The Great Race 1: 1981 James Hardie 1000

The first in what would become Australia's most celebrated motorsport book series, capturing every moment of the dramatic 1981 James Hardie 1000 at Mount Panorama.

What's Inside

This comprehensive 150-page yearbook documents the 1981 James Hardie 1000 with unprecedented detail. From practice and qualifying through to the dramatic race conclusion, every significant moment is captured in stunning photography and detailed race reporting.

The 1981 Race

The 1981 running of "The Great Race" will forever be remembered for its dramatic conclusion. On lap 121, a six-car accident blocked the track at McPhillamy Park Corner, forcing officials to red-flag the race for only the third time in its history. Dick Johnson and John French were declared winners in their Tru-Blu Ford Falcon XD, with results taken from lap 120 positions. They became the first Queenslanders to win the race.

Johnson's victory was particularly sweet after his famous crash of 1980 when a rock on the circuit destroyed his Falcon. The outpouring of support that followed—with fans across Australia donating money to help rebuild his car, matched dollar-for-dollar by Ford—became one of motorsport's most remarkable stories.

Featured Content

• Complete race report with lap-by-lap analysis
• Full qualifying results and grid positions
• Driver profiles of all major competitors
• Technical features on the leading cars
• Behind-the-scenes paddock coverage
• Extensive colour and black-and-white photography

Key Competitors

The 1981 field featured the best of Australian touring car racing: the three-time defending champions Peter Brock and Jim Richards in the Holden Dealer Team Commodore, Allan Moffat and Derek Bell in the Mazda RX-7 (who finished third, the best result to that point for a Japanese car), and Bob Morris with John Fitzpatrick who finished second in a Ford Falcon.

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