1984 Australian and New Zealand (Group A) Touring Car Races – Discussion & Results

Jesper OH · 17 Sep 2010, 05:24 (Ref:2760707)

As ever I want to cover the FIA Group A era through time and place, and now seems to be ripe for digging into the wast realms of anticipated knowledge about the Australian scene – and hopefully the New Zealand counterpart too, as there seems to be some exchange of teams, cars and drivers in the region. This will cover the period of late 1984 to 1992, perhaps with extensions in both ends if anything relevant pops up. What I like to dig into will be the following championships and races:
Australian Touring Car Championship
Australian Endurance Championship
AMSCAR
Adelaide GP support race
Bathurst 1000 (whenever it wasn't part of any series)
Wanneroo/Barbagello seems to have held Group A races during at least part of the period. Did any other tracks held similar low-key affairs – I know of an early 1987 Oran Park Castrol Clash for Cash race.
Australian 2.0 litre Group A (1985 or 1986?-1987)
for New Zealand I know of:
Nissan Mobil 500 series
Benson & Hedges series = New Zealand national Group A championship?
..and probably more. Autosport have a few short reports of Group A races supporting the 1990 Fatlantic series during January/February.
..finally, all races with a specific Group A class included.

My sources of knowledge for the period are various Autosport race reports and results (usually top 10 with fastest lap), Duke DVDs of ”The Great Race”, various editions of Bathurst 1000 yearbooks and a batch of mid/late 1980s Australian Motor Racing Year beginning with the 1985/86 edition, taped-from-Super Sport-VHS-no-longer-available-at-ease video recordings with hand written notes from the 1987 season ..bar Sandown! Most of this and more are available at YouTube. Add to that various internet sites:
http://www.autopics.com.au/default.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral...r_Championship
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_1000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandown_500
http://www.groupc.org.au/
This site used to have period pictures of both Group C and A racing, but seems to have split up since. Then there are the chassis histories here on 10-tenths. In general:
Where are they now: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67601
And more specific..
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 2.5: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105830
BMW 635CSi: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84884
BMW M3: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98701
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65100
Ford Sierra XR4Ti: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84574
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth/RS500 Cosworth: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103035
Holden Commodore, VKs & VLs: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97759
Jaguar XJ-S: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=xj-s
Mitsubishi Colt Starion Turbo: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103887
Rover 3500 V8 Vitesse: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81326
Toyota Corolla, AE86, AE82 and AE92s: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88687
Volkswagen products: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114314
Volvo 240 Turbo: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105300

Deliberately I have choosen to bypass the Group C era (1973-1984) to concentrate fully on the following Group A period as this is were my heart are. The time and effort to do Group As justice seems quite daunting right now, but in time I hope to return to the latter years of Group C if I'm not beaten to the task!

This Friday teaser are for you, while I'll prepare the 1984 Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 races and apparently a few other races from that year. Finally, should the Kiwi races be included or have a separate thread?

Jesper

**GTRMagic** · 17 Sep 2010, 05:29 (Ref:2760708)

There was a Ford Escort, a Ford Capri or 3, Nissan Skyline DR30, Nissan Gazelle (Silvia), Nissan Skyline HR 31, Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R, Fiat Uno, Toyota Supra, plus a Holden (Isuzu) Gemini amongst others that escape me now...

William Dale Jr · 17 Sep 2010, 09:08 (Ref:2760800)

As far as 1984 goes, Group A cars definitely participated in the Sandown, Bathurst, and Surfers Paradise enduros. They appeared during the Australian Grand Prix meeting at Calder (recently saw a photo of Bondy's Alfa GTV6 that had to be taken at that meeting), I assume as part of the main touring car support race.

Frank de Jong · 17 Sep 2010, 16:51 (Ref:2760962)

Jesper, I'll send you what I have so far - but it has been laying around for 7 years, and it may take some time before I get to it. It includes some files I received from Mr. Dale - and I hope I haven't sent you the same files years ago...

Jesper OH · 17 Sep 2010, 17:46 (Ref:2760979)

As always I appreciate your contributions to Saloon and Touring car racing and so I do this time too, Frank. Thank you very much. Hope you'll take advantage of the British 1980s stuff collected on these pages.

Jesper

Adrian B · 19 Sep 2010, 07:11 (Ref:2761435)

[RIGHT][QUOTE=brendonwood1;2761180]
Neville Crichton & Wayne Wilkinson teamed up in a black Frank Gardner built 635CSi. I believe this is the same car driven at Bathurst by Denny Hulme/Leopard von Bayern and was converted from one of the JPS team's Group C BMW 635 CSis.

The Crichton/Wilkinson car was possibly a converted Group C car but it was not the Denny Hulme/Leopold von Bayern 1984 Bathurst car which was built up as a Group A car and never converted from Group C.

