http://www.vicrally....e.php?id=000658
Not Torana But....
Started by
FastEHHolden
, Jan 26 2008 11:51 PM
35 replies to this topic
#1
FastEHHolden
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Posted 26 January 2008 - 11:51 PM
#2
Racehatch
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 12:25 AM
Amazing that after 28 years it is still as it was when last raced...! Its also pretty cool that Barry Ferguson (in his 70's) is going to race it again..
#3
micklx
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 07:08 AM
Great story.
Makes me wonder what else is out there ?
Makes me wonder what else is out there ?
#4
_Rana Girl_
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 07:18 AM
�It transpired that when the last owner died, his widow moved to a unit on the coast, but came to an arrangement with the purchaser of their home to leave her husband�s collection of old cars there, including the Holden."
Yep sure sounds like a backyard that would be interesting to have a scout around in.
Yep sure sounds like a backyard that would be interesting to have a scout around in.
Edited by Rana Girl, 27 January 2008 - 07:19 AM.
#5
_Rob 5000_
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 09:18 AM
What are the odds of it being in that condition, just amazing. I have seen the sister car that Brock drove at the Paul Morris's driving centre. Brocks looks in original condition as well and is still filthy from all the dust tracks they drove over.
#6
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 01:44 PM
spoke to barry ferguson this morning and told him about the thread and the article, he will have a look later today....the car is progressing well and it should look a treat when finished......barry has been particularly helpfull with the identification process of'saggy sarah' and his knowledge and recollection of events is outstanding....laz
#7
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 07:58 PM
Haveing read this i am amazed that Brockys car could be in any sort of good condition , i saw this car pass through the out back and it was very severely damaged and wired and taped up to keep doors shut , from my obsevations i would say it was rolled , a friend of mine that worked at holden dealers told me at several points around Australia they completely replaced every thing on car as they destroyed everything , my uncle had one of the first ones and they were very fragile and they bent very easily but they did replace it as he bought a new one every year , anyway unless Brockys car was completely restored with another body i dont see how it could be the same car unless its another case of the tradesmans hammer , TREX
#8
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 09:40 PM
If you read it properly, you would realise it WASN'T Brocky's car they found.
Glasses on next time could help.
Glasses on next time could help.
#9
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 10:36 PM
Read again chopper , rob5000 is a clue , TREX
#10
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 10:49 PM
I found it interesting that they ran a hot six because they suspected the extra weight of the 5.0 would put more stress through the suspension components, and that the Ford opposition running clevos apparantly all failed due to front end problems.
A school friend of mine's uncle is Matt Phillips
A school friend of mine's uncle is Matt Phillips
#11
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 09:42 AM
Colin Bond drove one of the cortina's for ford if I remember correctly.I found it interesting that they ran a hot six because they suspected the extra weight of the 5.0 would put more stress through the suspension components, and that the Ford opposition running clevos apparantly all failed due to front end problems.
A school friend of mine's uncle is Matt Phillips
I didn't think they were V8 powered, but I could be wrong as
it was 29 ywars ago.
#12
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 04:21 PM
Did you read this bit?Read again chopper , rob5000 is a clue , TREX
Leading New South Wales rally driver Barry Ferguson discovered the famous Commodore in which he, Wayne Bell and Dave Boddy finished second in the 18,885km, 14-day event
I don't see Brocky's name in that list of three drivers.
#13
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 05:47 PM
You still didnt read what has been written , i quote , Brocks car looks in original conditionas well and is still filthy from all the dust tracks they drove on , if your going to get half smart then read what they said , i was commenting on one part and i think i should be able to , If you want to have a go same deal PM me and discuss what your problem is dont broadcast and show ignorance , TREX
#14
arrimar
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 05:48 PM
Rex is talking about the Brock car mentioned by Rob in the Paul Morris centre.
Chopper is talking about the car in the rest of the thread.
on another note...
I work with a former holden mechanic from North Queensland. They rebuilt the Monaro's in the earlier rallys overnight, replacing all front and rear ends. its highly likely the same happened in the 79 rally.
great find in any case.
Chopper is talking about the car in the rest of the thread.
on another note...
I work with a former holden mechanic from North Queensland. They rebuilt the Monaro's in the earlier rallys overnight, replacing all front and rear ends. its highly likely the same happened in the 79 rally.
great find in any case.
