Is Brock responsible for the Torana legend?
#1
Posted 08 September 2006 - 09:08 PM
By the time L34 and A9X came around, there were other Torana drivers capable of winning , but Brock was the first and last to win Bathurst in a Torry and won 4 in total.
#2 _jap-xu1_
Posted 08 September 2006 - 10:37 PM
#3 _mervex_
Posted 08 September 2006 - 10:42 PM
#4
Posted 08 September 2006 - 11:04 PM
RIP 05.
edit and lets not forget Harvey etc etc.
Edited by ALX76, 08 September 2006 - 11:06 PM.
#5
Posted 09 September 2006 - 10:01 AM
From setting the car up, getting it on pole, getting the most out of it during the race while making it last the distance (great mechanical sympathy) and then handling the fans & media before and after the race, he did it all.
#6 _TORANASS_
Posted 09 September 2006 - 10:40 AM
He never backed off and he went to every race WANTING to finish first evertime..
John
#7 _devilsadvocate_
Posted 09 September 2006 - 04:01 PM
Same here, I watched so many races where Brocky was pressing the leader, who may have had a better poll time etc, it was always just a matter of time b4 they lost control through error or using up all their brakes or tyres and Brocky would emerge in front, and if it was wet, the differences were more obvious. I think Alan Moffatt was nearly as good, dont think he had as much skill as Brocky, but was just as smart in making the car last. It made for very interesting racing, dont think we have the same thing with the touring car racing anymore.hes the only circut racer that ever interested me.
Was he responsible for the success/legend of the Torana....yes. Just look at the Cortina, Centura and Sigmas of the time.........are they popular now.......did they win any races......ok the cortinas did.
#8 _pipjones_
Posted 09 September 2006 - 07:26 PM
#9 _devilsadvocate_
Posted 09 September 2006 - 11:05 PM
I remember going to the edge of Melbourne to watch the start of the Repco reliability trial, sitting on the bonnet of an LX as Brocky wooshed by in the VB. Yes, he won that too, one suspects that gmh rebuilt the car every night though!
#10
Posted 10 September 2006 - 10:31 AM
There is no doubt that Peter Brock was the best Touring car driver that Australia has ever seen (or will see for that matter), his list of achievements will not be surpassed, but I do think the Torana legend began earlier than Brock.
It's a matter of history that the idea of a Torana 6, based on an updated HB Torana (Vauxhall Viva) was the brainchild of Bill Steinhagen & John Bagshaw. These guys, both loyal & long serving GM-H men (one the engineer & one the super-salesman) discussed the idea over a beer watching Bathurst in 1967.
In 1969, Harry Firth comes along (from Ford !) & adds his expertise just before the release of the LC. The LC GTR was the General's idea of a performance car, but Harry goes one step further & builds the XU-1. He already had Brocky on his team & Firth probably designed the XU-1 around Brocky's (& Colin Bond's) skills. Harry went on to develop the LJ XU-1, the LH L34 & the LX A9X.
The rest is history, but without Peter Brock I personally don't think that the Torana's (& Commodore's) achievements in motorsport would have been as good as they are.
Dr Terry.
#11
Posted 11 September 2006 - 06:00 PM
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