John Goss (race driver)
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John Goss is an Australian former touring car racing driver who won the prestigious Bathurst 1000 twice, in 1974 and 1985.
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[edit] Racing career
Born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, Goss began racing Ford Falcons in the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1968 and stayed loyal to the brand for much of his career.
Goss was the first driver to develop and use the new "XA" Falcon Coupe for racing in 1973, after rule changes for that year allowed for modification to race cars (prior to 1973, cars had to be stock and could not be modified). Goss obtained sponsorship from Shell and Max McLeod, a prominent Ford dealer in Rockdale, New South Wales - known for his "Horn cars" - as well as obtaining factory assistance from Ford Australia, who provided Goss with purpose-built XA racing chassis.
[edit] 1974
Goss and Kevin Bartlett teamed up for the 1973 Bathurst 1000 and qualified on pole position, but failed to finish despite leading for much of the race. In 1974, the pair returned to Bathurst in the same car - repainted from yellow to blue after losing Shell as their major sponsor - and proved to have the reliability needed to last through a race marred by driving rain, finishing first.
To celebrate the victory, Ford Australia released a limited edition XB Falcon Coupe in 1975 called the John Goss Special. Actual production numbers of these cars were never released by Ford, but estimates range anywhere between 260 and 800.
[edit] 1985
Goss' second and last Bathurst victory came in 1985 - with co-driver Armin Hahne - as a member of the Jaguar Racing Australia team, driving an XJ-S. Fellow Jaguar driver and team owner, Tom Walkinshaw, finished third.
[edit] Trivia
- During the 1970s, Goss' trademark was a yellow-and-black checkerboard tape stripe across the top of the windshield of his race cars.
- Goss is the only driver to have won both the Australian Grand Prix (in 1976) and the Bathurst 1000.
| Preceded by Allan Moffat Ian Geoghegan |
Winner of the Bathurst 1000 1974 (with Kevin Bartlett) |
Succeeded by Peter Brock Brian Sampson |
| Preceded by Peter Brock Larry Perkins |
Winner of the Bathurst 1000 1985 (with Armin Hahne) |
Succeeded by Allan Grice Graeme Bailey |
