Article: Pete Geoghegan's Mustang GTA

[Steve Holmes]

Geoghegan’s new Mustang was so late in arriving at Lakeside, it wasn’t even sighted at the track until just a few hours before race start. Beechey had already punched out an impressive 63.4sec lap in practice, and his nearest rivals appeared to be Foley and Manton, who were buzzing around quickly in their ‘bricks’. Geoghegan’s new Mustang finally turned a wheel in anger for the first time, and immediately the big guy was lapping in just under 64sec. Much like the format used in the 1964 ATCC, which was also held at Lakeside, the grid layout for the ATCC race would be based on lap times achieved in three preliminary races, each based on engine capacity/class. Beechey again knocked out another 63.4sec lap time, to gain pole, while Geoghegan achieved an impressive 63.6, to line up alongside the big black Chevy.

The ATCC race was held over 50 laps. Interestingly, Beechey opted for a set of soft Goodyear tyres, while most of those around him, including Geoghegan, chose a harder option. From the drop of the flag, Beechey immediately stormed into the lead, while Geoghegan dropped in behind, followed by McKeown, Foley, Cusack, Bartlett, Manton, Fahey, Jane, and Terry Allan. The big Chevy charged across the stripe for the first time already clear of Geoghegan by 1sec, while Cusack quickly disposed of Foley and McKeown to move up to third. Jane’s race was over on lap 2, as his Mustang jammed in second gear.

Beechey was charging away at the front, setting a new touring car lap record on the third tour, powering around in 63.3sec, which was even faster than his qualifying time, although he soon began to suffer from clutch problems, but continued to pull away. Geoghegan, in second, was running around on his own, while Cusack, McKeown, Foley, and Manton formed a furious gaggle that fought over third.

By lap 17, Beechey held a 10 second gap over Geoghegan, and looked to have everything under control. Cusack began to drift back, as did McKeown, while Bartlett began to surge forward. After 25 laps, both Fahey and Allan had retired, while Beechey continued to control the race, and appeared heading for his second ATCC title. But then, with ten laps remaining, the left rear tyre suddenly blew out on the Chevy, and slid at speed into the Armco, badly crumpling the left front corner, and he was out on the spot. Geoghegan cruised by, then buzzed in another ten laps, and took his third ATCC, in his brand new, untested car.

Over the following months, Sheppard got the new Mustang fully dialled in, before leaving the Geoghegan team to go work for Ron Hodgson, in early 1968. His place was taken by Mick Lambert. Geoghegan became a force to be reckoned with, and one Beechey in the Nova found himself chasing, more often than not. Meanwhile, hard-charging single-seater and sports car driver Niel Allen had taken over the Cusack Mustang, and became an immediate thorn in the sides of Geoghegan and Beechey.