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Issue 90 $9.99 (incl GST) NZ $11.99 (incl GST)

Shannons and Ultimate Driving Tours are offering motoring enthusiasts the chance to win an exclusive tour driving the world’s best supercars on some of Europe’s most amazing roads, from 28th July to 5th August 2017. The eight-day guided tour travels through Switzerland, France, Monaco and Italy. Experience driving a selection of supercars1 from Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Audi and Mercedes over four days. Stay at luxury hotels, castles and stunning chateaus, while enjoying fantastic dining experiences, including dinner with F1 world champion, Alain Prost. Plus, visit the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums in Maranello and the infamous Imola circuit. You can also hit the shops in Europe with $1,000 spending money, or $5,000 if you’re an eligible Shannons Club member^. The winner will also receive an all new 2016 Victory Octane Motorcycle in Matte Super Steel Grey.

Get a Quote = 1 Entry* | Take out a Policy = 5 Entries!* To enter go to shannons.com.au/supercars or call 13 46 46 and obtain an eligible quote on your Car, Bike or Home Insurance* by 30 November 2016.

INSURANCE FOR MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS | CALL 13 46 46 FOR A QUOTE | SHANNONS.COM.AU Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807, the issuer of Shannons Car, Bike and Home/Contents insurance products. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and consider whether it is right for you before buying these insurance products. Contact us for a free copy. Competition conducted by Shannons Pty Limited, of Level 28, Brisbane Square, 266 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000. Competition commences at 12am on 15/8/2016 and closes at 5pm on 30/11/2016 (Melbourne time). Applications for online quotes must be submitted by 28/11/16 to be eligible for entry into this competition, however, telephone applications will continue to be available until 5pm 30/11/2016. Entry only open to eligible Australian residents aged 30 years or older. Eligible Entrants must be opted in to receive Shannons marketing communications. Total

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prize pool valued at approx. $62,075.00 (depending on major prize winner’s point of departure). Prizes drawn at 12pm on 14/12/2016 at Salmat Digital Pty Ltd, L2, 116 Miller St, Nth Sydney NSW 2060. The winners will be notified by phone and email by 16/12/2016 and published in The Australian newspaper on 19/12/2016 and on the competition website. 1The winner must be aged 30 years or older and have a valid and current Australian driver’s licence. The drive experience is subject to any terms and conditions specified by Ultimate Driving Tours. ^An Eligible Shannons Club Member is a Shannons Club member who has created a member profile, uploaded a profile image and images of an enthusiast vehicle and an ultimate vehicle at shannons.com.au/club.*New Shannons Motor Insurance or Shannons Home & Contents insurance quotes/sales only (renewals and CTP quotes/sales ineligible). Limit 1 quote per vehicle or insured address. Permits: ACT TP 16/01335, NSW LTPS/16/05363, SA T16/1203. Full competition terms and conditions at shannons.com.au/supercars.

AUSTRALIAN MUSCLE CAR

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34 Muscle Mail

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42 Cars That Won Bathurst

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112 78 HO Phase Autos

100 Round Oz vans

The late Wayne Draper faced many obstacles in bringing his automotive dreams to reality, but now a small band of enthusiasts are ensuring his muscle car legacy lives on.

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AMC samples tarmac rallying aboard a mighty Mustang – on some of the best roads, and varied weather, this country has to offer – in the Lake Mountain Sprint. Bring your jacket though.

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INDUCTION

Luke West Editor he Ford Falcon, after 56 years of production in Australia, reaches the end of the road on October 6, while this issue sits on newsstands. What a shame. Personally, I feel like a little bit of my childhood has been scrunched up and tossed in WKH ELQ 7KDW¡V EHFDXVH P\ HDUOLHVW PHPRULHV DUH of white Ford Falcons parked on the nature strip outside our family home in suburban Sydney. 0RVW RI P\ IDWKHU¡V ZRUNLQJ OLIH ZDV VSHQW RQ the road as a sales rep for Metal Manufactures /WG D PRE WKDW PDGH FRSSHU SLSH DQG Ă€ WWLQJV For two decades, from the early 1960s to 1981, Metal Manufactures supplied him with a succession of Falcons as white as the driven snow. Dad was as proud as punch of these company cars. As were his four children, of which , ZDV WKH \RXQJHVW 0\ PXP¡V SKRWR DOEXPV GLVSOD\ FRXQWOHVV black and white prints of family holidays and GD\ WULSV PDQ\ IHDWXULQJ RXU IDLWKIXO )DOFRQV $ JRRG H[DPSOH LV WKH VKRW VKRZQ EHORZ RI P\ WKUHH ROGHU VLEOLQJV 0XP DQG DQ ;/ )DOFRQ DW 8UXQJD RQ WKH 16: 1RUWK &RDVW LQ IRXU \HDUV EHIRUH , OREEHG RQ WKH VFHQH $PRQJ WKH PDQ\ WKLQJV , ORYH DERXW WKH SKRWR LV WKH FRQWUDVW EHWZHHQ WKDW SULVWLQH Ă€ UVW JHQHUDWLRQ )DOFRQ

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,W ZDV LQ WKLV FDU WKDW , FXW P\ Ă€ UVW ODSV DV D \HDU ROG SDVVHQJHU RI 0RXQW 3DQRUDPD RQ D rainy May day in 1979. 7ZR \HDUV ODWHU DW ;& WXUQRYHU WLPH 0HWDO 0DQXIDFWXUHV KDG FKDQJHG LWV FRPSDQ\ FDU SROLF\ VWLSXODWLQJ IRXU F\OLQGHU PRGHOV RQO\ 7KLV FUXVKHG P\ GUHDPV RI D 'LFN\ -RKQVRQ OLNH ;' 'DG DIWHU UXOLQJ RXW WKH DQFLHQW &RUWLQD ZLWK LWV KRUUHQGRXV ERG\ UROO KDG QR FKRLFH EXW WR follow the lead of pop band The Vapors and turn Japanese. More on this in a future issue, when AMC FRYHUV WKH %OXHELUG 7XUER UDFH SURJUDP LQ GHSWK :KHQ , ZDV ROG HQRXJK WR GULYH DQG EX\ VHFRQG KDQG FDUV P\VHOI , WULHG D YDULHW\ RI PDNHV DQG PRGHOV EXW VWUDQJHO\ QHYHU D )RUG )DVW IRUZDUG QRZ WR ZKHQ P\ ZLIH DQG , IRXQG RXUVHOYHV SDUHQWV WR WZR SUH VFKRRO DJHG ER\V DQG QHHGLQJ D ELJJHU IDPLO\ FDU :KDW GLG , EX\ WR SURWHFW WKH WKUHH PRVW SUHFLRXV WKLQJV LQ P\ OLIH" $ )RUG 7HUULWRU\ ² P\ Ă€ UVW HYHU QHZ FDU purchase. 7KH $XVVLH PDGH 689 PRGHO¡V SUDFWLFDOLW\ ZDV WKH SULPH UHDVRQ DOWKRXJK XSRQ UHĂ HFWLRQ , reckon my subconscious reminded me that Fords had always safely transported West kids. , ORVW P\ 'DG LQ 0D\ WKLV \HDU ² WR ROG DJH ² DQG ZKLOH FRPSLOLQJ WKH SLFV IRU KLV IXQHUDO service I had more than one melancholy moment, XVXDOO\ WULJJHUHG E\ WKH ROG )DOFRQ VKRWV :LWKRXW ZDQWLQJ WR JHW WRR SRHWLF LW RFFXUUHG WR PH WKDW KH GLHG WKH VDPH \HDU WKH )DOFRQ GLG ² \HDUV after the crash that could so easily have claimed KLV OLIH EXW GLGQ¡W WKDQNV WR WKH HIIRUWV RI D SDVW JHQHUDWLRQ RI )RUG $XVWUDOLD VWDIIHUV I hope you enjoy our salute this issue to a KDQGIXO RI IRUPHU )RUG SHUVRQQHO UHSUHVHQWLQJ the thousands who contributed so much to our FRXQWU\¡V PRWRULQJ KLVWRU\

FORD FALCON XP 1965 FUTURA HARDTOP 1/18 Scale Model Diecast Replica - Limited Edition 1000 Available Now!

Photograp h of actua l model

Item Number: 17001

GREENVELVETWITH PALOMINO INTERIOR

Full Interior Detail

Limited Edition Number

Realistic Chassis

For more details contact Diecast Replicars on Freecall 1800 088 564

or visit www.diecastreplicars.com.au

A1309 Australian Muscle Car

Introduced in March 1965, the XP Falcon was the last face-lift of the original Falcon and featured an aggressive, squared off look to the front end and more solid styling overall. Ford were determined to finally produce a Falcon, suited to Australian conditions. It won Wheels Magazine’s “Car of the Year” award in 1965.

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AMCM UPDATE

All-star racing line-up

PLUS: Australian 5.0 Litre Touring Car Association demonstration

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Pit Lane Official Merchandise Hospitality

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he 2016 genuine event merchandise range includes tee-shirts, polos, caps, hoodies, singlets and more. Available now online at www.musclecar.com. au or at the event. They make perfect gifts.

The ultimate treat! Sydney Motorsport Park’s Premier Suite is located in the competitors paddock high above the pit lane garages. The air-conditioned suite provides an affordable location to entertain clients, friends or employees.

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W ZRXOGQ¡W EH WKH 0DVWHUV ZLWKRXW WKH 3LW Straight Car Club Corral and its stellar lineup of classic Aussie muscle. Think Pacers, Chargers, GT and GT-HO Falcons, GTS Monaros and SL/R 5000 Toranas. Drivers of road-registered muscle cars are admitted free-of-charge to the Corral, located on the grass overlooking the main straight and starting grid. Groups are encouraged to park together and promote their club. Fact sheet and the entry form are now on-line at www.musclecarmasters.com.au

he Premier Suite offers the opportunity for individuals and small groups to gather at reserved tables.Entertain business associates or round up a group of friends. Reserved tables and seating are LGHQWLĂ€HG ZLWK \RXU QDPH FRPSDQ\ QDPH RU KRVW¡V QDPH Use the air-conditioned Premier Suite as your day-long race base. Serviced rest rooms are nearby.

Benefits include: Y Non-transferable Premier Suite wristbands. Y Morning Tea, Buffet lunch and Afternoon Tea. Y Brewed tea and coffee all day. Y Cash bar (hosts may arrange a tab for guests). Y Entry to track/competitor paddock/grandstand. Y In-suite live TV coverage Y In-suite computerised TV lap scoring screen. Y Event program for each guest. Y On-site VIP parking via Gate A (Competitors entrance).

FOR BOOKINGS: www.musclecarmasters.com.au/hospitality

Pit Lane Premier Suite Price per guest $163.95 (inc GST). Cash bar will be operating.

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MUSCLE NEWS 6WRULHV 3DXO *RYHU FKLHI UHSRUWHU &DUVJXLGH

Ford to keep

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Belinda Missen

October 7, 2016 T

he last day for the Ford Australia factory at Broadmeadows will be a deeply personal one for members of the Blue Oval family. It will be the same for the workers at the Ford facilities in Geelong, a city that has relied for JHQHUDWLRQV RQ LWV FDUPDNLQJ DELOLWLHV %XW GRQ¡W H[SHFW D PHGLD IUHQ]\ D à DJ ZDYLQJ YLVLW E\ VHQLRU politicians or a media circus on October 7. ´,W¡V JRLQJ WR EH D SULYDWH HYHQW IRU WKH manufacturing employees. They are going to decide how they want that activity to go. ´,W¡V WKHLU HYHQW ¾ VD\V )RUG $XVWUDOLD

spokesman, Wes Sherwood. He says the day the Falcon dies will not be the end of the story or the celebrations. “We absolutely realise that people will want to VHH DQG IDUHZHOO WKH Ă€QDO YHKLFOHV )RU RXU PRVW OR\DO IDQV ZH¡UH SODQQLQJ VRPHWKLQJ VRRQ DIWHU October 7. ´:H¡UH GHĂ€QLWHO\ JRLQJ WR KDYH D QRG WR RXU ULFK history, and also show that we have a rich future in $XVWUDOLD Âľ The people most affected by the shutdown are the 800 staff involved at manufacturing at Broadmeadows and the 300 who are also part of the car making activities at Geelong. $QRWKHU JURXS DURXQG LV EHLQJ UH deployed from manufacturing to other Ford Australia activities including the research and

development work at Broadmeadows on future regional and global products. What about the Bathurst weekend? “We recognise that the Falcon will still be racing. The teams are passionate Ford folks and ZH¡YH KDG JUHDW UHODWLRQVKLSV ZLWK WKHP VR ZH ZLVK WKHP QRWKLQJ EXW WKH EHVW :H¡UH SURXG WKDW WKH\ DUH VWLOO WUDFNLQJ RXU YHKLFOHV DQG WKDW GRHVQ¡W HQG Âľ 6KHUZRRG VD\V It appears to be purely coincidental that the last Falcon rolls off the production line while the Bathurst 1000 meeting is in progress. 7KHUH¡V QR REYLRXV VWUDWHJLF UHDVRQ IRU )RUG Australia choosing Great Race weekend for the closure, instead the clash speaks volumes IRU WKH FRPSDQ\¡V LQWHUHVW ² RU ODFN WKHUHRI ² LQ happenings on Mount Panorama.

The stats

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he end of carmaking by Ford Australia allows the compiling of a range of impressive statistics. Here are a few: ™ The peak production year was 1985 with 155,254 vehicles built. At this time the assembly plants were Broadmeadows 1+2 (Melbourne), Homebush (Sydney) and Eagle Farm (Brisbane). Models produced in 1985 were Falcon passenger and commercial, Fairlane, LTD, Laser, 7HOVWDU ) 6HULHV / 6HULHV &DUJR WUDFWRU ™ The peak Falcon production year was 2003 with 102,144 BA models, plus 2849 Fairlanes and LTDs. ™ Thirty years later, 2015, the most recent full calendar year, the production total was down WR YHKLFOHV ² )DOFRQ VHGDQ )DOFRQ XWH DQG 7HUULWRU\ ™ When it comes to models the full Ford Australia production honour roll extends to $QJOLD 3UHIHFW &RUWLQD &RQVXO =HSK\U /DVHU PRGHOV 0HWHRU 7HOVWDU &XVWRPOLQH )DLUODQH 5DQFK ZDJRQ *DOD[LH ) 6HULHV 7 7UXFN (VFRUW YDQ 7KDPHV YDQ FZW YDQ FDE HVWDWH FDU . 6HULHV ' 6HULHV &DUJR 9 6HULHV 5 6HULHV / 6HULHV 7UDGHU &DSUL )DOFRQ PRGHOV Fairlane (15 models), LTD (10 models) and Territory (4 models).

Ford Australia: where to from here? T

he death of the Falcon is not the end for Ford Australia. More than 1500 engineers, designers and product specialists will still be working on future products and many of them will be based in buildings at Broadmeadows. The You Yangs proving ground, which would not have been created without the Falcon and many other local development programs over the years, also continues. Some of the product development activities at Geelong will also survive. “The product development team is actually

13 www.musclecarmag.com.au

growing. Ford globally is investing more in products and Australia is one of the main hubs for WKDW ZRUN Âľ VD\V )RUG $XVWUDOLD VSRNHVPDQ :HV Sherwood. “The pipeline is full of new work. We are UHIXUELVKLQJ KHDG RIĂ€FH WR EHFRPH RXU UHJLRQDO product development centre. ´:H VWLOO KDYH RXU UHVHDUFK DQG GHYHORSPHQW centre in Geelong and there are more than 300 people at the development centre in Lara. ´:H¡UH EXUVWLQJ DW WKH VHDPV D OLWWOH ELW ZLWK DOO WKH ZRUN IRU IXWXUH SURGXFWV Âľ

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The Kenworthys’ 75 years at Ford I

f you name a high-performance Ford from the past 50 years there is a fair chance Max Kenworthy has owned it – including an actual Bathurst-winning chassis. One of his earliest cars was the very Cortina GT that Bob Jane and Harry Firth took to victory DW 0RXQW 3DQRUDPD LQ DQG KH¡V DOVR owned a string of GT Falcons in various body shapes, an original Mustang, both Laser and Telstar turbos, then ESP and XR Falcons. ´,¡YH DOZD\V EHHQ D UHDO PXVFOH FDU PDQ ,¡YH sorta got Ford blood,â€? Kenworthy says. 7KDW¡V QR VXUSULVH FRQVLGHULQJ KH KDV VHHQ it all at Ford after starting as an apprentice toolmaker and working his way through to senior management in human resources during 42 years with the company. Not only that, but his father completed 43 years with Ford Australia and trod a similar path from the trim shop through to the board, although he was also one of the men responsible for establishing the Vehicle Builders Union in Australia. “My father was a real legend of Ford. He KHOG WKH Ă€UVW XQLRQ PHHWLQJ RXW LQ WKH JDUDJH DW the front of the plant, and the management put WKH Ă€UH KRVHV RQ WKHP )RUG ZDV GHDG DJDLQVW anyone joining the union.â€? ,W¡V LURQLF WKHQ WKDW KH ZDV HYHQWXDOO\ PRYHG LQWR WKH SHUVRQQHO RIĂ€FH MRLQLQJ WKH ERDUG LQ WKH 1950s and continuing in the post until he retired in 1977. “He also became the

Mayor of Geelong West in 1966,â€? Kenworthy VD\V RI KLV IDWKHU¡V SRVW )RUG OLIH He is proud of his dad and what he achieved, DV ZHOO DV WKH SDLU¡V \HDUV RI FRQWLQXRXV IDPLO\ VHUYLFH ZLWK )RUG 7KDW¡V ULJKW WKUHH TXDUWHUV RI century service from one family! Beat that! “Dad started off in the 1930s. He was a boot maker by trade and he started in Geelong in the trim shop. Back in those days things were very tough,â€? he says. ´+LV QLFNQDPH ZDV Âś7XQQHU¡ EXW KLV UHDO QDPH was William Herbert. During the hard days of The Great Depression he was a boxer, a really good boxer. He would stand in the crew for Jimmy 6KDUPDQ¡V ER[LQJ WHQW IRU WKUHH TXLG D Ă€JKW +H paid for his house that way.â€? It was Kenworthy senior, not surprisingly, who opened the door to Ford for his son. ´'DG JRW PH D MRE , Ă€QLVKHG VFKRRO LQ 1966 and I got an apprenticeship in 1967 as a toolmaker. For a car fanatic like me, it was dreamland. ´:H KDG WKH GUDZLQJ RIĂ€FHV DQG WKH SURGXFWLRQ GHYHORSPHQW RIĂ€FHV LQ *HHORQJ , FRXOGQ¡W ZDLW IRU P\ OXQFK EUHDNV ZDLWLQJ WR VHH the new models to come out. “The Falcon had just come out and the XR GT was a prototype. I remember, they put a cover over it so no-one could see it. And I remember pulling the silk cover up and seeing the beautiful gold paint, and the badge for the High Performance 289. Looking inside and seeing the IRXU VSHHG Ă RRU VKLIW WKDW ORFNHG PH LQ Âľ

He worked through a string of jobs in product development and production, including as a “trouble chaserâ€? who was able to solve various problems in development and the factory, which PHDQW KH ZDV WKH FRPSDQ\¡V KLJKHVW SDLG tradesman. Not surprisingly, he has plenty of insider stories. Including on the racing front. “I remember when we were building all the special panels for the Allan Moffat Falcons in the seventies. I was hand cutting the door panels in aluminium for the two-doors. “And the extended fuel tanks. In the 36-gallon race tanks we could draw another inch-and-a-half from the metal at the bottom of the tank to get another couple of gallons. Those were the tricks we could do. “When I got into the Human Resources department all the race drivers would come into P\ RIĂ€FH DW WKH SODQW , UHPHPEHU WHOOLQJ -RKQ Bowe all the secrets from the Moffat era and he ZDV UROOLQJ DURXQG P\ RIĂ€FH ZLWK ODXJKWHU Âľ He knew all the race drivers, and other Ford icons like rally driver Graham Hoinville, and even has a personal tie to Craig Lowndes. “Do you remember the Cortina from the Ford 'LVFRYHU\ &HQWUH WKDW &UDLJ GLG" ,¡YH JRW WKH HQJLQH LQ P\ JDUDJH ,¡YH JRW DOO WKH RULJLQDO ELWV WKH GLII DQG JHDUER[ DV ZHOO ,¡YH KDG WKHP IRU about 20 years.â€? Kenworthy moved into the HR department in 1977, working alongside his dad, and he recalls the demand for workers. ´7KLQJV ZHUH UHDOO\ ERRPLQJ LQ WR ¡ they could sell every car they put out. We were KLULQJ SHRSOH OLNH \RX ZRXOGQ¡W EHOLHYH 7KH\ would want 40 people a day. That went on for a long time.â€? %XW WKH ERRP WLPH GLGQ¡W ODVW DQG KH remembers giant union disputes through the 1990s, as well as the decline in the Ford lineup. “From about 1977 right until the 1990s we GLGQ¡W KDYH PDQ\ FDUV WKDW LQWHUHVWHG PH “Then Geoff Polites came along and we got back into the V8s and

Above left and right: Max Kenworthy has owned many Fords over the years including the red Cortina GT that was the Blue Oval’s first Bathurst winner. That car has long since gone to God, but Max today has a GT 500. Below: Max was something of an identity during his many years working at Ford.

Belinda Missen

got going again.” Even though he worked at Ford until 2009, Kenworthy has no doubt about the highlight of his four decades there. “For me it was the 1970s. They were the best years,” he says. “The management in those days were all car people. They would all head to Bathurst together in their Falcon GTs. He also has deeply personal memories. ´, FDQ VWLOO UHPHPEHU WKH ÀUVW ;: JULOOH FRPLQJ XS RXW RI WKH FKURPH SODWLQJ $QG WKH ÀUVW ;: *7 nearly brought me to tears. Those cars had the look, the trim, the tyres and the power as well. “Back then, having a Falcon GT was like having a Ferrari today. It was a big deal. And then the GTHO, that was just incredible.” But Kenworthy could also see the changing tastes of Australian car buyers and the impact on his company. “I could see it coming, with people going away from the Falcon and Holden. As good as they were, I could see people – even neighbours – starting to buy Volvos, and even Mercedes-Benz. “My biggest disappointment in the last few \HDUV ZDV WKDW ZH GLGQ·W KDYH HQRXJK FDU SHRSOH LQ WKH SODQW , GRQ·W UHDOO\ NQRZ ZKDW WKH DQVZHU LV going to be in the future.” After a brief dalliance with a Volvo when the Swedish company was part of the Ford family, he still drives a local Ford and is considering the modern equivalent of the old-time GT for his next daily driver. ´6LQFH ,·YH UHWLUHG ,·YH MXVW EHHQ JHWWLQJ D EDVH ;5 XWH ,·P XS WR P\ QLQWK RQH %XW ,·P ORRNLQJ DW D 0XVWDQJ EHFDXVH DSSDUHQWO\ WKH\·UH D EHDXWLIXO car, really well done, not like the one I had in the old days.”

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Belinda Missen

MUSCLE NEWS

31 years at Ford

www.musclecarmag.com.au

FPV GT-F 1:18 Scale Model Octane with black stripes Resin Bodied Individually numbered Limited Edition Pre-Order today

Available Q1 2017

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Sharpe family collection

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7KH )R0R&R ZDV REYLRXVO\ FHQWUDO WR -DQ DQ *HRII 6KDUSH·V OLYHV DV WKH ORDQHG WZLQ ;: *7 +2 ZHGGLQJ FDUV VKRZQ RYHUOHDI SURYH :KHQ ZH Á DVKHG WKH SLFV XQGHU WKH QRVH RI RXU FROXPQLVW )UHG *LEVRQ WKH IRUPHU )RUG ZRUNV GULYHU FRPPHQWHG ´, UHPHPEHU *HRII ZHOO DQG P\ RYHUULGLQJ PHPRU\ RI KLP LV WKDW KH ZDV D UHDO JHQWOHPDQ µ /RW HQJLQH EXLOGHU %LOO 6DQWXFFLRQH UHPHPEHUV *HRII DV ´D UHDOO\ GLOLJHQW ZRUNHU 5DFH WHDPV GLGQ·W KDYH WKH VDPH GHJUHH RI VSHFLDOLVDWLRQ DV WKH\ GR WRGD\ DQG ZH ZHUH DOO DFURVV GLIIHUHQW DVSHFWV RI WKH FDU WR D GHJUHH *HRII DV RQH RI WKH JHQHUDO PHFKDQLFV UHFRPPHQGHG WR WKH WHDP IURP HOVHZKHUH ZLWKLQ WKH FRPSDQ\ FRXOG DOZD\V EH UHOLHG XSRQ WR JHW

WKH MRE GRQH +H KDG DQ LQFUHGLEOH ZRUN HWKLF DQG ZDV WKH Ă€ UVW WR put up his hand if you needed help with something outside of regular work hours. We did ridiculous hours, which is par for the course for any racing team, especially in those days.â€? Bill said the race engines, when time allowed, were installed in an orange Falcon Ute to run them in. That included trips to the You Yangs proving ground to turn laps on the high-speed bowl, slowly EXLOGLQJ XS WR VSHHG 7KDW¡V WKH VDPH RUDQJH 8WH VKRZQ KHUH by the roadside and back at Lot 6 after being crashed by one G. 6KDUSH 7KDQNIXOO\ WKH LQFLGHQW GLGQ¡W FRVW *HRII KLV MRE RU ZRUVH AMC is especially taken by the snaps of the works Falcons en route to and from various race meetings. “I have fond memories of the trips to race meetings,â€? Bill Santuccione continued. “There was always a mad scramble to get everything ready in the workshop, so once you were on the road it was a relief. We all wanted to drive the trucks and you could say

1 www.musclecarma

that Geoff missed his calling as a long-haul truck driver, as he really enjoyed getting behind the wheel of those specially-built open transporters.â€? Our undisputed favourite image shows Geoff with the victory wreath on Monday, October 1 1973, the day after Allan Moffat DQG ,DQ *HRJKHJDQ ZRQ WKH Ă€ UVW +DUGLH )HURGR KHOG RYHU 1000 kilometres in #9. Geoff, understandably, looks a little green around the gills after a big night celebrating the win. ,W¡V D SOHDVXUH WR VSRWOLJKW RQH RI WKH XQVXQJ KHURHV RI )RUG¡V KDOF\RQ GD\V WKDW QHWWHG WKUHH %DWKXUVW YLFWRULHV LQ IRXU DWWHPSWV ² ¡ DQG ¡ $ ELJ WKDQN \RX WR the Sharpe family for sharing their very special images and memories. Geoff passed away in 1985 aged just 39.

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Send us your own pre-1990 snaps DIWHU UHDGHUV· R RPH GHWDLO DJ

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AUSSIE MUSCLE STATESIDE Story: Bruce Duncan & Luke West ,PDJHV 0 0 œ0LNH¡ 0DWXQH -U %UXFH 'XQFDQ

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24 www.musclecarmag.com.au

When a group of Mustang racers from Australia descended upon the United States’ biggest Historic motor racing festival, the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, AMC tagged along.

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25 www.musclecarmag.com.au

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Among the 550-plus authentic and period-correct racecars that competed at the Rolex Motorsport Reunion were many with an Aussie link. Here’s a selection of them.

Queensland’s Chris Farrell proved he can handle more than just Ralts by taking a beautiful Rothmans-liveried Formula 1 March 821 up to a hard-fought and well-deserved fourth outright. The 27 F1 cars entered in Group 7B (1967-1984 F1 cars) were the cream of the vast and fast era and the top five were certainly taking no prisoners. Farrell out-drove Japan’s Katsuaki Kubota’s JPS Lotus 78 brilliantly, pipping the experienced Japanese racer on the last lap, much to the delight of the cheering Aussies in the crowd. M.M.‘Mike’ Matune Jr Ecurie Bowden

Allan Moffat, in issue #78, outlined his recollections of winning the 1975 Sebring 12 Hour in a Batmobile, his only outing for the works BMW team. That very chassis – #25 in the group shot below – was on hand at Laguna Seca, as was Allan himself and co-driver Brian Redman. Winning BMW’s first big race outside of Europe should have ensured Moffat a factory Beamer drive for many years, but he never got the call back. He wonders if standing on the Batmobile’s roof in victory lane and encouraging the promo girls (pictured right, who were wearing high heels) to do likewise was a factor in the snub. “Eventually the team manager arrived and said: ‘Vot are you doing, putting holes in the roof?’” Moffat recalls. “Funnily enough, even though we won the race, I never heard from anyone from BMW after that...”

Official Allan Moffat

in Monterey Official Allan Moffat

AUSSIE MUSCLE STATESIDE Stories: Chris Bowden & Luke West

Down (under)

26 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Ecurie Bowden

Moffat can’t remember the last time he caught up with Jacky Ickx, his co-driver from the famous 1-2 victory of Bathurst 1977. It was quite some time ago judging by the warm reception the pair gave each other in Monterey.

M.M.‘Mike’ Matune Jr

BMW is unmistakeably German and the JPS brand is as British as a stiff upper lip. Put them together and an Australian connection shines through. Continuing the cosmopolitan theme, Hong Kongbased expat Aussie Adrian Brady took his former JPS Team BMW 635CSi to the Californian circuit where the Bavarian brand was the feature marque – as a nod to BMW’s centenary. Brady’s BMW is the same car Jim Richards used to win the 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Endurance Championship and AMSCAR Series that same year. All up in 1985, it claimed 17 wins, a third, a fourth and a fifth from 21 races started. Adrian had his work cut out at Laguna Seca in a race headed by much faster sportscars. Bruce Canepa’s Porsche 962C took the Group 5B win.

Duncan Mackellar’s McLaren M8E looks superb in the marque’s trademark colour and with its giant numbers. The 50th anniversary of the first Can-Am season was commemorated in Monterey with the most impressive line-up of cars since the great series’ demise in the 1970s. Mackellar (#29) came home an impressive eighth in Group 7A, for cars from the 1968-1974 Canadian-American Challenge Cup. He started from the rear of the 24-car field. Meantime, Auckland’s Roger Williams raced his McLaren M8F to 22nd place after suffering a mechanical issue. The flying Kiwi had proven his pace earlier in the week and was happy with the result.

M.M. ‘Mike’ Matune Jr

Ecurie Bowden

Co-author of this spread of stories, Chris Bowden, was over the moon with fifth place in his 1979 BMW M1 Procar, which raced predominantly in Japan in its heyday. “It was a very cool 40th birthday present indeed,” he commented. Victorian Andrew Cannon was 18th and best of the 13 E9 CSL BMW ‘Batmobiles’ in the big Group 4A field. Yes, you read that correctly – 13 of the winged monsters were entered. There were 50 cars entered for the category, with 37 still competing come the last race. The mighty 935 Porsches, Chevy DeKon Monzas and wide-body Corvettes dominated this very popular class for 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT and GTU cars. Talk about a mixed bag!

