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[VALE] Frank Gardner
VALE: FRANK GARDNER
31 August, 2009
Australian motorsport legend Frank Gardner sadly passed away at his Gold Coast home at the weekend after a long-time battle with illness – he was 78.
Following is the last biography written when he was BMW Team Manager, provided by Mike Porter with a couple of inclusions.
I have also taken the liberty of sourcing some tributes from many people who were associated with Frank in many aspects of his life.
Brett “Crusher” Murray
BIOGRAPHY
Frank Gardner, OAM (born 1.10.30) had more than 40 years involvement in motorsport in Australia and overseas - with activities ranging from racing a Norton motorcycle at Bathurst when it was a dirt road to driving Formula One cars, and making 14 starts in the Le Mans 24-hour sports car classic in France.
Gardner began his motorsport career on two wheels, racing solo speedway motorcycles in the late 1940s. He raced a car for the first time in 1949, an MG, and won. Later he headed overseas to further his career.
He made eight Formula One grand prix starts in 1964 and 1965 driving Brabhams. His rivals included the late Jim Clark and Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Sir Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Jochen Rindt, and Denny Hulme.
Later Frank became a works driver in sports cars or touring cars for Porsche, Lola, General Motors, Ford, Brabham, and Lotus. He competed regularly in the Le Mans 24-hour event.
His record overseas included winning the European 5000 Championship, the European Formula Two Championship, the European Touring Car Championship, the British Saloon Car Championship, and the British Champion Racing Driver award.
He was also the first driver to win 100 international races for Ford and was awarded a special trophy to celebrate the occasion by members of the Ford family in Detroit.
Gardner returned home in 1975 and two years later won the Australian Sports Sedan Championship in a Chevrolet Corvair. He retired in 1977.
After retiring from racing, Frank turned to team management, and guided Jim Richards to the Australian Touring Car Championship title in 1985 in a BMW 635csi and in 1987 in a BMW M3.
In 1988 he was team manager for Tony Longhurst and Tomas Mezera when they won the Bathurst 1000 in a turbocharged Ford Sierra.
Gardner retired from being a team manager in 1995 after taking Paul Morris to the Australian Super Touring Championship title in a BMW 318i.
Frank also established the Holden Performance Driving Centre near Norwell, south of Brisbane, conducting courses in motor racing and advanced driving. He was an advocate of road safety and one of the world's foremost authorities on driver training techniques.
His 1980 book – Drive To Survive – is still regarded as one of the leading road safety publications ever written.
Apart from motor racing, Gardner excelled in other sports. In 1952 he swam for NSW and was captain and sweep oarsman for the surf life saving crew that won both State and National titles.
He also did seven professional boxing matches that year (1952). He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Ultimo Technical College in Australia. Frank was also a keen golfer and had a single-figure handicap for many years.
Over recent years he traveled to Europe regularly to participate or attend events such as the 'Goodwood Festival of Speed'.
FAST FACTS - FRANK GARDNER
DATE OF BIRTH: October 1, 1930, Sydney, NSW
LIVED: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
SURVIVED BY: Wife of 40 years Gloria, son Steve and daughter Kristin
RACING DEBUT: 1949, MG, Sydney, Australia
CHAMPIONSHIP WINS:
European Touring Car Champion 1965
European Formula Two Champion 1966
British Touring/Saloon Car Champion 1967-68-73
European Formula 5000 Champion 1971
Australian Sports Sedan Champion 1977
LE MANS RECORD:
14 starts 1960s & 1970s
FORMULA ONE RECORD:
Debut British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch 1964
7 grand prix starts 1964 - Brabham-BRM
1 grand prix start 1965 - Brabham-Ford
SUCCESS AS TEAM MANAGER
Jim Richards - Australian Touring Car Championship 1985 (BMW 635csi)
Jim Richards - Australian Touring Car Championship 1987 (BMW M3)
Tony Longhurst & Tomas Mezera - Bathurst 1000 winners 1988 (Ford Sierra)
Tony Longhurst – Australian Super Touring Championship 1994 (BMW 318i)
Paul Morris - Australian Super Touring Championship 1995 (BMW 318i)
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