Adrian B · 19 Sep 2010, 08:04 (Ref:2761440)

The Crichton/Wilkinson car used in NZ in 1984/5 was a new Group A car built by JPS which Crichton later used in the 1985 ATCC. The Hulme/von Bayern 1984 Group A car became the Jim Richards 1985 car. Crichton used the converted Group C car at the first round of the ATCC at Winton in February 1985, as his Group A car was still on it's way back from NZ. The converted Group C car was later sold to Jim Keogh. Cheers Adrian.

brendonwood1 · 19 Sep 2010, 12:19 (Ref:2761505)

Thanks for clearing that up. I was never sure if the Crichton/Wilkinson car was a new car or a converted Group C car.

racer69 · 19 Sep 2010, 12:26 (Ref:2761509)

Definatly wasn't a Group C car, only two were built, one stayed in that spec, the other was converted by JPS to Group A, and as mentioned used by Crichton at Winton, and later in the year sold to Jim Keogh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Dale Jr

As far as 1984 goes, Group A cars definitely participated in the Sandown, Bathurst, and Surfers Paradise enduros. They appeared during the Australian Grand Prix meeting at Calder (recently saw a photo of Bondy's Alfa GTV6 that had to be taken at that meeting), I assume as part of the main touring car support race.

There were a couple of Group A cars in the race, Jim Richards drove the #62 JPS 635, the Seton/Smith Mustang ran, plus a collection of converted Capri's and Dolomites...

KA · 20 Sep 2010, 07:36 (Ref:2761773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendonwood1

The Benson & Hedges series comprised 3 hour races at Manfield and Baypark and a 6 hour race at Pukekohe.
Two new BMW 635CSis were ready for the series. Kent Baigent & Neal Lowe teamed in one 635. I believe this was an ex-Schintzer 1983 chassis. I'm sure this has being mentioned in the BMW 635 thread.

The '85 Bathurst annual describes the Baigent car as ex-Schnitzer

Jesper OH · 21 Sep 2010, 19:15 (Ref:2762665)

Castrol 500
Sandown Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
9th September 1984
3.903 kms x 129 laps = 503.487 kms
Round 3 of x of the 1984 Australian Endurance Championship
Round 3 of x of the 1984 Australian Endurance Championship of Makes

Results based on the Wikipedia results with additional info from the Bathurst annual and the YouTube videos.

Pos.

Class

No.

Drivers (state)

Entrant

Class

Car

Grid

Time

FL

Laps

Time

Notes

1.

05

Peter Brock (Vic.)/Larry Perkins (Vic.)

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VK

4.

1:47,0

129

ca. 4h01m

New car for the race

2.

43

Allan Moffat (Vic.)/Gregg Hansford (Vic.)

Peter Stuyvesant International Racing

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

5.

1:47,5

128

New car for the race

3.

25

John Harvey (Qld.)/David Parsons (Tas.)

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VK

9.

1:49,1

127

4.

18

Murray Carter (Vic.)/John Goss (NSW)

Valentine Greetings

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

10.

1:49,9

125

5.

20/19?

Bernie Stack (SA)/Wayne Clift (Qld.)/Jim Keogh (Vic.)

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

13.

122

Keogh transferred from retired car?

6.

1.

77

Peter Williamson (NSW)/Charlie O'Brien (Qld.)

Peter Williamson Toyota

Gr. A

Toyota Celica Supra

1.

1:58,5

119

7.

6.

27?

Alf Grant (Qld.)/Craig Harris (Qld.)

Bryan Byrt Ford

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Ford Falcon XD

118

8.

7.

51?

Tony Mulvihill (NSW)/Brian Nightingale (NSW)

Tokico

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

113

9.

1.

74

Dean Lindstrom ()/Larry Kogge ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

111

10.

2.

65

John Craft (NSW)/Les Grose (NSW)

Hulcraft Autos

Gr. A

Ford Capri Mk. III

109

11.

2.

28

Brian Bolwell ()/Ray Cutchie ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Ford Escort Mk. II

107

DNF

6

Allan Grice (NSW)/Steve Harrington (Tas.)

Roadways Racing Pty Ltd

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VK

2.

1:46,3

1:48,3

103

Differential

12.

8.

8

Warren Cullen (Vic.)/Alan Jones (Qld.)

K-Mart Auto Racing

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VK

8.

1:49,0

102

13.

3.

52

Steve Williams ()/Alan Fender ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Ford Escort Mk. II

101

14.

4.

James (Denis) Horley () [1]/Colin Spencer ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Isuzu Gemini PF60

98

15.

5.

Michael Freeman ()/Andrew Millison ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Isuzu Gemini PF60

96

16.

6.

80

Ken Harrison ()/Ian Wells ()

Ken Harrison?

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Ford Escort Mk. II

96

17.

7.

Martin Power (Vic.)/Philip Larmour ()

Martin Power?

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Triumph Dolomite Sprint

95

NC

32

Peter Hopwood ()/David Grose ()

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

95

DNF

70

Colin Bond (NSW)/Peter Fitzgerald ()

Network Alfa

Gr. A

Alfa Romeo GTV6

2.

2:01,4

93

Out of fuel

NC

10

Rusty French (Vic.)/Geoff Russell (Qld.)/Graham Moore (NSW) [2]

John Sands Racing

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

16.

91

18.

8.

Bob Harris ()/P. Tindell ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Ford Capri Mk. IV6

87

DNF

21

Graham Lusty (Vic.)/John Lusty (Vic.)

Lusty Engineering Pty Ltd

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

15.

84

DNF

Lawrie Nelson (Vic.)/Peter Jones (Vic.)