27 www.musclecarmag.com.au

John Morris/ MPIX

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olden has allayed fears it would end its long involvement in Australian motorsport by announcing Triple Eight Race Engineering will represent the Red Lion in the Supercars Championship for three seasons from next year. In the biggest touring car news of 2016, the Holden Racing Team brand will move from Walkinshaw Racing to the newly named Red Bull Holden Racing Team. Two V8-engined VF Commodores will be entered under the new banner in 2017 for Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen. Triple Eight will also develop a Supercars version of the next generation Commodore on behalf of Holden, to debut in 2018. This ZLOO EH EDVHG RQ WKH 2SHO ,QVLJQLD URDG FDU WKDW LV H[SHFWHG WR EH RIĂ€FLDOO\ FRQĂ€UPHG DV WKH Ă€UVW IXOO\ LPSRUWHG &RPPRGRUH 7KH 2018 Supercars Commodore is likely to EH SRZHUHG E\ D WXUER VL[ UHĂ HFWLQJ WKH powerplant in the rebadged Insignia, which will not be offered with a V8. 0RYLQJ WKH +57 EUDQG LV D PDMRU EORZ WR Walkinshaw Racing, which has operated as the factory team under the Holden-owned HRT brand since 1990. The arrangement netted no fewer than seven Bathurst 1000 victories in that period, including the 1996 victory by Cra WKDW¡V WKH IRFX cover story. +ROGHQ¡V G to move the H moniker, signi factory status

a team, will create a third distinct chapter in the history of the iconic brand. The HRT nameplate was created in 1989, ZKHQ /DUU\ 3HUNLQV ZDV DSSRLQWHG WR Ă€HOG VL Commodores in selected Group A events on behalf of Fishermans Bend. It was a short-lived relationship as Tom Walkinshaw secured the deal for the following season, EHJLQQLQJ D \HDU VWUHWFK ² ZLWK WKH RGG RZQHUVKLS KLFFXS DORQJ WKH ZD\ ² WKDW ZLOO HQG DW WKLV \HDU¡V 6\GQH\ RQ 'HFHPEHU 4: the Homebush event that has also reached the end of the road. Where this leaves the two-car Walkinshaw team remains to be seen. After Tom :DONLQVKDZ¡V GHDWK LQ KLV ZLGRZ Martine and son Ryan took over the reins. The latter, in the immediate aftermath of the bombshell, pledged to press on. 7ULSOH (LJKW¡V XQGLVSXWHG VWDWXV DV +ROGHQ¡V VSHDUKHDG LV WKH UHDOLVDWLRQ RI ,ULVK ERUQ WHDP VXSUHPR 5RODQG 'DQH¡V long-held ambition. Not only will Triple Eight develop, build and race the next-generation Commodore Supercar, the Queensland operation will also be the exclusive supplier of cars to other non-factory teams. Exactly what this means is not yet clear, with the likes of to still be uild their s from T8kits.

Ray Berghouse

MUSCLE SPORT

Holden stays, HRT brand moves

Amaroo Park February 1990

28 www.musclecarmag.com.au

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olden has supported local motor racing like QR RWKHU )LVKHUPDQV %HQG¡ funding of teams in the Bathurst classic has been unbroken since 1968, when the short-lived Holden Dealer Racing Team label was applied to a trio of Monaro GTS 327 entered by Sydney racing identity David McKay. That support is guaranteed until at least 2019, SURYLGLQJ D PDVVLYH Ă€OOLS WR WKH 6XSHUFDUV FKDPSLRQVKLS as it enters its post-V8 only era. Nothing really changes in D WHFKQLFDO VHQVH IRU EXW FRQĂ€UPDWLRQ RI +ROGHQ¡V move to the next-generation Commodore shape for 2018 PHDQV WKH 6XSHUFDU¡V SRZHUSODQW ZLOO UHĂ HFW WKH UH EDGJHG ,QVLJQLD URDGFDU¡V HQJLQH 2WKHUZLVH ZKDW would be the point of continuing? Therefore, the Red Bull/HRT-branded Triple Eight sixcylinder turbo Commodores will almost certainly compete in 2018 against some current generation V8-powered VFs. So who will the bulk of the traditional V8-loving Holden fans cheer for? Will they yell for the cars they perceive to be Aussie-built Commodores (i.e. the older V8 cars) or the new shape Commodore which will PLUURU WKH IXOO\ LPSRUWHG DQG UHEDGJHG 2SHO" &RXOG JHW awkward... $ OLWWOH GLVFODLPHU KHUH WKH 2SHO ,QVLJQLD LV \HW WR EH RIĂ€FLDOO\ FRQĂ€UPHG DV WKH Ă€UVW IXOO\ LPSRUWHG &RPPRGRUH DQG +ROGHQ LV \HW WR FRQĂ€UP WKH WXUER VL[ IRU 2018 Supercars duty. But what other choice does Holden have? Many Holden enthusiasts will bemoan the end of V8-powered racecars, but at least the brand races on. Continuing in Supercar racing was no sure thing. It appears that Roland Dane presented Holden with WKH GHDO RI D OLIHWLPH RQH WKDW VODVKHG WKH *HQHUDO¡V investment in the sport by awarding exclusivity to Triple Eight, who will be able to make a buck from supplying RWKHU +ROGHQ WHDPV 7KHQ WKHUH¡V WKH PHUFKDQGLVLQJ JROG mine that comes from coupling the HRT and Red Bull GULQNV ORJR :RXOGQ¡W \RX ORYH D SLHFH RI WKDW DFWLRQ" %H\RQG PHUFKDQGLVH , ZRXOGQ¡W EH VXUSULVHG LI WKH HRT brand is far less prominent in 2017 than it has been LQ WKH SDVW $QG WKDW¡V ZKDW LW LV QRZ ² D EUDQG ,W ZDV RQFH D WHDP QDPH 1RZ LW¡V MXVW D ODEHO VZLWFKHG IURP RQH WHDP WR DQRWKHU ,Q GRLQJ VR LW ZRQ¡W KDYH WKH VDPH credibility in the eyes of many. Certainly not mine. Yet, none of that really matters in the grand scheme of things. The important thing is that the Red Lion races on. For as long as it does we should be truly grateful. Luke West

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New age Moffat Mustang

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32 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Aussie Valiants abroad F

ifty years ago this year Australian-built V8 Chrysler VC Valiants went on sale in the Old Dart. Dutch AMC reader George Koopman reminded us of this fact when he spotted a report in a 1966 issue of Autocar. “Numbers would have been very limited despite the positive press reports. Now imagine what a Stirling Moss Special of the VC would have done in 1966. I bet a handsome amount would have been sold,â€? George enthused. “I was reminded of the VC being exported to Britain in ¡ DIWHU UHDGLQJ DERXW WKH 606 LQ AMC #82.â€? George was kind enough the scan the cover DQG WKH QHZV VWRU\ LQVLGH ZKLFK UHDGV ´,W¡V D sign of the times that is possible, and indeed advantageous, to ship a car all the way from Australia and be able to sell it here for ÂŁ200 less than the equivalent model imported from the USA. Preferential tariffs and the fact that Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road and use R.H.D. cars are two such good reasons behind this. ´6XFK D FDU LV WKH &KU\VOHU 9DOLDQW WKH Ă€ UVW Australian-built car to be offered on the Australian market. Imported by the Rootes Group, and distributed by Warwick Wright Ltd, it one of the WDQJLEOH UHVXOWV RI 5RRWHV¡ DVVRFLDWLRQ ZLWK WKH Chrysler Corporation which has already given them valuable export outlets, through Chrysler dealers, in the USA, Europe and Australia. “Six versions of the Valiant are available, based on two basic shells – a four-door saloon and an estate car.

“Simple and luxurious 6-cylinder models of the Valiant are known as the Medium (!) and Regal saloon and estate car. The vee-8 engined HTXLYDOHQW PRGHOV DUH LGHQWLĂ€ HG E\ WKH QDPH Premium and are available with automatic transmissions only. “We collected our test Premium saloon immediately after its presentation in London. A wet night in town is not the best place to get to know an unfamiliar, high-powered car. However, Australian tastes in steering ratios are obviously the same as our own, and the springing required WR FRSH ZLWK WKH ÂśRXWEDFN¡ JLYHV D Ă€ UP ULGH E\ American standards. “Small by American standards, but large by ours, the 4,473cc Valiant vee-8 could not be faulted on the scores of starting, smoothness and IUHHGRP IURP Ă DW VSRWV Âľ 0HDQWLPH 'DQLHO 2¡*UDG\ DQ $XVWUDOLDQ living and working in Japan since 2001, and the man who last year tracked down an Aussiebuilt Isuzu Statesman in his adopted home, has EHHQ LQ FRQWDFW ZLWK GHWDLOV RI KLV QH[W KXQW ,W¡V a Chrysler 318 or 770 which were imported into Japan in the early 1970s. Daniel, who operates carspotting website wasabicars.com, will no doubt eventually track down the Charger or Valiant in the land of the rising sun, if examples still exist. 6R ZKR ZLOO \RXU \RXU PRQH\ EH RQ WR Ă€ UVW deliver photographic evidence of these rare Aussie-built Chryslers? Daniel in Japan or George in Europe?

1980s excess

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ur friends at Autopics have just released a two-hour slideshow DVD, of every car that started the Bathurst 1000 in the 1980s and also has all but one car that practised and didn't start the race. There are over 2000 screen-size images of over 600 different cars with a description of each. Many of the images are previously unpublished and show all angles of the car where possible. Ideal to watch on your TV or computer. $ PXVW IRU HYHU\ %DWKXUVW IDQ WKH œDOO FDU¡ %DWKXUVW '9' LV now available direct from Autopics.com.au, and is great value at only $30. Order from the Autopics website, email info@autopics.com.au or ring David on 0407 869 680 for further details.

33 www.musclecarmag.com.au

MUSCLE MAIL

Muscle Mail AMC BEST LETTER Muscle Mail best letter winners for 2016 will receive a limited edition Hou u l small-batch 10mm acrylic print with stand – RRP $149. Choose one from 12 different designs featuring Monaro GTS 327 (shown), Kings of the Mountain, GTHO Phase III, 1977 Bathurst 1-2, Moff’s Boss 302 Mustang or the world famous XB Interceptor. Check the full range at www.homspeedshop.com Auto R/T Charger I read with interest the story in AMC #89 about the automatic Charger R/T recovered from Wales in the UK. I wonder if there was another automatic R/T produced because I saw one at 'RXJ &KLYDV· 6\GQH\ ZRUNVKRS DURXQG , ERXJKW WKH RQO\ $OSLQH :KLWH ( VPDOO WDQN R/T Charger from a ed car dealer on arramatta Road ZLWK RQO\ PLOHV RQ WKH RFN $ IHZ \HDUV ter on a trip to anberra the throttle mmed causing he engine to rev to USP DQG GRLQJ ome damage to

P\ &KDUJHU , VROG LW LQ WR D &KU\VOHU HQWKXVLDVW ZKR DOVR KDSSHQHG WR RZQ /HR *·V original earlier model ute which was used in the development of the Charger or so he told me. I ORVW WUDFN RI P\ FDU DIWHU WKDW Dave Regal Gold Coast, QLD ED: Dave, our Chrysler experts tell us that just one automatic R/T is listed on the build sheets that detail Charger production. However, if a car was changed from manual to auto after initial assembly it would appear on the build sheets as D PDQXDO FDU VR WKDW·V RQH SRVVLEOH H[SODQDWLRQ IRU WKH FDU \RX VDZ LQ 'RXJ &KLYDV·V ZRUNVKRS Hopefully your letter prompts contact from this FDU·V RZQHU 5HJDUGLQJ WKH $OSLQH :KLWH VPDOO WDQN ( \RX RQFH RZQHG WKH EXLOG VKHHWV VKRZ that this was one of three such cars produced at 7RQVOH\ 3DUN

7/7/16 9:23 AM

Alex Rae

NZ $11.99 (incl GST)

$9.99

Issue 89

I

www.musclecarmag.com.au

I

WKH YDOYH JHDU DQG FOXWFK , JRW WKH FDU EDFN WR Wentworthville where I lived and stripped the HQJLQH GRZQ IRU D UH EXLOG 'RXJ &KLYDV KHOSHG ZLWK WKH PDFKLQLQJ DQG RQ D WULS WR KLV ZRUNVKRS one day I noticed a red or orange R/T Charger there with the bonnet up. I could not resist having D ORRN DQG WKH ÀUVW WKLQJ , QRWLFHG ZDV WKH DXWR JHDUER[ DQG WKH WULSOH :HEHUV , DVNHG 'RXJ ZKR ZRXOG ÀW DQ DXWRPDWLF ER[ WR WKLV PRGHO and he replied the car was owned by a Chrysler executive and the installation was done at the factory! 7KHUH LW ZDV , VDZ LW ZLWK P\ RZQ H\HV 'RXJ DQG , VSRNH VRPH WLPH DERXW LW DQG RWKHU UHODWHG &KDUJHU PDWWHUV ² KH ZLVKHG KH KDG NHSW KLV &KDUJHU , ZRQGHU ZKDW KDSSHQHG WR WKLV FDU ,W·V a pity Doug has departed this life otherwise he FRXOG KDYH YHULÀHG WKLV VWRU\ A few years ago you did a brief story about

Taronga test track ZDV MXVW UHDGLQJ DERXW WKH H[ $OODQ *ULFH $ ; in issue #88 and I thought I might pass on my recollections of one of them. ,Q , PRYHG WR 6\GQH\ IURP &DQEHUUD DQG VSHQW PRVW RI WKH \HDU ZRUNLQJ IRU &ROLQ %RQG ZLWK WKH )RUG 5DOO\ 7HDP $V LW ZDV ZLQGLQJ XS , HQGHG XS ZRUNLQJ DW D 6KHOO VHUYLFH VWDWLRQ LQ 0RVPDQ -XQFWLRQ ZKLOH , SRQGHUHG P\ IXWXUH 2QH RI WKH ZRUNVKRS·V FXVWRPHUV RZQHG DQ H[ *ULFH 7RUDQD KDWFKEDFN , DOZD\V WKRXJKW KH ZDV D GHQWLVW ,W ZDV VWLOO SDLQWHG LQ &UDYHQ 0LOG colours without the sign writing. It had all the race JHDU H[FHSW IRU URDG W\UHV D PLOGHU FDP DQG D URDG legal exhaust.

34 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Import duties fter reading the article about Alan Hamilton (AMC #88), I was prompted to tell a story from ZKHQ P\ ZRUOG UHQRZQHG DUFKLWHFW EURWKHU LQ ODZ %DUULH 0DUVKDOO '&0 ZDV VWDUWLQJ RXW DQG going to England to work. He took the opportunity to buy a new 911 T as, in those days, he could order and purchase in Australia, and pick up in 6WXWWJDUW *HUPDQ\ GXW\ IUHH SURYLGHG KH VWD\HG with the car and kept the car out of Australia for three months prior to bringing it home. At the end of three months he sent the car home by ship, asking me to pick it up at the Port Melbourne docks as he and his wife were staying in England for a further six months. I arrived at WKH ZKDUI DV LW ZDV EHLQJ XQORDGHG RQO\ WR Ă€QG LW ZDVQ¡W WKDW VLPSOH DQG WKH FDU KDG WR JR LQWR a bond store, and was going to sit on the wharf DPRQJVW WKH FUDQHV IRUNOLIWV DQG ZKDUĂ€HV XQWLO WKH issues were addressed. How naĂŻve was I! I knew Alan Hamilton from motor racing, and VR ZHQW VWUDLJKW WR Âś+DPLOWRQV¡ DV LW ZDV FDOOHG LQ Chapel Street, South Yarra, and told Alan about the predicament. He immediately took charge DQG E\ WKH HQG RI WKH GD\ WKH FDU ZDV LQ ÂśERQG¡ DW Chapel Street. :KHQ EURWKHU LQ ODZ %DUULH UHWXUQHG WR 2] VL[ months later, we went straight to Hamiltons to pick the car up. And here it was, serviced, detailed and registered, ready to go, and apart from the registration fee, there were no charges. %DUULH ZHQW RQ WR EX\ D IXUWKHU Ă€YH QHZ V over the following years, with his partners also buying Porsches. Alan Hamilton is pretty well revered among the Porsche community. PS: That 911 T has been fully restored (owner unknown). Phillip Beatson Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC

A

The thing that stands out in my mind were WKH IURQW EUDNHV %HLQJ UDFLQJ EUDNHV WKH\ KDG à RDWLQJ GLVFV DQG WKH ORFDWLQJ VSOLQHV were very worn. It was possible to hold the brakes on and rotate the front wheels about GHJUHHV EHFDXVH RI WKH ZHDU , XVHG WR XVH %UDGOH\¡V +HDG 5RDG DV D œWHVW WUDFN¡ IRU URDG WHVWLQJ DQG WKLV FDU ZDV D ZKROH ORW RI IXQ IURP 7DURQJD =RR¡V ZKDUI XS the hill. Lachlan Maclean ED: Thanks for your recollections, Lachlan. For an update on this car and the recollections RI \RXU FXVWRPHU WKH GHQWLVW VHH WKLV LVVXH¡V V8 Sleuth section.

Auto R/T Charger II oved the story about the UK Charger rescue. It looks like it was an enormous undertaking. Full credit to owner Stephen Gay and those involved. When I saw the pics of this car in the Hey Charger book, I noticed the door handles and thought Leyland Marina handles were used to replace the originals. I just had a bit of a Google and yep, exactly the same. Early example of manufacturers sharing parts maybe? Also the collection of Ivan and June Smith shown in your Aussie Muscle Run report in that LVVXH ORRNV YHU\ LQWHUHVWLQJ $ IHDWXUH RQ SHRSOH¡V collections like that would be great. )LQDOO\ , GRQ¡W PLQG LQ WKH OHDVW WKDW WKH SDJH JLUO QHYHU DFWXDOO\ PDNHV LW RQWR SDJH /RYH WKH PDJ :RXOGQ¡W PLVV LW IRU TXLGV Mark Holman Loganholme, QLD

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Brock’s 1975 Bathurst winner UHDW WR Ă€QDOO\ JHW WKH IXOO VWRU\ RI ZKDW KDSSHQHG WR 3HWHU %URFN¡V %DWKXUVW ZLQQLQJ 7RUDQD / AMC #89). %HLQJ IURP 'HYRQSRUW WKH P\WKV DQG UXPRXUV EDFN LQ WKH GD\ VXUURXQGLQJ WKLV FDU KDYH Ă€QDOO\ been put to rest. Top job to all involved, including (former owner) Mick Rowell. Chris Denholm Email

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Issue 90 – 2016 EDITOR Luke West - Email: amceditorial@chevron.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Art Director - Chris Currie CONTRIBUTORS Gary Bridger, Bruce Duncan, Fred Gibson, Paul Gover, Scott Mackay, Mike Matune, Paul Newby, Aaron Noonan, Steve Normoyle, Alex Rae & Jon Thomson.

Advertising Sales Director Cameron Davis - Email: cdavis@nextmedia.com.au (02) 9901 6177 - 0401 547 112 Chairman Ray Berghouse - Email: rberghouse@chevron.com.au CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Carole Jones SUBSCRIPTIONS www.mymagazines.com.au See page 73 & 99 for subscription information 1300 361 146 or +61 2 9901 6111 Locked Bag 3355, St Leonards NSW 1590

Chevron Publishing Group a division of nextmedia Pty Ltd. Level 6, Building A, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590 Ph (02) 9901 6161 Fax (02) 9901 6116 Chief Executive Officer, David Gardiner Commercial Director, Bruce Duncan Australian Muscle Car is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 6, Building A, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 Š 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed by Bluestar WEB Sydney. Distributed in Australia and NZ by Gordon & Gotch. ISSN 1446-5647. The publisher will not accept responsibility or any liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owner’s risk and, while every care will be taken nextmedia does not accept liability for loss or damage. AMC is a tosser-free zone.

Privacy Policy We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of Australian Muscle Car, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 3355, St Leonards, NSW 1590

www.musclecarmag.com.au 35 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Paul Cross Collection

LE MAIL Vale Chris Amon lease be advised of the passing of New Zealand racing hero Chris Amon, who died on August 2, 2016. As a Kiwi motorsport fan I would be honoured if you could give him a mention in your world class publication. Chris died in Rotorua Hospital aged 73, renowned as the best Formula 1 driver never to win a championship grand prix. He died less than two months after the 50th anniversary of the victory for he and Bruce McLaren at Le Mans, when the famous Kiwi duo won the iconic 24 Hour race in a Ford GT40. Signed by Ferrari he won the Daytona 24 Hour race, the 1000km Monza race, the NZ Grand Prix twice and the Tasman Series in 1969. He later drove for March and Matra in Formula 1 and for BMW in the European Touring Car Championship. He retired from Formula 1 in 1976 and from all racing in 1977. He was awarded an MBE for service to motorsport in 1993 and inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. According to the Wanganui Chronicle his family said: “Chris battled cancer in recent years but retained not only a close interest in Formula 1 and his very wide range of favourite topics, but his wonderful sense of humour, complete with infectious chuckle.� Mike Palmer Wanganui, NZ

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Bob’s Torana KH SKRWR RI %RE 7LQGDO¡V 7RUDQD 6SRUWV 6HGDQ in the Whaddayaknow section prompted me to write with some recollections. In the 1970s I met Bob at his then workshop MXVW RII 6\GQH\ 5RDG DW %DOJRZODK RQ 6\GQH\¡V Northern Beaches). Jane Taylor and I purchased a Mini Sports Sedan from him. Bob was a big lad and pictures of him in a Mini are very special. +H KDG MXVW XSJUDGHG WR KLV /- ÂśPLG IURQW HQJLQH¡ 6SRUWV 6HGDQ ZKLFK ZDV LQLWLDOO\ JUHHQ then red. A basic Holden shell with a bloody big

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hole cut in the centre for a 308 engine initially. 7KH FDU UDQ D 9ROYR GLII DQG GLVF UHDU HQG DQG D IRXU VSHHG Âś ER[ +DQGOLQJ ZDV QRW LWV VWURQJ VXLW from memory. I had some contact with Mike Ward, who was WKH FKLHI HQJLQHHU IRU .HYLQ 0F,QW\UH¡V .0$& in Sydney and did lots of study on suspension theory as it was understood in the 1970s. So when Bob decided to build the LX hatch he asked me to assist. By this time he had moved his operation to Chard Road, Brookvale. The car started as a FKDON RXWOLQH RQ WKH ZRUNVKRS Ă RRU 7KH RQO\ thing Holden was the roof and turrets/door shuts. Bob had a Repco F5000 motor and injection by this time and the plan was to build a RHS mild steel space frame type car. 7KH SKRWR LQ LVVXH LV ODWHU LQ WKH FDU¡V OLIH as the front spoiler is different and the exhaust initially exited under the sill rather than through the guard as shown. I have an album of colour SKRWRV RI WKH Ă€QDO DVVHPEO\ DQG VRPH RI WKH racing at Amaroo, Oran Park and Calder. From memory Bob won the championship at Calder Some interesting facts: The plan was to use a Hewland to make the rear IRS, but cost prohibited the idea so I drew up VRPH IRXU OLQN DQG :DWWV OLQN IRU )RUG Âľ :H EXLOW LQ ORWV RI DGMXVWPHQW DQG DQWL VTXDW ZDV DYDLODEOH by adjustment. We tried a Detroit diff but soon went to a welded centre. I think there were four versions of the front suspension before we had the bump steer and FDPEHU FKDQJH ZKHUH , ZDQWHG WKHP ² XQHTXDO OHQJWK ZLWK FRLO RYHU %UDNH ZHUH IRXU SLVWRQ DQG YHQWHG ZLWK D booster mounted along with the battery in the rear. Alternator was toothbelt drive from the very short prop shaft. The team mocked the car up and Bob was YHU\ XSVHW WKDW KH FRXOG QRW Ă€W EHWZHHQ WKH

36 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Repco and the door! So... ...we added about 150mm to the wheel base DQG EXLOW DQ Âś/7' 7RUDQD¡ WR JHW %RE LQ WR ZKDW was nearly the backseat. The car was measured and the dimensions listed in the logbook application. CAMS issued the book and the team was instructed on pain of death not to park the car near a Torana hatch in the pits! 7KH ÂśVFUHZWQHHUV¡ FKHFNHG WKH ZKHHO EDVH twice during the time I was involved, referring to the log book it was given the tick each time. :LWK EKS DQG D OLYH UHDU D[OH LW ZDV WUDFWLRQ limited because the biggest wheels allowed were LQFK DQG FURVVSO\ VOLFNV 7KH ZHOGHG GLII PDGH it push on corner entry and we tried lots of things but at the end of the day it was an LTD Torana! Hope this is of interest. Rob Kemp Pine Mountain, QLD ED: Great insight, thanks Rob. We wonder what EHFDPH RI WKH Âś/7' 7RUDQD¡" Potential Group U Mini was interested to read your Historic Sports 6HGDQ DUWLFOH Âś8 7XUQ $KHDG¡ LQ LVVXH DV , have the Ron Foley hillclimb Mini from 1976. I purchased it three years ago with its full history and log books. 7KLV 0LQL Ă€WV ULJKW LQWR WKH *URXS 8 FDWHJRU\ as it won lots of races. All the best Sports Sedan Minis from NSW and VIC competed in an event at Morwell hillclimb and this Mini was two to three seconds faster. In 1982 it was the second fastest car on the GD\ DW 0RUZHOO RQO\ WR EH EHDWHQ E\ DQ RSHQ wheeler. The Mini did a 36.2, only 0.4 seconds RII 3HWHU %URFN¡V WUDFN UHFRUG RI LQ KLV $ ; hatchback. Glen Joyce Email

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RIGHT SAID FRED

goodbye to ord as an Australian manufacturer, Fred Gibson reflects on his own experiences with the Blue Oval and some of the remarkable Ford people he’s met.

A last cheerio to Ford nyone who has spent a lifetime in motor racing, as I have, knows that competition is the key to excellence. Well, in the immediate post-war years Ford were involved in a hell of a competition – not on the race track, but just to make and sell cars in this country, a race in which they had been left behind by GM-H. ,W¡V ZRUWK UHPLQGLQJ RXUVHOYHV ZKDW DQ astonishing period of time we are talking about. 7KH Ă€UVW )RUG ZDV LPSRUWHG LQWR $XVWUDOLD DV ORQJ ago as 1904; Ford began assembling cars down here in 1925; but when the war years ended, it was the opposition who got the jump on them ZKHQ LW FDPH WR EXLOGLQJ FDUV VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ LQ DQG for this country. In the early stages of my involvement with the company, the emphasis was very much on reliability and durability – key ingredients for any YHKLFOH RQ $XVWUDOLD¡V URDGV LQ WKH VWDWH WKH\ ZHUH LQ EDFN WKHQ 7KDW¡V ZK\ $SULO ZDV such an important date: the start of the 70,000mile durability run, the brainchild of competitions manager Les Powell, aided and abetted by Harry )LUWK $V \RX PD\ UHFDOO LW WRRN SODFH DW WKH <RX <DQJV SURYLQJ JURXQG DQG \RXUV WUXO\ KDG KLV SDUW WR SOD\ ,W ZDV 0D[ :DUG )RUG¡V 35 PDQDJHU IRU NSW and Queensland, who made the call that sent me down to Victoria along with Bo Seton and the Geoghegan brothers – they were running out of drivers! 7KH HYHQW ZDV Ă DJJHG RII E\ )RUG $XVWUDOLD MD Wally Booth, who did so much to turn the FRPSDQ\ DURXQG +HQU\ )RUG ,, SDLG D Ă \LQJ YLVLW to the durability run as well, which shows how much it meant to his company. $QRWKHU PDQ ZKR Ă€JXUHG SURPLQHQWO\ LQ )RUG¡V PRWRUVSRUW HIIRUW ZDV .HLWK +RUQHU ,Q .HLWK became General Sales Manager and rose to be 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW 6DOHV DQG 0DUNHWLQJ 7KHUH¡V D yarn about Keith that always makes me smile. He was one of the Ford high-ups who really SXVKHG PRWRUVSRUW DQG $OODQ 0RIIDW LQ SDUWLFXODU One day he called all his section heads in to a PHHWLQJ ´:H¡UH JRLQJ WR SXW VRPH PRUH PRQH\ into motorsport and I want you all to tell me how much you can give me out of your budgets,â€? said

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Keit table y y much he was going to take from them! It raised hundreds of thousands of additional dollars for the motorsport effort. $QG LW ZDV IRU D QXPEHU RI \HDUV VRPH HIIRUW There was a new emphasis on motorsport in WKH FRPSDQ\¡V SRUWIROLR ² WKH VWDUW RI WKH Âś:LQ RQ 6XQGD\ VHOO RQ 0RQGD\¡ VDOHV SKLORVRSK\ ZKLFK SXW PRWRU UDFLQJ Ă€UPO\ DW WKH KHDUW RI WKLQJV There were so many great Ford successes WKURXJK WKH V QRW RQO\ WKH GXUDELOLW\ UXQ EXW also the outstanding effort in the London-Sydney Marathon, in which another key Ford man by the name of John Gowland was Team Manager. John went on to become Competitions Manager in his own right. 2QH RI :DOO\ %RRWK¡V NH\ FRQWULEXWLRQV ZDV WR appoint Bill Bourke as Sales Director and Deputy MD. Bill hailed from Chicago, he had done \HRPDQ VHUYLFH IRU )RUG LQ WKH 86$ DQG &DQDGD and he was exactly the kind of no-nonsense guy who was needed to get things going down here. When Booth went back Stateside, Bill Bourke became MD – and promptly set about Âś$XVWUDOLDQLVLQJ¡ WKH FRPSDQ\ DV ZHOO DV EDFNLQJ the motorsport programs. The focus was shifting from reliability to RXWULJKW SHUIRUPDQFH 7KH )DOFRQ KDG Ă€UVW FRPH RII WKH OLQH DW %URDGPHDGRZV LQ -XQH DQG E\ WKH ;/ ZDV DQ $UPVWURQJ ZLQQHU Then the Cortinas had a three-year winning run DQG LQ VRPH EORNH E\ WKH QDPH RI *LEVRQ KHOSHG D FHUWDLQ +DUU\ )LUWK ZLQ WKH *UHDW 5DFH LQ D )DOFRQ ;5 *7 %LOO %RXUNH¡V UHLJQ FRLQFLGHG ² DQG LW ZDV QR coincidence, really – with the company setting SURGXFWLRQ DQG SURĂ€W UHFRUGV +H KLUHG VRPH YHU\ capable lieutenants, not only Gowland but also PHQ OLNH $O 7XUQHU EURXJKW LQ DW WKH HQG RI WKH sixties, when Harry Firth switched allegiance to *0 $O¡V WDVN ZDV WR RYHUVHH WKH GHYHORSPHQW RI WKH Ă€UVW *7 +2 ² WKH FDU WKDW VKRXOG KDYH ZRQ %DWKXUVW EXW GLGQ¡W EHFDXVH $O PDGH WKH ZURQJ FDOO RQ W\UHV $ Ă€QLVK IRU WKH *7 +2 HQWULHV the following year set things right. Then my old pal Moffat had his great Bathurst years and Ford was untouchable. $QG LW ZDVQ¡W RQO\ WKH ERVVHV ZKR ZHUH NHHQ it was the workers too. Moffat and I used to go and do factory walks, and rumour had it that VRPH RI WKH JX\V DW WKH IDPRXV /RW ZRXOG VOLS back in of a night-time, baskets in hand, and scoop up some bits and pieces off the assembly line for us! They were very thankful for the exposure our on-track efforts were bringing, and every little helps! +RZDUG 0DUVGHQ¡V DUULYDO WR WDNH FKDUJH RI motorsport saw him guide Ford through from the HO to the two-door, until the company withdrew from racing in 1974. Howard became a close

