ABC Late Night Legends (Merged x7)

[racer69]

Worth remembering the two Touring Car meetings shown were not Championship rounds, they were support races for other meetings (eg.. the second meeting was the 1971 AGP support races), which would have affected the entry to these races. Also Improved Touring was always thin on frontrunners, field depth only arrived to any real extent with Group C in 1973.

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

You can see why at the time Open-Wheelers were as popular as saloon cars.
When the F5000's died and they went to the anemic Formula Pacific, that was beginning of the end for roadracing Openwheelers in this country.

Definatly, though my comment was more aimed at the 1968 Tasman race

[Senna05]

I know this will show my age (or ignorance)...what were the rules for F5000??

What spec did the cars/chassis need to be, and what motor did they lump into it? (it sounds bloody awesome!!! Like a sprintcar with a few thousand more RPM!!!).

Lookleft, I am at the back of the line and will meet any asking price! I have loved the shows!

[275 GTB-4]

[storyline]
For those that watched the Warwick Farm Tourers (sorry - Improved Touring Cars - wouldn't that upset a few of todays IP drivers?) - comes Trivia Question No 1.

Which incident would have caused the red flag to be used if the race had been run today?

a) The Cortina heading off drivers left? Nah
b) The Cortina and Mini collision? Quite Probably
c) The mini going off drivers right Nah
d) Bob Holdens impact on pit entry Most likely
e) The pit crew who were wearing shorts and thongs (Bob Janes car) What have you got against Kiwi work boots?
f) All of the above as above

Ansers, written on the back of a stamped self addressed enveloped to be received by CAMS, Dandenong Road, Malvern by close of business Jan 6th, 2007!

[frederick]

If you want to express your thanks, (and perhaps encourage them to show more), there is a feedback page on the ABC 2 site:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/contact/abc2_form.htm

although it takes up to four weeks for the message to percolate through to the relevant people

[racer69]

How good was the Formula 5000 races last night, particularly the race from Adealide.

Tonight is the one i've been looking forward to, the 50th Anniversary Australian Grand Prix in 1978 at Sandown.

I wonder what they will play after it, i've been pleasantly suprised to see an extra race each night, in addition to what they advertised.

[Senna05]

WOW!!!
The GP was great! (Hamilton is a lucky lad!)

The "demonstration" was awesome! (I can now say I have seen Fangio drive on a TV, not just highlights!). Was awesome to watch those machines!!!

The "surprise" of the Sandown 400 was quite awesome! I've never seen much un-interupted stuff from this era, and this is just amazing!!!

We need to loby for one of these shows a week at least!!! Maybe 2!

ABC2, keep it going!

[inpitlane]

I currently have a proposal in with the ABC for a series of specials using their treasure trove of motorsport footage. Unlike the commercials who destroyed most of their 60's and 70's stuff Aunty still has quite a lot of stuff. I have already found various Sports Sedan races, F2, F Pacific and Touring Car stuff plus heaps of News reports on various motorsport events.
I have to say that having spent a whole $75 on a DSTB from Coles last week that it was $75 very well spent.

[Head Rev]

What can one say..................... F5000's, Fangio & Brabham, plus the Hang Ten 400, all on one night, no commercials.

What about the safety aspects of both races, horrific accidents for Cooper & Hamilton (very lucky boys), and the way they extracted Cooper from the car!!!!! And the tourers, cars littering the track and not a safety car in sight.

What about the marshalls track side, no protection, must have been mad......... ooops, I was a flag marshall in the same period, '76 - '81 (NSW) and did exactly the same things....., on seeing this my wife just looked at me and shook her head.

All you young guys born in the 70's and later have now seen what motor racing was like when men were men and boys were boys..........

Now, how do we cope with no more further racing actions from the 70's....... just replay this weeks shows I guess.... and replay.... and replay.... and replay...........

[Head Rev]

Originally Posted by inpitlane

I currently have a proposal in with the ABC for a series of specials using their treasure trove of motorsport footage. Unlike the commercials who destroyed most of their 60's and 70's stuff Aunty still has quite a lot of stuff. I have already found various Sports Sedan races, F2, F Pacific and Touring Car stuff plus heaps of News reports on various motorsport events.
I have to say that having spent a whole $75 on a DSTB from Coles last week that it was $75 very well spent.

There you go, God does answer prayer........

Keep us informed.

[Head Rev]

Obviously nobody else watched the 1978 AGP and 1978 Hang Ten 400 last night on ABC-2, or are you all still numb form the experience??

[racer69]

Worked last night so watched it this morning, great stuff from the 50th Anniversary Australian Grand Prix meeting.

How good do the Formula 5000 cars sound, though i thought Wednesday nights races were better, the '78 AGP was quite strung out, Graeme McRae dominating the race, incidently the last driver to win the AGP in a car of his own design (and will probably hold onto that, at least as long as the AGP remains a round of the F1 World Championship), and also the last New Zealander to win the AGP.

Alan Hamilton was a lucky boy, these days it'd be an instant red flag (especially as there was only 3 laps to go), the race continued then though.

As for the Hang Ten 400, Brock easily had the wood on everyone, it was like he had an extra gear approaching Rothmans Rise in his early battle with Morris.


The certianly are plenty more stuff in the ABC archives, hopefully they show some more in the coming weeks/months.

