Historic touring cars

[torana]

looking at the photos in variuos links to the forum i was wonderin g how one of our historic touring cars would go in competition in the european scene.

The car is a Holden Torana GTR XU1. built to race in both our improved touring and production touring car racing car categories. The car has a 6 cylinderin line engine 3300 cc 10.3 : 1 Comp ratio,producing approx 190HP@ 5600 RPM, 200 ft/lb torque @4000 RPM using standard carbies(triple CD175 Strombergs), extractors standard,4 speed close ratio all synchro gear box, various diff ratios LSD standard, 17 Gallon fuel tank, full instrumentation, twin spot callipers on the front 10" dia disc brakes, 9" drum brakes on the rear. Wheels were 13 X6 " alloy standard. The car weighed 1048Kg. The car was good for 125 mph in road going trim.

What do you think of that pacakge?
Presently cars running in the category in Australian Historic touring car racing are able to run with 302 Mustangs out run Falcon Rally Sprints and lOTUS Cortinas various Alfas even 351 cu inch Falcon GT's.

A real go getter.

[Michael M]

Torana, most important question: Year built??

[torana]

Sorry about that
First GTR XU1 was built in 1971, Model designated as LC fitted with 3048 cc engine
later model built in 1972 and 1973, Model designation LJ fitted with 3300cc engine. I will get some addresses of photos of the cars on the web so others are able to see the type of cars to which I'm refering.

[Crash Test]

Try www.qrda.asn.au , i've stuck a few Torana pics on there, and there is a link to a Historic racing site in the links.

How competitive is your compared to the rest of the field? Up here, Kevin Heffernan has been flying of late, and there is an incredibly fast Chevy Nova. i'vr always wondered how a Mark 1 Escort would go against the Toranas, are there many of them going around in your part of the world?

[Michael M]

The real historic touring car racing here in Europe is limited to cars built max. 1965 (FIA Appendix K). For details see http://www.fia.com/regle/annexe_K/Appendix-K.htm and http://www.fia.com/regle/annexe_K/tourhisto-a.htm
These regulations apply also for most national series. Principally everything is allowed which was homologated during the period, so cars are rather authentic (okay, most if them!). Real chances for gaining overall wins have only cars of period F (1961-1965), and classes TC13 (max. 1600 cc), TC14 (max. 2500 cc), and TC15 (over 2500 cc). Dominating cars in TC13 are Lotus Cortina and Alfa-Romeo GTA, in TC14 BMW 1800 TISA, and in TC15 Ford Mustang and Ford Falcon, or sporadically really good prepared Jaguars MK 2. Minis are dominating TC12 (max. 1300 cc) of course, but chances on overall wins are small. The FIA European Challenge for Historic Touring Cars has an own homepage at http://www.touring-cars.com/uk/index.shtml

There is no official FIA classification for younger touring cars, but in Germany since a few years a series called "Youngtimer" has been introduced. This series covers touring cars of the period 1966 to 1975, and is divided into 4 divisions:
Division 1A: former FIA group 1 (Standard Touring Cars) 1966-1971
Division 1B: former FIA group 1 (Standard Touring Cars) 1972-1976
Division 2: former FIA group 2 (Competition Touring Cars) 1966-1971
Division 3: former FIA group 2 (Competition Touring Cars) 1972-1976
All divisions are splitted in various engine capacity classes.
For overall race wins of course only cars of division 3 can be counted, but the Trophy is awarded by complicated point scheme, which allows also class winners to have chances. They have also a homepage, unfortunately only in German, at http://www.youngtimer.de

Taken the figures of the Torana (3.3 ltrs, 190 HP, 1971-73) it would compete theoretically in division 1B, class 6B (over 2000 cc), where it has to race against BMW CSI Coupe and Ford Capri (Hello Peter!), but also against the smaller 2 ltr bunch of Asconas, Mantas, Escorts, BMW 2002 and 320. The weight is okay, so it may have some chances. If not eligible for the standard class, it has to enter in division 3, in that case I believe is has no chance at all, as here you find the monster cars of the mid 70s with over 300 HP.

There is also a quiet active scene in the UK for historic cars of the 70s, Peter Mallett can tell you more about this, as he is competing there with his Capri.

