9 replies to this topic

[Shiney005]

 carpark-1-robert-paterno.jpg   57.23K   11 downloads

 

 carpark-2-robert-paterno.jpg   53.06K   12 downloads

 

 holden-lh-torana-mulchay-holden-lj-torana-hourigan-ken-hourigan.jpg   49.89K   14 downloads

 

 indo-saarelaht-holden-hq-monaro-return-trip.jpg   27.56K   10 downloads

 

This was the first one that went east to west accross the Nullabor. Not the one that went up the Stuart Highway in the early nineties. The HQ was the first car off the start line. The start time and venue was kept a secret until the day before the race, but the cops were waiting at the end of the driveway and took photos of every car that left there. Most of the competitors got booked somewhere along the way.

 mm.JPG   76.56K   12 downloads

[hanra]

Another Tuxedo Black LX L31? Dig the bull bar.

Edited by hanra, 03 December 2017 - 03:07 PM.

[purrlx]

An e-49 with twin pipes??

[Shiney005]

Another Tuxedo Black LX L31? Dig the bull bar.

There was a Tuxedo LX 5000 in Collie years ago too.

[Shiney005]

I bought a new wool press the other day, and the salesman was one of the coppers on the Nullarbor when the Cannonball went through. He sent me a description of the event from the police point of view and a few old newspaper clippings from the day.

From Noel Lawrence.

 

Some info on the first (unadvertised test cannon ball run, just two cars I think, the Commodore and Transam if there were others I don't remember).

 

The main article in that particular magazine was written by Jeff Denmeade.

 

I was the copper giving Jeff a speeding ticket late in the afternoon, near Southern Cross. His speed was checked over the marks that we had on the highway then.  At that stage we did not know anything of a cannonball run or practise cannonball run.

 

But the day before the other traffic cars working with us stopped the Transam near Clackline for speeding. That night we were talking about it and knew something was rather odd because when the driver was getting a speeding ticket, the passenger was out of the car cleaning the windscreen with a rag. We knew something must have been up.

 

The following night we stayed in Southern Cross and spent the night with Denmeade and the crew, thus the picture of the aircraft and his Commodore at the Southern Cross Airstrip..

 

The real Cannonball Run later on caused a lot of headache with the Police department and we were ordered out to the Eyre Highway to grab them as they came along, and told to "lock em up if they were going beyond  145Kmh", but because police cars were in the wrong place and the cars moving at high speed we could only follow one towards Norseman for several hours. But I think by the time he was stopped the others slipped through and I think the big Holden one tonner slipped by Esperance way and was the "unofficial/controversial" winner.

 

A few years ago I saw where Jeff Denmeade won the big Hill climb up Pikes Peak in Colorado in the USA..

 

Rather interesting.

 

cheers

 

 

 

Noel

 Cannonball c.JPG   117.84K   12 downloads

 

 Cannonball a.JPG   173.85K   7 downloads

 

 Cannonball b.JPG   150.51K   5 downloads

 

 Cannonball e.JPG   43.1K   5 downloads

 

 Cannonball f.JPG   117.27K   6 downloads

[cameron]

That brings back memories. Was the driving reason why many years later we took the 928S to the NT and ran down the Stuart Hwy from Darwin to Alice Springs and back in the 94 Cannonball. Although a legal race it is most remembered for the Ferrari crash which ruined the whole event. Funny looking back now makes you realise it was pure stupidity and totally preventable had safety been taken more seriously.

 

Cameron

[Bigfella237]

Best thing about that 1½ tonner is all the extra fuel you could carry, I would've had the entire tray converted to an auxiliary fuel tank!

 

If you can average say 120km/h, then missing a 10 minute fuel stop means you can be 20kms further down the road than the next guy.

[cameron]

It was disqualified for 165kph speeding fine (one tonner). Had 1000 litres or so onboard.

 

Story on cars here.

http://www.cannonbal...p/teams/car-16#

 

Cameron

[Max's SS]

The winner...Charlie Kovacs raced in the V8 ute series for a number of years.

[Bigfella237]

Ah I thought I knew the name from somewhere... I wonder if Len is any relation to Ash Walsh?

 

It was disqualified for 165kph speeding fine (one tonner).

 

Cameron

 

So was it part of the rules that you weren't allowed to get booked?

Edited by Bigfella237, 26 December 2018 - 07:21 PM.