Australian Muscle Car – July 01, 2019

T

herewasplentyof aggroaround

touringcarracingin 1979.Andwith

AllanMoffatandhisFalconlosingtheir

competitiveness,mostof thataggro

centredonthetwomainHoldenteams

• thefactory-backedMarlboroHoldenDealer
  TeamandleadingprivateerRonHodgson
  Racing.
  MHDTteamchiefJohnSheppardhadbriey
  workedforHodgsonin thelate-1960sandhad
  notimefortheman,whotookhisownlifein
  1990 at theageof 60.In aninterviewforthis
  article,SheppodescribedtheSydneycardealer
  andteamowneras‘anevilbastard’whowould
  bemorethancapableof underhandtactics.
  HeevensuspectedHodgsonwasbehindthe
  disappearanceduringthatbitter 1979 campaign
  of someveryspecic MHDTcomponents


• a radiator,crankshaft,cylinderheadsand
  camshaft.
  DriversPeterBrockandBobMorriswereonce
  HDTteammates,butyearsof buttingheadson

For John Sheppard,

the 1979 ATCC will

forever be the one

that got away. Here

the former HDT

boss provides his

recollections of a

turbulent championship

season and the battle

against the privateer

Hogdson Torana team.

got away

The one that

Story: David Hassall Images: Chevron Archive, Autopics.com.au

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