Chevy Monza Histories And Photos

[Steve Holmes]

I felt it about time we compiled a list of the various competition Chevy Monza race cars that have been built around the world, and what has become of these cars. They were most popular with racers in the US and Australia, and much less so New Zealand, but it would also be of interest to know of any other cars that were built and raced outside these countries also.

So how about we compile a definitive register of the various cars that were built and raced throughout the world, and their histories, plus historic and modern day photos.

[David McKinney]

Away you go, Steve ;)

[Steve Holmes]

Beautiful Terry Marshall photos show Allan Moffat (DeKon 1005) and Red Dawson (DeKon 1001) at Wigram, January 1976.

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[Jac Mac]

Somewhere I have an in depth article on a IMSA? Monza owned/raced by Chris Cord in the States, motor was by Dennis Fischer.

[faminz]

heres the Dawson Monza at Manfeild.

[Steve Holmes]

Cool photo Brett.

[pallmall]

Lots of Monza racing info on here.

http://www.scharch.org/Cars/My_Monza/Racing_Monzas/Monza-DeKon_Chassis.htm

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah I know and that is an incredible website too but I wanted to create our own archive including all the Aussie stuff as well and the US and NZ that everyone could contribute to. Australians were big on Monza race cars, there were possibly as many examples raced in Aus as there were America.

[thunder427]

Beautiful Terry Marshall photos show Allan Moffat (DeKon 1005) and Red Dawson (DeKon 1001) at Wigram, January 1976.

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..the real 'Guru' on th Aussie Monza's is ofcourse our own contributer Rowan,but to start the 'where did they go!!!......John Briggs/Adelaide..Ex Red Dawson/NZ//Dekon/USA...........John Pollard/now WA/Art McKee/NZ//Grant King/USA.......Regards427/MJ:)...I'm supossed to be in the garden!!!!!!!!:p

[faminz]

Theres some great footage of Ken Epsmans Dekon Monza here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXs2nG3MP8Y

2009 Monterey Historics.... I think The black porch in front is Rusty French's 935...

[Ellis]

Moffat Dekon

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/31-2.jpg
Perry Drury Pic

[Steve Holmes]

heres the Dawson Monza at Manfeild.

Note that DeKon 1001 only has 4 stud wheels. Check how dynamic this car looks compared to the cars in the background. It might as well have been from outer space. No wonder these cars were so popular.

[Steve Holmes]

Moffat Dekon

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/31-2.jpg
Perry Drury Pic

For what its worth, I always felt Moffats Monza looked better with its wider BBS wheels as it ran in the US than the narrower 10" wheels he was made to fit in Aus. Did he race the car at all between 1976 and 1980?

Do you have any photos of the Dawson/Briggs/Barnes car? Or any others, for that matter? Thats a beautiful photo.

[Steve Holmes]

Theres some great footage of Ken Epsmans Dekon Monza here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXs2nG3MP8Y

2009 Monterey Historics.... I think The black porch in front is Rusty French's 935...

Thats a great piece of footage Brett! Boy do those 935s have some straight line squirt, even with Rusty's tight corner exits. Note the blue DeKon Monza (1002) that appears also.....

[Kiwiboss]

Theres some great footage of Ken Epsmans Dekon Monza here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXs2nG3MP8Y

2009 Monterey Historics.... I think The black porch in front is Rusty French's 935...

I was lucky enough to be at Monterey 09 to witness this race, very impressive i must say, Rusty's Poorch was slower in the corners but had more power once the boost came on!! Ken Epsman in the Red Monza also owns the green Sam Posey Challanger and a TA Javelin!! and thats our Kiwi buddy, American Chad Raynal having the drive of his life in 02 Blue Monza!! by the way, Red Dawsons Monza was 01, yeap, the first Dekon built.

Chad, if you read this posting i know you'll have more to add!!!

Dale

[Steve Holmes]

I believe the car Rusty was racing is the same one that Alan Jones drove to the 1982 Australian GT Championship, winning every race of the season. Rusty took it over for the '83 season, and I believe has kept it ever since. But Rowan will confirm.

