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==Biography==
==Biography==
Johnnie Walker was born in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]] on 27 September 1943,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Cockington>James Cockington, ''Keep walking'', Australian Muscle Car, Issue 66, March / April 2013, pages 103 - 112</ref> He first raced in the early 1960s at [[Mallala Race Circuit|Mallala]] in his [[Holden FE]] road car.<ref name=Cockington/> After competing in the [[Australian Formula 2|Australian Formula 2 Championship]] he graduated to [[Formula 5000]] in 1972, driving an [[Elfin Sports Cars|Elfin MR5]] and a [[Matich A50]] before switching to the [[Lola Cars|Lola]] marque in late 1973.
Johnnie Walker was born in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]] on 3 September 1944,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Cockington>James Cockington, ''Keep walking'', Australian Muscle Car, Issue 66, March / April 2013, pages 103 - 112</ref> He first raced in the early 1960s at [[Mallala Race Circuit|Mallala]] in his [[Holden FE]] road car.<ref name=Cockington/> After competing in the [[Australian Formula 2|Australian Formula 2 Championship]] he graduated to [[Formula 5000]] in 1972, driving an [[Elfin Sports Cars|Elfin MR5]] and a [[Matich A50]] before switching to the [[Lola Cars|Lola]] marque in late 1973.


Walker finished second in both the [[1973 Australian Drivers' Championship|1973]] and [[1975 Australian Drivers' Championship]]s before breaking through to win the title in [[1979 Australian Drivers' Championship|1979]] in his [[Lola T332]] [[Chevrolet]]. He also won the [[1979 Australian Grand Prix]] at [[Wanneroo Raceway]].
Walker finished second in both the [[1973 Australian Drivers' Championship|1973]] and [[1975 Australian Drivers' Championship]]s before breaking through to win the title in [[1979 Australian Drivers' Championship|1979]] in his [[Lola T332]] [[Chevrolet]]. He also won the [[1979 Australian Grand Prix]] at [[Wanneroo Raceway]].

Revision as of 08:58, 17 June 2024

Walker in the Matich A50 in 1972

John Walker (3 September 1944 – 6 May 2024) was an Australian racing driver.

Biography

Johnnie Walker was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 3 September 1944,[1][2] He first raced in the early 1960s at Mallala in his Holden FE road car.[2] After competing in the Australian Formula 2 Championship he graduated to Formula 5000 in 1972, driving an Elfin MR5 and a Matich A50 before switching to the Lola marque in late 1973.

Walker finished second in both the 1973 and 1975 Australian Drivers' Championships before breaking through to win the title in 1979 in his Lola T332 Chevrolet. He also won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix at Wanneroo Raceway.

In 1975, he was highly competitive in the 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 Hardie Ferodo 1000 where they placed third in a Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34.

Walker died on 6 May 2024, at the age of 79.[1]

Career results

Results sourced from Driver Database.[3]

A race replica of the Ford XW Falcon GTHO driven by Kim Aunger and John Walker in the 1970 Hardie-Ferodo 500
Season Series Position Car Team
1965 Australian Drivers' Championship 10th Elfin Catalina Ford Gilbert Motor Bodies
1967 Australian Drivers' Championship 18th Elfin Mono Gilbert Motor Bodies
1967 Australian 1½ Litre Championship 9th Elfin Mono Gilbert Motor Bodies
1968 Australian Drivers' Championship 9th Elfin Mono 2B Ford Gilbert Motor Bodies
1968 Australian 1½ Litre Championship 4th Elfin Mono 2B Ford Gilbert Motor Bodies
1969 Australian Drivers' Championship NC Elfin 600B Ford Gilbert Motor Bodies
1970 Australian Drivers' Championship NC Elfin 600B Ford Gilbert Motor Bodies
1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship 2nd Elfin Gilbert Motor Bodies
1971 Australian Drivers' Championship 13th Elfin 600B City State Racing Team
1971 Australian Formula 2 Championship 4th Elfin 600B Ford
1972 Tasman Series 12th Elfin MR5 Repco-Holden City State Racing Team
1972 Australian Drivers' Championship 4th Matich A50 Repco-Holden 5AD / City State Racing
1973 Tasman Series 9th Matich A50 Repco-Holden Johnnie Walker
1973 Australian Drivers' Championship 2nd Lola T330 Repco-Holden John Walker Motor Racing
1973 SCCA L&M Championship 21st[4] Matich A50 Repco-Holden[4] Johnnie Walker[5]
1974 Tasman Series 4th Lola T330 Repco-Holden
1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship 7th Elfin 622
1975 Tasman Series 2nd Lola T332 Repco-Holden
1975 Australian Drivers' Championship 2nd Lola T332 Repco-Holden John Walker
1978 Rothmans International Series 4th Lola T332 Chevrolet Magnum Wheels
1979 Rothmans International Series 11th Lola T332 Chevrolet Magnum Wheels
1979 Australian Drivers' Championship 1st Lola T332 Chevrolet Magnum Wheels
1981 Australian Sports Car Championship 4th Porsche Turbo Magnum Wheels

Complete Tasman Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points
1972 Australia City State Racing Elfin MR5 Repco-Holden PUK LEV WIG TER SUR WAR SAN AIR
4 		12th 3
1973 Australia Johnnie Walker Elfin MR5 Repco-Holden PUK LEV WIG TER SUR
4 		WAR
4 		SAN
5 		AIR
Ret 		9th 8
1974 Australia Johnnie Walker Lola T330 Repco-Holden LEV
1 		PUK
7 		WIG
Ret 		TER
Ret 		ORA
2 		SUR
5 		SAN
3 		AIR
Ret 		3rd 21
1975 Australia Johnnie Walker Lola T332 Repco-Holden LEV
4 		PUK
4 		WIG
3 		TER
4 		ORA
3 		SUR
1 		AIR
3 		SAN
Ret 		2nd 30

Complete Bathurst 500/1000 results

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1970 Australia Aunger Accessories / Fairway Ford Australia Kym Aunger Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase II E 18 DNF DNF
1971 Australia City State Racing Team Australia Malcolm Ramsay Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 D 124 18th 11th
1975 Australia Holden Dealer Team Australia Colin Bond Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 D 154 3rd 3rd
1978 Australia Settlement Road Motor Wreckers Australia Warren Cullen Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback A 152 7th 7th

References

  1. ^ a b OBrien, Garry (6 May 2024). "Vale: Johnnie Walker". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b James Cockington, Keep walking, Australian Muscle Car, Issue 66, March / April 2013, pages 103 - 112
  3. ^ Johnnie Walker - Driver Database
  4. ^ a b 1973 SCCA L&M Championship Review (Part 1), www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 26 April 2014
  5. ^ Official Entry List, The Glen L&M Championship Race, www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 26 April 2014
  • Australian Motor Racing Annual, 1972, page 40
  • Racing Car News, November 1972, page 61
  • Australian Competition Yearbook, 1974, pages 59, 75, 208
  • Australian Competition Yearbook, 1975, pages 46, 70
  • Australian Competition Yearbook, 1976, pages 65, 108, 117–120, 188
  • Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977, pages 104-110
  • Australian Competition Yearbook, 1978, page 115
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