Capri Components

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Ford Capri Mk. III

76

DNF

31

Jim Richards (Vic.)/Tony Longhurst (Qld.)

JPS Team BMW

Gr. C/+3000 cc

BMW 635CSi

6.

1:47,8

72

Transmission

DNF

61

John White ()/Les Szreniawski ()

Gr. C/-3000 cc

Isuzu Gemini

70

DNF

39?

John Bundy (Vic.)/Barry Jones (NSW)

John Bundy

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

64

DNF

50

Peter McLeod (nsw)/Graeme Bailey (NSW)

Petrolon Slick 50

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

57

DNF

3

Peter Janson (Vic.)/Garry Rogers (Vic.)

Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

12.

46

Transmission

DNF

46?

Les Swallow (Vic.)/John Tesoriero (NSW)

Les Swallow

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Ford Falcon XE

45

DNF

19/20?

Jim Keogh (Vic.)/Terry Shiel (NSW)

Jim Keogh

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

14.

44

DNF

9

Andrew Harris (Vic.)/Ron Harrop (Vic.)

K-Mart Auto Racing

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

7.

1:48,7

43

Differential

DNF

26

Bill O'Brien (ACT)/Garry Cooke (NSW)

Everlast Battery Service

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Ford Falcon XD

41

Overheating

DNF

17

Dick Johnson (Qld.)/John French (Qld.)

Palmer Tube Mills

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Ford Falcon XE

3.

1:46,9

37

Gearbox

DNF

15

George Fury (Vic.)/Gary Scott (Qld.)

Nissan Motor Co.

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Nissan Bluebird Turbo

1.

1:46,2

32

Engine

DNF

2

Steve Masterton (NSW)/Phil Ward ()

Masterton Homes

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Ford Falcon XE

11.

14

Differential

DNF

38?

Colin Campbell (Vic.)/John Faulkner (Vic.)

Bayswater Auto Wreckers

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Holden Commodore VH

9

DNF

DNS

64?

Lawrie Nelson (Vic.)/Peter Jones (Vic.)

Capri Components

Gr. A

Ford Mustang GT

Withdrawn, used Ford Capri

[1] James (Denis) Horley: one or two drivers or two names for one driver. Years later he joined Murray Carter in the NetComm-Skyline.
[2] The Wikipedia result shows Rusty French and Geoff Russell as drivers, but in the James Hardie 1000-book Graham Moore is mentioned as co-driver to French. A picture from the start show a French & Moore signature in the front screen of the car.

Relevant links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Castrol_500
YouTube videos, parts 1-4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om3xq...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06vKDFzIAFs&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1sT8bvb_s&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHFY...eature=related

Other sources:
James Hardie 1000 1984/85 (Bill Tuckey)

First race on a lengthened version of Sandown for the forthcomming 1000 km group C World championship race and a possible future Formula 1 Grand Prix fixture! The extra 800 metres or so added was a Mickey Mouse-section, expected to be hard on transmissions and so it proved.
Yet, eventual winners Peter Brock and Larry Perkins were never far from the lead.

Jesper

Jesper OH · 22 Sep 2010, 18:32 (Ref:2763172)

As for the four Group A cars at Sandown, I think their history are quite well known:

#77 Peter Willimson Toyota Celica Supra: ex Hughes of Beaconsfield/Toyota GB car raced by Win Percy during 1983 and part through 1984 (don't know if this car was the 24h Spa-Francorchamps car?), before being bought by Williamson and air freighted to Australia for the Sandown race.

#70 Network Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5: Group E production car raced by Colin Bond. Rebuild to group A specification by Autodelta (in Italy, or from parts flown out to Australia?).

#64 Capri Components Ford Mustang '85-model: Brand new car imported from the states and build to "intended 1985 ATCC Group A regulations" by owner and driver Lawrie Nelson. The car was far from ready at Sandown and rested for the race in favour of his Capri.
BTW what is his name? Lawrie or Laurie Nelson, as I have seen both.

#65 Hulcraft Autos Ford Capri 3.0S Mk. III: Don't know the story of this car, but I would think this was the Group C car of John Craft rebuild to Group A specification.
Somehow I think that the ABC transmission from the race, it's said to be a Group C car, so can anyone confirm weather the Hulcraft car was running as Group A or C at Sandown? It was classified as a Group A car three weeks later at Bathurst.

Jesper

**chunterer** · 22 Sep 2010, 20:50 (Ref:2763243)

These Grp C Capris have always interested me.

We know that they were converted from C to Grp A but how did they actually start out?

Were some cars imported from Europe, presumably as Grp1 cars in the late 70's or were they all built as Aussie Grp C's from scratch?

William Dale Jr · 22 Sep 2010, 23:33 (Ref:2763296)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

#70 Network Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5: Group E production car raced by Colin Bond. Rebuild to group A specification by Autodelta (in Italy, or from parts flown out to Australia?).

Without checking, I'd say it was rebuilt with parts sent to Australia, purely because of the time and expense it would take to ship it to Italy and back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

BTW what is his name? Lawrie or Laurie Nelson, as I have seen both.