[Robert Ryan]

How good do the Formula 5000 cars sound, though i thought Wednesday nights races were better, the '78 AGP was quite strung out, Graeme McRae dominating the race, incidently the last driver to win the AGP in a car of his own design (and will probably hold onto that, at least as long as the AGP remains a round of the F1 World Championship), and also the last New Zealander to win the AGP.


Well before the Dba limits we have now. The Touring cars of that era sounded fantastic, too bad the V8Supercars and (excluding Drag Racers)everything else has to
put up with the "politically correct " 95 Dba limits.
Sadly Graeme Mcrae has had in his later years, severe bouts of mental illness. He had to shut down his Porsche replica business, as he was not well enough to continue with the business.

[Robert Ryan]

What spec did the cars/chassis need to be, and what motor did they lump into it?
Mainly Chevs,but in Australia the Repco-Holdens were dominant. Some people ran Fords and Dodges elsewhere.

[Robert Ryan]

If you go to this site, it is the most comprehensive site on the web for F5000.
http://www.oldracingcars.com/

[275 GTB-4]

I cannot believe the inadequacy of those pits at Sandown...when did they move them to the otherside??

[chavez]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

I cannot believe the inadequacy of those pits at Sandown...when did they move them to the otherside??

1984

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

What spec did the cars/chassis need to be, and what motor did they lump into it?
Mainly Chevs,but in Australia the Repco-Holdens were dominant. Some people ran Fords and Dodges elsewhere.

And of course McCormick's Repco Leyland P76 block. In England they also ran the 3.4 litre Ford V6 out of the RS Capri and I thinlk I recall someone over there running a Rover unit similar to McCormicks.

[Formula 5000]

I was at the 1978 Hang Ten meeting and remember the day as not being too hot but witnessing the fearful accidents of Garrie Cooper and Alan Hamilton made me sick. That Dunlop Bridge claimed a few over the years.
McRae's car seemed to rocket out of the corners, twitch a lot and pull more revs, though I think he had mufflers. Many of the others were a bit out of their league.

The Torana's were a high pitched noise that probably caused my deafness in old age. Moffat and Bond's Falcons were slow and held the brakes all the way around the corners perhaps indicating oil pressure or surge problems. The race lost its interest midway after Morris slowed and not being able to see the pits from the grandstand made it confusing.

As I started going to the car races in the 1950's so the safety in 1978 looked quite high, now in retrospect, I was horrified. They didn't show all the F5000's going past the ambulance and I think Garrie Cooper was far more severly injured than they said.

Have not missed a night and I think it is fantastic. Thanks ABC.

[William Dale Jr]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

I cannot believe the inadequacy of those pits at Sandown...when did they move them to the otherside??

To add to what chavez said, they did widen the pit lane in time for the 1983 Castrol 400. That was done in response to Allan Moffat driving down the pit lane at high speed several times during the 1982 enduro.


Last night's program was great, wasn't it? Wasn't expecting to see the tourers and the historic demonstration, even if they were at the same meeting.

Please ABC! More! More!!! MORE!!!

[racer69]

Originally Posted by Formula 5000

As I started going to the car races in the 1950's so the safety in 1978 looked quite high, now in retrospect, I was horrified. They didn't show all the F5000's going past the ambulance and I think Garrie Cooper was far more severly injured than they said.

Yes, the GP was pretty chopped up wasn't it (though so was the Hang Ten), would have been good to see it in full.

[noodles]

Have enjoyed each episode.

Watching the 78 AGP episode, it was interesting to note the difference in ride heights between the Lolas and McRae's GM2. And how softly sprung, particularly in the rear, the GM2 was. Possibly contributed to how quick it was out of corners. Then I had a closer look at the track surface. Maybe cars in gravel spec would have been more suited?

Her indoors, (who does not enjoy motorsport to the same extent that we do), has had a great laugh at the fashions of various spectators and pit crew. But all of us old enough have skeletons in that closet.

[dmcl]

The footage was just fantastic, thank you ABC for trawling through the archives and finding these gems. Brett (IPL), your proposal would be fantastic, heres hoping it comes to fruition.
Some other programs I remember the ABC doing that would be great:

There was a whole show done with Fangio whilst he was here for Sandown, covering his life and that awesome Benz.

"Forty Split Seconds" the story of the 1980 Castrol Rally in Canberra, yeah I know its available to buy, and yes mine is worn out, but just fantastic with Ari Vatanen and Greg Carr sliding RS1800 Escorts on bitumen or gravel.

The documentary on the 79 Repco Round Australia Trial

Hell, what about some old episodes of "Torque" just to remind us of how things have progressed. Peter Wherret doesnt "frock up" but the fashions would be a bit of a laugh too.

Ok, this 40 yo fella better stop there, I am starting to sound like my dad...............

[storyline]

Originally Posted by Formula 5000

I think Garrie Cooper was far more severly injured than they said.

Someone correct me if I am wrong - but wasn't this Garry's last race as a driver? I seem to recall that his injuries stopped him from driving after this, although he kept up with Elfin for a while.

[Robert Ryan]

The accident, I think affected his heart. I actually talked to him before this about his Elfin's at Warwick Farm in the pit walkabout.

[monarogts]

Originally Posted by lookleft

I will be "archiving" this onto DVD - have 2 shots at getting it. Give me about a week to sort it all out.

Form an orderly line

Hi lookleft....I would love a copy of anything you've recorded so far...missed all so far...SOB...so keep me in mind as a ten tenths newbie..

Will make sure I get the rest of the action that Auntie will show us!!

Cheers,
Art