Pete Geoghegans Craven Mild Monaro

[Steve Holmes]

Good power to weight ratio was a top priority, and to aid the cause, O’Neil sourced a pair of Hewland LG600 trans-axles, and Ford GT40 wheels and suspension components. Holes were cut throughout the bodyshell to help reduce excess flab, while under the hood sat a 550hp, 350ci small block Chevy, topped with Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Behind the Chevy was fitted a Hewland transaxle casing, through which the drive shaft ran to meet a functioning Helwand LG600 at the rear. The rules required the drivetrain sequence remain as standard, hence the dummy gearbox mounted behind the engine. Rear suspension was all independent, with twin coil-overs per side, GT40 hub carriers, and parallel upper and lower links. The 15” x 10” GT40 wheels were encased in big Bridgestone slicks.

The goal was to debut the Monaro for the start of the 1974 Toby Lee series, but delays with key components, most notably, the GT40 wheels and suspension parts, stalled its first appearance until the start of 1975. As the build had taken so long, Holden had already released the next model of the Monaro, the HJ series, and so Sheppard replaced all the front sheetmetal to suit. By this stage, Toby Lee had dropped their sponsorship of the series, replaced by Chesterfield and radio 2UE. Meanwhile, Calder Park race track owner Bob Jane had also organized a big dollar Sports Sedan series, with Marlboro cigarettes tipping in A$100,000 at the Melbourne based track.

Geoghegan and his mighty Monaro were immediate crowd favorites when they appeared for the first time at Calder. The big man wrestled the low-slung, white, gold and black Craven Mild sponsored machine with all the gusto he was renowned for. The Monaro produced a fabulous sound track that combined the thundering open exhaust fuel injected Chevy motor, and the high pitched whining of the Hewland transaxle. Big Pete and the Monaro won on debut, beating off Janes HQ Monaro in an epic battle.