Modified 70s and 80s Saloons - Picture Thread

[Rod Grimwood]

Now that was a common pose Paul. Remember one time in last race of day at same corner and down to and onto front straight we were playing and doing what today they call drifting in tandem or in line. Tony had that car like it was on remote, he was pretty handy peddler, and quick.
It had a lot of grunt and remember the big Caterpillar muffler pocking out the rear. Another bit of John Butler (Manon/Butler Motors) work.
As mentioned in your introduction, great to know the car is still being used occassionally, pity it is in Aussie.
Footnote: It held a Drag record for years.

[Paul Wilkinson]

I've seen the video for the drag record, a bit slower off the line but once that turbo cut in... I've got the Hot Rod article somewhere, I should scan and post it.

I had a lesser powered engine in the car while we rebuilt the turbo engine, it was easily the most responsive car I've ever driven. You could 'feel' everything and it was very linear. It loved to be steered on the throttle and you could put the back out just as much or as little as you wanted.

Should Tony or anyone else want to track the old beast down, I am sure that Greg Lund will still be in contact with Scott. I believe that Greg is still active in the Rotary scene and shouldn't be too hard to locate.

[Rod Grimwood]

Pretty sure Tony had a bet with his mate Rob Campbell the Hot Rod mag man over the run. There was always a bit of banter there as Tony was originally a rodder and Rob gave him grief about turning into a roundy roundy. Always a laugh and good hearted banter on when ever Rob dropped into the workshop in Barry's Point Rd.
Don't know if Tony could drive the old Mazda now as he has aged and is driveing the safety/pace car now at Hampton and Pukekohe and as Jim Short would notice this is more at his pace.

[Paul Wilkinson]

I love Tony's comment when asked about the sound of rotary engines, which I must paraphrase here as my memory isn't perfect. "I love the sound of V8s, I always slow down to listen to them as I go past..."

[Jizim]

Unbelievable! How do you lot do any work? I havent had the time to scratch my self let alone visit here. In any case Happy New Year to you guys out there and so cool to hear from you Paul. The Mazda is undergoing restoration to how I had it I believe. I hear from Scotty from time to time and I am wrapt that the car is in good hands. He was saying he is coming back to reside in Gisborne along with the Mazda so it will be cool. Hard case that two of my race cars end up in Australia. Now Jim...I have all but finished my BMW project...(although I did have to sell the engine and Getrag.) So I am thinking maybe a rotary?? Nah just jiving ya mate. Got M5 engine lined up. Would be so cool if you come and see me at the Festival mate. I always have one of your family with me! I could probably give you some top up lessons but you gotta bring the tea and scones....Drifty could join us with Brett and maybe get Bob Homewood and the Team Windleburn along for a reunion on the bonnett of your Coombs Jaguar? Otherwise I am going to have to gatecrash ya house in Toke along with some undersirables like Drifty etc!! This site just gets better and it so addictive.....bag
ck later...bye for now. Tony Rutherford.

[Paul Wilkinson]

Great to hear from you Tony! The car was almost exactly as you raced it when Scott bought it, remember we came back and kept buying the original bits and pieces until we had everything -the engine & turbo, the gearbox - even those knackered magnesium wheels! The only changes I made were:
I took the signage off as I was always being pulled over!
The original engine was beyond repair (Rotor welded to eccentric shaft!) and the replacement we built was bridgeported rather than a J-port like I seem to remember you had.
I put some proper racing seats in it.

When I sold it to Scott he was going to try and put some other doors on it to get winding windows! Thank God he saw the error of his ways!

[Steve Holmes]

As posted by Bry3500 on the Sandown 1000 thread. What happened to the 3 Aussie BMWs that raced in sports sedans in the 80s?

1) Craven Mild 318i. LHD Floorpanned Turbo Built by Jim Busby to IMSA specs in the USA. Brought out here in early 1980 and made its debut in Rd3 of the Australian Sports Sedan Championship at Amaroo Park with Gricey at the wheel. Raced through 1980. Did not re appear until the 1982 Championship Rd6 with Jim Richards at the wheel under JPS colours. Car now had the boxed guards. This car then ended up being purchased by Molloy and raced by Chris Hones before being passed on to Robin Doherty and then I think on to Rob Burns. It was then sold onto the US. Car is now in Germany or England.

2) JPS 318i. RHD Space frame. Made its debut at Rd1 of the Better Brakes 3.5 series at Amaroo Park in 1981 with Gricey at the wheel under JPS colours. Raced throughout 1981 in the Championship before being sold to Bruce Lynton for 1982 season and then John Brigss for the 1983 season. It was then raced by Grant Munday and then to Richard Gartner. Richard put a rotary in it and raced it in the NSW state series with a black colour scheme. The car ended up in Thailand and apparently is now in New Zealand.

3) JPS IMSA 320i. LHD Floorpanned Jim Busby built car. Was used as show/spares car. Did not race until the WSC in 1984 with Richards at the wheel. Was a naturally aspirated 2L F2 engine. This was sold onto Molloy whith Chris Hones at the wheel before being raced by Ludwig Finnaur with a sky blue paint scheme as he got his CAMS license. It was then further raced by Chris Hones before being passed on to a Rob Shiel? The car in now in Germany or England?

[Steve Holmes]

I always thought the 3rd car above, the 320i, was the same car that Richards had raced in the 1983 Australian GT championship with that was involved in the big Adelaide shunt. I thought they rebuilt it without the turbo for the 84 Sandown race for some reason. Seems the first car was that which raced in the 83 GT series then?

[jim short]

tony how long have you wanted to be called jim but mate you are spelling it wrong!!!!

[bry3500]

The Potts car was ex Judith Durham of the Seekers ,
. Carey Tappetts in his rotary-powered following

[TonyG]

What was the origins of the Steve Elliott Escort V8? A pink thing from memory. Never seemed to do more than 2 laps at Puke before overheating. I noticed in the Video of the race at Puke in 89.

[Rod Grimwood]

What was the origins of the Steve Elliott Escort V8? A pink thing from memory. Never seemed to do more than 2 laps at Puke before overheating. I noticed in the Video of the race at Puke in 89.

It was V6 Buick powered, It did not overheat at Manfield as on the first lap he had a big lose onto the dirt on outside of the sweeper onto front and kept boot in it and careered across the track and T-Boned John Learmonth in the Monaro. It always suffered from overheating for some reason (lack of air to radiator would have been were i would have started) I think after nudge Steve gave it away.

[TonyG]

Ahh ! Thanks Rod. So it was a Buick V6 engine. I could only vaguely remember it. I think thats where I would have started as well. lol

[TonyG]

I must catch up with Ian Knight and find out what he did with his Corvette. He is living on one of his Catamarans here in Surfers in the Marina.

[Rod Grimwood]

When you do catch up with him Tony, can you ask him if he knows what John Scott did with the Escort,I have drawn a blank on it so far.

[driftwood]

BMW 320 cars built by Jim Busby
1 car is now back in USA being restored not sure which car

[TonyG]

When you do catch up with him Tony, can you ask him if he knows what John Scott did with the Escort,I have drawn a blank on it so far.

Will do Rod.

[kiwi285]

Keep talking to Scotty - we need to encourage him to come back and bring the Mazda with him.

[Steve Holmes]

When you do catch up with him Tony, can you ask him if he knows what John Scott did with the Escort,I have drawn a blank on it so far.

I second that, see Lost Race Cars thread. I'd like to know where it went.

[Steve Holmes]

BMW 320 cars built by Jim Busby
1 car is now back in USA being restored not sure which car

Thanks for that info. If built by Busby, was it built for IMSA?