38 www.musclecarmag.com.au

WR O important enough to the Blue Oval for Edsel )RUG +HQU\¡V JUHDW JUDQGVRQ WR EH VHFRQGHG downunder to complete his preparations for the WRS MRE 7KHUH¡V D IXQQ\ )* VWRU\ WR EH WROG DERXW young Edsel, as you probably imagined. , KDG PHW KLP LQ $XVWUDOLD EXW LQ -RKQ French and I went across to the States to see the Indianapolis 500. For some reason the )UHQFKPDQ VDLG WR PH Âś)* ZKLOH ZH¡UH KHUH ZH VKRXOG FDOO LQ DQG VHH (GVHO ¡ 2II ZH JR WR 'HWURLW to visit Edsel. We arrive in the company parking lot and spy a little side door through which a lot of people are entering the building. $V ZH ORRN LQ EDIĂ HPHQW DW WKH NH\SDG IRU WKH requisite entry code, one bloke stops and says, “What are you guys looking for? Can I help you?â€? , WROG KLP ZH ZHUH IURP $XVWUDOLD DQG FDPH WR see Edsel. “Oh sure,â€? came the answer – and he promptly opened the door for us! Up in the HOHYDWRU WR WKH VHYHQWK Ă RRU VWHS RXW LQWR (GVHO¡V RXWHU RIĂ€FH DQG D YHU\ Ă XVWHUHG VHFUHWDU\ DJUHHV to tell the great man we are here. Out comes (GVHO ZLWK D EHDPLQJ VPLOH DQG VD\V Âś+H\ )UHG hey John, great to see you! What are you doing KHUH"¡ :HOO PLJKW KH DVNÂŤ There was great rejoicing when the Falcon Ă€QDOO\ RXWVROG LWV +ROGHQ FRPSHWLWRU LQ WKH HDUO\ V EXW ZKLOH WKHUH ZHUH VXFFHVVHV IRU WKH ;' ;( )DOFRQ DQG 6LHUUDV WKURXJK WKDW GHFDGH LW ZDVQ¡W UHDOO\ XQWLO WKH HQG RI WKH FHQWXU\ DQG WKH DUULYDO RI WKH 9 6XSHUFDU HUD WKDW PRWRUVSRUW was front and centre again. In 1999 another great Ford personality took RYHU LQ $XVWUDOLD *HRII 3ROLWHV KDG MRLQHG WKH company back in 1970 as a product planner, then moved through marketing and sales to become WKH %OXH 2YDO¡V WRS GRJ ² DQG KH UHDOO\ EDUNHG in support of motorsport! Geoff was a huge VXSSRUWHU RI 9 6XSHUFDUV ² DQG WKH )DOFRQ¡V UROH LQ WKH FKDPSLRQVKLS ² DW WKH WLPH ZKHQ $PEURVH DQG WKH 6WRQH %URWKHUV 5XVW\ ,QJDOO DQG WKHQ WKH modern greats like Lowndes and Whincup were Ă \LQJ WKH )RUG Ă DJ :KHQ *HRII GLHG LQ HYHU\ FDU LQ WKH Ă€HOG DW %DUEDJDOOR FDUULHG D EODFN oval to commemorate his contribution to our sport. He was just a super guy. $QG QRZ )RUG LV EULQJLQJ WKH FXUWDLQ GRZQ RQ LWV $XVWUDOLDQ PDQXIDFWXULQJ HIIRUW ,W¡V WRR H[SHQVLYH WR EXLOG FDUV KHUH WKDW¡V WKH SODLQ DQG VLPSOH UHDVRQ WKH\¡UH JRLQJ )RU VL[ GHFDGHV the company was not only in a great customer race with Holden, it was a stalwart on the national racing scene, with its key people among WKH PRVW VLJQLĂ€FDQW FRQWULEXWRUV WR $XVWUDOLDQ PRWRUVSRUW¡V GHYHORSPHQW 7KH\ NQHZ DV , do, that competition is the key to excellence. $XVWUDOLDQ EXLOW )RUGV PD\ EH JRQH EXW ORQJ PD\ that philosophy continue. FG

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hen the lights go out at Broadmeadows for the last time it will be more than just a factory shutdown. It will be a deeply emotional day for everyone who has ever had any association with Ford Australia, from the humblest assembly line workers up to the great and the good – not always the same – who KDYH RFFXSLHG WKH FRUQHU RIĂ€FH DW WKH FRPSDQ\ headquarters on Sydney Road. +RZHYHU VDG DV LW LV LW¡V DOVR VDG WKDW LW KDV KDSSHQHG EHIRUH ,W ZDVQ¡W WKDW ORQJ DJR LQ the 1990s, that Ford Australia had successful assembly plants at Homebush in Sydney and Eagle Farm in Brisbane. There was also a wide spread of suppliers across the country who delivered parts and expertise to the Blue Oval brand. Even Albury has played its part, thanks to the Borg Warner gearbox factory that was bolted into the production plan for the Falcon. 7KH FUXPEOLQJ ZUHFNDJH RI )RUG¡V %ULVEDQH factory still survived until a few short years ago, D ORQJ WLPH DIWHU WKH Ă€QDO UXQ RI WKH ROG VFKRRO Fairlanes that were built there in the 1980s. The ODVW UHPQDQWV RI )RUG¡V (DJOH )DUP SUHVHQFH LV LQ the industrial wasteland near the airport and the site is still visited by the friends of Ford who want to see for themselves the spot where history was written from the 1930s. At Homebush, the former Ford factory building KDV EHHQ FRQYHUWHG LQWR PRGHUQ RIĂ€FHV DQG LW¡V LURQLF WKDW RQH RI WKH WHQDQWV LV 6LPH 'DUE\ Motors, the importer of Peugeot and Citroen cars. The building is home to the GT CafĂŠ, where a group of former Ford workers catch up from WLPH WR WLPH -XVW DFURVV IURP WKH RULJLQDO UHG brick factory, on the same site where Ford once operated, is the shiny new base for Kia Motors in Australia. 6R %ULVEDQH DQG 6\GQH\ ERWK UHĂ HFW WKH

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Paul Gover, chief reporter Carsguide, recalls when the Blue Oval’s factories were local landmarks.

changes in Australian motoring since Ford Australia was established in the 1920s as a subsidiary of Ford Canada. It was a time when WKHUH ZDV SOHQW\ RI ORFDO DVVHPEO\ ZRUN Ă€WWLQJ bodies to chassis – the way Holden got going – DQG SXVKLQJ 7 0RGHO )RUGV RXW WKH GRRUV WR KHOS put Australia on wheels. 'ULYLQJ RQH RI WKRVH RULJLQDO 7LQ /L]]LHV VRPHWKLQJ ,¡YH GRQH D FRXSOH RI WLPHV VKRZV just how tenuous things were in the early days of PRWRULQJ 7KH FDUV ZHUH Ă LPV\ DW EHVW DQG QRW easy to handle, but could be hooked up to power a water pump – using one of the back wheels – as easily as driving to work in the big smoke. I only visited Eagle Farm once when it was working, for the press preview of a Fairlane in the 1980s. The building looked typically Ford, with the same basic design and bricks and SDLQWZRUN WKDW¡V VWLOO IDPLOLDU DW %URDGPHDGRZV and Geelong. But falling import duties, and a new SRVW SODQ IRU WKH $XVWUDOLDQ PRWRU LQGXVWU\ that meant cutting models and complexity, emphasised the need to centralise production for HQVXUH JUHDWHU HIĂ€FLHQF\ DW %URDGPHDGRZV DQG the closure of the Homebush factory. The Parramatta Road site survived for much ORQJHU EHFDXVH LW ZDV WKH EDVH IRU VPDOO car production. In my time that mostly meant the Cortina and Escort, which were largely assembled from parts produced in Britain and VKLSSHG GRZQ XQGHU DQG WKH /DVHU ZKLFK ZDV KH ORFDO VSLQ RII RI WKH 0D]GD Homebush was a bustling operation in the 980s and it was considered such a threat at Toyota Australia – under the direction of vewire marketing boss Bob Miller – managed a urprising piece of ambush marketing. It bought e rights to an advertising billboard on the rail ne that ran alongside the factory, so Brand T ould push its message in FoMoCo heartland. The Ford workers in Sydney and Brisbane ere just as committed and passionate as the nes today in Geelong and Broadmeadows, as well as the ones who will keep their jobs in engineering and development in Melbourne and DW WKH SURYLQJ JURXQG DW /DUD

40 www.musclecarmag.com.au

The full history of Ford at Homebush begins on March 31, 1936 and ends in September ZKHQ WKH /DVHU ZHQW RXW RI SURGXFWLRQ ,Q EHWZHHQ ZDV WKH 5+' FRQYHUVLRQ SLFWXUHG EHORZ RI WKH Ă€UVW 0XVWDQJV VROG LQ $XVWUDOLD It was a long run and a good one, and the site survived for a long time as a distribution base for Ford in Sydney, but eventually the economics PHDQW LW ZDV VROG DQG UH GHYHORSHG LQWR D EXVLQHVV SDUN $QG WKDW¡V WKH LURQ\ DV FDU PDNLQJ was a great business in Australia for a very long time. Ford help lay the foundations for our PRWRULQJ FXOWXUH LQ WKH GD\V RI WKH 7 0RGHO ORQJ before the Falcon arrived in the sixties to convert families across the country to the Big Aussie Six and spark the rivalry with Holden which will only be extinguished when the last Commodore comes down the line in Adelaide next year. The rivalry between the two companies has been as bitter as any football feud – think &ROOLQJZRRG DJDLQVW (VVHQGRQ LQ 0HOERXUQH RU 6W *HRUJH DJDLQVW 6RXWK 6\GQH\ LQ 6\GQH\ ² DQG WKDW¡V GRZQ WR WKH SHRSOH DV PXFK DV WKH FDUV %XW LW¡V WKH FDUV IURP )RUG DQG WKH SURXG KLVWRU\ of local assembly in factories that are already just a page in the history books, which has sparked the passion and excitement through the years. It could have been a Fairlane from Eagle Farm or a Cortina from Parramatta Road – once the beating heart of the motoring world in Sydney – but it was a car built with pride and passion by people who felt they were making a difference and making Australia better. ,W¡V EHHQ WKH VDPH WRR DW %URDGPHDGRZV DQG *HHORQJ DQG WKDW¡V VRPHWKLQJ ZH¡YH DOUHDG\ known but been reminded about – many times – in recent times while talking to the people of Ford. They are the unknown soldiers who fought for Ford and helped create something special on the roads of Australia. And now Broadmeadows and Geelong are going the same way. ,W¡V VDG GHVSHUDWHO\ VDG DQG GLVDSSRLQWLQJ but at least there are still reminders of the factory days and the cars they created to keep us cheering for the Blue Oval. PG

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d a M t a h T r a C The

Story: Aaron Noonan

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

3 3 0 T R H 1996

42 www.musclecarmag.com.au

C s The

that won

43 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Graeme Neander/ AN 1 Images

Bathurst Greg Taylor

de HRT

The 1996 AMP Bathurst 1000 changed local touring car racing forever. It capped an incredible year for the winning chassis, elevating Craig Lowndes, Greg Murphy and Holden’s factory racing team to superstar status.

Greg Taylor

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FODVVLF PXVFOH FDU KLVWRU\ ² EXW WKHUH¡V QR GRXEW WKLV %DWKXUVW FRQTXHURU LV D SLHFH RI PRGHUQ Australian motorsport, and indeed, modern muscle car, history. ´7KDW FDU LV GHĂ€QLWHO\ WKH FDU WKDW PDGH PH and it made the Holden Racing Team,â€? Lowndes tells AMC ´,¡P UHDOO\ EOHVVHG WR KDYH EHHQ D SDUW RI WKDW HUD ,W FDUYHG D SDWK IRU WKH WHDP DQG PH ´,I , FRXOG KDYH DQ\ RI P\ ROG FDUV LQ P\ JDUDJH WKDW FDU LV GHĂ€QLWHO\ RQH RI WKHP Âľ +LV SDUWQHU LQ FULPH IURP ¡ IXOO\ FRQFXUV ´, WKLQN WKDW FDU UHDOO\ PDGH +57 Âľ VD\V .LZL Murphy, who made his last Bathurst 1000 start as recently as 2014. ´(IIHFWLYHO\ EHIRUH WKDW WKH\ +57 ZHUH RQ WKH URSHV DW WKH HQG RI $IWHU %DWKXUVW , UHPHPEHU WKHUH EHLQJ D IDLU ELW RI DQJVW DQG FRQFHUQ RYHU WKH ZKROH FRQWLQXDWLRQ RI WKH RSHUDWLRQ DQG PRQH\ IURP +ROGHQ ,W ZDV D WHUULEOH UHVXOW ZLWK ERWK FDUV QRW Ă€QLVKLQJ HLWKHU HQGXUR LW ZDVQ¡W JRRG ´ ZDV NH\ 7KH IDFW &UDLJ ZDV VR VWURQJ and won the championship and then we went DQG GLG WKH 6DQGRZQ DQG %DWKXUVW GRXEOH \RX FRXOG DOPRVW IHHO WKH UHOLHI ZLWK LW DOO DQG LW cemented HRT into being the powerhouse that ZH DOO NQHZ LW ZDV IRU VR ORQJ Âľ 1LFNQDPHG Âś*DEULHOOH¡ E\ +57 QHZ FDU EXLOG FKLHI RI WKH WLPH 7RQ\ )UHGHULNVHQ WKH Âś ¡ chassis only ever made one trip to Bathurst

44 www.musclecarmag.com.au

in its racing career. But it can lay claim to a 100 SHU FHQW %DWKXUVW ZLQQLQJ UHFRUG WKH VRUW RI VWXII other race cars can only dream about. ,W SURYLGHG D FRXSOH RI \RXQJ JXQV ZLWK WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ RI D OLIHWLPH DQG WKH\ JUDVSHG LW ZLWK both hands. Pairing two young bucks together WRGD\ LV QRWKLQJ RXW RI WKH RUGLQDU\ EXW \HDUV DJR PDQ\ SXQGLWV EHOLHYHG WKH IDFWRU\ +ROGHQ RXWĂ€W ZDV FUD]\ IRU GRLQJ VR 7KH JDPEOH QRW RQO\ SDLG RII LW FKDQJHG WKH IDFH RI ORFDO WRXULQJ FDU UDFLQJ IRUHYHU DV RWKHU WHDPV VRRQ DGRSWHG D youth policy as the owner/driver era wound down. +57¡V VWHOODU VHDVRQ DOVR ODLG WKH IRXQGDWLRQ IRU WKH WHDP¡V GRPLQDWLRQ RI WKH UHEUDQGHG 9 6XSHUFDU VHULHV ZLQQLQJ VL[ WLWOHV LQ VHYHQ \HDUV DQG VL[ %DWKXUVW V EHWZHHQ 1996 and 2011.

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R VD\ WKDW RQH VLQJOH FDU PDGH D GULYHU¡V career or its creation can be pinpointed DV WKH NH\ SLOODU XSRQ ZKLFK D WHDP¡V DVFHQVLRQ WR WKH WKURQH DV Âś9 .LQJV¡ ZDV built is most certainly a big call. But when Craig Lowndes and Greg Murphy both agree WKDW WKH +ROGHQ 5DFLQJ 7HDP¡V Âś6XSHUFDU¡ 95 &RPPRGRUH EXLOW LQ Ă€WV WKH ELOO IRU ERWK RI WKRVH DVVHUWLRQV LW¡V EORRG\ GLIĂ€FXOW WR DUJXH 7KLV \HDU LV WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI WKH GXR FODLPLQJ WKH HQGXUDQFH GRXEOH DW 6DQGRZQ DQG %DWKXUVW ,W¡V DOVR WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI D EUHDNWKURXJK EOXH ULEERQ VHDVRQ IRU +57 where it also claimed the Australian Touring Car &KDPSLRQVKLS IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH ZLWK /RZQGHV DV ZHOO DV WKH HQG RI \HDU 0RELO 6HULHV LQ 1HZ Zealand with Murphy. $W WKH FRUH RI LW DOO ZDV +57¡V &KDVVLV FRPPRQO\ NQRZQ DV Âś*DEULHOOH¡ D FDU WKDW JDYH the previously troubled Melbourne-based team its mojo. ,W FUHDWHG KHDGOLQHV SXVKHG WKH HQYHORSHV RI WHFKQRORJ\ RI WKH WLPH DQG ZRQ LWV IDLU VKDUH RI UDFHV ² QRW EDG IRU D 95 &RPPRGRUH ERG\ VKHOO WKDW EHJDQ LWV OLIH RQ WKH +ROGHQ SURGXFWLRQ OLQH DW 3RUW (OL]DEHWK LQ 6RXWK $XVWUDOLD It may not be a Torana XU-1, Falcon Phase III, or even a Group C Commodore or Ford – the W\SHV RI FDUV WKDW OLYH Ă€UPO\ LQ WKH KHDUWV DQG PLQGV RI %DWKXUVW WUDJLFV DV DEVROXWH SLHFHV RI

Greg Taylor

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

While HRT won the 1990 Great Race, it was the 1996 season, capped by victory in the Bathurst 1000, that marked the start of a golden era for the factory team.

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Ray Berghouse

1996 Calder Park debut

T

he competition timeline of the HRT 033 chassis actually began on April 4, 1996 when it PDGH LWV ÀUVW WUHN RQWR WKH WUDFN DW &DOGHU 3DUN LQ 0HOERXUQH IRU D VKDNHGRZQ WHVW Despite running a mish-mash of painted and non-painted panels, there was no way to throw the media off the scent of something new and special brewing ZLWK WKH QHZ ¶6XSHUFDU· DV LW ZDV GXEEHG PDQ\ PRQWKV EHIRUH $9(6&2 ÀUVW WRXWHG WKH ¶9 6XSHUFDU· WDJ IRU WKH FDWHJRU\ LW ZRXOG UDFH LQ

LQVWDQWO\ VSODVKHG DFURVV WKH SDJHV RI $XVWUDOLD·V VSHFLDOLVW PRWRUVSRUW PDJD]LQHV Further testing at Calder was conducted, but &UDLJ /RZQGHV· PDMRU DFFLGHQW DW 3KLOOLS ,VODQG LQ PLG $SULO LQ D VLVWHU FDU IDVW WUDFNHG +57 ·V race debut to the next round, held on the last ZHHNHQG RI WKDW PRQWK DW &DOGHU

Ray Berghouse

Andrew Hall

1996 Lakeside

Gabrielle’s life story

Ray Berghouse

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

1996 Barbagallo

1996 Mallala 46 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Ray Berghouse

Back in 1996 HRT was very much a team and not a brand to be switched from one squad to another. It was led by a fresh-faced lad that captured the public’s attention. By year’s end HRT was a powerhouse on the local sporting landscape. behind the wheel of 033. 7KLV DSSHDUV WR EH WKH RQO\ WLPH %URFN ² ZKR GLG ODSV RQ WKH GD\ DFFRUGLQJ WR RIĂ€FLDO +57 WHVW GD\ ORJ VKHHWV PRUH WKDQ DQ\ RWKHU GULYHU ² VOLSSHG EHKLQG WKH ZKHHO RI /RZQGHV¡ Âś6XSHUFDU¡ 1RZ VSRUWLQJ WKH WKH EODFN DQG ZKLWH 95 &RPPRGRUH UHWXUQHG WR UDFH DFWLRQ DW WKH 6DQGRZQ WKRXJK ZLWK PLOOLPHWUHV cut from the front spoiler undertray after a SDULW\ DGMXVWPHQW E\ WKH 3HUIRUPDQFH 5HYLHZ &RPPLWWHH 35& RI WKH WLPH ODUJHO\ SURPSWHG E\ WKH +57¡V GRPLQDWLRQ RI WKH WRXULQJ FDU championship. But it had no effect on the FKDPSLRQ DV /RZQGHV WRRN SROH DQG KH DQG 0XUSK\ GRPLQDWHG WKH GD\ 7KH\ OHG RI laps and it was left to the former to hunt down DQG SDVV *OHQQ 6HWRQ ZLWK D KDQGIXO RI ODSV UHPDLQLQJ WR WDNH D ZLQ WKDW GURYH WKH +ROGHQ faithful in the grandstand into delirium. 7KHUH ZDV QR GRXEW /RZQGHV ZDV WKH KRWWHVW FRPPRGLW\ LQ $XVWUDOLDQ PRWRUVSRUW LQ $ breath of fresh air, he was popular with the fans DQG WKH PHGLD ODSSHG XS WKH VWRU\ RI WKLV \HDU ROG ZKL]] NLG 6R ZKHQ KH DQG 0XUSK\ WRRN YLFWRU\ DW %DWKXUVW VHH VHSDUDWH VHFWLRQ LQ FKDVVLV Âś ¡ LW PDGH KXJH KHDGOLQHV DQG Âś7KH .LG¡ ZDV EHLQJ WRXWHG DV RXU QH[W )RUPXOD VWDU DV KH KHDGHG off to Europe for a Formula 3000 campaign. He OHIW EHKLQG WKH FDU WKDW KDG JLYHQ KLP VXFK DQ DPD]LQJ VHDVRQ WKRXJK LWV ZRUN ZDVQ¡W GRQH IRU :KLOH WKH +57 WRRN LWV ROGHU &RPPRGRUHV WR WKH 0RELO 6HULHV DW 3XNHNRKH DQG :HOOLQJWRQ LQ 1HZ =HDODQG +57 ZDV NHSW

47 www.musclecarmag.com.au

1996 Sydney Motor Show

Ed Krause

Straight away the car was on the pace, claiming pole position and a race win before diff failure EOXQWHG WKLQJV LQ WKH VHFRQG UDFH %XW Âś*DEULHOOH¡ claimed a new lap record, so there was no doubt it was a fast machine. *DEE\¡V QH[W RXWLQJ ² DW /DNHVLGH ² VKRZHG H[DFWO\ ZKDW VKH ZDV FDSDEOH RI :KLOH KRPHWRZQ )RUG KHUR 'LFN -RKQVRQ WRRN SROH /RZQGHV VWRUPHG WR WKUHH UDFH ZLQV DQG ¡V Ă€UVW RYHUDOO URXQG YLFWRU\ DQG UHSHDWHG WKH GRVH QH[W WLPH RXW at Barbagallo in Perth. The penultimate round of the championship DW 0DOODOD SURYHG WR EH D KLVWRU\ PDNLQJ RQH DV /RZQGHV WRRN KHU WR D UHVXOW WKDW FOLQFKHG WKH WLWOH +H¡G FODLPHG WKH Ă€UVW WZR UDFHV DQG ZDV UXQQLQJ VHFRQG WR -RKQ %RZH LQ WKH Ă€QDO VSULQW ZKHQ $ODQ -RQHV ORVW FRQWURO RI WKH 3DFN /HDGHU )DOFRQ DV KH WULHG WR PDNH D PRYH RQ WKH +ROGHQ on the run to the Northern Hairpin with a matter of laps to go. +H FOLSSHG /RZQGHV VHQGLQJ ÂśWKH NLG¡ WKURXJK WKH LQĂ€HOG DQG FDUHHULQJ LQWR OHDGHU %RZH ,W SDUNHG WKH )RUG LQ WKH VDQG DQG KHDYLO\ VPDVKHG WKH UHDU RI /RZQGHV¡ &RPPRGRUH WKRXJK KH ZDV DEOH WR FRQWLQXH WR Ă€QLVK Ă€IWK DQG HDUQ HQRXJK points to seal the championship. 7KH FODVK GLGQ¡W ORRN WRR EDG KRZHYHU WKH FDU HIIHFWLYHO\ QHHGHG D QHZ UHDU HQG 7KH IXHO FHOO was destroyed, the fuel pump system was badly GDPDJHG DQG WKH Ă RRU LQ WKH ERRW ZDV ULSSOHG PHDQLQJ WKH FKDPSLRQ¡V FDU ZRXOGQ¡W EH RQ KDQG DW 2UDQ 3DUN ZKHQ LWV SLORW ZDV RIĂ€FLDOO\ FURZQHG $7&& YLFWRU DQG LQVWHDG ZDV RII JHWWLQJ UHSDLUHG DV LWV SLORW VWHSSHG EDFN LQWR WKH UHSDLUHG 3KLOOLS ,VODQG FUDVK FKDVVLV +57 7KH FKDPSLRQ¡V QHZ FDU UHWXUQHG WR WKH WUDFN DW &DOGHU IRU D SRVW UHSDLU VKDNHGRZQ WHVW RQ $XJXVW ZLWK DOO IRXU +57 GULYHUV ² /RZQGHV 0XUSK\ 3HWHU %URFN DQG 7RPDV 0H]HUD ² VSHQGLQJ WLPH

EXV\ RQ DQG RII KH WU FN First there was an appearance on the Holden stand at the Sydney Motor Show followed by DQ DHURG\QDPLF WHVW DW 3KLOOLS ,VODQG ZLWK +57 HQGXUDQFH SLORW 7RPDV 0H]HUD GULYLQJ DQG D IRFXV on testing front spoilers for the proposed new VS &RPPRGRUH PRGHO PDNHRYHU )RUPHU WRXULQJ FDU DQG VXSHUNDUW SLORW &KULV /DPEGHQ ZDV QH[W WR VOLGH LQWR +57 DQG LQ WKH SURFHVV EHFDPH WKH ÀUVW QRQ +57 GULYHU WR score the rare opportunity to sample the latest and JUHDWHVW LQ 9 UDFH FDUV DW &DOGHU IRU WKH SXUSRVHV

1997 Calder Park

of a story for Motorsport News magazine. 7KH FDU WKHQ EHFDPH *UHJ 0XUSK\·V +57 FDU IRU EXW ZDV DOVR VDPSOHG SUH VHDVRQ GXULQJ &DOGHU WHVWLQJ E\ QHZO\ VLJQHG <RXQJ /LRQV 0DUN 1RVNH DQG -DVRQ %DUJZDQQD ,W KDG EHHQ XSGDWHG WR 96 VSHFLÀFDWLRQ ² ZLWK WKH GHHSHU VFDOORSHG IURQW VSRLOHU WKDW SURYHG WKH PDLQ GLVWLQJXLVKLQJ IHDWXUH IURP WKH 95 ² DQG ZDV DJDLQ FRPSHWLWLYH WKH .LZL FODLPLQJ SROH DQG D UDFH ZLQ DW &DOGHU LQ WKH RSHQLQJ 9 6XSHUFDUV URXQG RI WKH VHDVRQ %XW DW 3KLOOLS ,VODQG·V URXQG WZR LW DOO WXUQHG WR FUDS DV D EORZQ W\UH VHQW KLP KHDG RQ LQWR DQ HDUWK ÀOOHG ZDOO RI W\UHV 7KH · %DWKXUVW ZLQQHU KLPVHOI ZDV OHIW EUXLVHG DQG VRUH EXW WKH DFWXDO FDU FDPH RII HYHQ ZRUVH ,QLWLDOO\ GHHPHG D ZULWH RII LW ZDV VDOYDJHG E\ 'HQFDU DQG HYHQWXDOO\ UHWXUQHG WR WKH WUDFN DV 7RGG .HOO\·V <RXQJ /LRQV FDU DW 6DQGRZQ LQ -XQH 7KH IDFWRU\ +57 VTXDG WRRN LW EDFN LQ WKH ZDNH RI /RZQGHV· KXJH UROORYHU DW &DOGHU HQGXUDQFH SLORW &DPHURQ 0F&RQYLOOH ÀOOHG LQ IRU WKH LQMXUHG /RZQGHV DW 6\PPRQV 3ODLQV LQ ¶ · EHIRUH WKH GHIHQGLQJ FKDPSLRQ UHWXUQHG DIWHU NQHH VXUJHU\ WR GULYH LW DW :LQWRQ

Graeme Neander/ AN1 Images

99 hillip Island pre-season test

This page: HRT 033 was a faithful servant, pressed back into action when disaster befell HRT’s newer chassis. It took its fair share of hits too. Far right: In the early ‘noughties’ HRT 033 was stripped and stored at Clayton. ,Q IDFW WKH FDU DFWXDOO\ DOVR UHWXUQHG WR WKH VFHQH RI LWV · DFFLGHQW 3KLOOLS ,VODQG LQ PLG $XJXVW · IRU /RZQGHV WR VKDNH LW GRZQ DKHDG RI KLV UHWXUQ WR UDFLQJ DW :LQWRQ .HOO\ DQG +</ WHDPPDWH 0DUN 1RVNH UDQ LW LQ WKH 4XHHQVODQG EHIRUH D QHZHU PRGHO 97 &RPPRGRUH ZDV DYDLODEOH IRU %DWKXUVW OHDYLQJ +57 WR PDNH RQH ÀQDO DSSHDUDQFH LQ 2FWREHU · RQ WKH *ROG &RDVW ZLWK /RZQGHV DW WKH ZKHHO 7KH UHDVRQLQJ ZDV WR SURWHFW &UDLJ·V QHZ 97 IRU %DWKXUVW LQ 1RYHPEHU DQG WKH GHFLVLRQ SURFHVV ZDV MXVWLÀHG ZKHQ WKH GHFRUDWHG 96 FUXQFKHG WKH ZDOO LQ D PXOWL FDU FUDVK ZLWK *DUWK 7DQGHU DQG 6WHYH (OOHU\ 6WULSSHG WKLV FHOHEUDWHG FKDVVLV ZDV OHIW FROG DQG DORQH LQ VWRUDJH LQ WKH ROG SRZHU VWDWLRQ RI WKH +57·V EDVH LQ &OD\WRQ 0HOERXUQH WKURXJK WR WKH PLG V VWLOO VSRUWLQJ WKH GDPDJH LW KDG UHFHLYHG LQ 4XHHQVODQG

,W ZDV HYHQWXDOO\ SXUFKDVHG E\ 4XHHQVODQG EDVHG FROOHFWRU 6WHYH $QGUHZ ZKR KDG WKH GDPDJHG IURQW DQG UHDU HQG UHSODFHG DQG UXVW LQ WKH VLOOV VRUWHG RXW DOO WKH ZKLOH HQVXULQJ WKH UHSDLU PDUNV IURP WKH · 3KLOOLS ,VODQG DFFLGHQW UHPDLQHG IRU SRVWHULW\ 7KH H[SDW .LZL VHFXUHG D UDQJH RI PDWHULDO DQG FRPSRQHQWV IRU XVH LQ WKH UHVWRUDWLRQ RI WKH FDU EXW GLGQ·W SURJUHVV WKH SURMHFW DQG PDGH WKH GHFLVLRQ LQ PLG WR SDUW ZLWK KLV SULGH DQG MR\ (see separate section).

