Class B, 2001-3000 cc
Network Alfa
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 2.5
Two car effort based at the Alfa Romeo import facility in Sydney, NSW, managed by Enrico Zanarini. The converted Group E production GTV of Colin Bond, making its Group A debut at the 1984 Sandown 500, continued in Bond's hand, while a car bought from the Belgian Luigi Racing team became the mount for Alan Jones. This latter car was reckoned to be superior to the homegrown car. The team lost the service of Alan Jones in mid-June when he joined the Team Haas (USA) Ltd. Grand Prix team appearing for four late season races, the first being at Monza in September. For the last three rounds of the ATCC Bond was the sole driver in his usual car, while the Luigi car was prepared for the endurance races beginning in August, but likely making its reappearence at the Oran Park ATCC final in mid-July. For these races Bond was joined by an otherwise unemployed Gregg Hansford. This car was pronounced a write-off by the team when Bond got involved in multi car crash at the Surfers endurance race in late October. This required a return for the old car for the final race of the year, the Adelaide GP support race, although the car was sold off by then and entered under The Toy Shop name.
Ray Gulson
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 2.5
Based at the Ray Gulson Alfa Romeo dealership in Canberra. Car based on an Alfa Romeo Australia test car, originally build for racing in Group C specifications, but converted to Group A in time for Bathurst 1984 – the cars third Bathurst, so at least going back to 1982 as a race car. After doing a few early New Zealand dates, the car was rebuild for the '85 Bathurst race with Sandown as a shakedown.
The Toy Shop
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 2.5
The ex-Colin Bond Alfa Network car acquired at least in time for the season ending ATCC race at Oran Park in mid-July. Gregg Hansford and Allan Grice did driving duties for a few races. For the Adelaide GP support race the car was back in Network Alfa service, as their usual car was damaged beyond repair. Don't know if this link is related to the same company, but being based in Newcastle, NSW, I guess it wouldn't be too far off:
http://www.japimports.com.au/homepage.htm
Chris Heyer's Kingswood Import Centre
Audi 5+5
Dutch born, Sydney, NSW, residing Heyer was mainly consentrating on the local AMSCAR series with his Audi 5+5. The car received a rebuild after the Amaroo endurance race in time for Bathurst. The car had originally been used 24 hour record attempts in 1981, then racing as Group C and for Bathurst 1984, Group A. The car was presumably retired after the season. New Zealander Graham McGregor, a former rally driver, joined Heyer for Bathurst.
Ian Thompson
BMW 323i
Presumably a 3-series of the E30 variant and said to be a stock standard road registered car. With Thompson racing at Sandown and Adelaide, Thompson was probably residing in the southern parts of Australia.
JPS Team BMW
BMW 323i
Based at the Frank Gardner run JPS Team BMW facilities in Sydney, NSW. The E30 based car running in white BMW Motorsport colours in the local AMSCAR series by Tony Longhurst. The former water skier also contested the last few rounds of the ATCC and the first two rounds of the AEC.
Hulcraft Autos
Ford Capri 3.0S
Team likely based in NSW, owned by John Craft with two cars, likely of former Group C provenance. The team likely concentrated on the local AMSCAR series, but also fielded two cars for the Sandown 500, where John Craft shared with Les Grose and a second car for Pat and John Hogbin.
J. L. Hazelton
Ford Capri 3.0S
Another likely NSW based Capri for Laurie Hazelton. Seems to have done a selected programme of ATCC and AMSCAR races with Danish born Jerry Strauberg as driving partner for the Sandown 500 enduro.
Phil Parsons
Ford Capri 3.0S
Noted for one appearence at the combined ATCC/AMSCAR race at Amaroo Park in July.
”Denis Horley” (?)
Ford Capri 3.0S
Denis Horley was driving at the Adelaide GP support race, presumably his car.
John Bundy
Mazda RX-7
Victoria based team using a converted Group C car as base for the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000. Owned by John Bundy, build by Norman Carr, they also did the driving in these races.
Raymond Spencer
Mazda RX-7
Noted for one appearence at the Sandown ATCC round, so presumably another Victoria based RX-7
Ross Burbidge
Mazda RX-7
Presumably Queensland based, doing the two state round ATCC races.
