1976 Australian Sports Sedans

[Ellis]

Hey Ellis, these are absolutely awesome! Thanks for posting them. Whose is the VW fastback in the first photo? Also, post #36, whose is the Alfa? Is this Brian Foley after he'd put the V8 in it?

Yes...Foley Chesterfield Alfa V8

VW....Vince ? Gregory... its Thommos old one ??? I'll check the original pic...Its approx 1976

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Ellis, I thought for some reason Thomson didn't actually sell his, he just retired it. But I could be wrong?

[bry3500]

Steve ..that VW looks like Vince Gregory's 1600TS Chev

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks bry, so the Gregory VW is not the Thomson one?

[bry3500]

Sorry didn't read the post properly..Yes , I read somewhere that it is the Thommo VW

[Steve Holmes]

Oh OK, so Thomson must have bought it back at some stage. He ended up wrecking it.

[bry3500]

Yep..it sat in his workshop for some time..

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks bry, good info.

[Steve Holmes]

What happened to the Foley Alfa? Was this the same car he raced in the '72 ATCC with the normal Alfa motor?

[Ellis]

Gregory.....ex Thomson Symmons Plains


RIP....courtesy of Motorsports Archive

[105angria]

Thanks Ellis love the shots, is that Calder at a couple of different times ,Thomos VW has had a couple of body changes in these pics, this car and Lefoe IMP would both be great to do as replicas ,some of the people that built and or ran these cars are still lucid and around and there is a bit of pictorial reference Could you do a hillclimb in this or would you be restricted to demos whats the story with replica use in NZ the group shot is excellent lots of history in that , is that Ron Harrop driving the Bob Jane EH ,Pat Creas VW whos is the Rough Monaro in the background that would be a great revival Kiwi Aussie sport sedan challange Em what a dream grid you could have

[bry3500]

Osca's , All - comers and Sports Sedans

[Ellis]

Quote 105angria....is that Ron Harrop driving the Bob Jane EH

It was Harrops EH running under Bob Jane banner.
Wayne Mahnken ended up with it painted black/white with Turbo (maybe twin turbo) Holden 6 with a big rear wing and with about 650hp. It was quick but fragile.

[bry3500]

Results 1976

Position [4] Driver [4] Car Entrant R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Total [4]
1 Allan Moffat Chevrolet Monza
Ford Capri RS3100 Allan Moffat Racing 9 9 2 9 4 - - 33
2 Frank Gardner Chevrolet Corvair John Player Racing - - - - 9 9 9 27
3 Tony Edmondson Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger Repco-Holden Donald Elliott 6 - 9 - - 6 - 21
4 Jim Richards Ford Mustang Sidchrome - 3 - 6 6 - 3 18
5 Ian Diffen Holden LJ Torana Chevrolet World of Tyres 3 - - 4 3 - 4 14
6 Ian Geoghegan Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350 Craven Mild Racing - 6 - - 2 - - 8
7 Colin Bond Holden LH Torana Marlboro Holden Dealer Team - 4 4 - - - - 8
8 Brian Potts Holden Torana GTR XU-1 - 1 6 - - - - 7
9 Bob Jane Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350 Bob Jane T Marts - - - - - - 6 6
10 Garry Rogers Ford Escort Garry Rogers 2 - 3 - - - - 5
11 Pat Crea Ford TC Cortina Pat Crea's Volkspares - - - - - 4 - 4
12 Grant Walker Ford Capri RS Grant Walker 4 - - - - - - 4
13 Vince Gregory Volkswagen 1600TS Chevrolet Vince Gregory Racing - - - - 1 3 - 4
14 Brian Smith Holden Torana - - - 3 - - - 3
15 Stuart Beechen Holden Torana GTR XU-1 - - - 2 - - - 2
16 Peter Wells Vauxhall Viva - - - - - 2 - 2
17 Ron Harrop Holden EH Repco-Holden Ron Harrop - 2 - - - - - 2
18 John Pollard Chevrolet Camaro John Pollard - - - - - - 2 2
19 Ed Conacher Holden Torana GTR XU-1 - - - - - 1 - 1
20 Bruce Peacock Ford Anglia - - - 1 - - - 1
21 Lyndon Arnel Holden Torana - - 1 - - - - 1
22 Doug Clark Toyota Celica TA22 Brian Hilton 1 - - - - - - 1
23 Don Halliday Ford Capri Halliday Racing (NZ) - - - - - - 1 1

[Rod Grimwood]

http://wahistorictouringcars.com.au/docs/FCars.pdf

Interesting site;- The little Escort giving Jane a hard time I am certain is Paul Fahey in his FVA. There is some nice machinery there be good to know were they are now.

[Steve Holmes]

Its interesting, I know there have been plans put into action for a few years now to form a Historic Sports Sedan category in Australia. With the vast number of cars built for Sports Sedans, even if the cut-off was 1989, you'd think there would easily be enough cars still around to form a healthy grid. But so far this doesn't appear to have happened. Does anyone know why? I know the organisers of the Muscle Car Masters were really keen to have a Historic Sports Sedan class at their event a few years ago, but this came to nothing.

Anyone got any updates on how this is progressing?

[105angria]

I will do some research with Fred Sayer who has an historic Mini SS in Qland who had a bit to do with the lakeside SS run which had about 5 cars and check with the cams guys and compile a list. I approached the Muscle car people with the Anglia and was told it wasnt applicable the invite had gone out to bring historics but no takers ,maybe not enough cars yet to make critical mass ,in my search for the Lefoe Imp i spoke to John Bennetts bis partner who thought the car was scraped after its barrel roll at Sandown the motor and trans went into something else the body to the tip some engine stats 400ftlb 500hp,asked the question if there was enough retained knowledge to build a replica if someone had the inclination will keep you posted

[bry3500]

Regarding Group U Sports Sedans ..an interesting thread here
http://www.groupc.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=403

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks bry, yeah interesting thread. I sometimes wonder with these things if it just takes one or two really passionate people prepared to get stuck in and make it happen, then things start moving.

[Steve Holmes]

So of the cars in posts #35 - 37 which Ellis has uploaded in his awesome photos, here is what I can gather:

Allan Moffat Monza, DeKon #1005: Returned to the US and is being restored by owner Steve Sorensen
Bryan Thomson/Vince Gregory Chevy VW: Scrapped
Ron Harrop Repco EH Holden: Where is this now?
Bryan Thomson V8 Torana: Where is this now?
Tony Edmonson Repco Charger: Being restored?
Bob Jane Torana: Where is this now?
Malcolm Ramsay Repco HQ Kingswood: Scrapped
Brian Foley Alfa: Where is this now?
Pete Geoghegan HQ/HJ Monaro: Being restored
Jim Richards Sidchrome Mustang: Currently owned by George Shewiery
Frank Gardner Corvair: Scrapped
#37 Mustang? Who is this?
Bob Jane HQ Monaro: Owned by Des Wall and restored

Did I miss anything?