48 www.musclecarmag.com.au

James Smith

1997 Phillip Island

Ray Berghouse

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

1996 MNews test

Andrew Hall

HRT 2005

Ray Berghouse

1999 Symmons Plains

Greg Taylor

1999 QLD 500

1999 Gold Coast 49 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Greg Taylor

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

Groundbreaker

T

Clay Cross

he HRT 033 Commodore chassis was the start of a new era at the Holden Racing Team. ,W ZDV DOO DERXW ÂśJRLQJ ODUJH¡ ZLWK D EODQN VKHHW RI SDSHU DQG \RXQJ NHHQ KXQJU\ HQJLQHHULQJ minds being given a green light to push the category envelope. Lessons of previous cars were put into place in the new chassis. Inspiration came from the DTM and ITC touring cars of the time racing in Europe. 7KH QHZ FKDVVLV KDG NLORJUDPV PRUH UROO FDJH than previous cars, was 11 months in its design DQG IHDWXUHG D UHDU UROO KRRS WKDW VDW IXUWKHU EDFN than previous cars. The cage rear assembly support was attached DW WKH ERWWRP WR WKH UHDU Ă RRU E\ DQ LQWHJUDO WXEH structure that had never been seen in the V8 class before. But the media of the period were instantly WUDQVĂ€[HG E\ WKH GLDJRQDO KRUL]RQWDO UROO FDJH EDU WKURXJK WKH IURQW SDVVHQJHU¡V DUHD WKDW EHFDPH the subject of plenty of politics with CAMS. It was the most visible difference between the new car and the two produced by HRT in 1995 (chassis 031 and 032). George Smith was a partner in Dencar – the FRPSDQ\ WKDW SURGXFHG +57¡V FKDVVLV ² ZKHQ this car was created and put in many hours on its construction himself. 7RGD\ KH FDQ DGPLW ZKDW WKH WHDP ZRXOGQ¡W OHW RQ \HDUV DJRÂŤ WKH Âś3HWW\¡ EDU GLG QRW PDNH D

single bit of difference! ´:H SXW LQ RQ WKH Ă H[ ULJ WR WHVW LW VR ZH FRXOG measure what sort of a percentage gain it gave,â€? he recalls. ´,W ZDV ]HUR DEVROXWHO\ ]HUR ,W GLGQ¡W PDNH D VLQJOH SLHFH RI GLIIHUHQFH , UHFNRQ WKH LGHD FDPH from Chris (Dyer, engineer) but the idea was to go RYHU WKH WRS DQG PDNH D FDU WKDW ZDV VWLII DV ZH possibly could do. “That bar became a point of contention over GULYHU H[WUDFWLRQ DQG WKDW¡V ZK\ LW ZDV FDQQHG LQ WKH QH[W FDU +57 EXLOW D VLVWHU &RPPRGRUH IRU 3HWHU %URFN WKRXJK KDG WR FKRS RXW WKH EDU Âľ $V 6PLWK H[SODLQV NHHSLQJ WKH 3HWW\ EDU GLG KDYH LWV EHQHĂ€WV “We went through the numbers with Jeff (Grech, team manager) and it came to a decision WR OHDYH LW LQ ,W ZRXOG WDNH WKH KHDW RII VR PDQ\ other areas and the opposition would instead focus on the bar and try to get it banned. That was why it was left in.â€? (YHQWXDOO\ WKH &$06 0RWRU 5DFLQJ ([HFXWLYH FOHDUHG WKH XVH RI WKH EDU WKRXJK D UH ZULWH RI WKH UHJXODWLRQV TXLFNO\ IROORZHG Despite having already commenced another LGHQWLFDO FKDVVLV +57 ZLWK EDU DOUHDG\ LQ SODFH IRU 3HWHU %URFN WR GHEXW ODWHU LQ WKH VHDVRQ the team was forced to remove it from the sister PDFKLQH %XW 6PLWK ORRNV EDFN RQ +57 ZLWK JUHDW IRQGQHVV ,W¡V KLV IDYRXULWH FDU IURP D ORQJ line of successful chassis Dencar built for and with HRT.

50 www.musclecarmag.com.au

´7KH FDU WRRN IRUHYHU WR EXLOG Âľ KH VD\V ´,W ZDV a joy, but there was so much stuff that was new, VR WLPH ZLVH LW WRRN D ZKLOH 0\ UHFROOHFWLRQ ZDV WKDW LW ZDV ÂśVHFUHW VTXLUUHO¡ EXW WKHUH JHQHUDOO\ ZHUHQ¡W PDQ\ EORZ LQV DW RXU SODFH LQ WKRVH GD\V ´:KHQ WKH\ WRRN LW RXW WR &DOGHU IRU WKH Ă€UVW WHVW WKH\ GRFWRUHG LW XS DV EHVW DV WKH\ FRXOG WR PDNH LW ORRN OLNH DQ\ RQH RI WKHLU H[LVWLQJ FDUV EXW WKDW big bar in the middle was a bit of a giveaway!â€? *LYHQ WKH GULYLQJ SRVLWLRQ ZDV ZHOO EDFN from that of previous cars – all but in line with WKH % SLOODU ² D Ă RRU PRXQWHG DVVHPEO\ ER[HG LQ D FDUERQ Ă€EUH VWUXFWXUH UHSODFHG WKH UHJXODU SHQGDQW VKDSHG SHGDOV ´,W QHHGHG Ă RRU PRXQWHG SHGDOV EHFDXVH RI ZKHUH WKH UROO FDJH UDQ WKH SHQGXOXP SHGDOV under the dash were no good for that design any more,â€? says Smith. ´2QFH ZH PRXQWHG WKH SHGDOV RQ WKH Ă RRU ZH made a shroud. I made an aluminium tool and WKH FDUERQ ER\V PDGH D SLHFH RXW RI LW ,W ZDV OLNH D IRUPXOD FDU FRFNSLW ZKHUH \RXU IHHW ZHUH LQ D WXQQHO WR NHHS IHHW IURP Ă DLOLQJ DURXQG Âľ

Tenth Anniversary Collector’s Set Available Now

This special limited edition box set contains all of Peter’s wins at Mount Panorama plus a special limited edition 32 page magazine.

A

ll of Peter Brock’s record nine wins in the annual Bathurst touring car endurance race have been brought together in this very special boxed set – with more hours of vision assembled in one place than ever before! This exclusive collection includes the entire Seven Sport race day telecasts of seven of his wins spanning 1978 to 1987 and race day OPNOSPNO[Z [HRLU KPYLJ[ MYVT [OL :L]LU :WVY[ [LSLJHZ[Z [OLTZLS]LZ JV]LYPUN OPZ Ä YZ[ two wins in 1972 and 1975. (Z HU HKKLK IVU\Z ^L»]L HSZV K\N ZVTL ZWVUZVY Ä STZ MYVT [OL HYJOP]LZ [OH[ JV]LYLK [OVZL Ä YZ[ [^V ^PUZ PU » HUK » [V THRL [OPZ ZL[ [OL KLÄ UP[P]L YLJVYK VM )YVJR»Z \UWHYHSSLSLK Z\JJLZZ in Australia’s most famous motorsport event. From his breakthrough win in a Torana in 1972 to his privateer success in 1975 and pair of three-peats with the Holden Dealer Team in 1978-1980 and 1982-1984, the set is completed by OPZ UPU[O HUK Ä UHS ^PU HNHPUZ[ HSS [OL VKKZ in 1987 in a race that was also part of the World Touring Car Championship. )YVJR»Z SLNLUKHY` IH[[SLZ ^P[O (SSHU 4Vќ H[ HUK +PJR 1VOUZVU HYL H THQVY MLH[\YL VM [OLZL YHJLZ from the golden era of touring car racing in the 1970s and 1980s when Bathurst really boomed!

Available from:

Where Australian Motor Sport Lives

cmsmotorsport.com.au

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

unday, October 6, 996

W

Andrew Hall

hen race day dawned wet, most observers believed the 1996 AMP Bathurst 1000 would prove to be a crashfest. Hardly the conditions that instilled FRQĂ€GHQFH LQWR team managers up and down pitlane, especially RQH OLNH +57¡V -HII *UHFK ZKRVH OHDG FDU ZDV driven by drivers aged 22 and 24. While it teemed down during the early-morning Super Touring race, the rain had stopped by WKH WLPH WKH FDU DOO 9 Ă€HOG EODVWHG RII WKH startline at 10am. Having conceded pole position WR *OHQQ 6HWRQ¡V )RUG &UHGLW EDFNHG )DOFRQ /RZQGHV KHDGHG WKH Ă€HOG LQ WKH ZHW WR HQJDJH LQ D FUDFNLQJ GLFH ZLWK WKH $ODQ -RQHV 3DFN /HDGHU )DOFRQ 7KH ODWWHU KLW WKH IURQW RQ ODS Despite fears of likely carnage, Bathurst 1996 saw relatively few car-crunching incidents, aside from some early race casualties before the track GULHG ,Q IDFW WKH UDFH¡V PRVW IDPRXV ÂśQHZ UHHO¡ PRPHQW FDPH RQ ODS ZKHQ WKH ) :RUOG

&KDPSLRQ¡V UDFH OHDGLQJ )DOFRQ HUXSWHG LQ Ă DPHV EHWZHHQ *ULIĂ€Q¡V %HQG DQG 7KH &XWWLQJ Lowndes retook the lead and the duo was simply unstoppable for the rest of the UDFH )RU D VKRUW WLPH +57 UDQ EHIRUH the Peter Brock/Tomas Mezera VR dropped down the order. The initial wet weather eventually cleared and once the bitumen dried the +57 FDU ZDV LQ D FODVV RI LWV RZQ 7KH VWLIIHVW RSSRVLWLRQ FDPH IURP WKH 'LFN -RKQVRQ -RKQ %RZH () )DOFRQ 0XUSK\ GLFHG EULHĂ \ ZLWK -RKQVRQ EXW eventually pulled clear. :KHQ /RZQGHV WRRN RYHU IRU WKH UXQ WR Ă DJ KH KDG D FRPIRUWDEOH EXIIHU WR ZKLFK HYDSRUDWHG ZKHQ WKH 6DIHW\ &DU DSSHDUHG GXH WR 'DYLG Âś7UXFNLH¡ 3DUVRQV SXWWLQJ WKH $OFDLU &RPPRGRUH LQWR WKH ZDOO DW *ULIĂ€Q¡V 7KH LQFLGHQW JDYH -RKQVRQ D VQLII RI WKH OHDG but the Queenslander had no chance once the race was restarted, with Lowndes punching out his fastest lap of the day (2m13.1636) on lap 149 WR GULYH RII LQWR WKH GLVWDQFH ,Q VHDOLQJ WKH Ă€UVW

Clay Cross

Main: Glenn Seton pipped Craig Lowndes for pole, but quickly hit the lead. Right: The only car to match Gabrielle for speed was Alan Jones’ Pack Leader Falcon. But AJ’s challenge quite literally went up in smoke. Far right: Wily veteran Dick Johnson put pressure on Greg Murphy but the #17 Ford didn’t have the pace of the HRT machine.

RI KL Ă€YH *UHDW 5DFH ZLQ /RZQGHV EHFDPH the youngest-ever winner of the event – a record since surpassed by Rick Kelly – and a household QDPH -RKQVRQ %RZH Ă€QLVKHG DV UXQQHUV XS ZKLOH WKH 7RQ\ /RQJKXUVW 6WHYH (OOHU\ &DVWURO EDFNHG )DOFRQ ZKLFK KDG OHG WKH UDFH GXULQJ WKH SLWVWRS F\FOH ZDV WKLUG 7KH &RNH &RPPRGRUH RI :D\QH *DUGQHU 1HLO &URPSWRQ Ă€QLVKHG IRXUWK ahead of Brock and Mezera. )LUVW DQG Ă€IWK ZDV D VROLG GD\¡V HIIRUW IRU +57

52 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Greg Taylor Andrew Hall

Greg Taylor

The HRT Army

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53 www.musclecarmag.com.au

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ORTAL MUSCLE

Graeme Neander/ AN1 Images

1996 Calder Park debut

Content Pool Mark Horsburgh/Red Bull

I

aig Lowndes Q&A C: Craig, we have great recollections of r 1996 Bathurst-winning car, but the lead-up ts debut earlier in the year surely must have de you feel you were part of the secret vice the way some of those developments hat car were kept from your rivals! aig Lowndes: The debut was at Calder rk and I remember the stories were going RXQG DERXW RXU ¶VHFUHW ZHDSRQ· DQG WKDW ·G IRXQG EDVLFDOO\ D FKDVVLV WKDW ZDV JRLQJ GHOLYHU ,W KDG DOO WKLV K\SH DERXW LW DQG WKDW VR WKHQ IROORZHG XS ZLWK D ORW RI LQWHUHVW hen it debuted. , UHPHPEHU VLWWLQJ RQ WKH GXPP\ JULG U ÀUVW SUDFWLFH DW &DOGHU LQ WKH FDU 7KH\·G RYHUHG LW RYHU ZLWK D FDU FRYHU , ZDV VLWWLQJ LW ZLWK WKH FRYHU RQ UHDG\ WR JR RXW DQG HUDOO\ DV WKH ÀUVW FDU ZDV OHDYLQJ WKH XPP\ JULG WKH\ XQFRYHUHG WKH FDU DQG GURYH RII EHIRUH DQ\RQH FRXOG JHW DQ\ SURSHU SKRWRV RI WKH FDU 7KH FDU IHOW JRRG LQ WHVWLQJ $W WKDW VWDJH ZDV RI WKH VDPH EHOLHI DV HYHU\RQH HOVH KDW WKH GLDJRQDO EDU JDYH LW EDVLFDOO\ D VXSHULRU KDQGOLQJ DGYDQWDJH DQG DZD\ ZH

1996 Mallala 54 www.musclecarmag.com.au

ZHQW 7KH EDU ZDV WKH PDLQ IRFXV EXW WKH FDU KDG D XQLTXH IRRWZHOO DQG ZH WULHG VRPH GLIIHUHQW VWDUW SURFHGXUHV ZLWK LW WKDW ZRUNHG IRU PH %XW WKH PHFKDQLVP ZH KDG LQ WKH FDU ZDV RXWODZHG 7KH IRRWZHOO UHPDLQHG EXW WKH PHFKDQLVP GLGQ·W :H PRGLÀHG WKH IRRWZHOO DQG FDPH XS ZLWK D EHWWHU V\VWHP DQ\ZD\ AMC: This car came at a time where the team was under massive pressure. The disaster of Bathurst 1995 was lingering and the knives were out from both within and outside the team – do you remember it feeling that way? CL: )RU WKH WHDP WKDW SDUWLFXODU FDU FRXOGQ·W KDYH FRPH DORQJ DW D EHWWHU WLPH )RU PH LW ZDV WKH SHUIHFW WLPH 7KHUH ZDV D ORW RI SUHVVXUH RQ WKH WHDP WR SHUIRUP DOWKRXJK LW ZDVQ·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·W PDNH D GDPQ GLIIHUHQFH AMC: While many remember you and Greg Murphy winning the Sandown/Bathurst double in that car, it also helped you become the champion in odd circumstances too at Mallala when it got creased! CL: , EDFNHG LQWR -RKQ %RZH ZKR ZDV WKH PDLQ WLWOH WKUHDW ,I \RX ORRN DW DQ\ FLUFXLW WKDW %ULGJHVWRQH VWUXJJOHG RQ EDFN WKHQ LW ZDV 0DOODOD 7KDW ZDV SUHGRPLQDQWO\ D 'XQORS WUDFN 7KHUH ZDV D FRXSOH RI FLUFXLWV WKURXJK WKH \HDU ZKHUH 'XQORS KDG WKH XSSHU KDQG EXW WR SHU FHQW RI WKH WUDFNV ZH ZHQW WR WKH %ULGJHVWRQHV ZHUH VXSHULRU )URP PHPRU\ LW ZDV D GDPS VWDUW DQG ZH knew we were going to struggle but we had a KHDOWK\ OHDG LQ WKH SRLQWV DQG MXVW QHHGHG WR ÀQLVK DQG JR WR 2UDQ 3DUN NQRZLQJ WKDW LW ZDV D PXFK EHWWHU WUDFN IRU XV DV D %ULGJHVWRQH UXQQHU :H KDG D JUHDW EDWWOH ZLWK $- $ODQ -RQHV UXQQLQJ GRZQ WKH EDFN VWUDLJKW LQWR WKH KDLUSLQ

Top right: Team manager Jeff Grech (and Rory) oversaw a slick operation. Right: Truth be known, AMC’s editor, then working for the event’s publicists, organised the ‘funny hat’ PR stunt involving Lowndes, Tommy Kendall and John Cleland. Uncle Sam must have had a smaller head than Kendall!

7KH V RU\ WKH WHDP ZHQW ZLWK DV WKDW , Z V VLFN $OO P\ PHGLD FRPPLWPHQWV ZHUH FDQQHG DQG WKH 35 GHSDUWPHQW ZDV ZRUNLQJ RYHUWLPH 7KH RQO\ SURYLVR IRU PH DW %DWKXUVW IRU WKH ZHHN ZDV WR ZHDU D KDW WR FRYHU WKH VWLWFKHV DQG EDQGDJHV , KDG WR EH YHU\ FDUHIXO SXWWLQJ P\ KHOPHW RQ WR FRYHU LW DOO XS 'XULQJ UDFH ZHHN SHRSOH ZHUH DVNLQJ TXHVWLRQV EXW LW ZDVQ·W XQWLO SRVW UDFH WKDW SHRSOH UHDOLVHG MXVW ZKDW KDG happened.

Ray Berghouse

SLQFKHG D QHUYH LQ P\ QHFN ZKHQ , ODQGHG DQG P\ OHIW DUP ZDV SDUDO\VHG 1RW PDQ\ SHRSOH NQRZ WKDW SDUW RI WKH VWRU\ 7KH FRQFXVVLRQ ZDV RQH WKLQJ , FRXOG GULYH DQ DXWRPDWLF URDG FDU EXW QRW D PDQXDO , KDG WR OLWHUDOO\ OLIW P\ OHIW KDQG RQWR WKH VWHHULQJ ZKHHO RU WKH FHQWUH FRQVROH , FRXOGQ·W SK\VLFDOO\ PRYH LW , ZHQW WKURXJK UHKDE WR UHOHDVH WKH QHUYH issue, which we did and then the main thing was UHFRYHULQJ IURP EHLQJ NQRFNHG RXW , VWLOO UHPHPEHU GRLQJ WKH PHPRU\ WHVW LQ 0HOERXUQH OLWHUDOO\ DERXW WKUHH GD\V DIWHU WKH VWLWFKHV DQG , ZHQW EDFN D ZHHN DQG D KDOI ODWHU DQG UH VDW WKH WHVW WKH GD\ EHIRUH , ZDV VXSSRVHG WR OHDYH IRU %DWKXUVW 7KDW ZDV IRU PH WR SURYH WR &$06 WKDW , ZDV EDFN WR QRUPDO , VWLOO UHPHPEHU VHHLQJ ERWK WHVWV DQG ORRNLQJ DW WKH ÀUVW WHVW , FRXOGQ·W EHOLHYH KRZ PXFK , KDG missed and got incorrect! But I passed the second one and off I went to Bathurst.

Andrew Hall

there was contact. I got turned around, went backwards into the hairpin which guided me into WKH IURQW ULJKW RI -RKQ %RZH·V FDU DQG OLWHUDOO\ WRRN us both out and because of the points situation it guaranteed me the championship. 0\ UHYHUVH VWHHULQJ DFFXUDF\ LV QRW WKDW JUHDW VR , FDQ·W SXW LW GRZQ WR PH GHOLEHUDWHO\ VWHHULQJ into him! AMC: History shows you and HRT 033 won Bathurst in 1996. But there was a real possibility you could have missed the race due to an accident in the weeks beforehand. What happened? CL: , ZDV DW D IULHQG·V JDUDJH ZRUNLQJ RQ P\ IRXU ZKHHO GULYH DQG WKH\·G ERXJKW D GLUW ELNH 0\ upbringing and background was riding bikes and I jumped on it and went too fast. It was out on the VWUHHW LQ DQ LQGXVWULDO DUHD IDLUO\ ODWH DW QLJKW ZLWK no one around. %DVLFDOO\ , FRXOGQ·W VWRS IRU WKH FRUQHU VR , decided go off up into the car park. I got the front ZKHHO RYHU WKH JXWWHU EXW WKH UHDU ZKHHO KLW DQG FDWDSXOWHG PH RYHU WKH KDQGOHEDUV DQG , ODQGHG RQ P\ KHDG DQG VSOLW LW RSHQ $QG WKLV ZDV DOO WZR weeks before Bathurst. -HII *UHFK +57 WHDP PDQDJHU ZDV WKH ÀUVW SKRQH FDOO WR PDNH ,W GLGQ·W JR GRZQ WRR ZHOO 7KH\ WRRN PH WR WKH KRVSLWDO DQG , JRW HLJKW VWLWFKHV EXW ZKDW DFWXDOO\ KDSSHQHG ZDV WKDW ,·G

Greg Taylor

Greg Taylor

1996 Sandown

55 www.musclecarmag.com.au

tographics Mark Horsburgh/ EDGE Pho

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

Greg Murphy Q&A AMC: ,W·V \HDUV WKLV \HDU VLQFH \RXU ÀUVW %DWKXUVW ZLQ &DQ \RX UHZLQG DQG JLYH XV D VHQVH RI WKH SUHVVXUHV RI OLQLQJ XS DORQJVLGH WKH ¶QHZ KRW WKLQJ· RI WKH WLPH LQ $XVWUDOLDQ WRXULQJ FDU UDFLQJ" Greg Murphy: In 1996 everything was so much smoother than when I drove with HRT in 1995. The fact Lowndesy had had such a good year in the car in the series and was dominating; I think WKDW ZDV DOVR FRQÀGHQFH LQVSLULQJ I was always just that little bit off him when we went testing that year. He was just at one with the FDU VR , ZDV DOZD\V WU\LQJ WR SOD\ FDWFK XS At Sandown the thing was fantastic and we came away from that feeling bloody comfortable about where we were going and Bathurst was the same, albeit I got to Bathurst and Lowndesy ZDV GHÀQLWHO\ RQ WKH PRQH\ LPPHGLDWHO\ DQG very comfortable. , ZDV VWLOO SOD\LQJ WKDW FR GULYHU UROH DQG WU\LQJ WR FDWFK XS ,W ZDV KDUGHU DURXQG WKHUH ² the fact it was Bathurst and from memory I IRXQG LW WRXJK WR ÀQG P\ UK\WKP ZKLFK FDPH in the race. AMC: 7KH FDUV RI WKDW HUD DUH VR PXFK GLIIHUHQW WR WKRVH RI WRGD\ +57 ZDV EXLOW XVLQJ D SURGXFWLRQ EDVHG ERG\ VKHOO ZKHUHDV QRZ WKH\·UH D SXUSRVH EXLOW VHULHV JHQHULF UDFLQJ FKDVVLV &DQ \RX FRPSDUH DQG FRQWUDVW" GM: 7KLQJV KDYH HYROYHG VORZO\ , VXSSRVH IRU a few of us, the way you used to drive the cars ZDV PRUH E\ WKH VHDW RI \RXU SDQWV DQG QRW DV WHFKQLFDO <RX ZHUH SUHFLVH EXW LW ZDVQ·W OLNH it is now where everything is analysed to the PLOOLPHWUH :H GLGQ·W WKLQN DERXW LW OLNH WKDW WKHQ VLPSO\ EHFDXVH ZH GLGQ·W KDYH WKH WRROV WKDW we do today. ,W ZDV EDVHG RQ VLPSOHU VRUWV RI GDWD DQG ODS WLPH DQG LW MXVW GLGQ·W KDYH WKDW QWK GHJUHH of analysis. Back in the 1990s it was all about testing because you were able to do so much of it; it was about being comfortable in the car and throwing tyres at it to understand what you had to do in qualifying. :H GLG D ORW RI PLOHV DQG ODSV DQG WKDW·V ZK\

Bathurst 1996 was also the arrival of Greg Murphy. Today, Murph reveals a little secret from race day. He also says he was eager to exit the race-leading Commodore and allow Lowndes to do the final stint. ZH ZHUH IDVW <RX MXVW NHSW RQ LPSURYLQJ WKH FDU LW ZDV DOO PRUH SDVVLYH VRUW RI VWXII WKDQ WKH PLFUR VWXII WKDW LV VR PXFK D SDUW RI JRLQJ UDFLQJ QRZ You do have to drive the New Generation 6XSHUFDU GLIIHUHQWO\ QRZ WR KRZ ZH GURYH WKH cars in the 1990s because of what you are searching for and what the engineer can work on WR LPSURYH WKRVH OLWWOH RQH SHUFHQWHUV , GRQ·W WKLQN ZH ZRUNHG RQ RQH SHUFHQWHUV EDFN WKHQ WKH SHUFHQWDJHV RI JDLQ ZHUH ELJJHU It was more about choosing the right tyre, getting the most out of it and driving it by the seat of the SDQWV 7KDW ZDV WKH ZD\ WKH %URFNV -RKQVRQV Bowes, Mezeras were doing it. AMC: <RX KDYH D OLWWOH VHFUHW IURP WKH %DWKXUVW UDFH WKDW QRW PDQ\ SHRSOH NQRZ DERXW <RX YHU\ QHDUO\ SLQ EDOOHG WKH FDU RII WKH ZDOO DQG RXW RI WKH UDFH FRUUHFW" GM: I actually clouted the wall where Chaz 0RVWHUW KLW WKH ZDOO LQ , NHSW LW TXLHW DW WKH WLPH LW·V QRW D VHFUHW QRZ WKRXJK , KDG FRPH RXW RI WKH 'LSSHU DQG , KRRNHG WKLUG JHDU DQG WKH WKLQJ ZDV VQDNLQJ DOO RYHU WKH SODFH , JDYH LW D GDE RI WKH WKURWWOH DQG LW UDQ XS WKH ZDOO RQ WKH OHIW KDQG VLGH DQG , WKRXJKW ¶RK VKLW LW·V DOO RYHU ,·YH VWXIIHG LW ZKDW D FRFN XS · %XW LW VWUDLJKWHQHG EDFN XS DQG LW VWLOO VWRSSHG DQG turned and I never said a word on the radio and carried on! Then I got my rhythm and it felt good. We VWDUWHG WR FLUFXODWH DW D SUHWW\ JRRG SDFH VR , JRW UROOLQJ DQG IURP WKDW SRLQW RQ LW GULHG XS DQG ZH never looked like going back to wet track running. I got back in for the second stint and had a EDWWOH ZLWK 'LFN -RKQVRQ 7KH FDU ZDV IDQWDVWLF VR , ZDV SUHWW\ FRPIRUWDEOH E\ WKDW VWDJH DQG I knew what I could do. Once we were back in front it was funny because the guys came on the radio and asked how I was feeling. They asked if I wanted to stay in the car for the last stint; I

56 www.musclecarmag.com.au

QHYHU H[SHFWHG WR KHDU WKDW ,W ZDV &UDLJ·V FDU DQG KLV GHDO VR LW FDXJKW PH E\ VXUSULVH , GLGQ·W ZDQW WR VRXQG OLNH , GLGQ·W ZDQW WR EXW GHHS GRZQ« , GLGQ·W ZDQW WR , MXVW wanted to hand over to him. I asked them what he wanted to do and they VDLG WKDW KH ZDVQ·W IXVVHG %XW , VDLG ¶1R KH QHHGV WR EH LQ WKH FDU IRU WKH ÀQLVK· DQG KH ZHQW to the end. It was all a little surreal when we won that race. AMC: :KDW VWDQGV RXW DERXW WKDW FDU IURP D GULYLQJ SRLQW RI YLHZ" GM: The car was very good because it had EHHQ WXQHG SUHWW\ ZHOO &UDLJ KDG GULYHQ LW IRU WKH VHFRQG KDOI RI WKH \HDU DQG LW KDG D SUHWW\ JRRG VHWXS 7KH ZD\ ZH OLNHG WKH FDU ZDV YHU\ VLPLODU DV ZHOO VR , GLGQ·W UHDOO\ KDYH WR GR WRR PXFK WR LW

Ray Berghouse Ray Berghouse Andrew Hall

Paul Cross

to make it comfortable for me because straight out of the box it felt fantastic. The Bridgestone was a very good tyre and the team worked very closely with them in their testing. The car was extremely well balanced and nice to drive. One thing that took a little bit of getting used to was the fact that there was no power-steering in LW &UDLJ QHYHU XVHG LW EXW ZH·G GRQH D IDLU ELW RI WUDLQLQJ OHDGLQJ XS WR WKH HQGXUDQFH UDFHV DQG ,·G done a lot of testing, so I was fairly comfortable DQG LW ZDVQ·W D UHDO ZRUU\ It was a dream to drive. We knew it was fast and always competitive and all we had to do was basically keep it on the track and not make any PLVWDNHV DQG \RX·G SUHWW\ PXFK ZLQ DQ\WKLQJ \RX went in.

