Credits~About Us
First, our thanks must go to those intrepid competitors, for such a memorable Marathon and an amazing and exciting finish. Also to the sponsors, organisers, media, crews, mechanics and importantly, also to all those control point volunteers.
Sadly in 'rally speak', as Paddy Hopkirk put it; "the race can be lost over the last 200 yards".
This was 'as close as it gets' over such a distance.
Contributors:
Daily Express (Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd.)
Daily Telegraph (Australian Consolidated Press Ltd.)
J.G.S. (Jack) Sears - Honorary Secretary and Secretary of Event & Clerk of the Course
Paddy Hopkirk
Evan Green
Bill Tuckey
Alan Sawyer
John Smailes
Keith Loveard
Harold Dvoretsky
Marion Macdonald
Michael Scarlett
David Benson
Ron Morgans
Frank Spooner
Bill Price - Abingdon Workshop Manager and later Competition Manager.
Alan Smith
Victor Blackman
Theo Batten - artwork
My personal thanks and appreciation to:
Paddy Hopkirk - Great Britain
Graham Carl Arnold - Spain
Ken Lyle - Australia
Patrick Farrell - Australia
Ken Green - Great Britain
Marcel Chichak - Canada
John Smailes - Australia
Melvin Lewis - Great Britain
Charlie Donaldson - Scotland
Brian Lemon - Australia
Rinus Blankestijn - Holland
Paul Dalgleish - National Archives of Australia
Roland Proudlock. - Scotland
Robert Clayson - Great Britain
John Waterhouse - Australia
Roel Wijker - Holland
Col Gardner - Australia
Allan Chilcott - Australia
David Blanch - Australia
Ron Morgans - Great Britain
Graeme Lawton - Chairman, Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club, England.
Bill Kneipp - Australia
Mark Oastler - AMC Australia
Tjeerd van der Zee - Holland
André Ritzinger - Holland
Uch Perazza - Australia
Jon Mauleon - Spain
Rob Turner - Australia
James Cockington - Australia
Paul Plain - Great Britain
Ian Monastryski - Great Britain
Marianne Hagendijk - Holland
Major Mike Bailey - Great Britain
Your contributions and research are greatly appreciated and acknowledged throughout the site.
This was the first Intercontinental Marathon of such distance - this rally has been re-run every four years since 1968 and continues to be re-run, coinciding with the Summer Olympic games.
Yet another London-Sydney Marathon was held and finished on July 5th. in Sydney, prior to the start of the Sydney Olympic Games in September 2000. The next London-Sydney Marathon will be held in 2008, celebrating the 40th anniversary since this original Marathon.
Webmaster
John Roach is proud to present this historic motoring event of the Twentieth Century.
The 1968 London-Sydney Marathon.
Although not involved personally, it is remembered as clearly as some of the other major events in the second half of the Twentieth Century - man walking on the moon, the assassination of President John F Kennedy and the birth of the Internet.
Now residing in Perth, Western Australia, but living in Wollongong, New South Wales at the time - and only 50 miles away from the horrific accident that robbed Lucien Bianchi and Jean-Claude Ogier in their Citroen DS21 of an outright win.
Enjoy this phenomenal and colourful event. A rally that will never capture the minds and hearts of the motoring public as did this, 1968 London-Sydney Marathon.
Due to the passing of time (and memory) there may be some corrections necessary. Please contact me - for error management.
This site includes all the other vehicles and stories associated with their participation in the Marathon. As a result, there are many gaps to fill in and your contributions are encouraged and more than welcome. Personal acknowledgement will be given to your assistance.
I would personally like to thank all contributors who have helped enhance this historic motoring event.
If you have any information regarding this spectacular Marathon - please contact me
Ohh, and don't forget to leave a trail and sign the guest book.
NEW: This site has an 'exclusive' interview with Alan Chilcott, an unfortunate passenger in the infamous Mini that collided with Lucien Bianchi and Jean Claude Ogier near Nowra, robbing them of a well deserved win in their Citroen DS21.
Read Allan Chilcott's story and get the 'good oil' on the truth. It's a never before told story and amazingly no-one had ever bothered to contact him to even find out. A wonderful news scoop and a story that needed to be told.
- John Roach
Site created by TripleW 1st. July 2000
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The Ladies I How They Finished I BMC I Ford I Holden I Other Marques I Site Map I Memorabilia I Credits/About Us I Links