Russell Worthington
Mazda RX-7
Presumably another Queensland based RX-7, doing the two state round ATCC races.
”Gary Burgess”
Mazda RX-7
Noted for appearences in the last two races of the year held in Queensland and South Australia! This might have been either the Burbidge or Worthington cars.
Formula 1 Investments Pty Ltd
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo
Build by Bob Riley for Kevin Bartlett – Bartlett's privately entered car for 1986/1987? - and leased to Graham Moore for Bathurst. Riley was also then man building the 1984 Bathurst Mitsubishi Ralliart car for Kevin Bartlett. Moore reunited with Belgian Michel Delcourt for the '85 race, but the entry was a non-starter with technical matters.
Greville Arnel
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo
Former Group E production car converted to Group A'ish for the 1984 Bathurst. The team, with base in Queensland, did a few ATCC rounds with Greville Arnel driving and entered Bathurst with brother Lyndon. That project got delayed and without finance to contest the race a seat was sold to Greville's employer Andrew Harris. To this end the car was rebuild and updated with Ralliart bits. This took place in Warrnambool, Victoria, where Greville temporarily was assigned in his job as construction manager in the Harris Group. This left Lyndon on the side. This was another car to end up in the Surfers Paradise pile-up in October.
Melbourne Clutch and Brake Service
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo
Car owned by the owner of Melbourne Clutch and Brake Service Winston Kim. This was another Group E car converted to Group A at the start of 1985 for Brian Sampson to drive. Garry Waldon joined as codriver for the two major endurance races. Another part time effort.
Mitsubishi Ralliart
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo
Build by Bob Riley for Group E production racing for the 1984 season, the car was converted to Group A in time for the Bathurst 1000. For the 1985 Kevin Bartlett was replaced as manager by John Grant, with Bartlett concentrating on driving. The change of leadership also meant a relocation from presumably the Bartlett Sydney, NSW base, to Adelaide, SA, near the Mitsubishi importer. A full ATCC programme was contemplated but slow homologation from Japan, the team dropped the final three rounds to test and develop for the endurance races. For these races Bartlett shared driving duties with Peter McKay, while a second new car was brought along for the Sandown 500 for Peter Fitzgerald and Brad Jones.
Peter Williamson Toyota
Toyota Celica Supra
Team based at Peter Williamson's Toyota dealership in Liverpool, east of Sydney, NSW. The 1985 car was based on a new shell, with the original Toyota GB car being destroyed in the 1984 Bathurst start accident. The entry was a regular during the second half of the ATCC, but never really competitive for overall honours. For the opening Amaroo endurance race he picked up Charlie O'Brien as driving partner, but as was running his own BMW 635CSi in the other AEC races, he was replaced by Tomas Mezera. Williamson was impressed by the Formula Ford'ing Czekoslovakian refugee. Results for the AEC was four DNFs from five starts, with Sandown being a true upturn, as Williamson/Mezera finished third overall and winning class B – a sort of repeat of the 1984 result, when Williamson won the Group A class, sixth overall.
Mark Petch Mechanical Seals
Volvo 240 Turbo
Owned by Mark Petch of New Zealand, the Australian foray was based in Sydney, NSW with fellow Kiwi Robbie Francevic the driver. This car was one of two 1984 Guy Trigaux Motorsport cars bought and tranported to New Zealand for the innaugural Wellington 500 in New Zealand. The team made their ATCC debut at round 2 at Sandown and winning in only their second attempt, at Symmons Plains. Being close to their Australian base the two isolated AMSCAR races were also taken in before the major endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst. Initially Petch was supposed to be driving partner for Sandown, but realising he was out of touch Francevic was giving a free choice of codriver. He selected Tasmanian single seater driver John Bowe, who at the time was considered a bit of a crasher. With a disapointing Bathurst the team ended their Australian tour.
It's interesting to note that the team apparently had some connections with the Volvo headquater in Sweden and their European activities. Parts were supplied from both here and 1985 team of choice Eggenberger Motorsport in Switzerland, but the gun engine for Bathurst was from the privately run Swedish Magnum Racing, which might explain why Ulf Granberg was considered for that particular race.
Jesper