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2016 NEWS: McCormack Charger

October 24, 2016 By Muscle Car Masters Leave a Comment

One of Australia’s most famous Sports Sedan racecars from the iconic 1970s will make its first public appearance since being restored at next weekend’s Muscle Car Masters event at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 29-30.

The famous Ansett Valiant Charger driven by three-time Australian Drivers Champion John McCormack and now owned by former racer Mark Trenoweth will be on static display after many years unseen by the racing public.

As a special bonus, McCormack himself and two of his other groundbreaking Sports Sedans from the period – the Repco V8-powered Celica now owned by Bruce Gowans and the Jaguar XJ-S also owned by Trenoweth – will be on hand at Muscle Car Masters.

Entry to the paddock area is free.

Powered by a Repco-Holden five-litre V8 engine mounted right alongside the driver in a bid to optimize weight distribution – a practice adopted by virtually all similar cars in the years that followed – McCormack’s Charger debuted in early 1974 and was instantly a success. Built in Adelaide by former Chrysler engineer Harry Aust, McCormack’s Charger used many components taken from an Elfin Formula 5000 open wheeler including fully adjustable twin wishbone suspension, powerful disc brakes and a Hewland five-speed gearbox.

The Tasmanian won the prestigious Toby Lee Sports Sedan Series at Oran Park in 1974 aboard the Charger, which remains one of the iconic cars from the early era of Australian Sports Sedan racing.

First held in 2005 it has become a permanent part of Sydney Motorsport Park’s calendar and this year moves from the Father’s Day weekend to October 29-30.

The 2016 event will feature an all-star racing line-up of Historic Group A and C Touring Cars in the Heritage Touring Cars class, Australian Trans-Am, Group N Historic Touring Cars and Group S as well as the new Sports Racing Car Invitational demo category featuring thumping Sports Cars, GT, Can-Am and Historic Sports Sedan machinery.

Tickets are now available for Muscle Car Masters with online purchases offering a significant saving compared to on-the-day prices.

Filed Under: NEWS ARCHIVE

2016 NEWS: FT5000 car’s public debut

October 20, 2016 By Muscle Car Masters Leave a Comment

Following a successful private shakedown at Winton Raceway in northern Victoria on Monday, the prototype Formula Thunder 5000 car is set to make its public debut with demonstration runs at Sydney Motorsport Park’s Muscle Car Masters meeting on October 29-30.

Nearly 12 months of design and car build work, based at Borland Racing in Melbourne, reached a milestone this week, with the car turning a wheel for the first time at the northern Victorian track.

Formula 3 champion Tim Macrow took the wheel of the five-litre V8-powered car for the day, initially working through a program of technical systems checks, before winding up the pace through the afternoon.

Macrow will also be at the wheel when the Formula Thunder 5000 prototype takes to the circuit at Muscle Car Masters for three 15-minute demonstration runs over the weekend, with one session Saturday and two on Sunday.

“It couldn’t have been a more productive day for day one with a brand new race car,” said Chris Lambden, who has overseen the development of the FT5000 concept to date.

“The systems checks – primarily ensuring the engine, gearbox, and MoTeC system were speaking to each other correctly – were done by lunchtime, and Tim was able to push things along later in the day, even though we were running the car in relatively conservative spec.

“All our technical partners had someone on hand for the day and, I’d have to say, everything went like clockwork, which is a great credit to all of them. After all the work that has gone in, it was pretty exciting to see and hear the car on track.

“We’re looking forward to running the car publicly for the first time at the Muscle Car Masters and illustrating the sight, sound and smell of the FT5000 concept. Sydney Motorsport Park is a venue that should allow the car to stretch its legs a bit.”

The FT5000 prototype is the result of a desire to create a cost-controlled ‘Big Banger’ crowd-pleasing, modern open wheeler race car, at the same time providing an exciting challenge for top racing drivers, from Formula Ford/Four graduates to more experienced racers.

Based on a chassis design by American company Swift Engineering modified to suit, it utilises a 5-litre V8-engined, big tyre, modest downforce philosophy that, even prior to the car’s completion, has created a lot of interest.

