70 replies to this topic

[REDA9X]

Just something else from that lap too, and Dan could confirm exactly what broke, but that engine was a bit sad before the comparison lap, and very sad afterwards. Look at the fluid leaking from the car in front of the drivers front wheel. I think Chris told me it broke a rocker or two?
Anyway just to expand on what Dan said about the cars.
The 79 car was owned by Brock right up till 93 when he sold it at auction. After it finished racing, (the last person to race it was actually Jim Richards in NZ as number 6), Brock used to keep it on display at HDT headquarters and take Holden execs for drives in it, and even used it at a drag race at Calder Park with both of the early Commodores. I think the last time he ran it in any sort of anger was at Eastern Creek in about 92 before he sold it.
After it was sold to a Victorian guy who did a bit of racing and displays in it, including the Holden 50th.
At Phillip Island in 1999, Brock drove it, while Harvey drove his 77-78 car (now owned by Paul Stubber), and straight after that it was handed to the Bowden family.
My understanding was the engine was the last engine used in the car, but I don't know if during the time Brock or the Victorian guy owned it the engine or driveline were ever touched.
The Bathurst 79 engine was sold to an A9X club back in the day and he had it in his road car, it's since been sold to the Bowden family, not sure if it went in the car. Dan could confirm this one for me but I was told the Jongbloeds off the car went onto an early Commodore and the earlier Globes fitted and that the car no longer has it's original brake calipers as they were also used on a Commodore. As I said, Dan or Chris could confirm that, I was told this by a 3rd person.

The 78 car as most would know was crashed at Bathurst 79 and rebuilt by Jim Shepherd back to the 78 car as Holden wanted to put it in a museum, which never eventuated and he got to keep the car. It passed hands a few times, and a few people even claimed to own it at times. Unfortunately someone helped themselves to some parts from the car, however that person was eventually caught up with and I'm sure Chris told me all those parts are back with the car.

I'm not sure of the tyre size on the cars, each team used different tyres, the Morris cars had a larger diameter than HDT, and the HDT cars changed tyre sizes and compounds at every round in 79. They would test the cars at every track, and Bridgestone would make a tyre to suit. I know the 79 car had the Bridgestones removed when Brock owned the car and when the rims were changed. It would have had a set of older Dunlops from 77 or 78 more than likely since HDT did not use Globes during 79 at all.

[REDA9X]

Brock says he hits 7000 but holds it in 3rd up the hill

[REDA9X]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=J5JkiaXGCbo
Brock says he hits 7000 but holds it in 3rd up the hill

That's what he says in the commentary, but I am sure Ian Tate didn't want him holding 7000rpm for long as the 308's where a little like a grenade spinning that fast. In Hardies he pushed very hard because he wanted that 100mph average lap time, he got close (Grice got it in about 84 from memory)

Thanks Red you filled in a few holes about the 78/79 cars. I know Peter didn't really want to sell the 79 as it was very special to him (he kept no other car). But at the time he had money issues (very grey period for Peter). I used to own a mag that had all the specs of the MHDT Bridgestone tyres but I lost it in the divorce move. The Globes where not used in 79 season as far as I can recall.
Be interested to hear from Dan what the leak was (radiator overflow?) and if they did break a rocker or two? It certainly did not sound as sweet as Ive heard it sound.

Still be nice to find out at least the height of the rears used at Bathurst so it gives us a more accurate speed down the old conrod.
Funny I hate watching V8 Supercars but I can watch the Group C days over and over. So much more real and relative. Race Sunday buy on Monday.
Hard to believe but dealers just couldn't sell the A9X and I was just a little too young to drive.

I'm sure Ian Tate would have loved it if Brock broke the engine, considering he was working for Janson at the time. The engine builder for HDT at the time was Niell "PART" Burns.
Grice got it in 83 from memory, but many believed at the time the car was illegal due to his top speed down Conrod being much faster than anyone else at the time.

[REDA9X]

wasnt it 82.he won everything except the race .it was no slouch.

YEP, it was 82

[REDA9X]

AND the end result was??

[REDA9X]

I mean how did the weekends events go and who was the driver?

[REDA9X]

I was in Orange, I thought about stopping for a look but my son was kart racing

[WhiteA9XS]

3.36 ratio at bathurst with the kink would be the correct diff ratio if the brock a9x engine was in good order and capable of 7000 rpm as most group c race 308 engines today make peak horsepower at 6800 and will rev to 7000 rpm

and yes it was dick johnson who saw the light to drive a holden again !!!

[REDA9X]

Depending on your rolling diameter of your rear tyres of course, but looking how quickly Skaife catches Brock it was ovbious it was peaking out early.
At the time V8's had about 600hp, rev limited to 7500 and were hitting about 280-290km/h with the control 3.25 diff. The control diff now is 3.15 and they make 620-640hp and do about the same speed.
An A9X at it's peak made about 400-420hp and wouldn't want to be reved much past 6500 and did about 260-270km/h.
So the variables are the chase and tyre diameter. I don't believe the tyres are as tall as they were in the day though. I believe 3.36 was the ratio HDT used at Phillip Island in the day.

[xu2308]

Im sure when Brocky broke the lap record at the 1979 Bathurst Race in the HDT A9X, it was clocked doin 276 kmh down conrod straight,it might be on the 1979 race video or was reported later on,but im sure its top speed was that,Sheppo should know u would think.

[REDA9X]

276 is impressive. It took till 1996 for a touring car to break 300, of course that is with the chase though

[MRLXSS]

What a great desktop background! LOL

[REDA9X]

Thanks for that Dan. You guys do a great job to get these cars out for us all to see, it looks good sitting next to the real 05 VK as well. I'm very happy the gearing was also proven to be correct.

[lcgtr1970]

good to see the correct website up on your computer too!

[micklx]

Dan, if you ever get tired of your job, let me know, I'll come and sit at that desk any day. Might not get any work done for a few hours though while I just sit and gaze around....