Fred Gibson

Frederick Charles Gibson (born 16 January 1941) is a former Australian racing driver and race team owner.

Career

After a career that began in small production sports cars, first an MGA, and later the first Lotus Elan to run in Australian competition, Gibson quickly moved up into the touring car ranks. In just his second Bathurst start he claimed second place in the 1966 Gallaher 500.

In 1967, Frank Matich, who was to co-drive one of the new Ford XR Falcon GTs at Bathurst with Harry Firth, had to pull out due to other commitments, and recommended Gibson as his replacement.

Gibson became a mainstay with the Ford Works Team for the next six years, taking much success at Sydney's Oran Park and Amaroo Park in particular. He won the competitive Oran Park production sedan series, the Toby Lee Series, in 1970 and 1971 driving his Falcon GTHO supported by his Sydney speedshop, Road & Track.

In 2001, Gibson returned as the public face of Gibson Motorsport. Although initially portrayed as Gibson buying back his own team, it later emerged that it was Bob Forbes and not Fred Gibson who had bought the team, with Gibson only have purchased the franchise. A falling-out between Forbes and Gibson saw the latter leave the team after Bathurst. As Forbes owned his own franchise, Gibson sold his to Briggs Motor Sport. After leaving the team, Gibson retained ownership of the team's Dandenong workshop. It was later leased to Paul Weel Racing and today is Garry Rogers Motorsport's base.

In 2004, Gibson was inducted into the V8 Supercars Hall of Fame. In 2013, Gibson reformed Gibson Motorsport with Alan Heaphy as a race car preparer for cars participating in the Heritage Touring Cars series. Amongst its clients are the owners of former Gibson Motorsport Nissans.

Personal life In the mid-1970s, Gibson married to fellow former racing driver, Christine Gibson (née Cole); herself a successful racer, the couple have two daughters.

Career results Season Series Position Car Team 1968 Australian Drivers' Championship 9th McLaren M4A Ford NE Allen Comp. Pty Ltd 1968 Australian Touring Car Championship 4th Ford Mustang NE Allen Competition Pty Ltd 1970 Grace Brothers / Toby Lee Series 1st Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase I Road & Track Services 1971 Grace Brothers / Toby Lee Series 1st Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase II Road & Track Services 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship 17th Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III Road & Track Services 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship 6th Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III Road & Track Services 1974 Australian Touring Car Championship 31st Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Road & Track Services 1975 Australian Sports Car Championship 3rd Alfa Romeo T33 Fred Gibson's Road & Track 1982 Australian Touring Car Championship 28th Datsun Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motor Australia 1982 Australian Endurance Championship 3rd Nissan Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motor Co 1982 AMSCAR Series 3rd Nissan Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motor Co 1983 Australian Touring Car Championship 15th Nissan Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motorsport Australia 1983 AMSCAR Series 3rd Nissan Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motorsport Australia

Complete Australian Touring Car Championship 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 1968 N.E. Allen Competition Pty Ltd Ford Mustang WAR 4th - 1972 Road & Track Auto Services Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III SYM CAL BAT SAN AIR WAR SUR ORA 17th 4 1973 Road & Track Auto Services Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III SYM CAL SAN WAN SUR AIR ORA WAR 6th 19 1974 Road & Track Auto Services Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop SYM CAL SAN AMA ORA SUR AIR 31st 1 1982 Nissan Motor Australia Datsun Bluebird Turbo SAN CAL SYM ORA LAK WAN AIR SUR 28th 4 1983 Nissan Motorsport Australia Nissan Bluebird Turbo CAL SAN SYM WAN AIR SUR ORA LAK 15th 27

Complete Bathurst 500/1000 results Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 1963 Ken Nicholson Morris 850 A 89 44th 12th 1966 Vaughan & Lane BMC Bill Stanley Morris Cooper S C 129 2nd 2nd 1967 Ford Australia Harry Firth Ford XR Falcon GT D 130 1st 1st 1968 Ford Motor Company of Australia Barry Seton Ford XT Falcon GT D 113 31st 11th 1969 Ford Australia Barry Seton Ford XW Falcon GTHO D 93 DNF DNF 1970 Ford Motor Co of Australia Barry Seton Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase II E 33 DNF DNF 1971 Road & Track Auto Services Barry Seton Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III E 32 DNF DNF 1972 Ford Motor Company of Australia Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III D 22 DNF DNF 1973 Ford Australia Barry Seton Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop D 17 DNF DNF 1975 Alfa Romeo Dealers Australia John Fitzpatrick Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV B 12 DNF DNF 1977 Pioneer Electronics Ron Dickson Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop 3001cc – 6000cc 147 10th 7th 1978 Moffat Ford Dealers Colin Bond Ford XC Falcon Cobra A 59 DNF DNF 1979 King George Tavern Joe Moore Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X 4-Door A 125 DNF DNF 1980 King George Tavern Joe Moore Ford XD Falcon 3001-6000cc 51 DNF DNF 1981 Nissan Motor Co. George Fury Nissan Bluebird Turbo 4 Cylinder 30 DNF DNF 1982 Nissan Motor Co. George Fury Nissan Bluebird Turbo B 40 DNF DNF 1983 Nissan Motor Co. Australia P/L John French Nissan Bluebird Turbo A 134 22nd 20th