Johnnie Walker (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Walker is a former Australian racing driver. Born in Adelaide, he first raced Holden FE's in the 1960s. After competing in the Australian Formula 2 Championship he graduated to Formula 5000
where he drove an Elfin and a Matich A50 before switching to the Lola marque in late 1973.
Walker finished second in the 1973 and 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship
s before breaking through to win the title in 1979 in his Lola T332
Chevrolet
. He also won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix
at Wanneroo Park
.
In 1975 he was highly competitive in the famous Tasman Series
going into the final round at Sandown
as equal series leader with Warwick Brown
and Graeme Lawrence
. However he crashed his Lola on the first lap demolishing 50 metres of the horse racetrack's running rails.
Walker drove several touring car races for the Holden Dealer Team
in 1975-1976 including co-driving with Colin Bond
in the 1975 Bathurst 1000 where they placed third in a Holden Torana SLR5000 L34
.
Formula 5000
Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...
where he drove an Elfin and a Matich A50 before switching to the Lola marque in late 1973.
Walker finished second in the 1973 and 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship
Australian Drivers' Championship
The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula...
s before breaking through to win the title in 1979 in his Lola T332
Lola T332
The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000 racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet V8 engine, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and...
Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. He also won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix
1979 Australian Grand Prix
The 1979 Australian Grand Prix was an open wheel racing car race held at Wanneroo Park on 11 March 1979.It was the forty fourth Australian Grand Prix and was open to Australian Formula 1 cars...
at Wanneroo Park
Barbagallo Raceway
Barbagallo Raceway is a motorsport circuit located in Wanneroo, approximately north of Perth in Western Australia.The circuit was originally known as Wanneroo Park and the first race meet took place in March 1969. Initially the major race per year was a 6 hour Le Mans style race for sedans and...
.
In 1975 he was highly competitive in the famous Tasman Series
Tasman Series
The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries...
going into the final round at Sandown
Sandown Raceway
Sandown International Raceway is a motor racing circuit in Melbourne, Victoria, approximately south east of the city centre. It is considered a power circuit with its front straight being 899m long and back straight 910m long.-History:...
as equal series leader with Warwick Brown
Warwick Brown
Warwick Brown is a former racing driver from Australia.Brown participated in a single Formula One Grand Prix, on 10 October 1976. He drove a Williams-Wolf at the US GP and finished 14th....
and Graeme Lawrence
Graeme Lawrence
Graeme Lawrence is a former race car driver from New Zealand.Lawrence was the first New Zealander to win a race in the Tasman Series, in 1970. Although he won only the one race that year, he was Tasman Series champion, driving Chris Amon's old Ferrari 246T....
. However he crashed his Lola on the first lap demolishing 50 metres of the horse racetrack's running rails.
Walker drove several touring car races for the Holden Dealer Team
Holden Dealer Team
The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...
in 1975-1976 including co-driving with Colin Bond
Colin Bond
Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...
in the 1975 Bathurst 1000 where they placed third in a Holden Torana SLR5000 L34
Holden Torana
The Holden Torana is a car which was produced by General Motors–Holden's , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors from 1967 to 1980. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "to fly". The first Torana appeared in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle that had its origins in the...
.
Career results
Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1967 1967 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1967 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Australian National Formula or Australian 1½ Litre Formula regulations. The winner of the championship was awarded the 1967 CAMS Gold Star... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
18th | Elfin Mono | |
1967 | Australian 1½ Litre Championship Australian 1½ Litre Championship The Australian 1½ Litre Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title contested annually from 1964 to 1968. It was open to drivers of cars complying with the Australian 1½ Litre Formula which specified open wheel racing cars fitted with unsupercharged engines using commercially... |
9th | Elfin Mono | |
1968 1968 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1968 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Australian National Formula regulations. The title was contested over a six race series with the winner awarded the 1968 CAMS Gold Star.... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
9th | Elfin Mono 2B Ford | |
1968 1968 Australian 1½ Litre Championship The 1968 Australian 1½ Litre Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian 1½ Litre Formula racing cars. It was the fifth and final Australian 1½ Litre Championship to be awarded prior to the demise of the formula at the end of 1968.-Calendar:The title was... |
Australian 1½ Litre Championship Australian 1½ Litre Championship The Australian 1½ Litre Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title contested annually from 1964 to 1968. It was open to drivers of cars complying with the Australian 1½ Litre Formula which specified open wheel racing cars fitted with unsupercharged engines using commercially... |
4th | Elfin Mono 2B Ford | |
1970 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship The 1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of racing cars complying with Australian Formula 2 regulations. The title, which was the fourth Australian Formula 2 Championship, was decided over a single 40 lap, 60 mile race, staged at the Lakeside... |
Australian Formula 2 Championship | 2nd | Elfin | Gilbert Motor Bodies |
1971 1971 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1971 Australian Drivers’ Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 racing cars... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
