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Who is Colin Bond
Bond was the only person to have won both ATCC and ARC
Colin Bond joined the Holden Dealer Team in 1969 and won the 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 mile race (Now Bathurst 1000) in a Holden Monaro and the Legend had began.
Bond was a very versatile driver having significant success in every racing style he focused on. Bond won the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) in 1971, 1972 and 1974. Bond won the 1975 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) in a Holden Torana. His achievements also include three New South Wales Hillclimb Championships.
Famously Bond came second in a 1-2 formation finish in Ford XC Coupe’s behind Allan Moffat due to Team orders to not pass the ailing Moffat. Great team player Bond but some regret remained in not registering the deserved 1977 Bathurst win himself.
One of the Best Ever
Bond was Internationally Respected for his Driving Ability
Colin Bond was so good at Rally, when the great Finnish driver Rauno Aaltonen was asked about Australian Rally Drivers he referenced Bond. He share that he had no doubt that Colin Bond would have been in the top six in the world if he went rallying in Europe.
Colin Bond tells an interesting story of the culture shock of going from rallying in a works Mitsubishi Colt to a Holden Dealer Team Monaro GTS 350. Where the little Colt might be damaged beyond repair if Bondy miscued and went off road into the shrubbery, the big Monaro would simply knock the trees over!
During a wet Saturday practice at Warwick Farm a Formula 5000 owner Frank Matich let Colin have a go despite being a long time since Colin driving a single seater. The Formula 5000’s are renowned for being hard to handle with huge power to weight, more so in the wet. By the end of the practice session Colin was fastest exceeding the times even the owner had achieved.
The Holden Dealer Team were the Original Dukes of Oz and Colin Bond stood out on top. While Brock is King of the Mountain, Bond is King of the Forest.
Torana Rally Cars
Bond won the Australian Rally Championship in 1971, 1972 and 1974
Colin Bond in 1971won the Australian Rally Championship and the Southern Cross Rally in the GTR XU-1 Torana . The 6 cylinder Torana was particularly versatile and a much more suitable Rally Car than the bigger and heavier Monaro.
In Bonds capable hands the nimble Torana Rally Car Legacy grew, winning two more Australian Rally Championships.
If we are very very lucky, we will see a Rally Torana shaking up the stages with Rally Monaro in the near future. The Dukes know there is at least one, very likely more of these nimble Torana Rally Cars in hiding, waiting for enough encouragement to get back on stage for all to enjoy.
Perhaps we could convince Colin Bond to jump behind the wheel of Rally Monaro sometime. The Rally of the Heartland Charity Rides would be a perfect opportunity, what do you say Colin Bond?
The Monaro is the "Camp Fire" that Friends and Family gather around. Strangers are drawn to her, Memories are refreshed and New Memories made. Work, Laugh and Learn together. This is Classic Rally.