Well Torano,

Your car would be placed in the Post Historic Class. Over here Historics are pre 1966, Post Historics are pre 1974 and everything else is …………. Well, I race In Group 1, which is pre 1983. I have reproduced a precis of the CSCC Post Historic Regulations. As you can see there are some differences, not least the ability to improve braking. This, of course, comes from the FIA Group 1 Touring Car regulations.

Have a look and tell us how you think your regs match up.

5.2 Description:

5.2.1 "Post Historic Touring Cars" are saloon cars manufactured before 1st January1974, of which more than 5,000 examples were manufactured in any 12 month period during the overall production run and/or were homologated by FIA for competition in Group One category for Production Cars. All entrants must produce HVIFI (FIA) Homologation papers stamped by the ASN, where issued for that vehicle. The onus shall be on the entrant to establish eligibility. Where no such paperwork is available, the entrant must produce written confirmation from the CSCC Committee as to the permitted specification of the vehicle in question. Decisions as to the eligibility and the implementation thereof shall be taken by the CSCC Committee in conjunction with the Championship Eligibility Scrutineer.
Pre 66 FIA Appendix K cars are permitted to compete in this championship.

5.6 Bodywork:

5.6.1 Bodywork must be complete and standard in shape, material and thickness on all exterior surfaces. External trim must be retained. Bumpers and overriders may be removed.

5.6.2 Internal panels, sub-assemblies and chassis members must remain as originally manufactured. Strengthening is permitted.

5.6.3 Interior trim may be removed, provided that original dashboard and door trim are retained. Two-door cars must retain the rear interior side trim. For the purposes of clarification, these regulations require the retention of all interior door and rear quarter trim, including all associated fixtures and fittings, save for those that may be fouled by any roll-cage members.

5.8.4 Additional instruments and controls are permitted.

5.6.5 All windows and operation controls must be to original specification.

5.6.6 The fitting of a non-standard driver's seat is permitted, provided that it is of adequate strength, and meets current MSA specifications.

5.6.7 Heaters may be removed.

5.6.8 The original boot and bonnet fasteners may be removed. All boot and bonnet hinges must remain in position and in operation.

5.7 Engine:

5.7.1 The engine must be located in the original position.

5.7.2 The original standard production cylinder block must be used and may be rebored plus 1.65mm (0.065").

5.7.3 The cylinder head must be the original standard production component.

5.7.4 The crankshaft is free, but the original stroke and number of bearings must be retained.

5.7.5 Camshafts, camshaft bearings and drive systems are free, provided that they remain in their original positions and are the sole means of operating the valves.

5.7.6 The original carburettor(s) must be retained. Intake and outlet flange dimensions must remain as original. Air cleaners are free, or may be removed or replaced by inlet trumpets. No additional devices are to be fitted to the carburettor.

5.7.7 Radiators are free, but must remain in their original position. Radiator blinds may be fitted.

5.7.8 Additional heat exchangers and their pipework may be fitted within the bodywork. They must be the same end of the vehicle as the engine and may not be located in the passenger compartment or, if beneath the car, project beyond a line drawn at 45 degrees to the horizontal and tangential to the bodywork (not including overriders).

5.7.9 The exhaust system is free but must comply with MSA specifications.

5.7.10 Dry sump oil systems are prohibited.

5.7.11 The distributor may be fitted with an after-market spark triggering device but the distributor must remain in its original position and must maintain its original function. Any additional system which processes information acquired from the ambient conditions and/or the engine is not permitted. The distributor must be the only means of determining ignition advance and retard and must continue to distribute the high tension spark.

5.7.12 Forced induction or fuel injection is permitted only if fitted as original equipment.

5.7.13 Inlet and exhaust manifolds are ftree.

5.7.14 It is permissible to remove metal from original cylinder blocks and heads. The original-pattern carburettor may be "gas-flowed' by polishing and internal removal of metal but metal shall not be removed from the faces of the air inlet and outlet flanges.

5.7.15 Air cleaners. if fitted, are free.

5.7.16 All other engine components are free.

5.7.17 Engine Sealing:
To allow for scrutineers wire seals, every installed engine must have 1 .6mm (1/16in") holes drilled in readily accessible locations:
A Sump: Cross drilled through two retaining screws or studs.
B Rocker/cam cover: Cross drilled through two retaining screws or studs.

