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Australian Muscle Car Issue 142 (Digital)

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20 Articles

If you’re a motorsport fan, you’ll always remember the first time you saw racing live, at the track. The first actual car racing I ever saw was at the Sydney Showground Speedway in 1970. It was a very exciting night for an eight-year-old obsessed with cars and car racing... I was lucky in that I also got to witness racing – if only just the once – at the old Warwick Farm circuit before it closed. That was in 1971, and it was my first experience of road racing; needless to say, the sight and sound of Bob Jane’s 427 Camaro, Norm Beechey’s HT Monaro GTS 350 and Ian Geoghegan’s Super Falcon was pretty heady stuff. But of my early experiences of motorsport, the one that stands out is my…

A Tailem of two Bends

Muscle Maniac ‘The Bend’ motorsport complex at Tailem Bend (recently renamed Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, see below right) is an impressive facility, to say the least. It’s surely the biggest and most lavish motorsport complex in the entire southern hemisphere. It’s that kind of place that’s almost on an other-worldly scale: you can’t properly appreciate the sheer size and grandeur of it unless you experience it in person. It has put the sleepy rural South Australian town of Tailem Bend, population 1850, on the world motorsport map. But Tailem Bend has long been a well-known name in local South Australian motorsport circles, because the place has a racing past. Back in 1975 a group of enthusiasts got together to form the South Australian Motor Racing Club (SAMRC), with the aim…

A Tailem of two Bends

Brock’s personal ‘Green Meanie’ for sale

This VY Commodore SS was not only Peter Brock’s daily drive but is also one of the rare handful of the ‘Brock Enhanced’ series of hot Holdens which Brock had planned to produce in 2005. In February, this unique Brock Commodore will go under the hammer at Slattery Auctions. ‘Brock Enhanced’ was an innovative programme in 2005 where VY/VZ Commodore and Monaro owners could have Brock’s team fit their car with a performance package specified by Brock himself – with the work being undertaken at Brock’s Hurstbridge residence. Reminiscent of the old Brock HDT, the kits were to be offered in levels of performance: Groups 1, 2 and 3. However, General Motors-Holden put the kybosh on the programme just days after Brock publicly launched the Brock Enhanced range at the…

Brock’s personal ‘Green Meanie’ for sale

Aussie Muscle Car Run rides again

The Variety Aussie Muscle Car run is putting the call out for entries for this year’s event, to be held from October 26 to November 1. While the route details are still being finalised, it should be a spectacular experience with the 2024 run starting from the Adelaide Hills and travelling down the Great Ocean Road to finish at Phillip Island. It’s a charity event to help raise funds for children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. It’s open to cars built from 1963 up to and including 1988, plus model overruns that are a replica of a car that raced at Bathurst – broadly, the ‘muscle cars of the golden era of Bathurst’. For more info go to www.varietyamcr.com.au.…

Aussie Muscle Car Run

rides again

Book review: The Boss

It’s arguably the most famous and (for Ford fans, at least) most revered machine in Australian touring car racing history. It is, of course, Allan Moffat’s Trans-Am Boss Mustang 302. This amazing machine, one of seven purpose-built Ford factory Trans-Am racers – which, let’s remind ourselves, was gifted by Ford to Moffat, at a time when he was nothing more just another ambitious young driver trying to make his way in the sport. It’s the car that made Moffat a star; more than that, the combination of Moffat and the Coca-Cola-backed Mustang changed professional motorsport and touring car racing in this country forever. Now there’s a book about it, and happily, AMC can report that The Boss: The inside story of Allan Moffat and his Trans-Am Mustang more than does…

Book review: The Boss

AMC BEST LETTER

Plastic Pigs Greetings and congratulations on a great magazine. Re the article on VL Walkinshaw in AMC issue #141, they had an interesting history and I always liked them, especially that cool interior. My past cars were many and included a Torana A9X four-door in Valencia Orange which I absolutely loved. I also loved a later pristine VN HSV Clubsport (in Silver), both with 3:08:1 diffs. My occupation around the time of VL Walkinshaw was a District Sales Manager in South Australia working with Nissan Motor Company. I was looking after approximately 45 metro and rural dealers and it really was a dream job and enjoyable. Some of my dealers were also GMH dealers, so these Walkinshaw cars were on their showroom floors along with Nissan product. They would park…

AMC BEST LETTER

Bryan Thomson was headed for a famous victory. It was the final round of the $100,000 Marlboro Sports Sedan Series at Calder on 7 December 1975, in front of a capacity crowd and nationwide TV audience. A showdown between the popular racer from country Victoria and track owner Bob Jane, one of the toughest competitors to ever pull on a helmet. The battler and the pro. Having taken pole and the earlier heat, Thommo had everything under control as the series decider drew to a close. He’d seen off the best Sports Sedans in the country. Not only Jane’s Monaro, but also John McCormack’s Charger, Pete Geoghegan’s Monaro, Jim Richards’ Mustang, Ron Harrop’s EH Holden and Jim McKeown’s Porsche Turbo. This was close to the category’s peak era. Thomson was…

