Historic Sports Sedan Register

[pete55]

Bill Fanning had a rather quick Escort going back to late 70s i think. Does anybody know of it or what happened to it?

[F|sh]

Nivola i'll find out. i study with an ex superkarter at tafe and he seems well knowledge about this stuff.

[Camaroz]

Pete55,

Fannings Escort was the original Garry Rogers car (before he bought the Globe car). Someone may know for sure but I think it then went to Mick Montoroso (or did Mick buy the ex-Ward car)?

[Camaroz]

Originally posted by Crash Test
I do believe the Mick Monterosso Escort now lives in QLD, ownewd by Sean English (on of John's sons). The car rolled at QR a couple of years back, but it should be a goer early next year, fingers crossed.

CT, my info was that Ron (Barney) Newbound bought the Monterosso Escort as a roller. This is the car Barney totalled at Winton. The original 2 Brian Byrt Sports Sedans (Rotary powered), one went to Peter Dane and one is in Victoria owned by Ken House. The House car may be ex-Dane. Wasn't the third Byrt car a series prod/imp touring car?

[Amonfan]

Camaro i think i confused myself, lol. Bryan Byrt Cars became Thomson Ford cars for John Lord and Peter Dane, Lord also driving them in 81 when they were Bryan Byrt and because Corness and English also drove the cars i think i thought there was 3, lol.

I worked out who the West guy was, its Russell West, drove a Camaro in the 1981 Wanneroo Sports Sedan Round. Now speaking of Escorts, where did the Rob Davies BDG version come from, it was in Castrol colours circa 81....

[Camaroz]

Amonfan

Rob Davies car ... was it the Rushford car? I saw the Davies car in a garage in Collingwood back in 1987-88. It was then owned by a builder that fell on hard times (Rattray?) and I haven't seen hide nor hair of it since!!!

Rob Davies also built a Corolla (Castrol Colours) is taht right?

[Amonfan]

Yeah i think he had a Corolla at some stage, there was also the Robbie Mills Corolla from tas and the indecently quick Neville Cherry R100 .......I'll see what i can find out about the Davies Escort origins

[Camaroz]

I ran into Neville Cherry at an RX8 day at Baskerville earlier this year. He sold the R100 to Fred Munday and Larry Kogge also drove it. From there, I'm not sure where it went though it shouldn't be hard to spot, it was LHD!

[Camaroz]

Just read the back page of AMC to see that Jum's Falcon is the MIA.

From Hubbard it went to Robin Doherty, from there I don't know but I saw it at a private practice sesion at Oran Park the Wednesday before ANZAC Day this year so it is still around in Sydney!

This was mentioned in another Thread (Robert Ryan -Good Old Days)?

[Amonfan]

Yep, Graham Booth runs the car now

[Camaroz]

AmonFan,

Will you let AMC / Mark O know?

Will Graham be available for the Touring Car Festival at Oran Park in January?

What is the Touring Car Festival? Apart from this forum and a double page spread in AA, there has been nothing mentioned. Seems that there is no media releases nor have some prominent car clubs been contacted! The date would not be ideal considering the combination of venue, heat and holidays killed off the once-popular season starter for Historics.

[F|sh]

the camaro that bob middleton runs? is that an oldie or a newie?

also does anyone have any ideas were the red six powered gemini that ran at barbagallo went?

[Amonfan]

The Middleton car is i believe the ex John Kay INdy Speed Shop car of the early 70s. I think in the late 70's Develco overhauled the car, the same people who built the Tony Parkinson Commodore which became the Bob Jolly car. Anyway back to the Camaro, Dave Jarrett owned it around 76/78 through to the 80s, then not sure if Middleton got it straight off him or someone else. After the Develco revamp it weighed around the 1000 kg mark and was certaily capable of running with the likes of Finch's Monaro, the Parkinson Commodore and the Farrell ex Johnny Mac Charger.

[FalconEL]

Originally posted by Amonfan
Camaro i think i confused myself, lol. Bryan Byrt Cars became Thomson Ford cars for John Lord and Peter Dane, Lord also driving them in 81 when they were Bryan Byrt and because Corness and English also drove the cars i think i thought there was 3, lol.

Amonfan,

You're not incorrect, there was three Bryan Byrt Cars for a brief time.

I remember one race meeting at Lakeside in 1980/1981 where English ran the No.10 and Corness ran the No.12 cars which were both rotary powered. John Donnelly drove the No.11 car which was the much unloved 2-Litre slug that would not pull the hat off your head. I have a photo of the No.11 being driven by JD that day somewhere...

Originally there was a three car team of Escorts in QLD sponsored by George Doniger Car Accessories - Simon Harrex in the No.69 Sports Sedan, Iain Corness in the No.70 Sports Sedan and English in the No.71 Production Touring Car. Said team folded when Harrex took out himself and the other two cars under the bridge at Surfers Paradise in 1979 in a combined Sports Sedan/Touring Car race. hrug:

Not sure what happened to all three cars, but will keep digging.

[Amonfan]

Thanks CD, i thought old age was creeping up with me ...
CD was the Geoff Russell Torana LJ V8 the ex Barry Wraith car? looks similar to me....

[FalconEL]

Amonfan, I only ever remember seeing Barry Wraith in an Anglia, but I have heard he raced a Torana very successfully. I can find out a little more about the Torana because I know Barry and some of the guys that helped him out.