57 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Cars

that won

Bathurst

Cam Inniss Photography

IMMORTAL MUSCLE

The

Gabrielle’s restoration

A

s the images here (taken in late August) show, HRT 033 is coming back to life. The famous car is being restored to return to a racetrack in either late 2016 or early 2017 – for WKH Ă€UVW WLPH LQ DOPRVW WZR GHFDGHV A deal was done in early June for Eggleston Motorsport to secure the chassis from Steve Andrew and, perhaps even more importantly, a UDQJH RI UHOHYDQW SDUWV 6LQFH WKHQ LW¡V EHHQ IXOO VWHDP DKHDG JHWWLQJ Âś*DEULHOOH¡ EDFN WRJHWKHU ´,W¡V RQH RI WKH PRVW IDPRXV FDUV RI WKH 9 HUD and in touring car history,â€? says Ben Eggleston of EMS. The Melbourne-based squad has rapidly established itself as a leading restoration business in recent years with its top-notch work on the Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly-driven HRT &RPPRGRUH 9= %DWKXUVW ZLQQHU IURP “I remember the stories on that car in the press at the time; it was a massive thing for the sport and a car the likes of which no one had really seen before. It was so unique, a very cool car. “To win the championship, Sandown and Bathurst in the one year really cemented HRT in the record books. To have two names like /RZQGHV DQG 0XUSK\ LQ WKH FDU \RX GRQ¡W JHW much bigger names in the sport.â€? EMS received the HRT 033 chassis a few PRQWKV DJR DQG VLQFH WKHQ LW¡V EHHQ IXOO WKURWWOH “We started work on it straight away, including JHWWLQJ *HRUJH 6PLWK LQWR DFWLRQ ZLWK D ZKROH KHDS RI ELWV WR EH UHĂ€QHG /XFNLO\ ,¡G GRQH D ORW RI history work before I had the car so I had a plan of attack as soon as it arrived. ´:H¡YH VLIWHG WKURXJK DOO RI WKH RULJLQDO SDUWV and doing a full restoration. “We have the correct number engine for it that won Bathurst 1996 that came with it plus a lot of other components that were still with the car DIWHU LW ZDV GLVDVVHPEOHG E\ +57 7KHUH¡V QHDUO\ HYHU\WKLQJ ZLWK WKH FDU $ ORW RI WKH VWXII ZH¡YH got done have been things like engine mounts. :H¡YH JRW WKH RQHV RXW RI LW EXW ZH ZDQW WR JHW QHZ RQHV PDGH VR ZH¡UH WDNLQJ QR ULVNV ´:H¡YH JRW WKH RULJLQDO VHDW EHLQJ UH FRYHUHG

the original dashboard, all the stuff that was with LW LQ *HRUJH 6PLWK KDV EHHQ DPD]LQJ help with extra fabricating and making it as it was 20 years ago.â€? EMS originally aimed to have the car ready for Bathurst this October and the 20th anniversary of its big win. However, that plan changed when %DWKXUVW RUJDQLVHUV DVNHG (JJOHVWRQ¡V WHDP LI LW FRXOG KDYH WKH VLVWHU FDU IURP WKH 3HWHU %URFN 7RPDV 0H]HUD PDFKLQH UHDG\ IRU WKH UDFH ZHHNHQG¡V DFWLYLWLHV PDUNLQJ WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI %URFN¡V SDVVLQJ Eggleston still has vivid memories of standing trackside in 1996. “I was there that day in the pouring rain at the top of the Mountain for the start of the race,â€? says (JJOHVWRQ ´7KHUH¡V QR ZD\ EDFN WKHQ ,¡G KDYH guessed I would get to have this car. Owning a FDU OLNH WKDW ² \RX¡G QHYHU WKLQN LW¡V SRVVLEOH , DP really keen to bring it back to its glory days. ´,¡YH VSRNHQ ZLWK &UDLJ /RZQGHV DERXW LW +H was at a golf day I was at recently so we spoke D IDLU ELW DERXW LW , WKLQN KH¡V SUHWW\ NHHQ WR VHH LW run again, he loves the history of racing.â€?

58 www.musclecarmag.com.au

AUSTRALIAN RELEASES 2016

C3696 Ford XY GT-HO Falcon 1972 Bathurst - John Goss

C3758 Holden A9X Torana 1978 Bathurst Jack Brabham/Brian Muir

C3740 Ford Sierra RS5000 1989 Bathurst Winner Dick Johnson/John Bowe

C3741 Ford XC Falcon 1978 Bathurst Allan Moffat/Jacky Ickx

C3745 Volkswagen Beetle - Bathurst 1963

C3757 BMW E30 M3 1987 ATCC Winner - Jim Richards

CRAIG LOWNDES 100 ATCC/V8 SUPERCAR RACE WIN TWIN SET During the 888th race of the V8 Supercars Championship, five-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes charged to victory to become the first man in the sport’s history to claim 100 race wins.

C3815A Limited Edition of 1500 Including Special Commemorative Packaging

Check out the Scalextric range at your Toy and Hobby Retailer now!

Ph (08) 8277 0869 A1303 Australian Muscle Car

MUSCLE MEN It’s 30 years since the most-capped combination in Bathurst history appeared on the touring car scene and set the standard for privateer efforts for the next two decades. AMC caught up with Trevor Ashby and Steve Reed.

67 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Story: Luke West

The dynamic duo

Ray Berghouse

MUSCLE MEN t would have been easy to dismiss the plain-Jane VK Commodore that DSSHDUHG IRU $PDURR 3DUN¡V $XVWUDOLDQ (QGXUDQFH &KDPSLRQVKLS¡V opener on August 3. For here was a car almost devoid of sponsorship and piloted by an unknown Group A debutant QDPHG Âś$VKE\ 5HHG¡ 6LJQDJH ZDV OLPLWHG to his name on the windscreen strip and DOO XSSHUFDVH WH[W SURPRWLQJ RQH RI 6\GQH\¡V many smash repair businesses. If anything was written over this Ashby 5HHG FKDUDFWHU¡V HIIRUW LW ZDV ÂśKHUH WRGD\ JRQH WRPRUURZ¡ 7RXULQJ FDU UDFLQJ EORZ LQV came and went with monotonous regularity in that era. Most wannabes were only one bingle or engine detonation away from disappearing off the scene just as quickly as they arrived. 6XUH HQRXJK WKH QRQGHVFULSW 9. JULGGHG XS DW WKH UHDU DPRQJ WR ERUURZ D %LOO 7XFNH\ SKUDVH WKH UDWV DQG PLFH 7KH FDU ODVWHG ORQJHU LQ WKH ODS %HWWHU %UDNHV WKDQ VHHPHG OLNHO\ EHIRUH HQJLQH PDODGLHV HQGHG LWV UXQ DQG FRQĂ€UPHG PDQ\ F\QLFDO REVHUYHUV¡ VXVSLFLRQV Fast forward two months and the Lansvale 6PDVK 5HSDLUV 9. ZDV EDFN IRU DQRWKHU KLW RXW ² LQ QR OHVV DQ HYHQW WKDQ WKH -DPHV +DUGLH 7KH HQWU\ OLVW UHYHDOHG WKDW Âś$VKE\ 5HHG¡ ZDV DFWXDOO\ WZR SHRSOH ² 7UHYRU $VKE\ DQG 6WHYH 5HHG 7KH ROG schoolmates and business partners had only EHHQ WR 0RXQW 3DQRUDPD EHIRUH DV VSHFWDWRUV so few expected the rookie pair to trouble the ODSVFRUHUV OHW DORQH UHDFK WKH Ă€QLVK <HW FRPH WKH Ă€UVW 6XQGD\ LQ 2FWREHU WKDW VDPH QRQGHVFULSW \HOORZ 9. ZDV LQFUHGLEO\ NQRFNLQJ RQ WKH GRRU RI WKH KDOORZHG WRS DQ hour into the race! $IWHU TXDOLI\LQJ D VHQVDWLRQDO WK LQ D Ă€HOG RI WKH &RPPRGRUH ZDV UXQQLQJ WK ² and second of the all-privateer crews – as the Ă€UVW URXQG RI SLWVWRSV EHJDQ 7KH ODWH 7XFNH\ LQ the Great Race 1986 ERRN ZURWH WKDW WKH SDLU had been the “sensations of race weekâ€?. He

I

Chris Currie

Above: The Lansvale Smash Repairs name still adorns V8 Commodores 30 years after the team’s 1986 debut. Left: LSR’s sole principal today, Trevor Ashby (pictured, right), rocked up to our catch-up with he and former business partner Steve Reed in a ute with well-worn LRT333 numberplates.

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DQG IRU VXEVHTXHQW %DWKXUVW DVVDXOWV 7KHLU FRQVHFXWLYH FDPSDLJQV WRJHWKHU means they will almost certainly hold the UHFRUG IRU HYHU PRUH DV WKH HYHQW¡V PRVW capped pairing. When they hung up their helmets after the HYHQW WKH IDPLOLDU \HOORZ UHG DQG EOXH &RPPRGRUH FRQWLQXHG WR UDFH IXOO WLPH LQ the hands of hired guns. Even after the duo FORVHG WKH WHDP DQG VROG LWV 9 6XSHUFDU OLFHQFH IRU VHDVRQ WKH\¡YH PDLQWDLQHG D UHJXODU SUHVHQFH DW UDFH PHHWLQJV DV ZH will discover. 7KH QDPHV 5HHG DQG $VKE\ ORQJ DJR became synonymous with each other and the JORU\ GD\V RI WKH SULYDWHHU 7KH\ UHSUHVHQWHG WKH ODVW RI WKH EUHHG ZKHQ D FRXSOH RI PDWHV ZLWK DQ DXWRPRWLYH EXVLQHVV DQG D œFDQ GR¡ attitude could rock up to Mount Panorama and nip at the heels of the pros in the biggest race on the calendar. 7KHLU XQLTXH SDUWQHUVKLS FDSWXUHG WKH UDFLQJ SXEOLF¡V LPDJLQDWLRQ ,W ZDV EXLOW RQ KDYLQJ D FUDFN KDYLQJ IXQ DQG GRLQJ ZKDW ZDV EHVW IRU WKH EXVLQHVV WKDW HQDEOHG WKHP WR UDFH in the big league. ,W ZDV DOVR GHYRLG RI HJR 7KHLU DSSURDFK was just so unlike many others involved in motor UDFLQJ ZKRVH DJJUHVVLYH DSSURDFK LQ EXVLQHVV showed through in the spats they inevitably had with their racing associates. ´7UHYRU DQG , QHYHU KDG DQ LVVXH ZLWK KRZ ZH shared it ... neither of us was jealous. If one went UHDOO\ TXLFN LW ZRXOG MXVW EH D œFRQJUDWXODWLRQV¡ $QG WKDW¡V WKH ZD\ WKH EXVLQHVV ZRUNHG DV ZHOO ¾ VD\V 5HHG 7KH SULYDWHHU SDLULQJ¡V ORQJHYLW\ VXFFHVV DQG approachability has made them a much-missed %DWKXUVW LQVWLWXWLRQ

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Top: From Capri to an Escort to... Left: ...being asked at Bathurst ’86 by Volvo’s Bowe: “Where did you bastards come from?” Below: Behind the works teams, pro drivers and a couple of long-time privateers was a pair of debutants in a yellow VK.

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MUSCLE MEN

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Ray Berghouse

Main and inset: The pair caused the most grief to the pros in the late 1980s. Bottom left: Uh-oh! When Reed went in during practice at Griffin’s Bend in ’87, so began a massive repair effort that was rewarded come Sunday afternoon.

Ray Berghouse

Ray Berghouse

“Engine blow-ups were always more of a setback to us,â€? Ashby explains. “We never worried about the panel damage, but the mechanicals were another matter. I used to hate ripping a wheel off, but slapping the side of the car was no big deal for us.â€? ,Q 5HHG VFRUHG WKH GXR¡V Ă€ UVW SRLQWV LQ WKH Australian Touring Car Championship, with eighth at Lakeside. Both say they enjoyed the Group A HUD WKH PRVW IURP D GULYHU¡V SHUVSHFWLYH “We were very competitive for the budget WKDW ZH KDG Âľ 5HHG VD\V ´+DYLQJ :DOO\ 6WRUH\¡V ZLVGRP ZDV D ELJ SOXV :H GLGQ¡W ODFN IRU SDFH chassis-wise, but we suffered, just through a lack of budget, in engine development. And that showed at the longer circuits, whereas we were more competitive on tracks that rewarded a car that handled well.â€? Throughout, their weapon of choice was the privateer favourite: the Holden Commodore, the pair working their way through the VK, VL, VL Walkinshaw and VN models over their seven seasons in Group A competition.

71 www.musclecarmag.com.au

MUSCLE MEN e Ray Berghous

V8 era smash hit

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Paul Cross

Andrew Hall

Paul Cross

he Sydneysiders kept their winning formula going as the international Group A category gave way to the 5.0-litre V8 touring car class for the 1993 season, that soon became the V8 Supercars era. As their commitment and investment in racing grew, the structure and location of their team set-up HYROYHG $W YDULRXV WLPHV WKH UDFH WHDP·V ZRUNVKRS ZDV EDVHG DW WKHLU RZQ EXVLQHVV DW (QÀHOG DW 5RQ *LOODUGV· ZRUNVKRS DW %DOOLQD RQ WKH 16: 1RUWK &RDVW DW :D\QH *DUGQHU 5DFLQJ·V ZRUNVKRS WKHQ their own dedicated race workshop in Lidcombe – ZKDWHYHU ZDV WKH EHVW ÀW DW WKH WLPH %H\RQG WKH DQQXDO WULS WR %DWKXUVW LQLWLDO VSRUDGLF outings at favoured racetracks became a full schedule DQG RFFDVLRQDO JLDQWNLOOLQJ UHVXOWV VXFK DV ÀIWK DW Lakeside in 1997. That year saw them post their best result on the Mountain, eighth. 7KURXJK WKHLU ÀUVW GHFDGH WKH\ UHPDLQHG WKH EHQFKPDUN RI SDUW WLPHUV· UDQNV 7KLV ZDV FHPHQWHG by winning the Privateers Team Cup in 1998. This was the last hurrah for the privateer in the traditional sense.

72 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Greg Taylor Mel Brooker

The sport moved to a franchise system in the ODWH V XQGHU $9(6&2 DQG LWV KLJK SURĂ€OH chairman Tony Cochrane. Long-term team owners like the Lansvale boys acquired a stake in the growing business and Reed was instrumental as D WHDP¡V UHSUHVHQWDWLYH LQ WKLV QHZ SURIHVVLRQDO approach getting off the ground. By 2000, when fellow privateer Terry Finnigan (see AMC #50) pulled up stumps, they found themselves as the only full-time Sydney operation. This was the year the team diverted from its modus operandi of the previous 14 seasons and, surprisingly, entered two cars – one for each owner – in each of the 13 Shell Championship Series events. It was one last full-season campaign for the duo as drivers, with both turning DKHDG RI WKDW \HDU¡V %DWKXUVW 7KH\ SDLUHG for their 15th consecutive Great Race in a VS wearing their traditional #3, while Geoff Full and 3KLOOLS 6FLĂ HHW GURYH 6DGO\ WKH WHDP¡V Ă€UVW two-car Bathurst campaign saw both yellow/red/ blue machines retire before the 100-lap mark. The evolution continued in 2001 with the hiring RI WKH VTXDG¡V Ă€UVW IXOO WLPH SURIHVVLRQDO &DPHURQ McConville, in the #3 VX. Meantime, Reed and Ashby shared the #23 VS for the bulk of the series, their last before hanging up their helmets. “We had Optus all over the cars that year and ZH WKUHZ HYHU\WKLQJ ZH KDG DW &DPHURQ¡V FDU There were a lot of updates to that lead car that VHDVRQ EXW ZH GLGQ¡W ZRUU\ DERXW WKH ODWHVW JHDU for our (second) car that Steve and I shared. It was all about giving Cameron the best possible chance of success and we had some good results.â€? These were the last days of what could be WHUPHG WKH ÂśRSHQ HUD¡ EHIRUH $9(6&2 UHVWULFWHG events to its travelling circus of major team franchise holders. An era when 35 to 40 cars

would rock up to circuits licensed to run 32, with pre-qualifying sometimes coming into play. McConville hovered around the top 10 at most events, although being in the thick of the action led to plenty of skirmishes, including a monster rollover at Sandown. The 2001 Bathurst classic would be the last for the most-capped duo in Great Race history. They ZHQW RXW LQ Ă€QH VW\OH ZLWK D FRPSHWLWLYH UXQ WR WK place, one spot behind the lead Commodore of McConville and Rick Bates. Fittingly, Ashby and 5HHG ZHUH WKH Ă€UVW SDLU RI SDUW WLPHUV DQG ¡Ă€IW\ VRPHWKLQJV¡ DFURVV WKH OLQH “To get two cars home in 10th and 11th, with the budget that we had, was a huge effort by the guys,â€? Ashby comments. Reed: “Towards the end, the endurance races ZHUH UHDOO\ RXU IRUWH , GHĂ€QLWHO\ HQMR\HG WKRVH longer races more than the sprint races at that stage. You could really getting my teeth stuck into those and concentrate on banging out consistent lap times all days.â€?

73 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Main: Bathurst 1997 brought their highest finish in the Great Race, eighth. Centre: No, you’re not seeing double. There are two Lansvale cars in this pic. Left: McConky’s Sandown 2001 rollover.

y 2002 the boys had pulled the pin on their driving careers. Around this time the team HPEUDFHG WKH Âś/DQVYDOH 5DFLQJ 7HDP¡ PRQLNHU ZLWK VLJQDJH GHFODULQJ LW Âś6\GQH\¡V RZQ 9 6XSHUFDU WHDP¡ ´3XWWLQJ LW EOXQW,\ WKLV ZDV RXU ÂśEXUQ GRZQ¡ SHULRG Âľ $VKE\ H[SODLQV ´:H NQHZ ZH KDG WR VWRS UDFLQJ FRPSOHWHO\ :H JRW &DPHURQ LQ >WR GULYH IRU @ DQG ORRNHG DW KRZ ORQJ ZH ZRXOG NHHS JRLQJ 7KH FRVWV ZHUH ULVLQJ \HDU RQ \HDU 6R ZKHQ ZH VWRSSHG GULYLQJ ZH NQHZ LW ZDV MXVW D PDWWHU RI WLPH EHIRUH ZH ZRXOG H[LW WKH VSRUW FRPSOHWHO\ Âľ :KHQ 0F&RQYLOOH PRYHG WR *DUU\ 5RJHUV 0RWRUVSRUW IRU -DVRQ 5LFKDUGV ZDV GUDIWHG in as replacement. ´7KH\ ZHUH ERWK JUHDW JX\V WR KDYH RQERDUG ERWK IDQWDVWLF EORNHV Âľ VD\V 5HHG KLV YRLFH WUDLOLQJ RII LQ DQ XQVSRNHQ PDUN RI UHVSHFW IRU WKH ODWH -DVRQ 5LFKDUGV ZKR VXFFXPEHG WR D UDUH strain of cancer in late 2011. 7KH WHDP¡V 9 OLFHQFH ZDV VROG WR 7DVPDQ 0RWRUVSRUW IRU ZLWK WKH GHDO LQFOXGLQJ VLJQDJH IRU /DQVYDOH 6PDVK 5HSDLUV IRU D IHZ more seasons. A number of team sponsors also carried over. :KHQ WKH DUUDQJHPHQW ZLWK 7DVPDQ HQGHG WKH /DQYVDOH EXVLQHVV¡V ORJR DSSHDUHG RQ %UDG -RQHV 5DFLQJ¡V &RPPRGRUHV ² DQG KDV VWD\HG WKHUH HYHU VLQFH 7KH %DWKXUVW PDUNV WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI WKH /65 EUDQG¡V Ă€UVW *UHDW 5DFH FDPSDLJQ ZLWK DQ XQEURNHQ UXQ of entering or sponsoring cars over the nsui g years J /DQVYDOH 6PDVK

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MUSCLE MEN

Ray Berghouse

Last hurrah

74 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Top: The evolution of the popular Sydney team began with a hired gun. Above: For 2004, LRT morphed into Tasman Motorsport with Jason Richards as driver. Below: Today, the LSR logo can be found on the Brad Jones Racing VFs, signalling three decades of continuous tin-top involvement. 16: SULYDWHHU *UDHPH %DLOH\ “I had a bottle shop for a while and set up D FDIH RII WKH VLGH RI WKDW 7KHVH GD\V , KDYH SRXOWU\ IDUPV LQ 6RXWK $XVWUDOLD DQG WKDW¡V HQRXJK IRU PH ZLWK VRPH WUDYHOOLQJ DQG RWKHU WKLQJV , have going on. It was just time for me to move on IURP WKH VPDVK UHSDLUV JDPH Âľ VD\V 5HHG RI KLV career change. “I started losing a bit of passion IRU LW VWDUWHG WR ORVH D ELW RI ZDQW IRU LW Âľ %RWK FRQWLQXH WR IUHTXHQW 6XSHUFDU HYHQWV WRGD\ $VKE\ KRVWV /DQVYDOH 6PDVK 5HSDLU¡V Ă HHW FXVWRPHUV DQG JXHVWV DW KDOI D GR]HQ HYHQWV HDFK \HDU 6XUSULVH VXUSULVH LW¡V 5HHG ZKR LV UHWDLQHG E\ %UDG -RQHV 5DFLQJ ZKR RIWHQ FRQGXFWV WKRVH SLW WRXUV IRU WKH $OEXU\ EDVHG WHDP WKH RQO\ 16: VTXDG LQ WKH VSRUW¡V WRS WLHU ´, GR D ORW RI %UDG DQG .LP¡V SLW WRXUV DQG VWXII OLNH WKDW , JR WR WKH HYHQWV , ZDQW WR JR WR 7KH H[FLWHPHQW RQ SHRSOH¡V IDFHV ZKHQ WKH\ VHH LQVLGH WKHVH FDUV QRZ LW¡V IDQWDVWLF 7KH\ DUH MXVW OLNH D VSDFHVKLS ,W¡V D GHDG VHW VLOKRXHWWH formula now and a whole different ballgame to ZKHQ ZH ZHUH UDFLQJ ,W¡V DQRWKHU ZRUOG DQG D VWHS XS 7KH GHYHORSPHQW RYHU WKH ODVW \HDUV VLQFH ZH VWRSSHG GULYLQJ WKHP LV LQFUHGLEOH Âľ

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For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply subscribe or renew to Australian Muscle Car magazine for a minimum of 12 months, and tell us in 25 words or less how this wonderful compact system will improve your music listening experience?

Jamo Concert C103 Bookshelf speakers RRP $3,290 (in Real Walnut Timber)

These premium, contemporary C103 bookshelf speakers look stunning in walnut Řȭƞ ƞƬǚǔ˸Ƭʁ ŘȧɁɻʊ ǚƬǷƬȭƞŘʁ˿ ŘƋƋˁʁŘǜƬ ǒǔȊǞ ʊɁˁȭƞ njʁɁȧ ǜǒƬǔʁ ʕȊǔȭƋǒ ˹ɁɁnjƬʁʊ Řȭƞ 1-inch decoupled tweeters. The Jamo/Marantz system is a perfect audio system designed for traditionally high performance in a modern audio world.

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Price offer expires 2/11/16. Australian and New Zealand: $A109 for 14 issues (2 years), A$59.00 for 7 issues (1 year). Includes GST. Competition open to Australian and NZ residents, over the age of 18. Competition commences 00:01 AEST 18/08/16 and closes 11:59 AEDT 31/10/16. This is a game of skill. You will be eligible by telling us in 25 words or less, “How will this wonderful compact system improve your music listening experience?”. 1 lucky subscriber with the most creative entry will win a HiFi system comprised of a Marantz PM6006 Stereo Amp (black or silver), a Marantz CD6006 Stereo CD Player (black or silver) and Jamo Concert C103 Bookshelf speakers; system valued at $5440.00. Total prize pool is $5440.00. Entrants must subscribe to participating magazines for 12 months or more to be entered into the competition. Multiple entries are accepted however a separate subscription must be purchased for each entry. One winner will be selected at 11:00am AEDT on 08/11/16 at the Promoter’s premises. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner will be notified by email and published online. The Promoter is nextmedia Pty Ltd 207 Pacific Highway St Leonards, NSW 2065, visit www.mymagazines.com.au/FD16 for full terms. If you would prefer to receive communication electronically, please ensure we have your current email address.

MUSCLE MEN

Q&A AMC: What was the secret to your long partnership? Steve Reed: Being involved in racing had to be fun. We had a lot of volunteers and family pitching in and helping us, so it had to be enjoyable for all. It evolved into a business, but it remained fun... albeit it became more expensive fun! Also, whoever was in the car was in the car. Whatever they did they did. By that I mean we were only ever supportive of each other. If I was in the car DQG , EHQW LW ZH MXVW JRW RQ ZLWK LW À[LQJ LW ,I 7UHYRU EHQW LW ZH JRW RQ ZLWK À[LQJ LW ,I 7UHYRU ZDV IDVWHU than me, no one was happier than I was. And vice versa. :H DOVR KDG WKH ÀYH PLQXWH UXOH LI ZH KDG D GLVDJUHHPHQW \RX·G VD\ \RXU SLHFH DQG \RX KDG ÀYH PLQXWHV EHIRUH \RX KDG WR PRYH RQ 7KHUH were a few times we needed to be reminded of that rule, but our approach must have had something going for it. AMC: There were plenty of long-time Bathurst competitors who had a different co-driver every year... Trevor Ashby: $EVROXWHO\ ULJKW 0D\EH WKH\ GLGQ·W KDYH WKH ÀYH PLQXWH UXOH 7KLQJV JR ZURQJ \RX·UH QRW WU\LQJ WR KLW WKH IHQFH \RX·UH QRW WU\LQJ WR EUHDN the gearbox... Usually the way we did it at Bathurst was that ZKRHYHU TXDOLÀHG WKH RWKHU JRW WKH VWDUW WKH UDFH $OWKRXJK WKH ÀUVW \HDU DW %DWKXUVW ZH WRVVHG D FRLQ to see who would start! AMC: Who was quickest? SR: 7UHYRU ZDV QRUPDOO\ WKH TXLFNHU RI WKH WZR RI us on new tyres and over one lap, but I may have been a bit faster in the wet. AMC: What do you consider your greatest on-track achievements? SR: Bathurst in 1987, when everybody put in to repair the car after the practice crash and to be rewarded with a top 10 result. In a car that was hurting, that was pretty special. TA: 7KDW was special. For me, the overall experience was great. I could not wait to get to each meeting. AMC: Most drivers with long histories at Bathurst can remember what happened during each campaign. I get the impression that for you they all blend together to an extent. TA: , NQRZ , VSHDN IRU ERWK RI XV LQ VD\LQJ WKDW most of the seasons and most of the races all blend

together. (Reed nods) AMC: How would you like to be remembered? TA: $V WKH 6FRWW\ 7D\ORU DQG .HYLQ .HQQHG\ RI RXU WLPH :KHQ ZH ÀUVW JRW LQYROYHG ZH·G JHW WR %DWKXUVW DQG ORRN WR VHH LI WKH\ KDG WXUQHG XS ,W would be nice to be remembered for always being there. [ED: Taylor/Kennedy, see AMC #44, were the previous holders of the longest Bathurst partnership record with 10 consecutive starts together, 1977 to 1986]. AMC: :H WKLQN LW·V D SLW\ WRGD\ WKDW D SDLU RI 35-year-old mates, with an automotive business, FRXOGQ·W GLYH LQ WRGD\ DQG KDYH D JR LQ WKH SUHPLHU division, as you did in 1986. SR: ,W ZRXOG EH YHU\ GLIÀFXOW ,W·V GRDEOH DOEHLW WKH FRVW ZRXOG EH PXFK JUHDWHU JLYHQ WKH KLJK tech nature of the cars today and the speciality equipment required. So you would need to run off

76 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Above: Reed, like any good smash repair assessor, was quick to advise what parts were needed after the ’87 Griffin’s Bend hit. Below: Two nicer blokes you could not meet for a cuppa and a chat about their 30-year involvement in topline racing. WKH EDFN RI WKH SUR WHDPV AMC: How do you see V8 Supercars, sorry Supercars, going in the medium to longer term? TA: , WKLQN LW LV JRLQJ WR VXUYLYH ÀQH 7KH IDFW WKDW FURZGV DUH VWLOO URFNLQJ XS WHDPV VWLOO ZDQW WR compete and Fox is happy all augurs well. SR: 7KH VSRUW KDV WR HQVXUH LW·V QRW UHOLDQW RQ manufacturer funding. Holden, and to a lesser extent Ford, have been stalwarts of Australian motor racing, but the others have come and gone when LW VXLWV ,W RQO\ WDNHV D FKDQJH RI PDQDJLQJ GLUHFWRU DQG D PDQXIDFWXUHU·V VXSSRUW FDQ GLVDSSHDU :KDW do we need from manufacturers today apart from PRQH\" 3UREDEO\ QRWKLQJ UHDOO\ 7KH EXVLQHVV PRGHO ZLOO FKDQJH D ELW DQG LW ZLOO DOO NLFN RQ AMC: Racing at the top end of the sport must have been worthwhile for Lansvale Smash Repairs given your longevity? SR: It opened a lot of doors for us. It gave us a SURÀOH ZKHUH SHRSOH ZH GHDOW ZLWK DOZD\V ZDQWHG WR WDON ÀUVW DERXW UDFLQJ FDUV UDWKHU WKDQ EXVLQHVV Our racing was always a good conversation starter LQ D ZRUN VHQVH ,W ZDV GHÀQLWHO\ D SRVLWLYH WKLQJ IRU the business. AMC: Can you see yourselves getting involved in Historic racing? SR: 1R , KDYH RWKHU WKLQJV ,·G OLNH WR GR ,I , JRW LQYROYHG , ZRXOGQ·W EH DEOH WR VWRS P\VHOI IURP GRLQJ LW ERRWV DQG DOO ZKLFK , GRQ·W ZDQW WR GR TA: 2I FRXUVH LW ZRXOG EH JRRG IXQ %XW , IHHO ,·YH been there and done that. I used to race cars in my last life. Once I stopped driving 15 years ago I let P\ &$06 OLFHQFH ODSVH DQG QHYHU JRW LW EDFN

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Phase

Story and modern day images: Alex Rae

RETRO MUSCLE

No passing

The late Wayne Draper faced many obstacles in bringing his automotive dreams to reality, but now his son, his business partner and a band of Ford enthusiasts are ensuring his muscle car legacy lives on. 78 www.musclecarmag.com.au

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RETRO MUSCLE

he passing of Wayne Draper in 2012 ZDV WKH ORVV RI RQH RI $XVWUDOLD¡V JUHDW automotive designers. While you might think the story of such a character would be of endless hours scribbling designs DQG VFXOSWLQJ FOD\ 'UDSHU¡V VWRU\ LV RI D PDQ obsessed by his passion. He broke the rules and risked his career to preserve an era of muscle cars that would have otherwise been lost. In his later years Draper would be hit by a string of tragedies and challenges, but during his HDUO\ WLPH DW )RUG KH WRRN KLV OXFN DQG ZDVQ¡W afraid to risk it all. Straight out of school Draper studied industrial design at RMIT Melbourne with a talent for design and a love of cars. His mentor encouraged him to apply at Ford, and although he was knocked EDFN DW Ă€UVW 'UDSHU SXW LQ DQRWKHU \HDU RI VWXG\ and was offered a role as a junior designer the following year. The design department at Ford when Draper started in 1970 was bohemian and all rules were off the table. “The thing during that golden era of design in Australia is that they were all cowboys,â€? says Rob Draper, who has continued the legacy of HO 3KDVH $XWRV VLQFH KLV IDWKHU¡V GHDWK ´7KH\ FRXOG do what they like, it was chaos equals creativity‌ they were loose and they would have these wild ideas and it was a real creative hub. Dad would come home with all sorts of different cars; he would say he wanted this engine with this and this paint and later that week he would have it. “Dad was crazy about cars; he always was,â€? says Rob, pictured second from right on previous page. “He had a Datsun rally car and loved

