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Is Brock responsible for the Torana legend?

Started by micklx , Sep 08 2006 09:08 PM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 micklx

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Posted 08 September 2006 - 09:08 PM

If Brock hadn't come through and won Bathurst in 1972 in the LJ GTR-XU1, would the Torana race heritage be as rich today as it is ?
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.

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#2 _jap-xu1_

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Posted 08 September 2006 - 10:37 PM

hes the only circut racer that ever interested me.

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#3 _mervex_

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Posted 08 September 2006 - 10:42 PM

we saw "The legend" in 79 ,last lap, arm on the window sill, through skyline fu awesome ,still clear as day.

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#4 TerrA LX

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Posted 08 September 2006 - 11:04 PM

IMHO there were many who could have, should have and did do as well as, but with anything to succeed you need the right combination, so it goes as far as people like Firth, Sheppard and even the unnamed spannermen of the time and even the fans support that created the legend that both Torana and Brock are today.
RIP 05.
edit and lets not forget Harvey etc etc.

Edited by ALX76, 08 September 2006 - 11:06 PM.

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#5 Litre8

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Posted 09 September 2006 - 10:01 AM

Bob Morris, Alan Grice, Colin Bond and John Harvey (& others) all contributed to the Torana legend and all had the skills but non-one else had the total package that was PB.

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.

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#6 _TORANASS_

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Posted 09 September 2006 - 10:40 AM

I think Brock wanted it more then the others, yes Bob Morris Harvey and all the rest had the talent and cotributed to the torana LEGEND but Brocky wanted the win more then the others.

He never backed off and he went to every race WANTING to finish first evertime..

John

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#7 _devilsadvocate_

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Posted 09 September 2006 - 04:01 PM

hes the only circut racer that ever interested me.

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.

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.

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#8 _pipjones_

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Posted 09 September 2006 - 07:26 PM

Brock is MR TORANA and its all to do with him.1 Man made torana what it is. Try and think of a bigger ambassador for any mark, than Brock For Holden and especially TORANA..RIP Legend..P.B :clap:

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#9 _devilsadvocate_

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Posted 09 September 2006 - 11:05 PM

Was he responsible for the commodore establishing itself too, or even the end of the torana?
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!

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#10 Dr Terry

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Posted 10 September 2006 - 10:31 AM

Hi Guys.

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.