Good question. I can't remember what evidence I found but all my records show him as 'Lawrie Nelson'. I think it was an ad in Auto Action selling his old Group C Capri.

Jesper OH · 23 Sep 2010, 05:09 (Ref:2763352)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

These Grp C Capris have always interested me.

We know that they were converted from C to Grp A but how did they actually start out?

Were some cars imported from Europe, presumably as Grp1 cars in the late 70's or were they all built as Aussie Grp C's from scratch?

Was the Ford Capri on sale in Australia? I wouldn't be surpriced if it was as the Mk. I Capri made it to the US marked.
During the YouTube video from the Sandown race, I noticed that the 18th placed Bob Harris/P. Tindell was in fact a Mk. I.

Jesper

Jesper OH · 23 Sep 2010, 05:17 (Ref:2763353)

#70 Network Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5: Group E production car raced by Colin Bond. Rebuild to group A specification by Autodelta (in Italy, or from parts flown out to Australia?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Dale Jr

Without checking, I'd say it was rebuilt with parts sent to Australia, purely because of the time and expense it would take to ship it to Italy and back.

Do you have any idea of what kind of time frame the Network team and Autodelta had for the conversion? Sandown was the second weekend of September and the Group E series had presumably ended some time before.

Jesper

KA · 23 Sep 2010, 07:42 (Ref:2763379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

As for the four Group A cars at Sandown, I think their history are quite well known:

#77 Peter Willimson Toyota Celica Supra: ex Hughes of Beaconsfield/Toyota GB car raced by Win Percy during 1983 and part through 1984 (don't know if this car was the 24h Spa-Francorchamps car?), before being bought by Williamson and air freighted to Australia for the Sandown race.

#70 Network Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5: Group E production car raced by Colin Bond. Rebuild to group A specification by Autodelta (in Italy, or from parts flown out to Australia?).

#64 Capri Components Ford Mustang '85-model: Brand new car imported from the states and build to "intended 1985 ATCC Group A regulations" by owner and driver Lawrie Nelson. The car was far from ready at Sandown and rested for the race in favour of his Capri.
BTW what is his name? Lawrie or Laurie Nelson, as I have seen both.

#65 Hulcraft Autos Ford Capri 3.0S Mk. III: Don't know the story of this car, but I would think this was the Group C car of John Craft rebuild to Group A specification.
Somehow I think that the ABC transmission from the race, it's said to be a Group C car, so can anyone confirm weather the Hulcraft car was running as Group A or C at Sandown? It was classified as a Group A car three weeks later at Bathurst.

Jesper

Slightly off-topic until we get to the 1985 thread, but apart from those early Group A cars mentioned, and the Capris that were converted from Group C, there were probably a couple of other cars in the Sandown entry that would go on to race in Group A form in 1985- a few of the early Group A Commodores in 1985 had Group C origins.

According to the 1985 Bathurst book I've got in front of me, Warren Cullen's spare car there was his 1984 Bathurst mount converted to Group A, and the Tony Kavich car was originally Grice's 1984 Bathurst car.

Were these the same chassis that Cullen and Grice had used at Sandown?

racer69 · 24 Sep 2010, 12:52 (Ref:2763987)

They were, Sandown was the VK model's debut in Group C motor racing (they would only be eligible for 5 races)

Jim Keogh's Commodore was converted to Group A for 1985 (in time for rd2 of the 1985 ATCC), the JPS BMW driven by Richards/Longhurst was converted to Group A for 1985 (Keogh bought it for the '85 enduros) as well

Some of the dolomites were converted to Group A specs, running in 1985 in the ATCC, and Sandown, and also at the AGP. Isuzu Gemini's raced in the ATCC as late as 1988.

The Capri's had been racing in Australia since the mid-70s, and for years dominated the Sun 7 under 3-litre series at Amaroo Park (the pre-curser to the AMSCAR Series)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Pos.

Class

No.

Drivers (state)

Entrant

Class

Car

Grid

Time

FL

Laps

Time

Notes

2.

43

Allan Moffat (Vic.)/Gregg Hansford (Vic.)

Peter Stuyvesant International Racing

Gr. C/+3000 cc

Mazda RX-7

5.

1:47,5

128

New car for the race

As per this post in the Australian section
http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123867

The Mazda used at Sandown was not a new car, its history dated back to 1982 Castrol 400

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Do you have any idea of what kind of time frame the Network team and Autodelta had for the conversion? Sandown was the second weekend of September and the Group E series had presumably ended some time before.

I'd only be guessing, but the timeframe would have been somewhere between the Silastic 300 at Amaroo (traditionally early August, sometimes the same weekend as Spa) and the Sandown 500 for conversion

I say this because the two main Group E series in 1984 was the popular and well-televised Stallion Stables/2WS Series at Amaroo, and the Calder/Adelaide Group E Super Series, which all the big names ran in. There would definatly have been a Group E support race for the Silastic 300, it would have been the last round of the series, and one assumes Bond would have run in it.

Jesper OH · 24 Sep 2010, 14:28 (Ref:2764016)

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer69

Some of the dolomites were converted to Group A specs, running in 1985 in the ATCC, and Sandown, and also at the AGP. Isuzu Gemini's raced in the ATCC as late as 1988.