T

GULYLQJ LW KDUG EXW HYHQ LQ WKH ZRUN FDUV KH¡G take home he was on the limit all the time.â€? His daily commute to work with fellow designer Peter Arcadipane was in twin black XB Falcon GT 427 coupes. “When we were both a couple of very young designers at Ford we got up to a lot of mischief,â€? says Arcadipane. “We used to blast through the upper northern suburbs at full trot and time ourselves. Always trying to outdo the other. But we never hit or wrecked anything. “One day the inevitable happened. Straight out of the classic road movie The Vanishing Point, the police put up a roadblock on Sydney Road, up near Ford. They had obviously been getting numerous complaints about these two maniacs in their evil devil-machines! They were ZDLWLQJ IRU XV RQH PRUQLQJ ÂśJXQV UDLVHG¡ $V /DG\ /XFN ZRXOG KDYH LW ZH KDG WR VWRS IRU IXHO DQG our friend who worked there informed us that something was up. “We got in our Mad Max machines and very gently burbled up to work, exactly on the speed

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limit. We got a lot of angry and frustrated looks from the boys in blue. But they could do nothing.â€? 6RPH RI 'UDSHU¡V JUHDWHVW OXFN FDPH ZKHQ KH WRRN WKH WKHQ )RUG ERVV *HRII 3ROLWHV¡ /7' IRU D spin. Draper rolled the car eight times! He escaped unscathed and promptly trotted out to order Polites another one. When you ask anyone who knew Draper to tell you about him you get the impression he was a man without fear. It was an attribute that would provide him the audacity to continue the HO name after Ford dropped it in face of the supercar scare of 1972. Draper joined Ford as a designer when the GT-HO Phase II was in the latter stages of its development and it was the old muscle cars like it WKDW 'UDSHU PRVW KDG DQ DIĂ€QLW\ IRU

Left: Wayne Draper (in skivvy) fearlessly used Ford’s facilities to press ahead with designs the company’s head honchos would never approve – or, at one stage, approve of. Bottom left: Draper surveys the results of a very different re-design exercise. When Ford axed production of the GT-HO Phase IV in 1972 and subsequently withdrew from UDFLQJ 'UDSHU¡V FUHDWLYH HQHUJLHV ZHUH MXVW JHWWLQJ into gear. For a petrolhead like him it was hard to stand by and see the dynamic, performanceGULYHQ FDU FRPSDQ\ VORZO\ GHFOLQH LQWR D FDUGLJDQ wearing maker. :KHQ WKH ;' PRGHO ZDV LQ GHYHORSPHQW LQ WKH PLG WR ODWH V KH SHQQHG D YHUVLRQ KH FDOOHG D Âś3KDVH ¡ 1RW RQO\ GLG 'UDSHU Ă€QG D ZD\ WR EULQJ this design to life, as a secondary manufacturer, he did so while helping get XD Falcons onto the UDFHWUDFN GHVSLWH )RUG $XVWUDOLD¡V WRS EUDVV Ă DWO\ UHIXVLQJ WR KRPRORJDWH D UDFLQJ YHUVLRQ RI WKH model, as outlined in AMC The subsequent Phase cars after the GTHO Phase IV are a polarising point for some HQWKXVLDVWV ZKR GLVPLVV WKH FDUV DV WKH\¡UH QRW IDFWRU\ EXLOW )RUG SURGXFWLRQ YHKLFOHV %XW IRU PDQ\ EOXHEORRGV WKHVH PDFKLQHV ² DQG 'UDSHU¡V GHVLJQV JHQHUDOO\ ² DUH ODFHG ZLWK WKH %OXH 2YDO¡V RZQ '1$ DV KH DFWXDOO\ ZRUNHG WKHUH 7KH\ DUH FRQVLGHUHG YHKLFOHV WKDW )RUG should KDYH SURGXFHG $QG LI LW ZHUHQ¡W IRU 'UDSHU DQG VRPH

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R TRO MUSCLE others, the realisation of the original XD Phase 5 and XE Phase 6 designs would have been buried under a pile of E series Falcon drawings. ´(YHQ WKRXJK )RUG ZHUHQ¡W FKDQJLQJ WKHLU mind [about not marketing performance cars like the GT-HO],â€? Rob Draper continues, “there was RQH GHVLJQHU WKHUH ZKR WKRXJKW Âś6WXII LW ,¡OO GR LW RQ P\ RZQ ¡ $QG WKH JX\V WKHUH DQG RQ WKH VFHQH ² 'DG DXWRPRWLYH Ă€EUHJODVV VXSSOLHU %RE McWilliam and Murray Carter – did it without Ford and they made sure these cars, in some form, got on the racetrack and road.â€? This is a reference to the clandestine efforts of :D\QH 'UDSHU DQG RWKHU %URDGPHDGRZV LQVLGHUV in helping Ford privateers including his mate Murray Carter homologate the XD and XE model racing Falcons of the late Group C touring car era. What Carter and Garry Willmington started, Dick Johnson took to a whole new level, winning WKUHH $XVWUDOLDQ 7RXULQJ &DU &KDPSLRQVKLSV LQ IRXU \HDUV DV ZHOO DV WKH %DWKXUVW ´6R LQ D ZD\ WKH VSLULW RI WKH IDQV ZKR ZRUNHG within Ford is in these [Phase 5 and 6] cars,â€? Rob Draper continues. “To me they are better than a SURGXFWLRQ )DOFRQ EHFDXVH )RUG GLGQ¡W FDUH DQG these guys did. They are pure enthusiast cars.â€? Ford dropped its trademark for the HO (Homologated Options, the original meaning RI +2 DIWHU FDQFHOOLQJ 3KDVH ,9 SURGXFWLRQ and Draper was canny enough to pick it up. He VXEVHTXHQWO\ VWDUWHG 3KDVH $XWRV ZLWK %RE 0F:LOOLDP DW Ă€UVW GHVLJQLQJ VSRLOHUV IRU WKH ;$ ;% DQG ;& )DOFRQ WRXULQJ FDUV 7KH GLOHPPD

or Wayne Draper was keeping his ide business a secret from Ford, a challenge when Draper was using )RUG¡V PRGHOOLQJ FOD\ WHVWLQJ 3KDVH prototypes in its wind tunnel and getting Murray Carter to test the cars without )RUG¡V NQRZOHGJH ,Q :D\QH 'UDSHU WROG AMC the ROORZLQJ ´%RE DQG , HVWDEOLVKHG D QHZ FRPSDQ\ Âś3KDVH $XWRV 3W\ /WG¡ :H ere equal partners in the business, EXW , KDG WR UHPDLQ D VLOHQW SDUWQHU LI , ZDQWHG WR keep my job at Ford. ´7KH LGHD ZDV WKDW 3KDVH $XWRV ZRXOG GHVLJQ DQG PDQXIDFWXUH WKH &$06 DSSURYHG ERG\NLWV for the XD racecars and produce the minimum number of road cars needed for homologation, ZKLFK , WKLQN ZDV XQLWV Âľ 1RW WKDW D IXOO FRPSOHWH FDUV UROOHG RXW RI 3KDVH $XWRV LQ WKH WUDGLWLRQDO VHQVH 6RPH complete cars were produced, but many were simply kits sold to individuals or Ford dealers IRU Ă€WPHQW ,Q DQ\ FDVH QHDU HQRXJK ZDV JRRG enough for a governing body desperate for the new Falcon to hit the track. ´, WKLQN ZH MXVW KDG WR VKRZ D JHQXLQH LQWHQW WR EXLOG WKHP ,W ZDV DOO VPRNH DQG PLUURUV Âľ :D\QH Draper told AMC IRU LVVXH 6RQ 5RE LV WRGD\ LPPHQVHO\ SURXG RI KLV IDWKHU¡V HIIRUWV WR Ă€QG D ZD\ IRUZDUG DQG SUHVV RQ HYHQ ZKHQ )RUG¡V KHDG KRQFKRV FRWWRQHG RQ WR :D\QH¡V LQYROYHPHQW Ultimately, Johnson and the other Falcon racers were generating positive press for the XD UDQJH DQG )RUG¡V FRUSRUDWH DYHUVLRQ WR WKH UDFLQJ program dissipated. “Ford did eventually catch wind of it,â€? 5RE VD\V ´$V , XQGHUVWDQG LW D PDUNHWLQJ executive at Ford named Rick Jarvis convinced Above: Allan Moffat ultimately raced RX7s against the XE Falcons, but Wayne Draper worked on a concept to keep him in Fords. Below: HO Phase Autos’ workshop was destroyed in the February 2009 bushfires, but it’s since risen from the ashes.

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management that what was going on was a way to still be involved in motorsport without them having to do anything or pay for anything.â€? ,W¡V EHHQ GLIĂ€FXOW IRU 5RE 'UDSHU WR SLHFH together details of Phase 5 and 6 road car production and where the cars were sold. 7KLV LV GXH WR SRRU SDSHU EDVHG V VW\OH recordkeeping, the loss of surviving records in recent years and the passing of both original partners. Coming up with a total number is tricky also due to the fact that some left the workshop as complete cars, while others were sold as kits. ,W¡V DOVR SRVVLEOH WKDW QR WZR FDUV SURGXFHG ZHUH the same. ´,¡P WROG 3KDVH $XWRV GLG DQ HDUO\ UXQ RI FDUV and shipped them to dealers,â€? Rob Draper says. ´3XEOLFLW\ LQ PDJD]LQHV DQG WKH ;'¡V VXFFHVV on the racetrack contributed to people walking into Ford dealerships and wanting to order them. 6RPH FXVWRPHUV ZDQWHG WKH ELJJHU JXDUGV DQG VRPH SHRSOH GLGQ¡W 7KDW¡V ZK\ DOO WKH FDUV produced are slightly different. Customers had an options list. There was never an arrangement ZLWK VSHFLĂ€F GHDOHUVKLSV Âľ One knowledgeable enthusiast told AMC that the total number of cars produced in the V ZDV DURXQG WKH PDUN FRPSULVLQJ DSSUR[LPDWHO\ ;' EDVHG 3KDVH V DQG DV few as four XE Phase 6s. The small numbers highlight how that this was very much a part-time sideline business for both partners. 5RE VD\V WKHUH¡V D VWHDG\ Ă RZ RI RZQHUV coming out of the woodwork claiming to have an

New Release Fifty years ago the mighty Mini Cooper S conquered Mount Panorama and the famous Bathurst 500. In that 1966 running of the Great Race the flying little ‘Bricks’ utterly trounced the bigger, more powerful V8s, filling the first nine outright places! To celebrate the halfcentury anniversary of this extraordinary success story, we salute the marque with a special 18-minute highlights package of that victory. In addition, we have unearthed a very special documentary on the famous 1960s Neptune Racing Team which includes fantastic footage of Peter Manton in his giant-killing 997cc Mini Cooper. he promo film features some brilliant footage of other Minis, plus Manton’s Neptune teammates (Norm Beechey driving a EH Holden/ Ford Galaxie and Jim McKeown in a Ford Cortina). We then look at some classic Australian touring car action from the vaults of ABC Television, from Warwick Farm in NSW. To complete this celebration we take in some current-day historic Mini racing from the Australian Muscle Car Masters event at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Available

October

p rt.com.au

RETRO MUSCLE

RULJLQDO 3KDVH RU DQG ZKLOH WKHUH ZDVQ·W DQ\ stamping, there are a few particular alterations McWilliam made to the Phase cars that makes LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ HDV\ Through the 1980s, as the E series of )DOFRQV ZHUH UHOHDVHG 'UDSHU PRYHG DZD\ from designing Phase vehicles and focused on UHDFKLQJ KLV JRDO RI EHFRPLQJ )RUG $XVWUDOLD·V FKLHI GHVLJQHU 7KH RSSRUWXQLW\ QHYHU FDPH DW Ford, and it was a bitterness Draper held onto, EXW KH GLG JHW WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ DW 1LVVDQ LQ 7KHQ WKUHH \HDUV ODWHU 1LVVDQ FORVHG GRZQ ORFDO RSHUDWLRQV DQG :D\QH ZHQW RQ WR WHDFK GHVLJQ DW RMIT, while contracting one-off projects through WKH +2 3KDVH $XWRV QDPH %RE 0F:LOOLDP DQG 'UDSHU HYHQWXDOO\ SDUWHG ZD\V 0F:LOOLDP ZDV NHHQ WR H[SDQG LQ RWKHU directions, such as boats and caravans, but 'UDSHU KDG ELJJHU LGHDV IRU +2 3KDVH $XWRV ´%RE ZDVQ·W DV NHHQ WR WKLQN DV ELJ DV 'DG ZDV 2U VR ,·P WROG E\ D IHZ SDVW HPSOR\HHV , know the last design Dad did as partner to Bob ZDV WKH SROLFH GLYY\ YDQ LQ WKH HDUO\ WR PLG V µ VD\V 5RE In 2008 Draper relocated Phase Autos to Strath Creek, 90 minutes drive north from 0HOERXUQH·V &%' +H FRQWLQXHG GHYHORSLQJ designs for HO and met Denison Phillips, who WRRN RQ WKH WDVN RI SURGXFLQJ DQG ÀWWLQJ WKH ERG\ZRUN IRU FXVWRPHUV XQGHU WKH 3KDVH $XWRV QDPH 7KH EXVLQHVV ZDV MXVW VWDUWLQJ WR EXLOG PRPHQWXP ZKHQ WUDJHG\ VWUXFN LQ )HEUXDU\ :KHQ WKH %ODFN 6DWXUGD\ EXVKÀUHV WKDW claimed 173 lives in regional Victoria, ripped WKURXJK WKH VPDOO WRZQ 3KDVH $XWRV· ZRUNVKRS ZDV FRPSOHWHO\ GHVWUR\HG Phillips remembers the loss well, not just for

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Dad always said that cars are alive. They’re like an animal and people react to things that are alive. He said the car has to have a heart; it’s its pulse. The thump of that V8 engine is the heartbeat. HO Phase Autos but also for all its customers who had lost cars. “There were a lot of upset customers and most RI WKH FDUV ZHUH XQLQVXUHG :H¡UH VWLOO GHDOLQJ with people who blame us for their loss, but then there are some people who really helped. We KDG SHRSOH GRQDWLQJ FDUV DQG PRQH\ WR KHOS JHW HYHU\WKLQJ EDFN XS LW¡V DPD]LQJ KRZ KHOSIXO people can be and it shows the passion and VXSSRUW IRU WKH FDUV ZH EXLOG ,¡G UHDOO\ OLNH WR WKDQN those people,â€? Phillips says. It was a hard time for Phillips and Wayne Draper and they had to reboot the business in a VKHG RQ D SURSHUW\ 3KLOOLS¡V PRWKHU RZQHG LQ WKH VDPH UHJLRQ /RVV RI WKH ZRUNVKRS SDOHG LQWR LQVLJQLĂ€FDQFH when in the same year Wayne Draper was GLDJQRVHG ZLWK FDQFHU %XW LW GLGQ¡W VWRS KLP +H FRQWLQXHG WR GHYHORS 3KDVH GHVLJQV DQG ZDV PRUH GHWHUPLQHG WKDQ HYHU WR VHH WKH FRPSOHWLRQ of his ultimate creation, an XE Phase 6 Series II – D PRGHUQ EXLOG RI KLV HLJKWLHV FUHDWLRQ 7KH EDVH IRU WKH FDU ZDV D VLOYHU FRORXUHG )RUG )DLUPRQW ;( $V WKH RULJLQDO 3KDVH PRXOGV KDG EHHQ ORVW LQ WKH Ă€UH 3KLOOLSV GHYHORSHG D QHZ PRXOG ZLWK 'UDSHU WKDW ZDV UHGHVLJQHG VOLJKWO\ DQG RQH SLHFH ² EDVLFDOO\ DQ LPSURYHG YHUVLRQ IRU the Series II. ´:H KDYH FXVWRPHUV QRZ ZKR JLYH XV D FDU DQG VD\ ÂśGR HYHU\WKLQJ¡ EXW ZH DOVR JHW SHRSOH

ZKR GRQ¡W KDYH WKDW VRUW RI PRQH\ EXW KDYH DOZD\V ZDQWHG D 3KDVH %HLQJ DEOH WR ',< DQG XVH VRPH SDUWV RI RXU NLWV PDNHV LW D UHDOLW\ IRU WKHP DQG WKDW¡V ZKDW NHHSV WKH VSLULW RI WKHVH FDUV DOLYH Âľ $V 'UDSHU¡V FDQFHU EHFDPH PRUH DJJUHVVLYH Phillips and a small team of family and friends ZRUNHG DURXQG WKH FORFN WR JHW WKH FDU UHDG\ LQ WLPH IRU 9LFWRULD¡V $OO )RUG 'D\ LQ HDUO\ :KLOH WKH ;( 3KDVH ZDVQ¡W UXQQLQJ LW ZDV SUHVHQWDEOH DQG KDG LWV Ă€UVW RXWLQJ JDUQHULQJ PXFK DWWHQWLRQ IURP %OXH 2YDO IDQV 'UDSHU WKHQ SXVKHG 3KLOOLSV WR Ă€QLVK WKH FDU DQG KDYH LW UXQQLQJ EHFDXVH KH EHOLHYHG WKHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ PRUH LPSRUWDQW WKDQ IRU D FDU WR EH UXQQLQJ ´'DG DOZD\V VDLG WKDW FDUV DUH DOLYH Âľ 5RE FRQWLQXHV ´7KH\¡UH OLNH DQ DQLPDO DQG SHRSOH UHDFW WR WKLQJV WKDW DUH DOLYH +H VDLG WKH FDU KDV WR KDYH D KHDUW LW¡V LWV SXOVH 7KH WKXPS RI WKDW 9 HQJLQH LV WKH KHDUWEHDW Âľ ,W WRRN DQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ HIIRUW EXW 'UDSHU KDG PDQ\ IULHQGV DQG %OXH 3RZHU 5DFLQJ 'HYHORSPHQWV ZHUH DEOH WR JHW WKH HQJLQH UXQQLQJ in just a few days. 7KH HQJLQH LWVHOI LV D UHEXLOW FL &OHYHODQG ZLWK D +ROOH\ DQG HOHFWURQLF LJQLWLRQ 7KH VRXQGWUDFN LV ULFK DQG DPSOLĂ€HG YLD H[WUDFWRUV DQG D WKUHH LQFK VWDLQOHVV VWHHO H[KDXVW 3RZHU LV FRQWUROOHG YLD D 7 JHDUER[ WKURXJK DQ Ăś LQFK GLIIHUHQWLDO :D\QH 'UDSHU GHVLJQHG WKH RULJLQDO ;( )DOFRQ

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UDQJH IRU )RUG $XVWUDOLD DQG LQLWLDOO\ VSHFLĂ€HG GRRU WULPV DQG VLGH PLUURUV WKDW GXH WR EXGJHW FRQVWUDLQWV ZHUH SXVKHG EDFN XQWLO WKH ;) PRGHO¡V UHOHDVH +H ZDV Ă€QDOO\ DEOH WR JHW WKHVH RQ WKH 3KDVH 6HULHV ,, WKDW FDPH WR OLIH LQ :KLOH D EHDXW\ WR VHH DQG KHDU ZKHQ GULYLQJ LQ UHDOLW\ WKLV SDUWLFXODU FDU LV UHVWULFWHG WR DSSHDULQJ DW FDU VKRZV ² WKH LPSUDFWLFDOLW\ RI LWV LQFK UHDU DQG IURQW 3LUHOOL 3 =HUR W\UHV PHDQV WKH\ DUH MXVW D Ă€QJHU ZLGWK DZD\ IURP WKH EHVSRNH 3KDVH ZKHHO DUFK Ă DUHV 2XW LQ GD\OLJKW IRU WKH AMC shoot the car feels DV DOLYH DV 'UDSHU LQWHQGHG DQG LWV 33* UHG SDLQW ZLWK SHU FHQW Ă XRUR SLJPHQW PL[ KDV D EULOOLDQW OXVWUH XQGHU IXOO OLJKW ´:H ZHUH RQ GLVSOD\ LQVLGH D EXLOGLQJ IRU WKUHH GD\V DW RXU ODVW FDU VKRZ Âľ VD\V 'DYLG :\OHV 'UDSHU¡V VWHS VRQ DQG RZQHU RI WKH ;( 3KDVH 6HULHV ,, ÂśGHPRQVWUDWRU¡ VKRZQ KHUH ´2Q WKH last day of the show we wheeled it outside and HYHU\RQH ZDV DVNLQJ LI LW ZDV WKH VDPH FDU ² WKH SDLQW FRPHV DOLYH LQ WKH GD\OLJKW Âľ :D\QH ZDV WRR LOO WR GULYH WKH UHDOLVDWLRQ RI KLV GUHDP EXW 5RE 3KLOOLSV DQG :\OHV WRRN WKH FDU DURXQG WKH EDFN RI WKH KRXVH ZKHUH 'UDSHU ZDV bedridden so he could see the pinnacle of his HO 3KDVH $XWRV OHJDF\ 3KLOOLSV ZKR LV FXUUHQWO\ EXLOGLQJ D VLPLODU 3KDVH IRU D FOLHQW VD\V WKDW HYHQ LQ KLV Ă€QDO GD\V 'UDSHU ZDV UHOHQWOHVV LQ KLV GHVLUH IRU KDYLQJ

RETRO MUSCLE the Phase 6 project completed. “I went around to see him for the last time,â€? Phillips recalls, “and he opened his eyes and all KH VDLG WR PH ZDV Âś-XVW JHW WKDW FDU Ă€QLVKHG ¡¾ $OWKRXJK :\OHV ZKR KHOSHG 'UDSHU LQ WKH ZRUNVKRS ZKHQ KH ZDV \RXQJHU LVQ¡W DV LQYROYHG ZLWK WKH EXVLQHVV QRZ 5RE 'UDSHU DQG 'HQLVRQ 3KLOOLSV KDYH WDNHQ WKH UHLQV “I look after HO and a lot of the business side RI WKLQJV Âľ 5RE H[SODLQV ´ZKLOH 'HQQR PDQDJHV 3KDVH $XWRV DQG ZRUNLQJ ZLWK FOLHQWV WR EXLOG their cars.â€? A serious car accident last year has left Rob 'UDSHU EDWWOLQJ LQMXULHV EXW KH¡V GHWHUPLQHG WR FRQWLQXH KLV IDWKHU¡V OHJDF\ “There are plans for some one-off Phase cars EDVHG RQ QHZHU )DOFRQV EXW ZH¡UH VWLOO DW WKH SURSRVDO VWDJH IRU WKH PRPHQW ZHUH GRLQJ D ORW of the early Phase kits. ´$OWKRXJK EXVLQHVV KDV EHHQ JURZLQJ , ZDV LQ D EDG FDU DFFLGHQW PRQWKV DJR DQG LW KDV MXVW EHHQ DQRWKHU VHWEDFN WR GHDO ZLWK EXW ZH¡UH JHWWLQJ WKHUH QRZ DQG ,¡P GRLQJ PXFK EHWWHU WKDQ the early days. ´:KHQ , ERXJKW WKH FDU WKDW ZDV LQ WKH FUDVK

'DG VDLG LW ZDV VR ZHOO GHVLJQHG DQG WKDW LW ZRXOG VDYH P\ OLIH RQH GD\ÂŤ DQG KH ZDV ULJKW Âľ For the moment Phase Autos is based in %URDGIRUG DOWKRXJK DV LW H[SDQGV DQG WDNHV RQ PRUH FOLHQWV WKHUH DUH SODQV WR UHORFDWH DJDLQ 7KH FXUUHQW SURMHFW WDNLQJ XS PRVW RI 3KLOOLSV¡ WLPH LV D FRPSOHWH UHEXLOG RI D UHG ;( 3KDVH ,W¡V RQH RI WKH ELJJHVW SURMHFWV WR GDWH ´7KHUH¡V QRW RQH SDUW RI WKLV FDU WKDW ZRQ¡W be refurbished or new,â€? says Phillips, pictured WKLUG IURP ULJKW RQ WKH RSHQLQJ SDJH RI WKLV VWRU\

´7KH LQWHULRU ZDV LQ JUHDW FRQGLWLRQ EXW HYHQ WKDW LV EHLQJ FRPSOHWHO\ UHSODFHG WR IDFWRU\ LW¡V D KXJH MRE EXW LW MXVW VKRZV KRZ PXFK SDVVLRQ and enthusiasm there is for these cars and how PXFK SHRSOH DUH ZLOOLQJ WR VSHQG WR KDYH WKH FDU WKH\¡YH GUHDPHG RI 7KH\¡UH D VSHFLDO FDU WR D ORW of people, the Phases.â€? 7KH ODWHVW SURMHFW FRPLQJ WR UHDOLW\ DW +2 3KDVH $XWR LV RQ WKH H[WUHPH VLGH RI ZKDW FDQ EH GRQH 'UDSHU¡V 3KDVH GHVLJQV OLYHV RQ WKURXJK WKH HQWKXVLDVWV QR PDWWHU LI WKH\ ZDQW D FRPSOHWH UHEXLOW RU D ',< NLW ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV WKH approach in the 1980s – i.e. low-run, complete EXLOG RU VXSSO\ RI NLWV ² LV VWLOO WKH JR WRGD\ 7KH RSHUDWLRQ KDV EURXJKW KDOI D GR]HQ ;( Phase 6s to life in the last three years, plus two ;' 3KDVH V $ IXUWKHU RGG NLWV KDYH IRXQG customers in a similar period. ´:H GR SURYLGH GLIIHUHQW VHUYLFHV Âľ 3KLOOLSV

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VD\V DQG DOWKRXJK ZH FDQ ORRN DIWHU D FRPSOHWH EXLOG ZH JHW D ORW RI FXVWRPHUV ZKR ZDQW WR GR PRVW RI LW WKHPVHOYHV 7KH RQO\ GLIIHUHQFH EHWZHHQ D SHU FHQW ',< NLW DQG KDYLQJ XV Ă€W LW LV WKDW ZH ZLOO SURYLGH D FRPSOLDQFH SODWH LI ZH GR LW RXUVHOYHV ,W¡V MXVW WKDW ZH NQRZ LW ZLOO EH GRQH WR WKH H[DFW VSHFLĂ€FDWLRQV %XW ZH¡UH KDSS\ WR SURYLGH D FHUWLĂ€FDWH RI DXWKHQWLFLW\ ZLWK NLWV Âľ ,W¡V E\ QR PHDQV D ELJ RSHUDWLRQ DQG WKH FDUV ZLOO QHYHU EH IDFWRU\ )RUG YHKLFOHV EXW WKH\ GR Ă€OO D JDS LQ WKH %OXH 2YDO¡V VWRULHG PXVFOH FDU history. The reincarnated Phase machines only H[LVW WRGD\ GXH WR GHPDQG IURP HQWKXVLDVWV DQG D ORW RI KDUG ZRUN IURP WKH \RXQJ JX\V TXRWHG LQ this story. ´'DG KDG D ORW RI URDGEORFNV SXW LQ IURQW RI him, but he worked tirelessly to create his dream. 7KH 3KDVH FDUV OLYH RQ WKURXJK WKH HQWKXVLDVWV that share his passion.â€?

This Phase VI was under-construction when AMC visited Phillips’ workshop.

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sprinting AMC samples tarmac rallying aboard a mighty Mustang in the Lake Mountain Sprint.

Story: Steve Normoyle Images: Susan Gallus; Karyn Armstrong

TARMAC MUSCLE

Mountain

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magine a weekend spent in and around the picturesque Yarra Valley region in rural southeastern Victoria. You are at the wheel of your cherished Aussie muscle car, with a mate or perhaps your partner alongside for the ride as you guide the rumbling beast through the twists and turns of some of the best roads this country has to offer. Except that this is not a normal weekend drive in the country. On this drive, the road has been closed especially for you – the road is yours. It is, for this weekend only, a one-way road: you do not need to worry about anything coming the other way. $IWHUZDUGV \RX·OO ZDQW WR VZDS VWRULHV ZLWK some of the other drivers who have just enjoyed the same exhilarating experience that you have. 2U SHUKDSV \RX·OO ZDQW WR FKDW ZLWK 3KLO %URFN 7KH

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former touring car racing star has just driven the same roads as you, at the wheel of his own everyday-drive, a VE &RPPRGRUH 66 %URFN KDSSHQV WR EH your driving mentor for the weekend. 7KH ZHHNHQG LQ TXHVWLRQ LV WKH Lake Mountain Sprint at Marysville, the VHFRQG URXQG RI WKH $XVWUDOLDQ 7DUPDF Rally Championship. AMC took up an invitation to run in the event from the promoter, Mountain Motorsport. Our vehicle was a brand new Ford 0XVWDQJ *7 VXSSOLHG E\ &UDLJ 'HDQ RI Mustang Motorsport. 'HDQ KLPVHOI ZDV DOVR LQ WKH HYHQW at the wheel of, naturally, a Mustang. %XW KLV 3RQ\FDU ZDV D OLWWOH GLIIHUHQW IURP RXUV LW·V D 6KHOE\ *7

A weekend away in the picturesque Yarra Valley, driving on some of the best roads in the country – there’s a lot to like about the Lake Mountain Sprint.