My earliest recollection of Geoff Russell was driving the ex-HDT (I think Harry Firth had a hand in this car)/Barry Nixon Smith - South Coast Motors Torana Sports Sedan. I also think Colin Bond drove this car for a short time before Nixon-Smith owned it. From memory this car was sold to Greg Wright who ran it in Coates Hire livery for a time.

I remember watching Wright get a blinder start at an ASSC or GT Championship round at Lakeside in 1983 and leading Jim Richards in the wild turbocharged JPS BMW on the opening lap. That was until it looped around on him coming out of Hungry on what looked to be cold tyres, slid down the grassy hill and gave the armco an almighty clout.

I don't know whether it was a write off - it did look pretty second hand. I haven't any further recollection of this car, but it was a fairly noteworthy car in Sports Sedan history. Anyone know what happened to it?? :confused:

[Amonfan]

That Torana went onto Des Wall, i think he may still have it. HDT built it, raced by Bond and then Harrop. Then to QLD as mentioned.

[Camaroz]

Originally posted by White Knight
What is the Touring Car Festival? Apart from this forum and a double page spread in AA, there has been nothing mentioned. Seems that there is no media releases nor have some prominent car clubs been contacted! The date would not be ideal considering the combination of venue, heat and holidays killed off the once-popular season starter for Historics.

WK,

The Touring Car Festival is an All Historic Touring Car meeting. There will be more press releases, adverts etc over the coming weeks.

As for the date and venue, Oran Park is the only track that has retained it's original layout from the 60's, the Management are pro-active and very supportive, Oran Park has been the scene of ATCC Deciders many times (71 & 72 prime examples), Sydney is halfway on the eastern sea board, as Group A are 5th Catergory (Historic) as of January 1 I think it's nice that their first official race can be as one of the Headline gigs.

Also, to get a date through CAMS Historic Commission you must leave at least 3 to 4 weeks between major Historic Meets. As this meeting is specific to Touring Cars we probably didn't have to conform but there is no sense upsetting the Historic scene as Phillip Island is on 26/27 Feb (1 month later).

Yes, there have been some hot days at Oran Park in January but that is when we used to race in the Tasman and at Amaroo as Historics, the weather is pot luck but I would prefer sun to rain as at Sandown. The Hot weather at a normal Historic meet does play havoc with the older cars, namely the pommy pre and immediate post war cars and anything with wooden wheels!

We haven't been over the top with the PR as we are waiting to get some last minute wishes and want's tied up. We hope to have a major announcement/press release next week and the website should be fully up by the weekend.

We are not supposed to use the Forum for commercial reasons so that is why there hasn't been much here apart from the odd mention.

The adv in Auto-Action today has already generated a big response so the word is getting out there!

Cheers.

[jd yort]

(Really Enjoying this thread).

Does anyone know what ever happened to the Kevin Bartlett De Tomaso Pantera??. Off memory it only ever raced the one season and I have never seen it since. Think it was sponsored by Nat West.

Also confirming the Monterosso Mk 1 Escort was originally Phil Wards, Mick bought it in 78 with Gary Sloper as a replacement for an Anglia. It had a Cosworth engine in it when Mick had it back in 1990. Was in the Mar/Apr 1990 Fast Fours and Rotaries if anyone else has a copy of it with Scotcher Petroleum / Mobil sponsorship.

[Crash Test]

I like that centre fold in AA, made for some lively discussion at work today

[Camaroz]

CT,

We have already received faxes and e-mails to correct and add names. From the original master list, a few names slipped through that are no longer with us (Manton, Gown, Thomas etc) and we will be apologising if this caused any anguish.

The List will be updated regularly on the website starting this weekend.

The List has generated a good deal of interest. One of the common questions is that some drivers have mentioned that they competed at Bathurst (HF/Tooheys1000 etc) in the late 70's and 80's and wern't on the list! In much of the period, Bathurst was not a round of the ATCC and we are only listing the ATCC Drivers, so we have to clear that one up!

[Camaroz]

Getting back on thread....

Originally posted by Amonfan
Camaro, i noticed that there was a Unipart XJS at the Eastern Creek 6 hr, pics of it at


http://dh-photo.com/imagelst/Year200...041017009.html

Amonfan, do you know who has the ex-McCormack Unipart Jag. I heard a rumour that a Jag collector had bought the car (in Vic I think) but didn't know it was back on track!

[Amonfan]

Not sure Camaro, i know Garry Willmington drove a Jag in the event, not sure which car though....

[Camaroz]

Originally posted by jd yort
(Really Enjoying this thread).

Does anyone know what ever happened to the Kevin Bartlett De Tomaso Pantera??. Off memory it only ever raced the one season and I have never seen it since. Think it was sponsored by Nat West.

Also confirming the Monterosso Mk 1 Escort was originally Phil Wards, Mick bought it in 78 with Gary Sloper as a replacement for an Anglia. It had a Cosworth engine in it when Mick had it back in 1990. Was in the Mar/Apr 1990 Fast Fours and Rotaries if anyone else has a copy of it with Scotcher Petroleum / Mobil sponsorship.

jd yort, Welcome.

The Pants-Tearer was actually a GT built by Barry Lock for Paul Halstead (The Toy Shop) and driven by KB. But where it went....... Creditors Auction?????