5.8 Suspension:

5.8.1 Suspension type and spring type must remain unaltered. Spring rate arid thickness of material is free. The original type of suspension components must be employed in their original positions. They may be strengthened. Spherical bearings or joints are prohibited unless fitted as standard, and the original suspension mounting points are to be used without modification. Additional suspension components are not permitted. Dampers of the original type must be employed but may be adjustable non-adjustable or up-rated.

5.8.2 Anti-roll bars, anti-tramp bars, Panhard rods, Watts linkages, lowenng blocks and their mountings may be added! and these components only may incorporate spherical bearings or joints.

5.9 Transmission:

5.9.1 Subject to following provisions the gearbox is free but must remain in the original position. No more than four forward ratios are permitted unless supplied as original equipment Vehicles must use either the original production type of gear box or a homologated alternative.

5.9.2 Gearboxes and transaxles with rapidly interchangeable ratios, or proprietary racing gearboxes, are prohibited.

5.9.3 An additional overdrive gearbox may be fitted.

5.9.4 The rear axle must remain in its original position.

5.9.5 The rear axle casing must be the original standard production component but may be locally modified.

5.9.6 The final drive ratio is free.

5.9.7 Limited slip differentials are free.

5.9.8 Sequential gearboxes and/or traction control devices are prohibited.

5.10 Electrical:

5.10.1 Electrical equipment is free provided that a generator, battery and starter are fitted and in full working order.

5.10.2 Lights and windscreen wiper to MSA requirements for Touring Cars must be fitted and be in full working order.

5.11 Brakes:

5.11.1 Brake Systems are free but ABS systems are prohibited. Ducting for the purpose of cooling brakes or removing dust is permitted provided it is not visible outside the car and serves no other purpose. Modification or removal of brake back plates is permitted.

5.11.2 Cars are to be fitted with an operational handbrake.


5.12 Wheels and Tyres:

5.12.1 Road wheels are free, with the exception of split rims which are specifically excluded.

5.12.2 Wheels must be of original diameter.

5.12.3 Tyres. A minimum tyre aspect ratio of 60% is permitted.

Nominated Manufacturer – Dunlop

Nominated Tyre Pattern - D83 I D84J/ D93J.
5.12.4 Maximum permitted rim widths are:
Class B 7.0 ins (Your car).

5.12.5 Not Applicable

5.15 Weights:

Weights by capacity. These are true minimum weights with no tolerance and all cars must comply in post race trim, minus driver. Ballast is permitted to achieve these minimum weights but weight may only be removed within the limits of the modifications detailed within these regulations. Ballast must be securely attached within the habitacle and attachment bol

[torana]

Story of my car goes a little like this. I was racing a Prince Skyline GT in Historic touring car racing but due to the continued non availability of spare parts mainly Engine consumablesMain and B/E bearings I decided to race a torana.
The car started life as a down on its luck genuine LC GTR XU1. Rebuilt and restored over a three year period Debuted at Winton Historic 3 years ago. First time out started and finished all thre races though well of the pace really. Last year at Winton Historic I unfortunately crashed the car very heavily into the concrete wall on the outside of turn 2. The track was awash at the time and the whole weekend was ruined as the rain just didn't stop all weekend.

I dont have the money to throw at the car like a lot of other competitors. So I dont run roller Cams,Huge lift Cams, Huge lift Roller Rockers etc. The top XU1's down
(Ian Jones, Trevor Talbot)here in Vic are getting over 300 HP (NO JOKE), me well I've got approx 250-260 HP. Dyno sheets show 141 KW at the back wheels. Still respectable HP for a not over the top engine. After getting all the correct amchining done I have assembled the damn thing myself.

As far as being competitive, well I'm a bit off the pace Phillip Island 1:58's, Sandown 1:32's. The front running XU`1's are doing
1;50's at Phillip Island and 1:25's at Sandown. Limited budgets mean not enough time in the car, my times are improving gradually.

So far this tear Ive run Phillip Island Historic36 cars in the over 3000 cc class
R1 start 23 finish 19
R2 Start 23 Finish 21
R3 start 23 Finish 22
shame about the lack of progressive grids.
Worn out clutch was the only problems all weekend so this limited me in the last two races. Still a great weekend wasa had by nearly all( except for the cars what crashed or blew up)

[Crash Test]

Non-Progressive grids: Whats the deal with them? A few years ago up here they did lots of different types of grids, reverse etc, but not any more.