13th | Elfin 600B | City State Racing Team |
1971 1971 Australian Formula 2 Championship The 1971 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 2 racing cars. It was the fifth Australian Formula 2 Championship.-Calendar:... |
Australian Formula 2 Championship | 4th | Elfin 600B Ford | |
1972 1972 Tasman Series The 1972 Tasman Series was the ninth in the series, beginning on 8 January and ending on 27 February after eight races. The series was won by Graham McRae of New Zealand, driving a Leda GM1 Chevrolet.-Races:Additional information sourced from:... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
12th | Elfin MR5 Elfin MR5 The Elfin MR5 is an Australian Formula 5000 racing car produced from 1971-1972 by Elfin Sports Cars. John McCormack drove an MR5 to victory in the 1973 Australian Drivers' Championship, the 1973 New Zealand Grand Prix, the 1974 New Zealand Grand Prix and the 1974 Lady Wigram Trophy.... Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
|
1972 | Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
4th | Matich A50 Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
|
1973 1973 Tasman Series The 1973 Tasman Series was the tenth in the series, beginning on 6 January and ending on 25 February after eight races. The series was won by Graham McRae of New Zealand, driving a McRae GM1 Chevrolet.-Races:Additional information sourced from:... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
9th | Matich A50 Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
|
1973 1973 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1973 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title open to drivers of Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 cars... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
2nd | Lola T330 Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
John Walker Motor Racing |
1973 | US L&M Formula 5000 Series | 21st | Matich A50 Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
|
1974 1974 Tasman Series The 1974 Tasman Series was the eleventh in the series, beginning on 5 January and ending on 23 February after eight races. It was won by Peter Gethin of the United Kingdom, driving a Chevron B24 Chevrolet.-Races:Additional information sourced from:... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
4th | Lola T330 Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
|
1974 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship The 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 2 racing cars. It was the eighth Australian Formula 2 Championship to be awarded by CAMS.-Calendar:... |
Australian Formula 2 Championship | 7th | Elfin 622 Elfin 622 The Elfin 622 is an Australian Formula 2 racing car produced from 1972-1974 by Elfin Sports Cars. Elfin also produced a version of this car optimised for Australian Formula 3 called the Elfin 623.... |
|
1975 1975 Tasman Series The 1975 Tasman Series was the twelfth and final in the series, beginning on 5 January and ending on 23 February after eight races.The series was won by Australian driver Warwick Brown in his fifth year of Formula 5000 racing with the Pat Burke Racing team, driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
2nd | Lola T332 Lola T332 The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000 racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet V8 engine, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and... Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
|
1975 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship was the nineteenth Australian Drivers' Championship. It was contested by drivers of Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 Racing cars over a five round series with points awarded on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis to the top six placegetters in each... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
2nd | Lola T332 Lola T332 The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000 racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet V8 engine, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and... Repco-Holden Holden V8 engine The Holden V8 is an overhead valve V8 engine which was produced by the Australian General Motors subsidiary Holden between 1969 and 2000. The engine was used initially in the Kingswood and Monaro model ranges; it was later utilised in the Torana and Commodore ranges... |
John Walker |
1979 | Rothmans International Series Rothmans International Series The Rothmans International Series was an Australian Formula 5000 motor racing series which ran from 1976 to 1979.-History:When the joint Australian-New Zealand open-wheeler series, the Tasman Series was discontinued after the 1975 series, the four Australian former Tasman races became the Rothmans... |
11th | Lola T332 Lola T332 The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000 racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet V8 engine, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and... |
Magnum Wheels |
1979 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship A 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 1 racing cars. The championship winner was awarded the 1979 CAMS Gold Star... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
1st | Lola T332 Lola T332 The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000 racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet V8 engine, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and... Chevrolet Chevrolet Small-Block engine The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block... |
Magnum Wheels |
1981 1981 Australian Sports Car Championship The 1981 Australian Sports Car Championship was a national motor racing title for drivers of Sports Cars complying with CAMS Group D regulations... |
Australian Sports Car Championship Australian Sports Car Championship The Australian Sports Car Championship was the CAMS sanctioned national title for Sports Car drivers in the years from 1969 to 1988. Each championship was contested over a series of races with the exception of the 1975 title, which was awarded on the results of a single race held at the Phillip... |
4th | Porsche Turbo Porsche 930 The 930 was a sports car built by Porsche, 930 actually being the "type number" for the pre-964 generation 911 Turbo produced between 1975 and 1989... |
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