The last of the line

Where has the time gone? Here we are marking the 50th birthday of the Ford XB Falcon. Half a century already? For many of us reading this issue of AMC (including this writer) it seems like yesterday, when those of us of a certain age were young and life was much simpler. When the XB appeared in late 1973, Gough Whitlam was Australian Prime Minister (although not for long); Richard Nixon was US President (and also heading for trouble); Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Elton John and Led Zeppelin had topped the album charts during the year (on vinyl records, of course); The Godfather won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. CDs, DVDs, the internet, emails, texting, the curse of social media, mobile phones, digital cameras, digital everything else…

The last
of the
line

A Coupe4 the ages

Glistening in silver and sitting squat on pumped tracks, the HSV Coupe4 was the sensation of the October 2003 Australian International Motor Show Its debut triggered shockwaves approaching those that rumbled through Darling Harbour in 1998 when the covers were pulled off the Commodore Coupe concept (right), the car that would become the reborn Monaro. In turn, Monaro spawned the HSV Coupe in 2001, and then the all-wheel drive Coupe4 previewed in October 2003 and on-sale from mid-2004. Yep, 20 years ago. Time flies… This was the first low-riding AWD passenger vehicle developed and sold by Holden, albeit via its high performance partner Holden Special Vehicles. The Coupe4 made it into production priced at $89,950, and in the end about 130 were built across the V2 and Z-Series HSV model…

A Coupe4 the ages

Glory days at HRT

Muscle Man Ron Harrop continued to be in demand for his engineering prowess after hanging up his helmet, and in 1986 he came up with possibly his most famous innovation, the Harrop rear-end. He designed it on some napkins while flying to Europe to help Allan Grice’s Spa 24 Hour challenge. Radial tyres were new on the scene, and the Harrop rear-end provided vital negative camber on the VK’s live rear axle. Before long, everyone in Australia was running them. Although his business was booming, Harrop missed being intimately involved in a single team. He wanted to benefit from his innovations and not share them with other teams. The chance arose in 1993 after a meeting with Tomas Mezera, who was not only driving but trying to run the then-struggling…

Glory days
at
HRT

DICK JOHNSON Dick’s Diamond Jubilee

Back in the day Dick Johnson has been famously quoted as saying that the only thing you get from looking back is a sore neck. But if Dick pauses to check the rear vision mirror on his own time in the sport during 2024, he’ll be reflecting on a mammoth 60 years since his first race. He’s come a long way since those humble beginnings in an old humpy Holden at Lakeside in November, 1964, and the many years that followed as a struggling privateer. The rock incident at Bathurst in 1980 aside, victory in the Australian Touring Car Championship the following year (culminating in that thrilling race-long final-round showdown with Peter Brock, on Johnson’s home circuit, Lakeside – you couldn’t have scripted it better!) probably marked the moment when…

DICK JOHNSON Dick’s Diamond Jubilee

The fabulous Flagman Part 2

On the world stage In the early 1980s Kym Bonython formed a government department known as ‘Jubilee 150’. The group’s portfolio was to hatch ideas for South Australia’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 1986 and Kym, being a petrol head, couldn’t help but dream of holding a significant motorsport event to mark the occasion which would also place Adelaide (and South Australia) on the world stage. Helping out with ideas was Adelaide-based travel agent and former sports car racer, Bill O’Gorman, who pinpointed the exact category to showcase. Glen fondly remembers the first time Kym asked him what he thought of such a bold plan. “We were spectating at Speedway Park one night and… I was already thinking of giving the flag waving game away at that stage, but Kym said…

The fabulous Flagman Part 2

Slot car addiction

Slot.It Visit Yours truly was recently invited to visit the slot car manufacturer Slot.It at their premises in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It is not every day you get the chance to see where it all happens, especially when you are hosted by Maurizio Ferrari, co-owner of the company and former Formula 1 engineer. The infamous story of Life F1 is available to read in other places, but suffice to say, the experience was ‘formative’ for the recently-graduated electrical engineer who found himself struggling to stay afloat in the murky pool of Formula 1 sharks. Nevertheless, it led to a position as a firmware engineer with his namesake Formula 1 team, working under fellow slot enthusiast Ross Brawn. In 1997, Maurizio quit F1 and start a partnership with Maurizio Gibertoni, consulting…

Slot car addiction

Best laid plans...

Years before Toyota’s global Gazoo Racing – or GR – performance division arrived in Australia there was a short-lived local initiative that strived to add some character and edge to the brand. TRD, or Toyota Racing Development, was a name already well known in Japan and the USA, where it continues to flourish to this day. TRD Australia was revealed to the world at the Melbourne Motor Show in March, 2007, along with its first model, a supercharged 241kW version of the locally-built 3.5-litre V6 Aurion large sedan. In February 2008, TRD Australia’s second model based on the HiLux crew cab ute was rolled out at the Brisbane motor show. Just 10 months later, Toyota Australia unexpectedly announced the closure of TRD, citing the global financial crisis and the need…

Best laid plans...