There are a few Toranas up here in your boat, but if you keep circulating you will get there.

[Florian Lacroix]

Hi Torana,
has your car raced in its early years or you prepared it recently ?
There is a FIA category open to car before 72 but the car needs to have race at this time and you have to prove that.

[torana]

My Car was a road car that some young buck drove like crazy on the road. He stripped it down to restore it and then promptly lost his job. Car was advertised in the local trading post as
"90% complete but in pieces $3500"
sure was in pieces. he rolled the car out of the garage on the mag wheels, no tyres on the wheels, nothing in the car no doors on it, no glass fitted now wiring fitted but stuffed in a milk crate. a bare rolling shell in need of a fair amount of hard work. The car had the correct cross member, correct brake callipers, correct speedo (120 MPH), correct brake booster and master cylinder, an M21 Aussie 4 speed gearbag,a lot of rust and all the ID plates although these we not of much use as apparently GMH did not keep records of the LC XU1's only the LJ. So all the right bits were there> The worst part was that the car had had a meltdown of the wiring at one stage and all the instruments were rewired using blue wire of course the ****er that owned it new better than GMH about colour coding of wiring looms. The other piece of interesting wiring on the car was the power lead from the fuse box to the fan switch and then to the fan. This part of the loom carries 15 amp so they just had to use stereo speaker wire. good one!!!!! The wiring took me all of one Xmas break to sort out and I still dont know why I haven't got the ront left hand indicator to work yet.

At the moment the car is on stands to have the callipers overahuled and the fitting of a new improved exhaust system. all Stuff tah is not that expensive to do at the moment. Next will be the head off and down to Head Stud in Moorabbin for a job on it. Either that or I will take the XU1 head that is hidden from prying eyes down and get them to do a job on it. At the moment the car is fitted with an over the counter stage 4 Yella Terra head. While it works quite well,I'm sure that Eddie Woods can do a better job.
Next outing for the car will be the State Race series at Phillip Island ( don't have to change the diff again)on the 10-11 June, same weekewnd as the GMC 400 in canberra. Could do well that weekend as all the big boys have been invited to go there.

Plans are that after the island we will do a strip down and freshen up. That will be 7 race meetings. Although the oil samples are testing OK and the Comps are still even and running about 200 lb.

calendar for the rest of the year is
5-6 August state races calder
22-23 Sept State races sandown
7-8 Oct Shell V8's support sandown
??? october Historics Sandown
??? november Vic Chps phillip Isalnd
A somewhat full calendar

Sorry torana, but I can't see a Torana beating a well sorted Camaro, Mustang or MkII Capri for that matter.
I will grant you that a couple in Australia (namely the Trevor Talbot and Ian Jones XU-1s) are quick, proof being solid performances against V8s at Phillip Island and Sandown in March and April where they beat some of the very best.
A couple of others like the Grant Elliott (now sold) and Bruce Stewart cars are not far behind them but neither of them have come within a bull's roar of knocking off Bob Pearson's black Escort RS1600.
Besides which there are rule variants from country to country (Appendix J v Appendix K) and Group Nc rules are different from Group Nb.
The only known Torana that raced in the period that I know of is currently for sale in Queensland. Its the ex-Allan Grice Cessnock Motors Torana and its going for $AUS30,000.

[Crash Test]

I can tell you Kevin Heffernan has been winning some races up here in Qld, but the opposition is a little down this year. Gary Brown in a Nova is very quick, and went oh so close to winning a club car race (who calls them improved production?), and John English in a Charger is under achieving this year....Can't wait until Steve Emson gets the big GTHO back out there...nothing can beat that...it would probably win the Sport Sedan events!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by torana
Sorry about that
First GTR XU1 was built in 1971, Model designated as LC fitted with 3048 cc engine
later model built in 1972 and 1973, Model designation LJ fitted with 3300cc engine. I will get some addresses of photos of the cars on the web so others are able to see the type of cars to which I'm refering.

Actually, the first Torana LC GTR XU-1 was built in 1970, and a flotilla of them ran at the 1970 Hardie Ferodo 500 in October.

Until the very last manifestation, released mid-1972, they had steel wheels.