#15
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 05:55 PM
Louie is correct...The Cortinas had 6s, Chopper...Think Rex was commenting on Rob5000 comment...and he was/is correct...they were literally rebuilt 3 times during the journey...they were rooted. Bond spoke of the long distances and said he knew when to change drivers...when the hallucinations were too hard to tell from reality...then they swapped!!...Thats nutz stuff!!
R
R
Edited by rorym, 28 January 2008 - 05:56 PM.
#16
rodomo
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 06:18 PM
Yes, I remember that happening, new struts every night.They rebuilt the Monaro's in the earlier rallys overnight, replacing all front and rear ends. its highly likely the same happened in the 79 rally.
#17
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 06:27 PM
sure the cars got a hammering during that event,they all did. but one thing i will say is that barry has always treated his particular rally cars very kindly so that they would last the distance.
peter byrne who was one of the first hdt mechanics told me that barry's cars required very little maintenance and seldom if any major repairs,verry few dnf's. the same could not be said for some of the others, peter's words not mine.....laz
peter byrne who was one of the first hdt mechanics told me that barry's cars required very little maintenance and seldom if any major repairs,verry few dnf's. the same could not be said for some of the others, peter's words not mine.....laz
#18
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 06:43 PM
Looks like we found the source of the confusion.Rex is talking about the Brock car mentioned by Rob in the Paul Morris centre.
Chopper is talking about the car in the rest of the thread.
#19
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 07:39 PM
was there only three made? cause there is one in newcastle and been here for a long time. the bloke that use to own it still comes into work. he sold it to a nother newcastle guy about ten years ago. i use to work on it when he owned it. it had the xu1 engine and gearbox. it ran a large slaisbury diff and you should of seen the mods to the chassis, so many holes. the new owner still uses it in club events for the newcastle mg club.
#20
FastEHHolden
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 07:51 PM
Have to arrange a reunion.
#21
micklx
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 09:12 PM
I have a great dvd about the 79 trial. I have also read a lot about it.
It sure was a tough car-breaking event.
I read somewhere that the Ford Factory Team didn't want to enter the new XD Falcon in case it broke so they used the Cortina instead.
AMC did a feature on the HDT effort a couple of years back. Holden put in a big effort, they wanted to win - no doubt about that, but the other big teams wanted to win too. I read somewhere that the V8 Panel vans HDT used were faster and more comfortable than some of the other teams Service vehicles which meant they were able to be in the right place at the right time, which apparently some of the others couldn't.
It sure was a tough car-breaking event.
I read somewhere that the Ford Factory Team didn't want to enter the new XD Falcon in case it broke so they used the Cortina instead.
AMC did a feature on the HDT effort a couple of years back. Holden put in a big effort, they wanted to win - no doubt about that, but the other big teams wanted to win too. I read somewhere that the V8 Panel vans HDT used were faster and more comfortable than some of the other teams Service vehicles which meant they were able to be in the right place at the right time, which apparently some of the others couldn't.
#22
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Posted 28 January 2008 - 09:37 PM
Mick, do you know what modifications were done to the cortina's?
I know they were 250ci, but thats it.
We all know that the commodores had the XU1 motors and box with the big
diff in them, but even when the event was run I don't recall any info about what
the "frauds" were running.
Cheers Louie
I know they were 250ci, but thats it.
We all know that the commodores had the XU1 motors and box with the big
diff in them, but even when the event was run I don't recall any info about what
the "frauds" were running.
Cheers Louie
#23
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Posted 29 January 2008 - 09:57 AM
http://www.rallyspor...30/article.html
quote from the link
With the introduction of the completely different TC Cortina in the early seventies, Ford never intended the car to be entered in rallies - they had the increasingly-successful Escort for that - so it was somewhat of a surprise when they entered three later-model TE Cortinas in the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial.
Here was an opportunity for Ford to re-establish their image as the builders of strong, reliable cars that could take a pounding under any conditions. Ford announced their plans early - they would enter three 4.1 litre six cylinder TE Cortinas for Colin Bond/John Dawson-Damer/Bob Riley, Greg Carr/Fred Gocentas/Dave Morrow and George Fury/Monty Suffern/Roger Bonhomme.
Extensive modifications were made to the cars to withstand the rigours of the Australian outback. The Panhard rod/link set-up was replaced by traditional leaf springs, there were Bilstein gas shockers all round, 14 inch wheels, rear disc brakes and other special equipment.