3500S - $56,9903500SL - $61,500 Engine Capacity (cc) 3456Code/name 2GR-FEDescription Six cylinders, 60 degree V-formation, chain-driven DOHC with roller rockers, four valves per cylinder, alloy cross-flow heads, cast-iron cylinder linersBore x stroke (mm) 94.0 x 83.0Compression ratio 10.8:1Fuel system Sequential multi-point electronic port fuel injection with ACIS, hot-wire airflow meterFuel type 98 RON PULPFuel tank capacity (L) 70Max. power 241kW @ 6400rpmMax. torque 400Nm @ 4000rpm Drivetrain Driven wheels Frontartificial intelligence shift control Transmission code U660ETransmission control ElectronicGear ratios - 1st 3.300:12nd 1.900:13rd 1.420:14th 1.000:15th 0.713:16th 0.608:1Reverse 4.148:1Final drive ratio 3.685:1 Steering Type Rack and pinionOperation PowerTurns lock to lock 3.2 Brakes Front brakes Ventilated discs, 325mm x 32mmFront calipers Dual-pistonRear brakes Ventilated discs, 310mm x 18mmRear calipers Single piston Suspension Front TRD unique sports suspension with increased coil spring…

Rotate your Muscle Elevate your automotive restoration experience with the Metalmaster ROT8A-360 Rotisserie—a true game-changer in the world of body repair. This cutting-edge apparatus is not merely a tool; it’s the epitome of innovation, seamlessly combining efficiency and convenience for enthusiasts and mechanics alike. Imagine being able to tackle all your repair work and spray painting within a single, easy-to-use mounting frame. This transformative approach to restoration is made possible by the ROT8A-360 Rotisserie’s unique ability to rotate a full 360 degrees, providing unprecedented access to those tricky, hard-to-reach areas of your vehicle. The modular design allows you to navigate the entire assembly through low-clearance openings, including standard domestic garage doors. The Metalmaster ROT8A-360 grants you the freedom to work on your restoration project with unmatched flexibility – even within…

Our old mate Geoff Wood (ED: who also authored our Glen Dix features, the second of which starts on page 76) has been at it again. This time, he’s done a model of James Moffat’s TA Mustang. He tells me it’s for ‘a long-time client’. I’ll let Geoff take you through the build himself: “The donor model is a 1:24 diecast NASCAR, which as you can see had to be modified a fair bit! Just like Supercars’ initial (and hideous!) attempt at grafting the Mustang body shape over a spec chassis, the NASCAR derivative isn’t too much better. Clearly NASCAR requires the B-pillar to be a standard 90-degree section for all manufacturers, therefore deleting the classic slanted pillar of the Mustang. Then Ford made things worse by extending the rear…

Two shades of blue

Holden FC Special - Cambridge Blue over Teal Blue Limited Edition of 750 Wow! Classic Carlectables’ FC Special in the latest colour combo looks amazing. I’ve made no secret that the FC is one of my favourite early Holdens and this one looks awesome. The 1:18 scale model features a chrome grille which dominates the front end of the car, look through the grille to see the radiator, horn and metal pressing. The unique details of the FC interior included the half ring steering wheel, shrouded instrument cluster and vertical air vent. You needed vents in these cars, with there being no such thing as air-conditioning yet. The engine and surrounding bay is superbly detailed with all the original stickers and markings adding to the realistic appearance. The boot interior…

Two shades of blue

AMC Club Directory

CAR CLUBS A9X Torana Club Australia Inc. Established to assist all its members identify and preserve genuine examples of the A9X Torana by providing assistance with information, parts, and services. WEB: http://a9xclub.org.au Brock Commodore Owners Association of Australia Inc The Brock Commodore Owners Association of Australia Inc (BCOAA Inc) endeavours to bring together owners of Brock/HDT Special Vehicles built Commodores (VC-VL) and WB Magnums (Statesman and utility variants), produced and issued with a build number during the period that Peter Brock owned and traded under the HDT Special Vehicles Pty Ltd company name from 1980 to 1988. WEB: https://bcoaa.com Canberra Torana Club (CTC) The CTC was founded in 2003 with the goal of preserving the history and experience of the Holden Torana for future generations. The club is about bringing…

a word from our sponsors...

It takes a talented team of ‘creatives’ to come up with an ad campaign that manages to offend on as many levels as this. Still, while the Indian Wheel Company’s risqué method of getting the message across that its wheels are ‘Beefy and Beautiful’ is, let’s just say, rather out of step with current social mores, back in the day it was probably viewed generally as nothing much more than a bit of harmless fun. But how ever the ad was received when it first ran in Modern Motormagazine 50 years ago, one thing we can be sure of is that it worked. We know this because of the retraction the magazine ran in its following issue apologising for the fact that its advertising manager had mistakenly booked the Indian…

a word from our sponsors...

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