While a small number of one-off warm-up events are planned through the second part of 2017, FT5000 plans to concentrate on a summer season of events (December 2017 to early February), along the lines of the Tasman series of days past. Initially at least, the cars will run under CAMS’ generic Formula Libre umbrella.

“Completing and now running the car is just one further step, one box ticked in the process,” says Lambden.

“The next one is to assemble a decent grid of cars, by confirming interested teams/drivers as soon as we can, so we can set about creating cars over following months. For now, we’re thrilled with the first run of the car, and looking forward to the next step.”

Muscle Car Masters is a celebration of Australian motorsport history, heritage and passion jointly promoted by the Australian Racing Drivers Club and Chevron Publishing, a division of nextmedia.

First held in 2005 it has become a permanent part of Sydney Motorsport Park’s calendar and this year moves from the Father’s Day weekend to October 29-30.

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Filed Under: NEWS ARCHIVE

2016 NEWS: Big Banger sporties ready!

October 19, 2016 By Muscle Car Masters Leave a Comment

The first and last cars to win the CAMS Australian Sports Car Championship are the latest additions to the new Sports Racing Car Invitational category at this year’s Australian Muscle Car Masters on October 29-30 at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Alan Nolan and his Nola-Chevrolet became the last-ever CAMS Australian Sports Car Champions in 1988, claiming the four-round title by eight points before the championship was discontinued at the end of that season.

First held in 1969 the Australian Sports Car Championship honour roll includes the likes of Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan, John Harvey, Allan Moffat and John Bowe.

Now, 28 years on, Nolan and his Nola will be joined by the car that won the inaugural Australian Sports Car Championship in 1969 in the hands of the late Frank Matich; the mighty Matich SR4 (pictured) now owned by Nigel Tait.

They will be part of a trio of 15-minute demonstrations featuring big banger Sportscars, historically significant Sports Sedans and muscle-packed GT and Can-Am cars.

Also confirmed among the Historic Sports Sedans line-up are two of legend John McCormack’s old cars.

Mark Trenoweth is bringing to Sydney the ex-McCormack Jaguar XJ-S that the Tasmanian racing legend drove, while fellow Tasmanian Bruce Gowans has recently finished restoration of the wild Toyota Celica Sports Sedan that McCormack helped build. The Trenoweth-owned Charger Sports Sedan will also be on static display.

Wall Racing will return to the Muscle Car Masters with its Formula 5000-powered Holden Dealer Team Torana formerly raced by Colin Bond. The team had hoped to have its Toyota Supra; a car that began its life as a Chevrolet Monza, but it is a late scratching due to mechanical issues.

Australian-built Sportscars will be well-represented by Steve Webb’s Repco-powered Elfin 360, Nigel Tait’s gorgeous 1969 Australian Sports Car Championship-winning Matich SR4 and Keith and Tim Berryman’s Matich SR3.

The glorious Can-Am cars of the 1970s will also be represented by Andrew Kluver’s marvellous ex-Keke Rosberg Newman-Haas Lola Can-Am car.

Event organisers still have room for additional cars with owners of suitable Sports Cars, GT, Can-Am and Historic Sports Sedans invited to contact them.

Filed Under: NEWS ARCHIVE

2016 NEWS: PB TO BE HONOURED AT MCM

October 18, 2016 By Muscle Car Masters Leave a Comment

Motorsport legend Peter Brock will be honoured at this year’s 12th annual Australian Muscle Car Masters at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 29-30.

The nine-time Bathurst winner and icon of the sport will be remembered at the event that celebrates a golden era of Australian motorsport covering the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Brock attended the inaugural event in 2005 though was killed in a tarmac rally accident in September 2006 before he was able to witness the growth of Muscle Car Masters first-hand.

Ex-Brock racecars will be on hand at this year’s event, including his 1993 Mobil 1 Racing Commodore VP Bathurst car as part of the Australian 5-Litre Touring Car Association demo sessions.

Also heading to the event will be Brock’s recently located Bathurst 12 Hour Commodore VP SS V8 that he and Tony Scott drove to class victory and eighth overall in 1993.