The Group A Geminis - sometimes entered as Holdens! - were always 4-door version, while at least some of the Group C Geminis were 2-door coupés. Another Sandown car later converted to Group A would bee the Ken Harrison Ford Escort RS2000, that was around for some of the late 1985 races as well. I believe that the homologation of both the Dolomites and Escorts expired at the end of 1985.
I don't know if the John Bundy Mazda RX-7 was the later Group A car as well?

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer69

I'd only be guessing, but the timeframe would have been somewhere between the Silastic 300 at Amaroo (traditionally early August, sometimes the same weekend as Spa) and the Sandown 500 for conversion

I say this because the two main Group E series in 1984 was the popular and well-televised Stallion Stables/2WS Series at Amaroo, and the Calder/Adelaide Group E Super Series, which all the big names ran in. There would definatly have been a Group E support race for the Silastic 300, it would have been the last round of the series, and one assumes Bond would have run in it.

Thank you for putting the Group E series a bit in perspective. I don't know if the car was finished to absolute full Group A specification by Sandown either. A very clear shot of the front right rim show a five stud wheel rather than a central lock, which would later become the norm for the Network cars, I believe.

Jesper

KA · 24 Sep 2010, 14:55 (Ref:2764035)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

I don't know if the John Bundy Mazda RX-7 was the later Group A car as well?

Don't have the Bathurst annuals in front of me, but IIRC, if we're talking about the yellow 'Unleaded' car at Bathurst in '85, yes I think it was described as being Bundy's Group C RX7 rebuilt?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Thank you for putting the Group E series a bit in perspective. I don't know if the car was finished to absolute full Group A specification by Sandown either. A very clear shot of the front right rim show a five stud wheel rather than a central lock, which would later become the norm for the Network cars, I believe.

Jesper

I'm probably heading in a direction best left until we start the 1985 thread, but IIRC some of the privateer Starions seen in 1985 started life as Group E cars?

Jesper OH · 24 Sep 2010, 15:44 (Ref:2764065)

Quote:

Originally Posted by KA

Don't have the Bathurst annuals in front of me, but IIRC, if we're talking about the yellow 'Unleaded' car at Bathurst in '85, yes I think it was described as being Bundy's Group C RX7 rebuilt?

It was indeed the 'Unleaded' car I was referring to.

Got to think about that the Chris Heyer Audi 5+5 (Audi 80 to europeans/4000 to the US) was missing at Sandown.

Jesper

**chunterer** · 25 Sep 2010, 09:47 (Ref:2764322)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Another Sandown car later converted to Group A would bee the Ken Harrison Ford Escort RS2000, that was around for some of the late 1985 races as well. I believe that the homologation of both the Dolomites and Escorts expired at the end of 1985.Jesper

Am I right in thinking that the RS2000 and Dolly Sprint were one year special exemptions in Australia only, in order to help boost grid sizes in 1985?

I'm pretty sure that both cars homolgation for G1 had expired in 1983 IIRC, so I'm assuming might not have ever been eligible for GrpA officially.

With the Holden/Isuzu Gemini were these cars related to the Chevette/Kadett in Europe. I haven't seen any close up shots recently but memory tells me they were very similar?

Jesper OH · 25 Sep 2010, 10:42 (Ref:2764337)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Am I right in thinking that the RS2000 and Dolly Sprint were one year special exemptions in Australia only, in order to help boost grid sizes in 1985?

I'm pretty sure that both cars homolgation for G1 had expired in 1983 IIRC, so I'm assuming might not have ever been eligible for GrpA officially.

Both cars went out of production during 1980 and according to FIA regulations they had a five year grand on elligebillety (spelling might be off). I have seen British references to a three year rule, but that might have been just a local rule as continental rules were five years. The Brian Chatfield BTCC Capri should be obsolete by 1985 by the British lines, but were still running as late as 1986. These days there's an 8 year warrenty on Group A homologations - which, in practice, only applies to rallying and rallycross.
Their absence in Europe by 1985 might well be explained by the sheer age of these former formidabble cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

With the Holden/Isuzu Gemini were these cars related to the Chevette/Kadett in Europe. I haven't seen any close up shots recently but memory tells me they were very similar?

The Geminis were based on the Opel Kadett C-type (Vauxhall Chevette 1st generation in lack of better describtion) - the last of the rear wheel drive Kadetts - so your memory won't fail on this one. Later edition Isuzu Geminis raced in Japan with front wheel drive and turbo, but against BMW M3 opposition, so nothing great came out of it.

Jesper

Jesper OH · 26 Sep 2010, 21:06 (Ref:2765093)

James Hardie 1000
Mount Panorama, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
30th September, 1984
163 laps of 6.172 kms = 1006.036 kms
Round 4 of x of the Australian Endurance Championship
Round 4 of x of the Australian Endurance Championship for makes

Pos.

#

Drivers (state)

Entrant

Class

Car

Grid

Time

FL

Laps

Time

Notes

1.

05

Peter Brock (Vic.)/Larry Perkins (Vic.)

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

C

Holden Commodore VK

2.

02:14.039

02:15.13

163

06:23:13.06

2.

25

John Harvey (Qld.)/David Parsons (TAS)

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

C

Holden Commodore VK

12.

