Just a few old Aussie motorsport pics.

That's an awesome story David.

When I was young, the ABC was the only TV channel out here in the sticks, and I always made sure I caught the coverage of the Group C Toranas, which some might be surprised to find out was televised quite often on the ABC.  Seeing the L34s and A9Xs racing stayed with me, and although I bought a HQ Kingswood for my first car, it wasn't long before I had my first SL/R, and I have now owned half a dozen of them. (All bought before they were worth stupid money) I have only competed in hillclimbs and sprints which keeps costs low and is as much fun as you can have in a weekend.

 

Of course, you don't need a Torana to get into grass roots motorsport. This is Tom Morley at Baskerville back in '78. Don't drool on your laptop Neil.

 Tom Morley Baskerville April 1978 Pic Bruce Smart.JPG   59.85K   1 downloads

 

One thing that was pointed out to the crowd at Jose Canga's show was that his Toranas used a standard LSD centre banjo to drive through one wheel.

 Two wheeling through standard LSD. Pointers 73 Feb.jpg   67.83K   1 downloads

 

Mark Webber about to drive over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2005.

 

 webber 2005 Syd Har Bridge.jpg   111.83K   1 downloads

 

This card came from a Weetbix box back in the day. It looks like Sandown 1977.

 

 Weetbix card (1).jpg   232.12K   2 downloads

 

The back of the card.

 

 Weetbix card (2).jpg   173.64K   2 downloads

 

It was in this car that Brock (after having hardly raced in Australia for all of 1976)  rocked up to Sandown on Sunday morning with an undeveloped second hand car bought from Wayne Mitchell, missing practice and qualifying, started last on the grid in race one and finished second, and then beat Bond in race two to win the weekend.

 

When Wayne Mitchell owned it in 75.

 

 Wayne Mitchell Calder 75. Pic Peter D Abbs 001Small.jpg   128.54K   6 downloads

 

And the race at Sandown.

 

 Brock 11 April Sandown. missed practice. Last to 2nd in 1st race. last race 1st place.Pointers 76 May.jpg   139.44K   3 downloads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the positive feedback and great photos Shiny . My grandparents lived at the back of Sandown and we used to visit them every Sunday right through the 1960s and early 70s. Just the right era to watch the racing there and sneak into pits which were then situated along the short straight opposite Sandown park station. I loved standing behind the race cars as they precariously drove up wooden planks to get back onto their trailers to go home. No transporters back then. They sounded awsome especially the F5000s no mufflers required.