Displays and parades of special Brock road cars from the era where his HDT Special Vehicles operation really boomed will also add plenty of ‘Brock flavour’ to the 2016 Muscle Car Masters.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the VL Commodore Group A’s launch in 1986 and a whole host of Brock Commodore owners are bringing their cars to Sydney Motorsport Park to take part in the Feature Muscle Marque display and parade.

Also part of the 2016 Muscle Car Masters is the A9X Torana Club Nationals’ show and shine, the first time since 2005 that Sydney has hosted the A9X Nationals.

Brock’s name remains strongly linked with the racing history of the A9X having won two Bathurst 1000s, a trio of Sandown enduros and the 1978 Australian Touring Car Championship aboard the mighty Holden muscle cars.

Filed Under: NEWS ARCHIVE

2016 NEWS: Sweeter with Five Litres

October 17, 2016 By Muscle Car Masters Leave a Comment

sweeter-with-five-litres

Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore V8s from the early era of 1990s five-litre touring car and V8 Supercar competition will make their debut at the 2016 Muscle Car Masters.

The Australian 5-Litre Touring Car Association, catering for owner/drivers of cars from the 1993-2002 period of V8 Supercar/five-litre touring car racing, will bring a wide range of former Bathurst cars to this year’s event on October 29-30.

A range of important and interesting cars from the era will take to the circuit in a range of spirited demonstrations including the 1993 Mobil 1 Racing Commodore VP formerly driven by Peter Brock.

A range of cars built and raced by teams including Perkins Engineering, Glenn Seton Racing, Tony Longhurst Racing and John Faulkner Racing will wind the clock back with around 20 cars expected to join in the action.

Former ‘Castrol Cougar’ Melinda Price is due to drive an ex-John Briggs Supercheap Auto Falcon while Glenn Seton’s 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship-winning Ford Credit Falcon EL is also due on-track in the hands of owner Noel Willoughby.

“We started the Association a few years ago and heading to Muscle Car Masters has been on our radar for a while now,” says Australian 5-Litre Touring Car Association president Troy Kelly.

“The following we’ve attracted via social media and online in the last few years has been great; there’s plenty of interest in these cars and the era in which they raced.

“Sometimes you forget that it’s over 20 years since some of these cars competed at the top level of touring car racing – we have a range of cars in correct liveries that will take people down memory lane in Sydney at the end of October.”

Filed Under: NEWS ARCHIVE

2016 NEWS: Moffat heads list of Legends

September 8, 2016 By Muscle Car Masters Leave a Comment

Moffat heads list of LegendsFour-time Bathurst winner Allan Moffat heads an ever-growing list of legends of Australian motorsport who have confirmed their attendance at the 2016 Muscle Car Masters at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 29-30. The Ford icon will make a return to the 12th annual event among a list of at least 10 Bathurst-winning legends.

Joining Moffat at the ever-popular event will be 1974 race winners John Goss and Kevin Bartlett, 1969 winner Colin Bond and 1967 winner Fred Gibson.

Seven-time Bathurst winner Jim Richards will also be on-hand racing one of his former JPS 635 Group C cars in the Heritage Touring Cars category, while two-time winner John Bowe will also be competing at the event.

50 years on from their victory in the 1966 Gallaher 500, Bob Holden and Finn Rauno Aaltonen will celebrate the half-century anniversary. Holden, 83, will also be in competition at the Masters behind the wheel of one of his original Group A Toyota Corollas in the HTC category.

1965 Bathurst winner Bo Seton, his son Glenn and grandson Aaron will be in attendance for the event held on the last weekend of October.

The full list of confirmed greats for Sunday October 30 is long and distinguished: Rauno Altonen, Trevor Ashby, Kevin Bartlett, Colin Bond, John Bowe, Gary Cooke, Murray Carter, John French, Fred Gibson, John Goss, Allan Grice, Bob Holden, John Leffler, Spencer Martin, Allan Moffat, James Moffat, John McCormack, Scott McLaughlin, Charlie O’Brien, Steve Reed, Jim Richards, Garry Rogers, Barry Seton, Glenn Seton, John Smith, Bob Watson. More greats to be confirmed.

Filed Under: NEWS ARCHIVE

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