Yep, thats Chad, and don't those Monza's just sound incredible.

[OCTARD-USA]

That 2009 Monterey Historic IMSA GT race was indeed fun. I believe that if David Donohue hadn't have started putting oil down on the track with a couple laps to go (in an RSR Porsche), it would have ended even better.

The 2007 Monterey Historic IMSA GT race was my favorite, not just because we won, but because we'd worked pretty hard to get the Monza ready for the weekend. My dad, in particular, worked for several weeks straight to get the thing done. My only regret from that weekend was not thanking all of my family (especially my dad and uncle) in the brief after race interview with Alain de Cadenet on the SPEED channel. I hope to have another opportunity to do a better job.

-Chad

[Steve Holmes]

I'm sure your family knows how appreciative you are of their help Chad.

[Steve Holmes]

This photo was added by timbo61 to the Modified 70s and 80s Saloons thread, but I thought it should be on here also. This is Greame Whincups wild version. Note its right hand drive. Any info on this car? Does it still exist as a Monza, or was it morphed into something else?

622

[Rod Grimwood]

Was at Manfield and Robin Curtis asked me if I could help them and drive the transporter with Monza in back and deliver it to GM Upper Hutt. I thought of turning north at Palmerston North but how would you hide that, need more than a different paint job. Had good look over car and it was pretty good for those days.

[Steve Holmes]

Which Monza was that Rod?

[timbo61]

I've managed to unearth another photo of the Whincup Monza,

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9761/scn0017.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/143/scn0017.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

And here are a few other Monza's which have been in australian Sports sedan racing,

The Bob Jane Monza
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2015/scn0018t.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/scn0018t.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Which is now a Toyota Supra,
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/255/scn0019.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/scn0019.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The Jeff Barnes Monza
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4253/scn0020v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/219/scn0020v.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The Geoff Munday Monza,
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7907/scn0021f.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/101/scn0021f.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

And Bob Blacklaw's Monza, which is currently residing in the Bathurst Museum of Motor Sport.
http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/3412/scn0022w.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/808/scn0022w.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Steve Holmes]

Those are fantastic photos timbo. The Barnes car is the old DeKon 1001, though much changed over the years. Do you have any info on the Munday and Blacklaw cars? Were they Australian built?

[Steve Holmes]

So just how many Monza's did Graeme Whincup race? I always assumed it was two, but the second and third cars here look completely different from each other. In fact, the Blaupunkt car looks a lot like the Bob Jane Monza.

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First photo is from Mike Feisst.

[Steve Holmes]

Couple more from Mike Feisst; Art McKee in the Grant King Monza (now being restored to this guise) and Red Dawsons DeKon 1001.

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[Steve Holmes]

Another from Mike Feisst, John Briggs in DeKon 1001, as pictured above with Dawson, and in timbos earlier post as later raced by Jeff Barnes.

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[faminz]

short clip from my archives


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QuIfy3hj2I

(I have a tad more if anyone is interested..)

[Steve Holmes]

Thats amazing Brett, I'd love to see more!

[faminz]

didya notice the sidchrome mustang?

ill see if I can create a longer clip tonight Steve

[Steve Holmes]

Brett, I'd love to see as much of that race as you can provide. Thats some really magic footage.

As well as Moffats Monza and Richards in the Sidchrome Mustang, Pete Geoghegan is leading in the Laurie O'Neil owned HJ/HQ Monaro built up by John Sheppard. This car was pretty impressive, running a fuel injected small block Chevy, GT40 knock-off wheels, and two Hewland LG600 trans-axles which you can just hear whining as the car goes past.

Also in there is Colin Bond in the Holden Dealer Team built Beast MkIII Torana sports sedan. And you just get a glimpse of Ron Harrop in the Repco EH Holden in the background.

At a guess I'd say this was round 2 of the 1976 Australian Sports Sedan Championship, which would mean this was the first time the HDT Beast MkIII had raced.

What else have you got Brett?