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TARMAC MUSCLE

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Phil Brock Q&A

from this specially warmed-over HSV). This was the ninth running of the event. Marysville, at the foot of the Yarra Ranges, is the base for the rally, which runs on roads within the Yarra Ranges National Park. The route took in 16 closed road stages, running along the road from Marysville up to (and back from) the resort at the top of Lake Mountain, as well as additional stages to and from QHDUE\ $UQROG·V *DS For those unfamiliar with the Yarra Ranges area, this is a breathtakingly EHDXWLIXO SDUW RI $XVWUDOLD %XW ZKDW·V even better is the quality of the URDGV ,W·V KDUG WR LPDJLQH D SODFH more suited to this kind of thing: the Lake Mountain Road road surface is smooth, and it snakes its way up and down the mountain in a seemingly endless series of long sweeps and fast and slow corners. To take such a road as this, with nothing coming in the opposite direction, is sheer motoring joy. That sense of joy was (literally)

dampened, though, by downpours on Friday night and Saturday morning. Rain is probably the last thing you want on an event like this – apart from snow, which was something that looked alarmingly likely on a chilly morning start to the rally. It did snow up the top at the Lake Mountain Resort, although the ugly phenomenon of black ice never really reared its head. Nonetheless, the nearly-icy conditions forced the downgrading of several of the

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AMC: :KDW·V \RXU UROH LQ WKH HYHQW" PB: ,·P QRW KHUH DV D competitor, even though I drive the event with everyone else. My role is mentor for the Touring drivers. :H·UH VR fortunate to have something like this event. Roads like this, which are just fantastic, which are closed so that we can explore our driving talents and the capabilities of our cars, in a controlled situation. 2I FRXUVH WKH ÀQDO FRQWURO LV XS WR WKH individual driver, but you have that ability within the event to have a go. AMC: :KDW LV \RXU DGYLFH WR GULYHUV QHZ WR DQ HYHQW RI WKLV W\SH" PB: The important thing about an event like this, and driving generally, is attitude. The attitude coming into an event like this with your road car should be: I want to learn how to drive better, how to control this car better, and have fun doing it. ,W·V DERXW ZKDW \RX FDQ GR LQ WKH FDU DQG ZKDW WKH car will accept. :KHUH GR \RX HYHU ÀQG \RXU OLPLWDWLRQV GULYLQJ D FDU LQ QRUPDO FLUFXPVWDQFHV" <RX FDQ·W :H FDQ do that here. Over the course of this weekend ZH·YH JRW DERXW FRUQHUV RI DOO GLIIHUHQW YDULHW\ DQG ZH·YH KDG ZHW DQG GU\ ² \RX ZRQ·W get a better place to train and learn, and I include track days in that. 7KH EHDXW\ RI WKLV LV WKDW \RX GRQ·W NQRZ the corners. Over the entire weekend you will QRW KDYH OHDUQHG HYHU\ FRUQHU 6R WKHUHIRUH LW·V H[SORUDWRU\ DQG \RX KDYH WR ORRN DW ZKDW \RX·UH doing and drive accordingly. You have to leave a bit of leeway on the outside of a corner, for example – and learning how to do that properly. AMC: 6R IRU VRPHRQH ZKR EX\V D PXVFOH FDU VXFK DV WKH 9( 66 \RX·UH GULYLQJ KHUH DQG ZDQWV WR ÀQG RXW ZKDW LW FDQ GR WKLV LV D JRRG SODFH WR GR LW" PB: <HV ,I \RX GRQ·W NQRZ ZKDW \RX·UH GRLQJ LI \RX KDYH QR WUDLQLQJ WKDW·V D UHFLSH IRU GLVDVWHU if you decide to go out and explore the limits. But GRLQJ LW LQ DQ HYHQW OLNH WKLV \RX·UH GRLQJ LW LQ D far better situation. And again, if your attitude is correct, you will learn through that experience of ZKDW \RXU FDSDELOLWLHV DUH (YHU\RQH·V FDSDELOLWLHV DUH DOZD\V GLIIHUHQW LW·V QRW DERXW FRPSHWLQJ ZLWK others, but everyone learning and improving, and experiencing what you and your car can do – and enjoying yourself doing it. ,W GRHVQ·W HYHQ KDYH WR EH D TXLFN FDU ,W·V not about having the fastest car or the most horsepower. Nowadays so many people think, as soon as they buy their new V8 or turbo, that they ZDQW WR JHW PRUH KRUVHSRZHU ,W·V GXPE. Cars RGD\ KDYH JRW VR PXFK EORRG\ KRUVHSRZHU LW·V QRW IXQQ\ *HW ¶HP KDQGOLQJ DQG OHDUQ KRZ WR GULYH 3HRSOH GR EXUQRXWV EXW ZKHUH·V WKH VNLOO LQ hat? Your grandmother could do burnouts! You need to get people to learn. If something goes wrong, a wet road or whatever it might be, hat do you do? Most people have got no idea. Here, in a controlled event like this, you can tart to learn. But as long as you sneak up on it. he attitude should be, you push a bit harder, and hen you feel it starting to slide a bit, and then you an start to know what that feels like.

TARMAC MUSCLE Saturday stages. Thankfully the weather cleared IRU 6XQGD\·V DFWLYLWLHV 7KHUH ZDV WKH RGG PLVKDS KRZHYHU SDUWLFXODUO\ RQ GD\ RQH 7KH VOLSSHU\ URDGV ZHUH FHUWDLQO\ D FDXVH IRU FDXWLRQ $FFRUGLQJ WR $GDP .DSODQ D 7DUJD UDOO\ YHWHUDQ ZLWK 9 6XSHUFDU DQG )RUPXOD +ROGHQ UDFH H[SHULHQFH WKLV HYHQW SRVHG WKH PRVW FKDOOHQJLQJ URDG FRQGLWLRQV KH·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·G UHVRUWHG WR &UDLJ·V ¶ROG· 6KHOE\ IRU WKLV HYHQW RQ DFFRXQW RI WKH QHZHU 0XVWDQJ 0RWRUVSRUW 7DUJD 0XVWDQJ VWLOO QRW KDYLQJ EHHQ UHSDLUHG IURP LWV 7DUJD 7DVPDQLD VKXQW HDUOLHU LQ WKH \HDU &UDLJ·V VSHFWDFXODU LQ FDU IRRWDJH RI WKH VK FDQ EH VHHQ LQH DW \RXWXEH FRP $V IRU WKH ¶VLVWHU· XVWDQJ 0RWRUVSRUW WU\ \RXU AMC RUUHVSRQGHQW QG SKRWRJUDSKHU PSRUWDQWO\ ZHUH EOH WR EULQJ WKH KLQ\ QHZ \HOORZ PDFKLQH KRPH LQ RQH SLHFH :H PDGH WKDW RXU QXPEHU RQH

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V8 8 SLE EUTH Images: Ian Smith/AN1 Images

WITH AARON NOONAN

DT Commodores from the one-make Âś5DFH RI &KDPSLRQV¡ DW WKH Australian Grand Prix meeting at Calder in Melbourne remain very, very interesting cars with some of them still unaccounted for, over 35 years later. AMC has featured this event and these cars before (way back in issue #32) so I was interested to recently receive an order for old photos from this event on my AN1 Images online motorsport archive website (plug, plug, check it out at www.an1images.com) The order had a clear theme – images of the John Bowe-driven Commodore that ultimately ZRQ WKH HYHQW RYHUDOO :KLOH %RZH GLGQ¡W ZLQ either of the races, his combined results meant he was the champ of champs that weekend in the new Brock Commodores. A quick call and follow up revealed what I instantly suspected: the photo order had come from the car owner. Andrew Bond told us the familiar red Commodore has been owned by his family for

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the last two decades. While the photos here show it with the popular Simmons wheels, he assures us that it will have the period-correct ZKHHOV Ă€WWHG ZKHQ LW¡V SODFHG RQ GLVSOD\ “After the race the cars went to tender and I believe this car ended up as a media car, information that I picked up when I was involved with the HSV Owners Club in the 1990s,â€? he tells the V8 Sleuth. “They had a competition at %DWKXUVW LQ WR SLFN %URFN¡V EHVW ODS WLPH and whoever got the closest got the Bowe car. A young kid from New South Wales won it so it was shipped to Suttons in Sydney and they took the photos, etc but the kid was only 16 so he took the cash instead of the car, which was bought by another gentleman. “He moved to Melbourne in about 1983 and had it serviced the whole time and the guy he sold it to is the guy we bought it off in 1994. “It had had a hard life to start with and it was in pretty bad shape when we got it. We got it back on the road in 1995 and the wife used it as a shopping trolley for three or four years then it

lived in the back of my workshop for a long time. :H GLGQ¡W KDYH WKH WLPH RU PRQH\ WR GR DQ\WKLQJ with it and we closed the workshop down and farmed it around a few sheds.â€? About two years ago the bullet was bitten for a restoration to occur, so the Bowe-driven HDT Commodore was pulled apart and given a tidy up. ´,¡G EHHQ SURFXULQJ SDUWV IRU LW RYHU WKH ODVW \HDUV EXW LW GLGQ¡W UHDOO\ QHHG D JUHDW GHDO RI work, some panels were replaced from where it was bashed up a bit. The left front guard was pretty bad from where John had tidied XS &KDUOLH 2¡%ULHQ LQ WKH VHFRQG UDFH %XW otherwise we left everything as it was. It has QHZ SDLQW DQG WKH KHDGOLJKWV GRQ¡W Ă€W WKDW ZHOO EXW WKHQ DJDLQ WKH\ GLGQ¡W DIWHU WKH Ă€UVW UDFH DW &DOGHU DIWHU D IHZ WDSV Âľ %RQG¡V &RPPRGRUH KDV PDWFKLQJ QXPEHUV engine and gearbox with just signage left to take LW DOO WKH ZD\ EDFN WR DQG WKDW¡V ZKHUH RXU photo archive came in handy. ´,¡YH EHHQ LQ FRQWDFW ZLWK WKH RZQHU RI WKH 'LFN -RKQVRQ FDU VR ,¡G OLNH WR WHH XS D WLPH WR go and have a look at the lettering and signs,â€? says Bond. “There are so many great details I have picked up on the car from the photos I actually got from AN1 actually, details that I just GLGQ¡W KDYH EHIRUH Âľ :KLOH ZH¡UH FKXIIHG WR KDYH DVVLVWHG ZLWK WKLV FDU WKH ELJ TXHVWLRQ LV ZKDW¡V QH[W" ´, ZDQW WR UXQ LW LQ 5HJXODULW\ VR LW¡V DW OHDVW EDFN RQ WKH WUDFN Âľ KH VD\V ´,¡YH EHHQ LQ WRXFK ZLWK -%¡V PDQDJHU WRR WR WHH XS JHWWLQJ KLP

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along to have a drive of it somewhere, sometime. As many AMC readers will recall, the HDT ROC Commodores were given Group C log books for WKH RQH RII UDFH KRZHYHU &$06 WRGD\ ZRQ¡W LVVXH an Historic Group C log book to Bond, instead offering a Group 3J Improved Production one. While this is obviously a source of frustration IRU WKH FXUUHQW RZQHU WKHUH¡V QR GRXEW WKLV LV D very interesting car in Australian muscle car history DQG RQH WKDW ZH¡OO VHH RXW DQG DERXW VRPHWLPH very soon!

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few issues back we featured the Allan Grice Craven Mild A9X Torana that owner Tony Sawford currently races in the Heritage Touring Cars category. 3DUW RI WKH FDU¡V KLVWRU\ LQFOXGHG LWV LQLWLDO VDOH IURP *ULFH¡V 6\GQH\ EDVHG WHDP WR D FKLURSUDFWRU ZKRVH LGHQWLW\ ZH FRXOGQ¡W GHWHUPLQH DW WKH WLPH of publication. :H¡YH WUDFNHG GRZQ WKH IRUPHU RZQHU RI the aforementioned Group C racer and have FRQĂ€UPHG KLV LGHQWLW\ WR EH -DPHV &DUWHU -DPHV continues to practise on the NSW Central Coast and, after a few calls to track him down, indeed FRQĂ€UPHG KH ZDV WKH YHU\ FKLURSUDFWRU ZH KDG

been chasing! “I bought it from Allan (Grice) following Bathurst and had it converted to the road, but we left HYHU\WKLQJ LQ LW SXW D KDQGEUDNH LQ LW DQG PRGLĂ€HG WKH PXIĂ HUV Âľ KH UHFDOOV “I was practising in Mosman and I knew Frank *DUGQHU *ULFH¡V WHDP PDQDJHU RI WKH WLPH +H was a patient of mine and someone else referred KLP +H VDLG ÂśLI \RX JHW P\ EDFN VRUWHG ,¡OO JHW \RXU GULYLQJ VRUWHG RXW ¡ ´,¡P D ELW RI D SHWUROKHDG VR WKDW¡V ZKDW happened. He gave me some key instruction and took me around the tracks, it was an amazing experience and shortly after that I purchased the car,â€? Carter continues. “I did intend to club race it but never got to it. I went to Canada shortly after that and stored it DQG Ă€QDOO\ DIWHU D IHZ \HDUV UHDOLVHG , ZDVQ¡W JRLQJ to be able to use it so I sold it. It had everything original, including the numbers and sponsor stickers. I drove it only on the road pretty much but I did do some lap dashes and hillclimbs in it too.â€?

ors and restorers

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he V8 Sleuth team is working hard with Muscle Car Masters event management to secure a UDQJH RI LQWHUHVWLQJ FDUV IRU WKLV \HDU¡V HYHQW IRU both the Peter Brock tribute and the Sports Racing Car Invitational. One car that has come out of the woodwork WKDW ZH¡UH NHHQ WR KDYH DORQJ LV WKH 93 66 9 Commodore driven by P. Brock and Tony Scott in the 1993 Bathurst 12 Hour. :KLOH %URFN¡V +RXU FDUV DUHQ¡W DV FHOHEUDWHG DV KLV 2FWREHU NLORPHWUH FDUV WKH\¡UH VWLOO interesting parts of his history at Mount Panorama. Which reminds me, anyone got any leads on the six-cylinder Commodore he drove with Neil Crompton and Peter McKay in the inaugural 12 +RXU LQ " ,¡G ORYH WR KHDU IURP \RX

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s always, I love hearing from AMC readers with questions, information or feedback. If \RX¡YH JRW DQ LQWHUHVWLQJ FDU RU LQWHUHVWLQJ VWRULHV shoot an email to aaron@v8sleuth.com.au or call P\ RIĂ€FH RQ

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Strong thought-provoking content, myths debunked, facts only, no nudity. Written by Gary Bridger, co author Hey Charger.

Mr Todd’s Chrysler Valiants hen Australian Chrysler fans wish to brag about glory on the racing circuits, they instinctively look across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. They will proudly tell you that &KU\VOHU ZRQ 1=·V %DWKXUVW HTXLYDOHQW WKH % + 500, nine years in a row and the Charger was the most successful production racecar in the FRXQWU\·V KLVWRU\ A lesser known fact is that Chrysler also enjoyed a much higher market share in New

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Zealand than in Australia, actually outselling the Ford Falcon right up to the early 1970s. To learn how all of this came about we have to start at the WRS ZLWK WKH UHPDUNDEOH ¶0U 7RGG· The NZ distributor and assembler of Chrysler DQG ODWHU 0LWVXELVKL ZDV 7RGG 0RWRUV D SULYDWHO\ owned company belonging to the Todd family. 6LU -RKQ 7RGG PDQDJHG 7RGG 0RWRUV DQG LWV New Zealand assembly plant during the Chrysler \HDUV DQG ZDV UHJDUGHG DV RQH RI WKH FRXQWU\·V most outstanding business leaders and one of its

top philanthropists. When Sir John passed away in 1= 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU -RKQ .H\ VDLG ´+H ZDV a highly respected and admired businessman who helped turn the Todd Corporation into one of New =HDODQG·V PRVW VXFFHVVIXO FRPSDQLHV µ 3ULRU WR WKH &KU\VOHU 9DOLDQW·V PLG V DUULYDO 7RGG 0RWRUV DOUHDG\ KDG D ODUJH DVVHPEO\ SODQW LQ 3HWRQH :HOOLQJWRQ ZKHUH %ULWLVK +LOOPDQV DQG +XPEHUV DORQJ ZLWK D IHZ &DQDGLDQ VRXUFHG Plymouths and Dodges, were assembled. The company also had an extensive dealer network throughout the country. One dealer recalled that WKH 7RGGV ZHUH ¶JRRG EXVLQHVVPHQ DQG YHU\ JRRG SHRSOH WR GHDO ZLWK· .LZL EX\HUV ZRXOG PLVV RXW RQ WKH EHDXWLIXOO\ styled R and S Series Valiants, with local DVVHPEO\ RI WKH $3 9DOLDQWV VWDUWLQJ LQ 7RGG GHVFULEHG WKH 9DOLDQW·V DUULYDO DV ¶D JLIW IURP KHDYHQ· ZLWK LWV VLON\ VPRRWK FL VODQW VL[ HQJLQH and performance unmatched by its rivals. The 9DOLDQW ZDV DQ LQVWDQW KLW DPRQJ .LZL EX\HUV ZLWK farmers in particular amongst their biggest and most loyal customers. Todds borrowed Chrysler $XVWUDOLD·V PDUNHWLQJ WKHPHV VXFK DV ¶)LQHVW RI WKH VL[HV· DQG ¶0RYH XS WR WKH OHDGHU· OHDYLQJ QR GRXEW

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Leo Leonard archive

VH Valiant Regal final assembly, Todd Motors Petone NZ.

Chrysler enjoyed a much higher market share in New Zealand than in Australia, actually outselling the Ford Falcon right up to the early 1970s. The Leonard/Richardt Valiant Regal 770 V8 comfortably won the 1971 B&H 500. LQ WKH FXVWRPHU·V PLQG WKDW WKH 9DOLDQW ZDV WKH EHVW RI WKH WKUHH ,Q IDFW WKH 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU RI WKH GD\ 6LU .HLWK +RO\RDNH GURYH RQH 7RGGV EHJDQ DGGLQJ WKHLU RZQ VSHFV WR HQVXUH WKH 1= 9DOLDQWV ZHUH PRUH VXLWHG WR WKH ORFDO PDUNHW 7KH\ EHHIHG XS WKH VXVSHQVLRQ WR VXLW WKH 1= URDG FRQGLWLRQV DQG DGGHG XQGHUVHDO DQG EHWWHU VRXQGSURRÀQJ 7KHLU DVVHPEO\ VWDQGDUGV ZHUH DOVR FRQVLGHUHG WR EH DERYH DYHUDJH ZLWK UXVW SURWHFWLRQ EHLQJ SDUWLFXODUO\ JRRG IRU WKH GD\ 7KH\ LQYHVWHG KHDYLO\ GHYHORSLQJ WKHLU RZQ ORFDOO\ SURGXFHG DQG XQLTXH WR 1= VHDWV DQG LQWHULRU WULP XVLQJ 6LU -RKQ 7RGG·V VL[ IRRW SOXV IUDPH DV D SDWWHUQ :KHQ WKH 9& 9DOLDQW ZDV ODXQFKHG LQ WKH EDVH PRGHO FDPH ZLWK VXSHUEO\ FRPIRUWDEOH EHQFK EXFNHW VHDWV DQG FDUSHWV <RX FRXOG QRW EX\ D 1= 9DOLDQW ZLWK VWUDLJKW EHQFK VHDWV DQG UXEEHU ÁRRU PDWV 7RGGV DOZD\V PDUNHWHG WKH 9DOLDQW DV D ¶EHWWHU· YHKLFOH DQG UHIXVHG WR EH GUDZQ LQWR D SULFH ZDU ZLWK )RUG DQG *0 7KLV LV LQ VKDUS FRQWUDVW WR &KU\VOHU $XVWUDOLD·V PDUNHWLQJ VWUDWHJ\ ZKLFK E\ WKH ODWH V ZHUH PDWFKLQJ WKH 9DOLDQW GROODU IRU GROODU ZLWK WKH HTXLYDOHQW +ROGHQ DQG )DOFRQ

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Sir John Todd (1927-

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The comprehensive book Hey Charger by Gavin Farmer and Gary Bridger has two complete chapters covering Chrysler’s success story in NZ. Price $90 plus postage. Available direct from the authors: Gavin Farmer (Aust) email ilingabooks@ chariot.net.au; Gary Bridger (NZ) email bridger1@me.com

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We can only ponder the disproportionate fortunes of Chrysler in NZ compared to Australia. And speculate what Chrysler Australia would have been like with the remarkable Mr Todd at the helm.

Above: Mike Todd, son of Sir John Todd, owns an ex-Rod Coppins racing Charger. It was quite a coup for AMC to tap into his knowledge bank for this story. Photography by David Whorwood, NZ Life & Leisure magazine. coupe perhaps, but his gut instinct ran with the Charger, which at the time was nothing more than a clay model. The Charger was a huge success for Todd Motors. Initial demand greatly exceeded supply DQG LQ WKH ÀUVW IHZ PRQWKV WKHUH ZDV HYHQ D black market. On the track, the Todd dealer team &KDUJHU ( V ZHUH LQLWLDOO\ XQFRPSHWLWLYH DJDLQVW

e GT-HOs and XU-1s, until Leo Leonard and team thoroughly sorted their E38 to suit H ORFDO FLUFXLWV :KHQ WKH ( V DUULYHG WKH\ mpletely dominated, with the Leonard/Todd aler car breaking the production lap record Q DOO 1= FLUFXLWV (YHQ 0RIIDW¡V *7+2 IDLOHG WR HDN WKH &KDUJHUV¡ VWUDQJOHKROG ZLWK 0RIIDW RPPHQWLQJ ´<RX 1HZ =HDODQGHUV KDYH WKH VWHVW &KDUJHUV LQ WKH ZRUOG , FRXOG QRW KDYH one any faster.â€? 7KH ÂśZLQ RQ 6XQGD\ VHOO RQ 0RQGD\¡ hilosophy certainly applied to the Charger in Z. Leo Leonard remembers after Chargers RQ WKHLU Ă€UVW % + LQ DOO &KDUJHUV itting in dealer showrooms were snapped up DQG RQH :HOOLQJWRQ GHDOHU VROG &KDUJHUV mmediately after the race. 'HVSLWH WKH &KDUJHUV¡ VXFFHVV HYHQ 7RGG¡V FOHYHU PDUNHWLQJ FRXOG QRW GLVJXLVH WKH IDFW hat the big VH sedans were not what the Kiwi buyers wanted and their market share GURSSHG DQG WKHQ SOXPPHWHG DIWHU WKH RLO VKRFN +RZHYHU E\ WKHQ 7RGGV KDG VWDUWHG assembling Mitsubishis from Japan. Mike Todd, ZKR ZDV PDUNHWLQJ PDQDJHU LQ WKH V VDLG “We marketed Mitsubishi as we did with the 9DOLDQW ZLWK VXUYH\V LQGLFDWLQJ EX\HUV SHUFHLYHG 0LWVXELVKL DV D ÂśEHWWHU¡ SURGXFW WKDQ WKHLU Japanese competitors.â€? Mitsubishi grew to be QXPEHU RQH LQ 1= FDU VDOHV LQ WKH HDUO\ V SURYLQJ WKDW WKH PDUNHW VKDUH &KU\VOHU 9DOLDQWV HQMR\HG ZDV QR Ă XNH The successful marketing of Chrysler Valiants LQ 1= ZDV RQH RI WKH PDQ\ DFKLHYHPHQWV LQ 6LU -RKQ 7RGG¡V LPSUHVVLYH EXVLQHVV FDUHHU 'XULQJ his tenure, Todd Motors obtained the Fokker and %RHLQJ DLUFUDIW GLVWULEXWRUVKLS ZHOO EHIRUH WKH

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national carrier purchased both aircraft types. For many years, the Todd family spent a considerable chunk of their income drilling for oil in the 7DUDQDNL UHJLRQ $IWHU WKH\ WHDPHG XS ZLWK 6KHOO DQG %3 RLO DQG KXJH UHVHUYHV RI QDWXUDO JDV ZHUH GLVFRYHUHG 6LU -RKQ ZDV DOVR RQH RI 1=¡V OHDGLQJ SKLODQWKURSLVWV JLYLQJ PLOOLRQV RI GROODUV WR FKDULW\ YLD WKH 7RGG )RXQGDWLRQ ,W PXVW EH HPSKDVLVHG WKDW WKH VPDOO RYHU regulated NZ market and the business structure RI 7RGG 0RWRUV ZDV YDVWO\ GLIIHUHQW WR WKDW LQ Australia. Chrysler Australia had to take orders from a cash-strapped parent company in the 8QLWHG 6WDWHV DQG SXW XS ZLWK WKHLU RYHUO\ DJJUHVVLYH EHDQ FRXQWHUV :KDW &KU\VOHU $XVWUDOLD PDQDJHG WR DFKLHYH ZLWK VXFK OLPLWHG resources was quite remarkable. Todd, on the other hand, was able to call WKH VKRWV DV KH VDZ WKHP KDYLQJ FRPSOHWH DXWRQRP\ RYHU ZKLFK FDUV KH DVVHPEOHG DQG how he planned to market them. He too had his EHDQ FRXQWHUV EXW KDG WKH DELOLW\ WR RYHUUXOH WKHP DV KH GLG ZKHQ WKH\ YLJRURXVO\ RSSRVHG ERWK WKH &KDUJHU¡V 1= DVVHPEO\ DQG WKH 7RGG 'HDOHU UDFLQJ WHDP +H VKUHZGO\ SHUFHLYHG ZKHUH WKH 9DOLDQW Ă€WWHG LQ WKH PDUNHW DQG WDLORUHG WKH FDUV WR VXLW 7RGG DOVR SURYLGHG WKH QHFHVVDU\ VXSSRUW WR HQVXUH WKH &KDUJHU¡V SRWHQWLDO ZDV IXOO\ UHDOLVHG QRW DW %DWKXUVW EXW DURXQG WKH racing circuits in New Zealand. 6R DV ZH VLW KHUH WRGD\ LQ RXU FRPI\ FKDLUV with our brandy and cigars looking back, we can only ponder the disproportionate fortunes of Chrysler in NZ compared to Australia. And perhaps speculate what Chrysler Australia would KDYH EHHQ OLNH ZLWK WKH UHPDUNDEOH 0U 7RGG DW the helm.

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Support

The unsung heroes of Holden’s stunning 1-2-3 win in the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial were a trio of Holden’s V8 panel vans. Their feat has now inspired a rally enthusiast to pay tribute via a replica service van.

Byline: Story: Jon Thomson Images: Period: Ray Berghouse; Chevron archive, Replica: CLCcreative

MUSCLE WORKHORSE

Rallying

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MUSCLE WORKHOR

t was the last great round-Australia odyssey, 18,000km in 14 days across some of the harshest territory the planet could throw at a car or its occupants. Unrelenting, punishing, IDVW DQG TXLWH VLPSO\ WKH PRVW GLIĂ€FXOW FDU UDOO\ ever run in this country. It has become known VLPSO\ DV Âś7KH 5HSFR¡ It is of course well recorded that Holden scored an almost unbelievable 1-2-3 result in the 5HSFR 3HWHU %URFN WDNLQJ DQ DPD]LQJ ZLQ DW WKH very peak of his prowess. 6RPH PD\ KDYH WKRXJKW +ROGHQ¡V YLFWRU\ owed much to good fortune, but as anyone involved in motorsport knows, there is no substitute for preparation and George Shepheard ZKR KHDGHG XS WKH +ROGHQ HIIRUW LQ WKH 5HSFR proved that on every front. As has been documented in past AMC issues, Holden totally outpointed all comers, having the best prepared cars, the best overall package, the best crews and by far the best servicing strategy. While Ford gave its crews bulky, awkward and VORZ VL[ F\OLQGHU 7UDQVLW VHUYLFH YDQV *HRUJH

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“Bruce Nowacki and Daryl Bromley were travelling, just on dark, in John Sheppard’s van – his pride and joy. They hit a dead horse on the road and catapulted over it and it actually bent the chassis. The windscreen shifted over three-inches out the top. They couldn’t change gears so they cut a hole in the transmission tunnel and shifted with a screw driver.â€? Shepheard used three Holden Kingswood panel vans, all powered by 308 V8s with automatic WUDQVPLVVLRQV *76 LQVWUXPHQWDWLRQ KHDY\ GXW\ UHDU VXVSHQVLRQ WDNHQ IURP +ROGHQ¡V RQH WRQQHU ute, and a full-length welded steel roofrack to carry tyres. +ROGHQ KDG VXSSOLHG *HRUJH D *76 JULOOHG WZLQ KHDGOLJKW YDQ ZLWK *76 ZKHHOV IRU KLV UDOO\ team operations, registration JZA 225, and that would remain with him for rally support work DIWHU WKH 5HSFR $ORQJ ZLWK WKDW WKH WZR RWKHU 9 YDQV UHJRV .*% DQG .*% ZLWK normal grilles, single headlights and steel wheels were supplied in plain white, presumably so that they could be sold off after the event without the Marlboro warpaint. 7KHUH ZDV DOVR D IRXUWK YDQ WKDW KDV DQ interesting backstory. It was the HZ Kingwood WKDW ZDV DFWXDOO\ +'7 UDFH WHDP VXSUHPR -RKQ 6KHSSDUG¡V YHU\ RZQ +'7 ZRUN YDQ 9LFWRULDQ UHJR $&) ZKLFK ZDV OHW RXW RI WKH +'7

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lions den in Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne under sufferance. 6RPH RI -RKQ 6KHSSDUG¡V NH\ PXOHV LQFOXGLQJ %UXFH 1RZDFNL DQG 'DU\O %URPOH\ ZHUH NHHQ WR JR RQ WKH JUHDW DGYHQWXUH %UXFH¡V EURWKHU 1HG ZDV DOUHDG\ SDUW RI *HRUJH¡V FUHZ EXW there was no budget for a fourth service vehicle, however the mules badgered their boss, while +ROGHQ¡V OLDLVRQ IRU WKH HYHQW *UDQW 6WHHU apparently pulled some strings. John Sheppard ZDV QRQH WRR KDSS\ DV WKH 5HSFR ZDV UXQ LQ WKH Ă€UVW WZR ZHHNV RI $XJXVW D PRQWK EHIRUH 6DQGRZQ¡V +DQJ 7HQ DQG VHYHQ ZHHNV EHIRUH WKH %DWKXUVW VR SUHS IRU WKH ELJ races was fully underway. “Next thing, Holden and more importantly John 6KHSSDUG DJUHHG WKDW WKH +'7 YDQ FRXOG GR WKH Ă€UVW SDUW RI WKH UDOO\ WR $GHODLGH EHIRUH WXUQLQJ around and heading back home to Melbourne,â€? said George. When George landed in the plane out past $GHODLGH DQG VDZ WKH IRXUWK +'7 YDQ WKHUH KH had a smile on his face. ´, VDLG WR %URPOH\ DQG 1RZDFNL Âś<RX bastards are supposed to be on your way back WR 0HOERXUQH ¡ DQG , KRSHG WKDW WKH\ KDG FOHDUHG things with John Sheppard,â€? he said. ´œ2I FRXUVH¡ WKH\ UHSOLHG 2QO\ ODWHU GLG , Ă€QG RXW WKDW SHUPLVVLRQ KDGQ¡W EHHQ JUDQWHG -RKQ apparently got very annoyed and thought it was my doing, but John Lindell, the then Holden motorsport boss, cleared it all and in the short WHUP WKLQJV ZHUH Ă€QH EHFDXVH WKH PDLQ IRFXV E\ then was winning the rally,â€? he added. 7KH IXUWKHU WKH +'7 YDQ ZHQW WKH HDVLHU LW was just to keep going... 7KDW ZDV XQWLO NP RXW RI %RUURORROD LQ the gulf country where the boys hit a horse badly damaging the van. If John Sheppard ZDVQ¡W KDSS\ EHIRUH KH ZDV URSDEOH ZKHQ KH KHDUG WKH YDQ KDG EHHQ GLVĂ€JXUHG E\ D FRPLQJ together with a horse. ´%UXFH 1RZDFNL DQG 'DU\O %URPOH\ ZHUH WUDYHOOLQJ MXVW RQ GDUN LQ -RKQ 6KHSSDUG¡V YDQ – his pride and joy,â€? Ned Nowacki told AMC,

