
In the1994 Queen's Birthday Honours Bond was awarded theMedal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to motor sport.[1]
Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1965 | New South Wales Hillclimb Championship | 1st | Lynx-PeugeotS/C | |
1966 | New South Wales Hillclimb Championship | 1st | Lynx-Peugeot S/C | |
1967 | New South Wales Hillclimb Championship | 1st | Lynx-Peugeot S/C | |
1970 | Tasman Touring Series | 2nd | Holden HT Monaro GTS 350 | Holden Dealer Team |
1970 | Australian Rally Championship | 2nd | Holden HT Monaro GTS 350 | Holden Dealer Team |
1971 | South Pacific Touring Series | 1st | Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1971 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 10th | Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1971 | Australian Rally Championship | 1st | Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1972 | South Pacific Touring Series | 6th | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1972 | Sun-7 Chesterfield Series | 1st | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1972 | Toby Lee Series | 1st | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1972 | Australian Rally Championship | 1st | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1973 | Australian Rally Championship | 2nd | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1973 | South Pacific Touring Series | 3rd | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1973 | Sun 7 Better Brakes Gold Medal Series | 1st | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1973 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 11th | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1974 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 14th | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1974 | Sun-7 Chesterfield Series | 1st | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 | Holden Dealer Team |
1974 | Australian Rally Championship | 1st | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | Holden Dealer Team |
1975 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Holden Dealer Team |
1975 | South Pacific Touring Series | 1st | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Holden Dealer Team |
1975 | Australian Rally Championship | 4th | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Holden Dealer Team |
1976 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 2nd | Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 | Holden Dealer Team |
1976 | Australian Sports Sedan Championship | 6th | Holden LH Torana | Holden Dealer Team |
1977 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 2nd | Ford XB Falcon GT Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop | Moffat Ford Dealers |
1978 | Australian Rally Championship | 3rd | Ford Escort BDA | Ford Australia |
1978 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 5th | Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop | Moffat Ford Dealers |
1979 | Rothmans International Series | 6th | Brabham BT43Chevrolet | Thomson Motor Auctions |
1979 | Australian Rally Championship | 3rd | Ford Escort BDA | Ford Australia |
1980 | Australian Rally Championship | 2nd | Ford Escort BDA | Ford Australia |
1981 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Ford Capri Mk.II | Masterton Homes Racing |
1981 | 3.5LAMSCAR Series | 3rd | Ford Capri Mk.II | Masterton Homes Racing |
1982 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 17th | Ford Capri Mk.II | |
1982 | Australian GT Championship | 3rd | Porsche 944 Turbo | Porsche Cars Australia |
1982 | Better Brakes AMSCAR Series | 4th | Chevrolet Camaro Z28 | Nine Network Racing Team |
1983 | Australian GT Championship | 7th | Porsche 944 Turbo | Porsche Cars Australia |
1984 | Australian Super Series | 4th | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Network Alfa |
1984 | World Endurance Championship | 62nd | Porsche 962 | Team Australia John Fitzpatrick Racing |
1985 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 6th | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Network Alfa |
1985 | Australian Endurance Championship | 3rd | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Network Alfa |
1986 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 9th | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Network Alfa |
1986 | Better Brakes AMSCAR Series | 2nd | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Network Alfa |
1986 | Australian Endurance Championship | 5th | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Network Alfa |
1987 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 9th | Alfa Romeo 75 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1988 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1988 | Better Brakes AMSCAR Series | 1st | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1988 | Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship | 2nd | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1989 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 8th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1990 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 4th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1990 | James Hardie Building Products AMSCAR Series | 2nd | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1990 | Australian Endurance Championship | 13th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1991 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 10th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1992 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 12th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1993 | Australian Touring Car Championship | 15th | Toyota Corolla Seca AE93 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
1993 | Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Toyota Corolla Seca AE93 | Caltex CXT Racing Team |
Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Porsche 924 Carrera GTR | GT | - | DNS | DNS |
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | ![]() | Porsche 924 Carrera GTR | DAY | SEB | MUG | MNZ | RIV | SIL | NUR | LMS DNS | PUR | DAY | WAT | SPA | MOS | RAM | BRA | NC | 0 |
1984 | ![]() ![]() | Porsche 962 | MNZ | SIL | LeM | NUR | BRA | MOS | SPA | IMO | FJI | KYA | SAN 6 | 62nd | 6 |
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | ![]() | Alfa Romeo 75 | MNZ | JAR | DIJ | NUR | SPA | BNO | SIL | BAT Ret | CLD | WEL | FJI | NC | 0 |
† Not registered for series & points
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | ![]() | Ford Sierra RS500 | BAT 3 | WEL 4 | PUK Ret | FJI | 2nd | 49 | ||||||||
1994 | ![]() | Hyundai Lantra | FUJ 1 | FUJ 2 | MAC 1 Ret | MAC 2 Ret | SEN 1 C | SEN 2 C | WEL 1 | WEL 2 | CLD 1 C | CLD 2 C | CHE 1 C | CHE 2 C | NC | 0 |
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by | Winner of theBathurst 500 1969 (withTony Roberts) | Succeeded by |
Preceded by Bob Watson | Winner of theAustralian Rally Championship 1971 and 1972 | Succeeded by Peter Lang |
Preceded by Peter Lang | Winner of theAustralian Rally Championship 1974 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Winner of theAustralian Touring Car Championship 1975 | Succeeded by |