02:17.06

02:16.11

161

06:23:13.66

3.

42

Greg Hansford (Vic.)/Allan Moffat (Vic.)

Peter Stuyvesant International Racing

C

Mazda RX-7

8.

02:18.051

02:16.98

161

06:25:04.04

4.

8

Warren Cullen (Vic.)/Alan Jones (Qld.)

K-Mart Auto Racing

C

Holden Commodore

13.

02:17.63

02:17.16

161

06:25:22.33

5.

28

Barry Lawrence (Qld.)/Alan Browne (Vic.)/*Geoff Russell (Qld.)

Bayside Spare Parts

C

Holden Commodore

17.

02:18.36

02:16.21

158

06:25:08.40

6.

10

Rusty French (Vic.)/Geoff Russell (Qld.)/*David Seldon (NSW)

John Sands Racing

C

Holden Commodore

31.

02:22.13

02:18.81

154

06:23:29.64

7.

47

Brian Callaghan (NSW)/Barry Graham (NSW)

Brian Callaghan

C

Ford Falcon

21.

02:20.07

02:17.06

154

06:24:02.34

8.

33

Mike Burgmann (NSW)/Bob Stevens (NSW)

Mike Burgmann

C

Mazda RX-7

39.

37.

02:23.82

02:22.94

153

06:23:17.13

9.

35

Ron Gillard (NSW)/Mark Gibbs (NSW)

Goodyear Car Owners Club

C

Mazda RX-7

19.

02:18.99

02:22.99

153

06:23:39.63

10.

27

Alf Grant (Qld.)/Craig Harris (Qld.)

Bryan Byrt Ford

C

Ford Falcon

42.

40.

02:24.45

02:17.66

153

06:24:38.49

11.

52

Fred Geissler (NSW)/Ralph Radburn (NSW)

Fred Geissler

C

Holden Commodore

27.

02:21.25

02:21.65

153

06:25:33.91

12.

1.

61

Jeff Allam (GB)/Armin Hahne (D)

Mobil Rover Racing

A

Rover Vitesse

36.

1.

02:23.41

02:26.41

152

06:24:42.68

13.

12.

19

Ken Mathews (NSW)/Greg Topfer (AUS/?) Robert Skelton (NSW) – DNS

Ken Mathews Prestige Cars

C

Holden Commodore

32.

02:22.16

02:24.20

151

06:25:06.70

14.

13.

21

Graham Lusty (Vic.)/John Lusty (Vic.)

Lusty Engineering Pty Ltd

C

Holden Commodore

35.

02:33.40

02:17.29

148

06:24:18.92

15.

2.

62

Denis Hulme (NZ)/Leopold Von Bayern (D)

JPS Team BMW

A

BMW 635csi

49.

4.

02:28.64

02:28.34

148

06:25:07.36

16.

14.

15

George Fury (Vic.)/Gary Scott (Qld.)

Nissan Motor Co.

C

Nissan Bluebird Turbo

1.

02:13.85

02:16.99

146

06:25:31.33

17.

15.

7

Lester Smerdon (Qld.)/Wayne Park (Qld.)

Queensland Highway Patrol Racing Team

C

Holden Commodore

53.

47.

02:32.20

02:29.15

145

06:26:36.25

18.

16.

51

Tony Mulvihill (NSW)/Brian Nightingale (NSW)

Tokico

C

Mazda RX-7

44.

42.

02:26.11

140

06:24:23.33

19.

17.

37

Graham Stones (NSW)/Ian Stones (NSW)

Graham Stones

C

Mazda RX-7

47.

45.

02:28.07

02:25.85

138

06:25:33.55

20.

3.

69

Barry Seton (NSW)/Don Smith (NSW)

Don Smith

A

Ford Mustang

56.

8.

02:35.17

02:34.11

136

06:23:15.82

21.

4.

65

John Craft (NSW)/Les Grose (NSW)

Hulcraft Autos

A

Ford Capri

60.

12.

02:38.58

02:41.40

135

06:26:08.45

22.

5.

67

Ray Gulson (ACT)/Grant O'Connell (ACT)

Ray Gulson

A

Alfa Romeo GTV6

58.

10.

02:37.42

02:38.13

131

06:23:56.74

23.

18.

24

Allan Taylor (Vic.)/Kevin Kennedy (NSW)

Scotty Taylor Holden

C

Holden Commodore

33.

02:22.30

02:25.92

130

06:24:35.74

24.

19.

45

Bernie Stack (SA)/Wayne Clift (Qld.)

Jim Keogh

C

Holden Commodore

23.

02:20.33

02:22.50

130

06:25:10.97

25.

20.

38

Colin Campbell (Vic.)/John Faulkner (Vic.)

Bayswater Automotor Wreckers Pty Ltd

C

Holden Commodore

40.

38.

02:24.10

02:19.98

127

06:25:06.05

26.

6.

73

Bob Holden (NSW)/Alexandra Surplice (NSW)

Racing Car News

A

Toyota Sprinter

63.

15.

02:46.54

02:43.10

125

06:24:03.67

NC

13

Bruce Smith (Qld.)/Graeme "Hos" Waswo (NZ)

Bruce Keith Smith

C

Holden Commodore

37.

