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Garard Brothers Rally Team
The First Rally Monaros were the Talented Garard Brothers in 1968
Greg and John Garard (Drivers) with Roy Denny and Brian Waldron (Navigators) were the first in rallying to run not one but two Rally Monaros, EZT-153 and EZT-154. It was an era of State based Factory support of Privateer Teams, the Garards who owned a Taxi business eventually became Holden Dealers themselves.
The Garard Brothers had a long history in rally including Greg winning the NSW Rally Championship in 1965 which was actually Holden’s first Rally championship success. Greg backed that up with another win of the NSW championship in 1966. Greg and John teamed up in the 1964 Ampol Round Australia Trial and the Brothers came a credible second outright in their EH Holden.
Two Monaro Rally Team
The Garard Brothers each used a HK GTS 307 Monaro to Rally
The Garards got a pair of HK GTS 307’s in July 1967 which were painted red with gold GT stripes, a striking pair of rally machines. They both were rallied months before the David McKay, Holden Dealer Racing Team (HDRT) Monaros in 1968 and nearly a year ahead of the Harry Firth Holden Dealer Team (HDT) Rally Monaros in 1969.
The Gerards were just beaten in being the first Monaro in competition by a single week. Des West takes that honour when he ran his GTS 327 in a Sports Sedan race the week before Garards first event which was the Canberra 500 (bitumen) on 25th August 1968.
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Top 10 Finishers in Every Completed Event in 1968
The Garard Monaros never finished outside of the Top 10 in 1968 other than one unfortunate incident. Following repairs both Monaros contested in the 1968 Southern Cross rally a month later with Greg 7th and John 8th.
The navigation error at the 1968 ARC QLD Warana Rally resulted in the two Garard Monaros suffering a mid stage head on collision with each other!! Luckily the only injury was pride and the damage to the cars was quite repairable. This was the only bad result for the Garard Brothers two Monaro Privateer Team showing their consistency and talent.
Sudden End to the Era
Impacted by a Ban of Rally in NSW in 1969
Possibly due to Rally being banned in NSW in 1969, the 1968 Southern Cross Rally would be the Garard Brothers last rally, leaving the sport completely. The Garard Brothers leave a wonderful Holden Rally legacy of over 10 years with lots of success particularly in NSW.
Greg and John Garard and Roy Denny and Brian Waldron will always be the first Rally Monaro Team and for that, The Dukes of Oz thank and salute you as the Very First Dukes.
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.