Thread: TOURING CAR MASTERS

In the early days of the Bathurst "500" (miles that is!) the blokes actually took sandwiches with them ... some entries...a lot actually, had drum brakes on the rear because the car had to be "homologated" i.e. manufacturers had to produce a set quota (can't remember the figure but it was over 50 possibly even 100 ) for retail sale with the same specifications. Even tyres were road going tyres! Mini cooper S, Cortina GT 1600 cc engine with a close ratio Lotus gearbox, EH Holden Special (S4) with a 4 sp gearbox and front disc brakes (big innovation!), Alfa Romeo Veloce GT, Toyota corolla, Datsun 1600... you name it, they were all running together while competing in different classes. (IIRC based on engine displacement).
Hence the expression, "Raced on Sunday, sold on Monday!" Oh yes, and the tyre of choice was a Michelin XAS ...a radial ply tyre no less!

EDIT: I could go on but it's time already for my afternoon nap...

Before my time as well but wasn't their a pair of brothers that raced a GTHO in dinner suits?
edit found it
Leo and Ian Geoghan drove their ford Cortina in the 1965 Armstrong 500 at Bathurst while wearing business suits as part of a sponsorship deal with a Sydney clothing store.

Ah the old Lotus Cortina with that green flash down the side ! The sound of that straight cut gearbox... ohhh yeah baby !!!!





This guy has a pet one (albeit not original) to race...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXiyYYLGm1k

Note important safety measure to minimise chances of glass getting onto the track in event of a minor shunt: insulating tape on headlights! no roll cage, some had a "racing harness" which was essentially a V-tether bolted to the rear parcel shelf (as one does with a baby seat), came over each shoulder and looped over the lap belt. No head rests. Seat belts were often an optional extra in the early 60s ...they weren't compulsory until about 1970....

[QUOTE=VladTepes;2120613]Ah the old Lotus Cortina with that green flash down the side ! The sound of that straight cut gearbox... ohhh yeah baby !!!!





awesome little jigger very cool. were these the ones prepared by harry firth?

Here ya go, classic giant killer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymg0jurkxn8

Those were the days, sitting on the mound at Creek Corner, Warwick Farm watching the likes of Bob Jane, the Geoghegan's Colin Bond, KB, .........


Or at Amaroo and later on at Oran Park

i can see them now We rarely missed a race in those days.



Erich

Originally Posted by Bundalene

Those were the days, sitting on the mound at Creek Corner, Warwick Farm watching the likes of Bob Jane, the Geoghegan's Colin Bond, KB, .........


Or at Amaroo and later on at Oran Park

i can see them now We rarely missed a race in those days.



Erich

You lucky bugger. Legendary names racing legendary cars best i can do is watch old black and white footage. The old man would tell me about the racing at Lakeside and the cars little Mini's and cortina's having a go against the big V8's and sometimes even winning guess that's where my love of motorsport comes from.