36.

02:23.42

02:27.84

123

05:44:22.00

differential

27.

21.

32

Chris Clearihan (ACT)/David Grose (Qld.)

Berklee Exhausts

C

Mazda RX-7

50.

46.

02:29.46

02:34.64

123

06:25:13.08

NC

49

John Donnelly (Qld.)/Simon Harrex (Qld.)

Kenmar Agency Pty Ltd

C

Ford Falcon

55.

48.

02:33.36

02:34.64

122

06:23:41.77

insufficient laps

NC

22

Bryan Thomson (Vic.)/John Mann (Vic.)

P.F. Motor Racing

C

Chevrolet Camaro

45.

43.

02:27.08

02:22.60

121

differential

NC

75

Laurie Hazelton (NSW)/Jerry Strauberg (NSW)

Laurie Hazelton

A

Ford Capri

62.

14.

02:45.47

02:49.98

119

?

28.

7.

63

Chris Heyer (NSW)/Gerard Murphy (NSW)

Chris Heyer's Kingwood Import Centre

A

Audi 5+5

64.

16.

02:49.78

02:52.69

117

06:26:14.31

NC

30

Tony Kavich (NSW)/John Duggan (NSW)

Tony Kavich

C

Mazda RX-7

43.

41.

02:25.38

02:24.67

117

insufficient laps

NC

44

Peter McKay (NSW)/Graham Moore (NSW)

Chequered Flag Magazine

C

Mazda RX-7

30.

02:22.02

02:21.73

116

engine

29.

8.

60

Steve Soper (GB)/Ron Dickson (NSW)

Mobil Rover Racing

A

Rover Vitesse

38.

2.

02:23.69

02:24.87

116

06:24:07.18

NC

70

Colin Bond (NSW)/Alfredo Constanzo (Vic.)/*Ricardo Patrese (I)

Network Alfa

A

Alfa Romeo GTV6

52.

6.

2:31,00

02:33.30

111

insufficient laps

NC

40

Joe Moore (NSW)/Robert Muir (NSW)

King George Tavern

C

Ford Falcon

24.

02:20.70

02:23.67

110

gearbox

NC

3

Peter Janson (Vic.)/Garry Rogers (Vic.)

Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd

C

Holden Commodore

16.

02:18.20

02:20.21

109

fuel system

NC

17

Dick Johnson (Qld.)/John French (Qld.)

Palmer Tube Mills

C

Ford Falcon

3.

02:14.71

02:16.21

107

gearbox

NC

26

Bill O'Brien (ACT)/Gary Cooke (NSW)

Everlast Battery Service

C

Ford Falcon

28.

02:21.52

02:18.68

104

engine

NC

72

John Smith (NSW)/Stephen Brook (NSW)

Toyota Team Australia

A

Toyota Sprinter

57.

9.

02:35.83

02:36.74

100

oil pump

NC

41

Bob Morris (NSW)/Barry Jones (NSW)

Chequered Flag Magazine

C

Mazda RX-7

9.

02:18.107

02:18.01

97

insufficient laps

NC

68

Greville Arnel (Vic.)/Lyndon Arnel (Vic.)

Greville Arnel

A

Mitsubishi Starion

54.

7.

02:32.21

02:36.65

95

insufficient laps

NC

29

Paul Jones (NSW)/Peter Hopwood (Vic.)/*Rod Millen (USA)

Freedom Fence

C

Ford Falcon

20.

02:19.61

02:21.93

88

engine

NC

39

John Bundy (Vic.)/Norm Carr (Vic.)

John Bundy

C

Mazda RX-7

34.

02:23.21

02:27.56

83

insufficient laps

NC

16

Christine Gibson (NSW)/Glen Seton (NSW)

Nissan Motor Co.

C

Nissan EXA Turbo

26.

02:20.93

02:23.56

76

halfshaft

NC

6

Steve Harrington (TAS)/Allan Grice (NSW)

Roadways Racing Pty Ltd

C

Holden Commodore

4.

02:14.886

02:17.32

70

accident

NC

9

Andrew Harris (Vic.)/Ron Harrop (Vic.)

K-Mart Auto Racing

C

Holden Commodore

18.

02:18.77

02:20.05

51

gearbox

NC

4

Terry Finnigan (NSW)/Geoff Leeds (NSW)

Terry Finnigan

C

Holden Commodore

14.

02:17.94

02:20.05

48

engine

NC

31

Jim Richards (Vic.)/Tony Longhurst (Qld.)

JPS Team BMW

C

BMW 635csi

6.

02:16.795

02:19.29

39

engine

NC

50

Peter McLeod (NSW)/Graeme Bailey (NSW)

Petrolon Slic 50

C

Mazda RX-7

15.

02:18.19

02:19.39

39

overheating

NC

11

Garry Willmington (NSW)/Mike Griffin (NSW)

Magic Eleven

C

Ford Falcon

41.

39.

02:24.16

02:20.61

37

split bore

NC

14

John English (Qld.)/Paul Gulson (Qld.)

John English

C

Ford Falcon

29.

02:21.73

02:20.76

34

accident

NC

66

Kevin Bartlett (NSW)/Peter Fitzgerald (Vic.)

