Tasman series

[René]

A beautiful report of the Tasman series in Australia 1969. At that time the only possibility for fans down under to see Formula 1 cars in action.





Also remarkable that Chris Amon did indeed win with a Grand Prix car, as long as it wasn’t an official race for the world championship!

[robmarsh]

Hi Rene
I think these cars used 2500cc motors so were not really F1 cars. The Ferrari had a v6 and the cosworths were sleeved down. to 2500cc.

[mikael]

Perhaps Chris Amon did also - like Jim Clark - feel more at home in somewhat smaller cars than the (for the time) very powerful 3 litre Formula One cars of 1966 and onward?

Based on what I have gathered from reading over the years, it's my impression that Jim Clark was head and shoulders above the rest during the 1.5 litre Formula One years. While he was still the best also in 1966 and 1967, it's my impression that the field had become somewhat more level. (I may be mistaken here with this impression (?) I understand that he had some extremely impressive performances also during those two seasons - like taking the pole position in Monaco in '66, with just a 2 litre engine in the new 3 litre formula.)

But isn't it correct to say that Chris Amon got a competitive F1 car only in 1967, when joining Ferrari at the time when F1 was in its second year of the then new 3 litre formula?

[chrisb]

The Tasman series was definitely a favourite for drivers, teams and fans alike, certainly in its heyday it was well supported by the top drivers of the day. What I am not aware of is the prize money or any financial arrangements at all, as I can't imagine Colin Chapman sending cars all the way over there if it wasn't worth it.

 Jim won the American Mexican and South African GP's on the trot and for a faulty fuel pump it would have been the Italian one as well, I do think a bit like Stirling before him he was held in a little bit of awe by some drivers, in saying that Jimmy just seemed to enjoy driving anything- like a Nascar or an ERA and to be honest he wasn't bad at it. One of the major tragedies is that we didn't get to see him win the 1968 F1 WDC as he was by far the favourite and then race Can Am in that beautiful Lotus Can Am car - now that would have been something - instead we get Hockenheim -

Mikael - it's a good question if the others were catching up, certainly Jackie in the Cosworth Matra would have provided Jimmy with some real competition and his reliability could have taken things to the wire, Denny drove really well as did Graham and it may have been closer than when John and I discussed this years ago yet I still feel Jimmy was just so much neater and could concentrate just that bit more. along with his intelligence would have won the majority of races and thus the championship in 68, I do think Jackie would have prevailed in 69 and had Jimmy continued in 70 in the 72 with his skill levels he would have been untouchable - aw such dreams 


I loved the Tasman series and it is so fortunate that so much is available on youtube, especially the 68 season, Chris hassled Jimmy at the last race and always felt Jimmy was not comfortable being chased like this and became a bit ragged and then Chris went onto say 'there again he was probably pretty unused to it' so it was probably a new experience for him  - I do also think we saw Chris in his element that year in the Tasman as well as his car was not as good as Jim's yet he drove the 68 Tasman car really brilliantly, 

[Carl]

Oct 4, 2024 9:22:38 GMT robmarsh said:

Hi Rene
I think these cars used 2500cc motors so were not really F1 cars. The Ferrari had a v6 and the cosworths were sleeved down. to 2500cc.

You're right Rob, and I imagine the displacement reduction served to reduce the grandeur in the eyes of F1, but many of the drivers thought it made the cars more balanced and fun to drive.

[René]

Oct 4, 2024 9:22:38 GMT robmarsh said:

Hi Rene
I think these cars used 2500cc motors so were not really F1 cars. The Ferrari had a v6 and the cosworths were sleeved down. to 2500cc.

Indeed Rob, they were downtuned F1 cars. But still, Australia and New Zealand didn't get any closer to F1 than this at the time. Great series though. 

And maybe Mikael is right that these cars suited Amon's style better.

[Carl]

Oct 4, 2024 14:49:49 GMT mikael said:

Perhaps Chris Amon did also - like Jim Clark - feel more at home in somewhat smaller cars than the (for the time) very powerful 3 litre Formula One cars of 1966 and onward?

Based on what I have gathered from reading over the years, it's my impression that Jim Clark was head and shoulders above the rest during the 1.5 litre Formula One years. While he was still the best also in 1966 and 1967, it's my impression that the field had become somewhat more level. (I may be mistaken here with this impression (?) I understand that he had some extremely impressive performances also during those two seasons - like taking the pole position in Monaco in '66, with just a 2 litre engine in the new 3 litre formula.)

But isn't it correct to say that Chris Amon got a competitive F1 car only in 1967, when joining Ferrari at the time when F1 was in its second year of the then new 3 litre formula?

Mikael,
            I think Jim Clark's success was affected by Colin Chapman's level of innovative genius, but he was the best throughout his career, enjoying the designation previously given to Stirling Moss by other drivers.

           Chris Amon was a brilliant driver and his best year was indeed with Ferrari in 1967. His performances driving for Matra were his most spectacular, on pole by almost a second and fastest race lap at Clermont Ferrand in 1972, but overall his choice of teams was remarkably shortsighted.  He left Ferrari on the eve of a period of greatness for the false promises of March, and ended his career with teams he should never have considered. Had he made smarter choices, he could easily have been World Champion.