Far left: The Nowacki brothers, Bruce and Ned. Right and bottom right: George Shepheard’s thorough planning and back-up paid off handsomely when trouble struck in the middle of nowhere. picking up the story. “They hit a dead horse on the road and catapulted over it and it actually bent the chassis. The windscreen shifted over three inches RXW WKH WRS 7KH\ FRXOGQ¡W FKDQJH JHDUV VR WKH\ cut a hole in the transmission tunnel and shifted with a screw driver. The van made it all the way EDFN WR 0HOERXUQH DQG -RKQ 6KHSSDUG¡V ZUDWK was enormous!â€? It was well and truly stuffed after that and the always neat and tidy Sheppard scrapped it and requested a new van from Holden. These Kingswood vans might have been the 1970s favourites of electricians, plumbers, painters DQG RWKHU WUDGLHV ² QRW WR PHQWLRQ VXUĂ€HV ² EXW WKH HDT service vans were built for speed as well as carrying capacity. +ROGHQ OHYHUDJHG WKH SDQHO YDQV¡ HIIRUWV LQ backing up the Commodore win in print ads HQWLWOHG Âś7UXH *ULW 9DQV ¡ FUHGLWLQJ WKH FUHZV DQG of course the vans with helping to win the rally, DQG VWDWLQJ WKDW WKH Âś&RPPRGRUH 5HSFR 5DOO\ VZHHS ZDV D WRXJK DFW WR IROORZ EXW +ROGHQ YDQV GLG LW¡ *HRUJH 6KHSKHDUG¡V SODQQLQJ IRU WKH 5HSFR was plotted with military precision, so not only did the service crews have the best weaponry in the 9 YDQV EXW WKH\ DOVR KDG DLU VXSSRUW SOHQW\ RI reinforcements and supply lines in place to ensure the war of attrition was won. While just about every other service crew had to battle with overloaded service vehicles, vast distances, fatigue and a struggle to keep up with the cars they were trying to fettle, the Holden boys had four absolute hot rods that could sit on 160km/h all day with just two crew in each vehicle. The key was ensuring that each crew had a replacement pair ready to take over after service stops. So one crew would charge off to the next VHUYLFH SRLQW LQ WKH 9 SDQHO YDQ ZKLOH WKH WZR guys who had just driven jumped into the team SODQH WR Ă \ WR WKH QH[W VHUYLFH SRLQW KRSHIXOO\ IRU a sleep, a shower and a feed. Other crews like the Ford boys tell horror stories of spending almost the entire 14 days in the slow service trucks, with drivers falling asleep at the wheel and hallucinating from the tiredness. Having the advantage of extensive testing IRU PRQWKV SULRU WR WKH 5HSFR 6KHSKHDUG NQHZ what might break. So to keep his panel vans reasonably light and agile, parts caches were established at key locations in Holden dealers around the country. These hoards included most of WKH VSDUH ZKHHOV DQG W\UHV XVHG D[OHV H[WUD gearboxes and panels. Shepheard scheduled key component changes whether the cars needed them or not. For instance there was a complete rear-end change at Port Headland with new diffs and axle housing installed. Struts were changed regularly, along with brakes, radiators and various other critical parts. The vans carried only what was absolutely necessary. The inventory included a spare gearbox and clutch, a diff-centre, two axles, two complete front struts, springs, a radiator and other small componentry. The vans carried some tyres and wheels on the roof racks and some spare fuel, mainly for use in the vans so that they could keep motoring even if there were no fuel stations. *HRUJH¡V ÂśVSHFLDO IRUFHV¡ FRQWLQJHQW FRPSULVHG

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MUSCLE WORKH

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JXQ UDOO\ VROGLHUV ZKR ZHUH D ZKR¡V ZKR RI rallying, including Martin Byrne, Warren Blain, Ross Birnie, Arthur Evans, Bruce Garlic, Peter 0XLU 3KLO 0\UHV 1HG 1RZDFNL *HRII 5RVV 0LFN Roberts, Dick Watman, Graham Wilkins, Tony Wilkinson, Brian White and Mick Verral. They were all rally experts who had competed and worked with George Shepheard over the years, VXSSOHPHQWHG E\ WKH DIRUHPHQWLRQHG 6KHSSDUG supplied circuit racing crew members. 6KHSKHDUG UHFNRQV WKH LQYROYHPHQW RI +ROGHQ PDUNHWLQJ H[HFXWLYH DQG %URFN¡V EHVW PDWH *UDQW 6WHHUV XQLYHUVDOO\ NQRZQ DV Âś7KH 6SHDU¡ was crucial. The Spear, who passed away earlier WKLV \HDU ZDV WKH +ROGHQ OLDLVRQ PDQ DQG WKH conduit to key management helping get things approved at critical times. 6KHSKHDUG DOVR KDG ÂśROG VLOYHU¡ WKH PXOH FDU KH KDG EXLOW DV WKH SURWRW\SH IRU WKH 5HSFR FDUV It had done virtually an entire Round Australia EHIRUH WKH HYHQW DQG ZDV WKH FKDVH FDU D Ă€UVW LQWHUYHQWLRQ YHKLFOH LI \RX OLNH *HRUJH ZDV UHDOO\ WKH Ă€HOG PDUVKDO FRQWUROOLQJ WKH HQWLUH RSHUDWLRQ IURP KLV DHULDO EDVH LQ WKH

command plane, maintaining constant radio contact with the three competition Commodores, WKH IRXU VHUYLFH YDQV DQG ROG VLOYHU *HRUJH¡V WKHQ DSSUHQWLFH 3HWHU 0XLU VSHQW D ORW RI WKH HYHQW LQ WKH WHDP¡V SODQH ZKHUH KH WRRN WKH VWUXWV WKDW KDG EHHQ VZDSSHG RXW RI WKH FDUV DQG UHEXLOW WKHP ÂśLQ WKH DLU¡ DV WKH\ Ă HZ WR WKH next location. 0XLU ZHQW RQ WR EX\ %RQG 5ROO %DUV IURP *HRUJH ZKHQ KH GHFLGHG WR PRYH KLV IDPLO\ north to Queensland in the 1980s and JZS 250 EHFDPH KLV ZRUN YDQ OLYLQJ RQ IRU VRPH \HDUV EHIRUH KH WUDGHG LW LQ IRU D +ROGHQ XWH LQ WKH late 1980s. That all three Commodores were close WRJHWKHU WKURXJKRXW WKH HYHQW UXQQLQJ IURP 3RUW +HDGODQG DOO WKH ZD\ EDFN WR 0HOERXUQH KHOSHG WKH VHUYLFH HIIRUW *HRUJH KDG ZDUQHG WKDW LI RQH FDU IHOO WRR IDU EHKLQG LW ZRXOG EH VDFULĂ€FHG ZLWK DOO RI WKH HIIRUW IRFXVVHG RQ HQVXULQJ +ROGHQ ZRQ WKH HYHQW 1HG 1RZDFNL UHFNRQV WKH YDQV ZHUH LGHDO IRU the task, but says it was just as unrelenting and WLULQJ IRU WKH +ROGHQ FUHZ DV IRU HYHU\ RWKHU WHDP

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Above: Barry Ferguson, who finished second in car #17, owns that same car today. His sons are mates with the creator and owner of the replica overleaf. It was only better planning and organisation that got them through. “We still spent many hours in the cars,â€? said Ned. “At one stage I was in the van with [my EURWKHU@ %UXFH DQG ZH WRRN RII DIWHU D VHUYLFH LQ outback WA, he was driving and I quickly went to sleep, but I woke up a while later to the sound RI D KRUQ EORZLQJ LW FDPH IURP WKH &LWURHQ FUHZ who had pulled up alongside us on a long stretch RI GLUW URDG %UXFH KDG VWRSSHG LQ WKH PLGGOH RI the road and was asleep,â€? Ned laughs. “We worked bloody hard, when we did the axle FKDQJH LQ 3RUW +HDGODQG ZH GHFLGHG WR GR LW OLNH a Bathurst pit stop and swapped the axle unit in WKH Ă€UVW FDU LQ PLQXWHV ZH GLG WKH VHFRQG LQ 14 minutes, but the third took 22 minutes, the heat and tiredness taking its toll,â€? he recalls. 1RZDFNL VD\V WKH 5HSFR ZDV D QHYHU WR EH repeated experience and it was the tremendous WHDP HIIRUW WKDW HQVXUHG WKH UHVXOW IRU +ROGHQ ² DQG RI FRXUVH WKH 9 .LQJZRRG SDQHO YDQV

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YDQV ZHUH EXLOW IRU WKH 5HSFR µ $QWKRQ\ DGGHG He located a donor vehicle and set about turning it into as authentic a replica and tribute to the Round Australia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·V &RPPRGRUH LV FRPSHWLQJ ,W LV D JUHDW WULEXWH WR WKH ZRUNKRUVHV WKDW KHOSHG ZLQ +ROGHQ WKH 5HSFR ,WV UHJR QRZ PLUURUV WKH RULJLQDO ZLWK -=$ QXPEHU SODWHV DGRUQLQJ WKH IUHVKO\ SDLQWHG PDFKLQH

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The name ‘TA2’ might sound like the follow-up to an Arnold Schwartzenegger blockbuster, but it’s actually the moniker for a sequel to the iconic Trans-Am Series that’s about to hit Australia. VWUDLJKW RII WKH VKRZURRP Á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TA2 is a spacefame-chassis and control-engined class with the choice of Mustang-, Camaro- and Challenger-like bodywork.

“The Australian Trans-Am group has agreed to merge with the new TA2 group of Trans-Am cars to form a strong alliance under one management umbrella and we welcome them onboard for what will be an exciting growth journey for both groups,â€? said English. 7KH PRGHUQ GD\ 7UDQV $P 6HULHV¡ JOREDO success stems from a focus on cost control and parity, coupled with an emphasis on driver competition. The TA2 formula utilises a spaceframe chassis constructed by Trans-Am stalwart Howe Racing Enterprises weighing 250kg, a controlled GM Motorsport LS3 engine package developing 525 horsepower, and a choice of a Ford Mustang, Chev Camaro or Dodge Challenger body. -XVW OLNH LQ WKH KLVWRULF VHULHV WKH UDFHFDUV¡ body styling is seen as being as important as performance. The look of the modern TA2 cars

is both aggressive and familiar to fans of the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. The origin of the class of cars now being produced for TA2 Racing Australia began in 2009 when Swedish business owners Hans Emeren DQG 7RQ\ %U\QWHVVRQ FRQWDFWHG &KDUOHV Âś&KDV¡ Howe, who operates Michigan-based Howe Racing Enterprises, about building a chassis for a new category known today as V8 Thunder Cars. With the success of the class in Scandinavia, the cars were adapted to the US market as the Trans-Am Series was revived in 2011. Both the American and Australian builds are 4â€? wider than the Swedish version and built to accommodate the low-cost 15â€? wheels and the bias-ply Hoosier racing tyres. Including the 17 examples of the TA2 Racing Australia cars – nine of which have already landed

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in Australia and the remainder set to arrive by the end of September – the total number of Howe-built TA2 cars globally now exceeds 220. This year saw the global debut of the new generation-six Camaro and Mustang bodies, DORQJVLGH WKH JHQHUDWLRQ ÀYH 'RGJH &KDOOHQJHU ,Q DQRWKHU ÀUVW WKH FDUV EHLQJ FRQVWUXFWHG IRU 7$ $XVWUDOLD ZLOO EH WKH ÀUVW WR UXQ WKH $XVWUDOLDQ PDGH PWR engine coolant radiator and oil coolers. Bob Thorn and Kees Weel of PWR threw full support behind the design and testing of a system to suit these Australian bound racecars, and have impressed the constructors enough to now offer the PWR package to American TA2 teams. Howe is optimistic about the potential for the same type of contagious popularity in Australia that there has been in each country that has introduced the class. The key to the widespread popularity of the

MUSCLE TRANS-A

TA2 is already up and running in Australia. This is Lakeside Park, August 2016.

class is that the cost versus performance is a primary consideration. The TA2 racecar is built on a cost-effective platform, producing speeds that are more than capable of raising eyebrows. 7KH VHULHV¡ XQLTXH RQH VSHF IRUPXOD VHWV GULYHU against driver, with skill on the track, not the money spent off the track, what will set drivers apart and propel them to the top of the pack. TA2 Racing Australia has already attracted the likes of former V8 Supercar privateer and 2014 Australian Trans-Am Champion Craig Harris, former V8 Ute racer Greg Willis, former Touring Car Masters entrant Ian McAlister and former V8 Supercar privateer and chairman of the board at PWR Bob Thorn. The all-new series launched with a public demonstration at the Shannons 2 Days of Thunder at Queensland Raceway in June featuring four generation-six Ford Mustangs and a JHQHUDWLRQ Ă€YH &KHYUROHW &DPDUR EHIRUH KHDGLQJ WR :DNHĂ€HOG 3DUN 5DFHZD\ IRU D VKRZFDVH alongside the Stock Cars Australia category at the AASA NSW State Championships. 7KHQ FDPH 7$ ¡V FRPSHWLWLYH GHEXW DW Lakeside Park on August 6 and 7, where it was joined by sister category, the Australian Trans-Am Series for a muscle car double-header. TA2 importer Peter Robinson says the class has experienced unprecedented growth and LQWHUHVW VLQFH WKH Ă€UVW FDUV KLW WKH WUDFN “Eight more cars are on order from the USA which are due to land in Australia at the end of September, adding to 17 cars in total. In amongst these are two Dodge Challengers. “I will be heading to the USA shortly to visit with Chas Howe of Howe Racing Enterprises and discuss TA2 Racing Australia. Also on the agenda will be discussions about an international series, as well as the possibility of having guest drivers,â€? said Robinson. A car (complete with engine) can be landed in Australia for about $120,000, based on lateAugust 2016 exchange rates. More information on the series can be found at ta2racingaustralia.com This story is based on material and information supplied to AMC by Australian Trans-Am Series/ TA2 Racing Australia.

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AVAILABLE NOW! Purchase your copy from

Enjoy 50 digital magazine issues from Old Bike Australasia (OBA), starting with Issue 1 from 2006 through to Issue 50 in 2015. For 10 years OBA has produced a wide range of feature articles on some of Australia’s best classic motorcycles. Each issue includes stories on bikes both famous and familiar, forgotten circuits, personality profiles, classic and historic rallies and race reports. Presented in an easy to use digital format on two DVDs, The Old Bike Ultimate Collection DVD – Issue One to Fifty is a must have for collectors and new readers of Australia’s most popular classic bike magazine.

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History 101

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Mall la Story: Luke W

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here is no other motor racing circuit in Australia like Mallala. Not now anyway. In the 1960s it was one of three racetracks in operation that were

of the 1960s. Mallala looks more British than your typical permanent Aussie motor racing facility. The Old 'DUW¡V UDFLQJ VFHQH LV VWLOO KHDYLO\ SRSXODWHG by tracks that owe their existence to being surplus to requirement after World War II. The Silverstone, Croft, Goodwood, Thruxton, Castle Combe and Snetterton circuits feature layouts incorporating sections of former aircraft runways and taxiways. Mallala Motor Sport Park still retains the IHHO RI DQ DLUĂ€ HOG 0D\EH LW¡V WKH WKUHH VWRUH\ NKDNL FODGGHG FRQWURO WRZHU RU VLPLODUO\ FRORXUHG paddock structures lined up in military fashion. 2U WKH Ă DW DV D SDQFDNH OD\RXW VXUURXQGHG E\ FDQROD Ă€ HOGV WKDW VWUHWFK DV IDU DV WKH H\H FDQ VHH <RX KDOI H[SHFW D ::,, HUD ERPEHU WR SRS over a distant row of trees at any moment. Regardless of its origins, look and feel, the NP WUDFN UHPDLQV 6RXWK $XVWUDOLD¡V RQO\ permanent circuit. Located on the northern SODLQV DERXW NP IURP $GHODLGH¡V &%' WKH challenging, technical track holds a special place in Australian racing history. It has underpinned local racing for decades, but is fast approaching D ZDWHUVKHG SRLQW LQ LWV \HDU KLVWRU\

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RXWK $XVWUDOLDQ PRWRUVSRUW¡V HDUOLHVW YHQXHV ZHUH WKH ÂśFORVHG URDG¡ FLUFXLWV DW SODFHV like Victor Harbour, Nuriootpa, Lobethal and Woodside. When the fun police intervened DQG EDQQHG WKHP D SXUSRVH EXLOW FLUFXLW ZDV HVWDEOLVKHG DW 3RUW :DNHĂ€ HOG ND\V QRUWK of Adelaide. It was at the dusty, remote circuit that the 1955 Australian Grand Prix was held. This was an era when the AGP was rotated DURXQG WKH VWDWHV PHDQLQJ 6$¡V QH[W KRVWLQJ RI WKH QDWLRQ¡V WKHQ SLQQDFOH HYHQW ZDV VFKHGXOHG for 1961. A year or so out CAMS decided that 3RUW :DNHĂ€ HOG ZDV QRW XS WR VFUDWFK DV ¡ host venue and that a site closer to the city of churches was needed. The South Aussies, not willing to give up their slot and have to wait DQRWKHU Ă€ YH \HDUV ZHQW RQ WKH KXQW ,W ZDV QRWHG WKDW WKH 5$$)¡V 6TXDGURQ operational airbase at Mallala was coming up for sale in 1962. With a willing buyer in the, erm, wings t e sale was brought forward to April [ PRQWKV EHIRUH WKH $*3¡V SURSRVHG site was bought and subdivided, with H FKXQN HQFRPSDVVLQJ WKH DLUĂ€ HOG and the rest sold off to farmers. ¡V Ă€ UVW UDFH ZDV WKH UDFH WR EH UHDG\ ust grand opening which would serve run for the AGP. Even though the site SOHQW\ RI XVHIXO WDU VHDOHG WD[LZD\V DQG as clear there was much work to be \ RI 3RUW :DNHĂ€ HOG¡V IDFLOLWLHV ZHUH unbolted and reinstalled at Mallala – buildings, grandstands and fencing. The effort was HQRUPRXV DQG WKH URXJKO\ 7 VKDSHG FLUFXLW WKDW

knew it at the time, but the latter would come to play a major role – the PDMRU UROH LQ IDFW ² LQ 0DOODOD¡V IXWXUH 7KH WUDFN ZDV VKRUWHQHG GXULQJ IURP NP PLOHV WR NP PLOHV and the pits were moved to outside the FLUFXLW DV LW FRQWLQXHG WKURXJK WKH V DV WKH VWDWH¡V SUHPLHU UDFLQJ YHQXH When the ATCC became a series in 0DOODOD ZDV QDWXUDOO\ DOORWWHG 6$¡V VWRS RQ WKH WRXU 7ZR 0XVWDQJV SURYLGHG WKH PDMRU VWRU\OLQHV RI WKH ¡ URXQG 3HWH *HRJKHJDQ¡V QRWFKEDFN ZRQ ZKLOH $OODQ 0RIIDW¡V &RNH 7UDQV $P PDGH LWV $7&& GHEXW *HRJKHJDQ ZRQ DJDLQ LQ EXW FRXOGQ¡W VWRS %RE -DQH¡V OLWUH &DPDUR WKH IROORZLQJ \HDU 7KHQ DIWHU \HDUV RI VROLG XVH FDPH D VHULHV RI HYHQWV WKDW ZRXOG VRRQ VHH LW XQH[SHFWHGO\ FORVHG GRZQ IRU VWUDWHJLF business reasons. Mallala was purchased by .HLWK :LOOLDPV RZQHU RI WKH JODPRXU 6XUIHUV 3DUDGLVH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5DFHZD\ :LOOLDPV ZDV VHHNLQJ WR HVWDEOLVK VLPLODUO\ Ă DVK\ IRU WKH WLPHV WUDFNV LQ RWKHU VWDWHV %XW Top inset: Planes pre-dated cars at Mallala. Top: The 1971 ATCC round was the last for 18 years. Above: Aerial shot of circuit today shows where the circuit was shortened. Below: Start of 1963 ATCC. Note Clem Smith’s Val (#46).

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Above: Action from the last big meeting, 1998. Below: 1989 saw Mallala’s ATCC return. Inset: Mallala was threatened by fire in 2015.

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SACRED SITES

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118 www.musclecarmag.com.au

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In 2005 the V8 Supercar series headed to China’s Shanghai track. Many cars changed their liveries to better suit the local track. The livery was changed from the yellow highlights to silver and Betta Electrical was replaced with LG. Great looking car and is a nice addition to your Craig Lowndes collection. Model will have fully opening parts.

2016 HRT Holden VF Commodore

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helby Mustangs have been extremely popular since there creation in the 60’s. This orgeous white with blue stripes model is full of detail. Greenlight have produced his great looking model. WE HAVE THESE MODELS MARKED DOWN DUE TO SOME MPERFECTIONS IN PAINT ON THE BLUE STRIPES. THE FAULTS ARE HARDLY VISIBLE WHEN DISPLAYING MODEL.

Norm Beechey s HT Monaro GTS ( 72 version)

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The General Lee is arguably the most iconic TV series car. The Duke boys gave us many great adventures, stunts and jumps during 1979 thru to 1985. This quality model car is the authentics version that has far superior detail than the basic version done years ago by ERTL. These models have become quite rare, don’t miss out!

OUT OF ACTION

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ome muscle cars are bought by loving owners who pamper them like members of the family. Other muscle cars, though, DUHQ·W VR OXFN\ 6RPH JHW VWROHQ VPDVKHG RU WKUDVKHG 6RPH JHW SDUNHG DQG ORVW XQGHU D OD\HU RI GXVW LQ DQ ROG VKHG RWKHUV JHW OHIW RXWVLGH WR EUDYH WKH HOHPHQWV DQG VORZO\ UXVW DZD\ 6DG EXW WUXH We eyeball plenty of beautifully PDLQWDLQHG DQG RU IXOO\ UHVWRUHG PXVFOH classics in AMC, but as serious car pervs ZH KDYH WR DGPLW WKHUH·V IHZ WKLQJV PRUH intriguing – or exciting – than spotting DQ ROG FODVVLF LQ D SDGGRFN RU D VKHG RU XQGHU D VKDG\ WUHH WKDW·V VHHQ EHWWHU GD\V DQG LQ QHHG RI VRPH 7/& 6RPH DUH EH\RQG saving, but they all have a story to tell. 6R JHW RXW \RXU FDPHUDV DQG VWDUW VQDSSLQJ VRPH ROG PXVFOH FDUV \RX FRPH DFURVV LQ \RXU WUDYHOV WKDW DUH GHÀ QLWHO\ Out of Action, or close to it. :H GRQ·W ZDQW WR NQRZ ZKHUH WKH\ DUH DQG ZH ZRQ·W EH publishing locations, because above all we PXVW UHVSHFW SHRSOH·V SULYDF\ We just ZDQW WR VHH VRPH JRRG FOHDQ SLFV RI WKHVH IRUJRWWHQ FDUV DQG VKRUW SHUVRQDO VWRULHV WR JR ZLWK WKHP VHH FRQWDFW GHWDLOV EHORZ 6R JHW WR LW DQG OHW·V VHH ZKDW KLGGHQ WUHDVXUHV ZH FDQ À QG )RU WKLV HGLWLRQ RXU LQWUHSLG UHDGHUV KDYH VWXPEOHG DFURVV VRPH more little gems to share with us.

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I spotted this old P76 outside Silvertown, NSW a few months ago sharing a fenced compound with a battered FJ Holden. I showed it to a work colleague whose extended family is very much into P76s and the claim is that this relic was in a Bridgestone tyre advertisement in the 1970s. Yours, Allan

120 www.musclecarmag.com.au

A mix of cars from both Townsville and Toowoomba. I found a heap of cool old cars, including two-door Valiants. The red one has unique white striping. Any ideas what it is? It has a big ‘GS’ on the dashboard. What does that mean? James

121 www.musclecarmag.com.au

Ray Berghouse

WHADDAYAKNOW

Heard about this VB?

Story: Scott Mackay

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e love stories about privateer attacks on the Great Race, especially one-off campaigns in the era when a new car could be purchased from a dealer and raced on the Mountain with minimal upgrades. The Tom Heard Automotive-entered #19 Commodore assault on the 1980 HardieFerodo 1000 is a perfect example. There are glimpses of this Neville Bridges/Sue Ransom-driven VB in the race telecast, especially ODWH LQ HYHQW ZKHQ LW¡V WUDLOLQJ VPRNH :H¡YH EHHQ LQ WRXFK ZLWK 7RP +HDUG D couple of times over the years and the former mechanical workshop owner provided us with some good background on the assault. Heard told us that he offered a drive to his employee Neville Bridges if Bridges did the bulk of the prep work. Neville jumped at the chance, so Tom bought a brand new (but superseded) 4.2-litre (253ci) VB Commodore from Newcastle Holden dealer Young and Green in mid-1980. Young and Green gave Heard a discount in return for signage for its MAMI Insurance business and loaned Heard a truck to transport WKH FDU %ULGJHV¡ IDWKHU +DUU\ RUJDQLVHG EDFNLQJ from his own employer CIG Welding Supplies. Bells Radiators also kicked the tin. With Bathurst fast approaching, Heard, the Bridges Jnr and Snr, Dale Harvey (who helped with this story), Alan Murphy, Frank Krohn and others pitched in after-hours at Tom Heard Automotive in Hunter Street, Newcastle to complete the build. Heard says no body-strengthening was done and the only things done to the suspension were Ă€WWLQJ /RYHOO 6SULQJV %LOVWHLQ 6KRFN $EVRUEHUV and K-Mac stabliliser bars. He says the team built a 308 motor with extractors, mild cam and twin 45mm Webers. It also ran with a standard M21 gearbox and limited slip diff (no locker). As a shakedown, Neville Bridges drove the &RPPRGRUH LQ 1HZFDVWOH¡V IDPRXV DQG QRZ defunct King Edward Park hillclimb on August 30, 1980, while Bathurst co-driver Sue Ransom GURYH 1HYLOOH¡V *URXS & 7RUDQD ;8 WKDW GD\ 7KDW¡V %ULGJHV EHVLGH WKH FDU LQ WKH VPDOO LPDJH

The team even had time for a couple of days testing at Oran Park, one on the way to Bathurst from Newcastle! Once on the Mountain, the squad soon encountered dramas. Firstly, the 308 race engine had some major oil leaks, so the original 253 went back in for practice. Also, the plan had been WR UDFH WKH FDU ZLWKRXW ZKHHO DUFK Ă DUHV DQG spoiler. However, the scrutineers would not allow this and a set had to be obtained – no easy task at such short notice and with qualifying nearly XSRQ WKHP %DWKXUVW 0RWRUV +ROGHQ GLGQ¡W KDYH any in stock so an SOS went out to GM-H in Melbourne. These were not due to arrive until Saturday – after qualifying! In the interim, Alan %URZQH¡V 5H &DU RXWĂ€W NLQGO\ RIIHUHG WR OHQG WKH team a set, but only once the donor Commodore KDG VDIHO\ TXDOLĂ€HG LWVHOI 7KLV DFKLHYHG WKH Ă DUHV ZHUH UHPRYHG KDVWLO\ Ă€WWHG WR IRU Neville and Sue to complete their minimum laps DQG TXDOLI\ 7KH Ă DUHV ZHUH WKHQ UHĂ€WWHG WR WKH donor Re-Car VC! Talk about stress city... 7KH 7+$ 9% TXDOLĂ€HG WK XVLQJ WKH OLWUH V8 motor, with a best lap of 2m49.5s, some 27 seconds slower than the Brock example and 12th of the 14 Commodores entered. They were, however, seven seconds quicker than the six-cylinder Scotty Taylor/Kevin Kennedy Commodore and far better off than the troubled 3KLO /\RQ %LOO 6WDQOH\ 9& ZKLFK GLGQ¡W UHFRUG D time. More importantly, they were in the race. Ransom found the Commodore heavy to steer and the seat uncomfortable. She had her own seat brought in from Sydney in time for the race. Installation of the 308 race donk was FRPSOHWHG DIWHU Ă€QDO SUDFWLFH DQG WKH WHDP was understandably nervous about gridding up Sunday with it freshly installed. Thus, the Commodore was taken out to the backblocks near Blayney on Saturday evening for a run on a straight stretch of road. The crew was relieved when all went well... yet they still had another big job to complete overnight. So it was back to a Shell VHUYLFH VWDWLRQ¡V ZRUNVKRS IRU WKH ODVW PLQXWH UHSODFHPHQW RI WKH 3DQKDUG %DU ZLWK WKH :DWW¡V

122 www.musclecarmag.com.au

/LQNDJH UHDU GHPDQGHG E\ RIĂ€FLDOGRP Needless to say, by this stage the team had had very little (if any) sleep and were not FRQĂ€GHQW WKH FDU ZRXOG ODVW WKH GLVWDQFH RQ UDFH GD\ 7R WKHLU FUHGLW LQ WKH Ă€QHVW %DWKXUVW traditions, the Novocastrian team never gave up and took their position on the starting grid. With the help of attrition, #19 quickly gained positions in the race to be running somewhere, +HDUG FDQ¡W UHFDOO H[DFWO\ EHWZHHQ WK DQG WK approaching mid-race. 7KHQ VXUSULVH VXUSULVH WKH :DWW¡V /LQNDJH broke, damaging a tyre. Several laps were lost while this was repaired... by reinstalling a Panhard Bar! Yet they struggled on, the car smoking badly due to a holed piston but circulating several seconds faster than its best qualifying time. 7KH FUHZ ZDV UHOLHYHG WR UHDFK WKH Ă€QLVK ZLWK the blue, red and silver VB completing 134 laps IRU QG RXWULJKW DQG WK LQ FODVV $ 7KDW¡V QRW WR be sneezed at given the rookie team had a total EXGJHW RI DERXW LQFOXVLYH RI WKH FDU¡V initial purchase. Sue Ransom, the only team member with prior Bathurst experience, played a big part in getting it home. She recalls it was “a bog-standard, small block Commodore with the most amazingly heavy steering l had ever experienced. l literally KDG GLIĂ€FXOW\ WXUQLQJ WKH ZKHHO DW ORZ VSHHGV DQG ,¡P SUHWW\ VWURQJ Âľ She says the smoke came from two sources: the engine maladies and the rear-end failure that FDXVHG ´VHYHUH W\UH UXE WKURXJK VRPH FRUQHUV Âľ %DWKXUVW H[KDXVWHG 7RP +HDUG¡V PHDJUH EXGJHW DQG WKH FDU GLGQ¡W UDFH DJDLQ He says it was put back on the road and sold in either 1981 or 1982. It gave its second owner several years of faithful service before Heard lost track of it. There were suggestions online a IHZ \HDUV DJR WKDW LW¡V VWLOO RQ WKH URDG EXW ZH cannot validate those claims... unless someone reads this and contacts AMC via amceditorial@ chevron.com.au Whaddayaknow? Does this beast still exist?

AUSTRALIAN RELEASES 2016

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C3740 Ford Sierra RS5000 1989 Bathurst Winner Dick Johnson/John Bowe

C3741 Ford XC Falcon 1978 Bathurst Allan Moffat/Jacky Ickx

C3745 Volkswagen Beetle - Bathurst 1963

C3757 BMW E30 M3 1987 ATCC Winner - Jim Richards

CRAIG LOWNDES 100 ATCC/V8 SUPERCAR RACE WIN TWIN SET During the 888th race of the V8 Supercars Championship, five-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes charged to victory to become the first man in the sport’s history to claim 100 race wins.

C3815A Limited Edition of 1500 Including Special Commemorative Packaging

Check out the Scalextric range at your Toy and Hobby Retailer now!

Ph (08) 8277 0869 A1303 Australian Muscle Car

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