Equipe Sixty Six (Hong Kong)

A

Mitsubishi Starion

61.

13.

02:39.10

02:36.87

27

differential

NC

20

Jim Keogh (Vic.)/Terry Shiel (NSW)

Jim Keogh

C

Holden Commodore

25.

02:20.92

02:23.15

17

pushrod

NC

2

Stephen Masterton (NSW)/Bruce Stewart (NSW)/*Phil Ward (NSW)

Masterton Homes Py Ltd

C

Ford Falcon

7.

02:17.055

02:17.33

16

suspension

NC

43

Allan Moffat (Vic.)/Greg Hansford (Vic.)

Peter Stuyvesant International Racing

C

Mazda RX-7

5.

02:16.411

02:17.19

15

engine

NC

36

Allan Grice (NSW)/Steve Harrington (TAS)

Roadways Racing Pty Ltd

C

Holden Commodore

11.

02:16.38

02:18.92

7

gearbox

NC

64

Lawrie Nelson (Vic.)/Peter Jones (Vic.)

Capri Components

A

Ford Mustang

59.

11.

02:37.44

03:16.88

1

03:16.88

steering

DNS

12

Tom Walkinshaw (GB)/John Goss (NSW)

John Goss Racing Pty Ltd

C

Jaguar XJ-S

10.

02:18.96

accident

DNS

18

Murray Carter (Vic.)/John Murden (NSW)

Valentine Greetings

C

Mazda RX-7

22.

02:20.30

accident

DNS

34

John Tesoriero (NSW)/Bob Tindal (NSW)/*Neil Brain (NSW) /*Peter Hopwood (NSW)

Pennant Hills Suspension Centre

C

Chevrolet Camaro

46.

44.

02:27.52

accident

DNS

71

Dick Johnson (Qld.)/John French (Qld.)

Palmer Tube Mills

A

Ford Mustang

48.

3.

02:28.35

DNS

77

Peter Williamson (NSW)/Charlie O'Brien (Qld.)/*Michael Quinn (NSW)

Peter Williamson Toyota

A

Toyota Supra

51.

5.

02:29.64

accident

DNS

23

David Cox (Qld.)/Colin Young (Qld.)

Berklee Exhausts

C

Mazda RX-7

DNS

46

*Les Swallow (Vic.)/*John Tesoriero (NSW)

Les Swallow

C

Ford Falcon

DNS

48

*Phil McDonell (NSW)/*Gregory Crick (TAS)

Johnnie Walker

C

Mazda RX-7

DNS

53

Gary Waldon (NSW)/Stephen Gall (NSW)

Mazda Dealers

C

Mazda RX-7

DNS

74

*Lee Mitchell (USA)/*Tom Ballantyne (USA)

Flying Tigers

A

Toyota Celica Supra

*Driver did not attent the event

Brock and Perkins winning for the second time around - this time in very commanding style - making it 100 % for the new VK.

A fair few new Group A cars around for this race. In fact no less than 17 of the new bread was entered for the race, of which 16 turned up.

The two TWR Rovers has been dealt with in the Rover Vitesse thread, but keep informations flowing - so is the Peter Williamson Supra and the reworked Network Alfa GTV6 - Alfa Romeo F1 driver at the time, Riccardo Patrese, was suggested for the car, but never appeared. The John Craft Capri did a fine job at Sandown and would do likewise here. Lawrie Nelson rebuild his '85 Mustang to '83 specifications and was allowed to race the car. Two other Mustangs appeared. Dick Johnson mirrored his green #17 Ford Falcon, running his newly acquired white #71 Zakspeed Mustang during practice and qualifying, while Don Smith had Bo Seton build him a third 'Stang.
Laurie Hazelton would have a second Ford Capri (another Group C convert?) with the Chris Heyer Audi 5+5 definitely being a former Group C car as was the Ray Gulson Alfa GTV6. The Arnel-brothers had a former Group E Mitsubishi Starion Turbo at their disposal, while the Equipe Sixty Six car was a brand new car. Frank Gardner and the JPS team had a European sourced 635CSi for Denny Hulme and Leopold von Bayern and I'm not sure if this car had a pre-history. The final two Group A cars would be the Toyota AE86s of the official Dealer Team and Bob Holden. I'm somewhat intriegued by the American Flying Tigers Toyota Celica Supra entry. As there never were an American Group A series, where would this car be based? Flying Tigers were seen on the 1981 World Endurance winning Bob Garretson Porsche 935s - any relations to this entry?

Jesper

**chunterer** · 27 Sep 2010, 11:08 (Ref:2765390)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

James Hardie 1000
Mount Panorama, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
30th September, 1984

I'm somewhat intriegued by the American Flying Tigers Toyota Celica Supra entry. As there never were an American Group A series, where would this car be based? Flying Tigers were seen on the 1981 World Endurance winning Bob Garretson Porsche 935s - any relations to this entry?

Jesper

Interesting one. Flying Tigers sponsored many F3 entires for the Macua F3 GP in the 80's (Damon Hill's Murray Taylor Racing car being one of the more famous ones) so I wonder if there's any link between the Bathurst entry and the Guia Grp A race that would've been a few weeks later?

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