Frank Gardner's career was marked by notable achievements, including three British Saloon Car Championship titles, a European Formula 5000 championship, and a win in the 1988 Bathurst 1000.
Born on 1 October 1931 in Sydney, Australia, Gardner came from a poor family. His father, a fisherman, was killed in a drunk-driving accident, and Gardner went to live with his uncle, Hope Bartlett, a renowned racing driver and golfer. Bartlett played a significant role in Gardner's early life and introduced him to automotive engineering.
Gardner's racing career began in England, where he joined the Jim Russell Driving School and became the "star pupil driver." He was later employed by Jack Brabham in the new MRD F1 racing team, which soon became Brabham. Gardner's breakthrough came in 1959 when he was part of the team that won Le Mans, driving a car with a Colotti gearbox that he had specifically requested.
Gardner's peak seasons were marked by success in various championships. He won the European Formula 5000 championship in 1971 and finished second in the 1000 km Spa round of the International Manufacturers Championship in 1966. Gardner also competed in the Tasman Series, finishing third in 1967 and 1972. He won the British Saloon Car Championship three times (1967, 1968, and 1973) and was runner-up in 1970.
One of the defining incidents of Gardner's career was his involvement in a dispute over the 1987 James Hardie 1000, which led to his retirement from motorsport. He alleged that his car had been sabotaged, but this claim was disputed by his drivers and team mechanic.
Gardner retired from full-time driving in the mid-1970s and focused on team management. He ran his own team, JPS Team BMW, which won two Australian Touring Car Championships and the 1988 Bathurst 1000. Gardner sold the team to the Morris family in the 1990s and continued to be involved in motorsport until his retirement in 1998. He passed away on 29 August 2009 at the age of 78 after a long battle with illness.
Gardner's achievements in motorsport are significant, with three British Saloon Car Championship titles, a European Formula 5000 championship, and a win in the 1988 Bathurst 1000. He was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to motor racing.
In addition to his achievements in touring cars and open-wheel racing, Gardner also competed in sports cars, including a class win at Le Mans in 1961. He drove in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am Series in 1966 and had his only NASCAR start at Rockingham in 1968.
Gardner was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to motor racing. He was also a public speaker and author, publishing two books: "Racing Drivers Manual" and "Drive to Survive."
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