The engines were purpose-built by Ford and delivered 175 horsepower through downdraught Weber carburettors. Despite the promising nature of the project, all three cars experienced problems during the event and, like every other entry, were crushed by Holden's stunning 1-2-3 Commodore victory. Bond rolled his car on the outskirts of Perth, but kept going until both he and Fury holed their cars' sumps on the same rock.
Bond retired at Darwin, but Carr continued on to finish fifth with Fury a distant 25th. It was an inglorious end to the Cortina's illustrious career and Ford went away licking its wounds.
The final chapter in the Ford Australia-Cortina episode closed in the 1979 Southern Cross Rally. Geoff Portman, having risen to prominence in his private Datsun 1600, drove the ex-Greg Carr Repco Trial Cortina in the rugged event, held around Port Macquarie.
Portman was as high as seventh at the end of the second division, but had a big "off" near Kempsey, finally recovering to finish in 9th spot, still quite a respectable achievement given the classy field that included many overseas drivers in much more exotic cars.
So, the Ford Cortina chapter closed for good after the '79 'Cross, and it wasn't too long before the car was withdrawn from sale in Australia in favour of the Mazda-clone replacements.
The Cortina celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2002, and while its recent rally successes were nothing like its world-beating performances in the sixties and seventies, there is no doubt that, in its day, it was one of the best rally cars around and set the scene for the success of the Escorts that followed.
Cortinas still go on winning even today in circuit racing and classic rallies, despite being an almost-forgotten model. Their greatest claim to fame is that they won the Australian Championship twice - the Escort only won it once!
R
quote from the link
With the introduction of the completely different TC Cortina in the early seventies, Ford never intended the car to be entered in rallies - they had the increasingly-successful Escort for that - so it was somewhat of a surprise when they entered three later-model TE Cortinas in the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial.
Here was an opportunity for Ford to re-establish their image as the builders of strong, reliable cars that could take a pounding under any conditions. Ford announced their plans early - they would enter three 4.1 litre six cylinder TE Cortinas for Colin Bond/John Dawson-Damer/Bob Riley, Greg Carr/Fred Gocentas/Dave Morrow and George Fury/Monty Suffern/Roger Bonhomme.
Extensive modifications were made to the cars to withstand the rigours of the Australian outback. The Panhard rod/link set-up was replaced by traditional leaf springs, there were Bilstein gas shockers all round, 14 inch wheels, rear disc brakes and other special equipment.
The engines were purpose-built by Ford and delivered 175 horsepower through downdraught Weber carburettors. Despite the promising nature of the project, all three cars experienced problems during the event and, like every other entry, were crushed by Holden's stunning 1-2-3 Commodore victory. Bond rolled his car on the outskirts of Perth, but kept going until both he and Fury holed their cars' sumps on the same rock.
Bond retired at Darwin, but Carr continued on to finish fifth with Fury a distant 25th. It was an inglorious end to the Cortina's illustrious career and Ford went away licking its wounds.
The final chapter in the Ford Australia-Cortina episode closed in the 1979 Southern Cross Rally. Geoff Portman, having risen to prominence in his private Datsun 1600, drove the ex-Greg Carr Repco Trial Cortina in the rugged event, held around Port Macquarie.
Portman was as high as seventh at the end of the second division, but had a big "off" near Kempsey, finally recovering to finish in 9th spot, still quite a respectable achievement given the classy field that included many overseas drivers in much more exotic cars.
So, the Ford Cortina chapter closed for good after the '79 'Cross, and it wasn't too long before the car was withdrawn from sale in Australia in favour of the Mazda-clone replacements.
The Cortina celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2002, and while its recent rally successes were nothing like its world-beating performances in the sixties and seventies, there is no doubt that, in its day, it was one of the best rally cars around and set the scene for the success of the Escorts that followed.
Cortinas still go on winning even today in circuit racing and classic rallies, despite being an almost-forgotten model. Their greatest claim to fame is that they won the Australian Championship twice - the Escort only won it once!
R
#25
micklx
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Posted 31 January 2008 - 09:22 AM
The Cortinas also ran the alloy head even though it wasn't yet released. The AMC that has the article is the issue with the Bill Bourke big block black Falcon on the cover. Its a good read if you're interested in the rally. It mainly looks at the HDT but also has a page about the Ford effort.
At Perth, about 1/3 of the way through, the Cortinas were in 1st and 4th, so the Commodores didn't completely dominate the event, they just outlasted the opposition.
At Perth, about 1/3 of the way through, the Cortinas were in 1st and 4th, so the Commodores didn't completely dominate the event, they just outlasted the opposition.
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