[timbo61]

An easy way to pick out the Bob Jane Monza over all the other Monza's is to look at the windscreen. The Bob Jane Monza has its windscreen set back from the A pillar, which you should just be able to make out in the following photo.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5382/scn0018.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/scn0018.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

If anyone watched OneHD televisions RPM show on Tuesday night, you would have seen the interview with Des Wall and a look through his quite large garage.
The Toyota Supra sports sedan is there, and Des said he does intend to restore it as the Chev Monza, but at the moment he is restoring the ex HDT Torana sports sedan as driven by Colin Bond and mentioned in the previous post.

Here is a photo of Des driving it quite a while ago now.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2446/scn0030.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/263/scn0030.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for the info timbo, thats great. Did both cars share body molds?

Good to hear the HDT Torana is to be restored. Does Des Wall still own the Bob Jane HQ Monaro?

[timbo61]

Des doesn't have the moulds for the HDT Torana, but thinks he knows where they might be. he is basically restoring the fibreglass panels that are on the car.
Des still owns the Bob Jane HQ Monaro, now back to Improved Production specifications.
He also has the Geoghegan Mustang, a Dodge Viper GT/Sports car, a Porsche GT3S GT/Sports car which son David drives, The Toyota Supra sports sedan, the HDT Torana sports sedan, and a Corvette Trans-Am bodied sports sedan which Des often drives in the Aust. Sports Sedan championship.
Thats my kind of garage.

[Steve Holmes]

Yes, mine too.

Has he had a chance to race the Monaro yet? I know the restoration was completed a couple of years ago.

Re the HDT Beast III, was the bodywork changed over the years or does it still look like it did back in '76?

[timbo61]

He has raced the Geoghegan Mustang, but I think he has only taken the Monaro out for some demonstration runs.
I'm not sure how the Monaro fits in with the Historic Touring Car catagories.

Re the HDT III Torana, it still looks pretty much the same as it was in the HDT days, except of course for a different paint scheme. It even still has the original Repco-Holden V8 engine, which is a big bonus.

[Steve Holmes]

The Monaro should fit within the Historic Touring Car categories as it has been restored to its 1972 Improved Production guise, which qualifies it for that, just like the Geoghegan Mustang he has.

The HDT Torana sounds like a real time-warp. Its rare a car built for Sports Sedans should make it through its career without being chopped up. Amazing it still even has its original engine!

[faminz]

What else have you got Brett?

oh quite a bit ive gathered over the years Steve... ;)
All of that race of course..
6 F5000 races from Oz featuring Graeme Mcrae (a couple in colour)
all the welly street races
lots of canam races
rally NZ's
tons TONS of F1 stuff going back to the 60's
lots of Wayne Huxfords stuff going waaay back
etc etc etc


if you lived in welly you could drop round and have a look...

I just wish we could get TVNZ to open its archives and let us get some of that older footage

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, fantastic! Well for a start I'd love to see the full length coverage of the above Sandown Sports Sedan race, and the second race too if you have it. Geoghegan won one of them, Moffat the other. I'm sure there are several others on here who'd love to see it too. Thanks Brett.

[faminz]

heres the youtube links
Ive made it so you HAVE to use the link to see the file. ie: the general public cant find it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e77wOVQqRXY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnA0WJCKebE

delete my other download link steve

[Rod Grimwood]

Wincups, the one in the photo, I was helping Steve with Pacific, I got a call that I had to go to Upper Hutt for family so was looking for a lift when Robin said he needed some one to drive the transporter, so it worked out.
Which Monza was that Rod?

[Rod Grimwood]

Sorry Steve, the one as it was on NZ tour in post 449 that is at Puke i think.

[nigel watts]

757

[Leo D]

The last Monza that Graeme Whincup had was sold in 2001 from memory.... the second year that Jamie was in Formula Ford.
I think the Monza headed to QLD..... at about the same time Graeme also sold IH Transporter used for the Monza, which was the original Bridgestone Racing truck that was similar to Allan Moffat's.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Leo. So did Whincup have two or three Monza's?

[Leo D]

Steve, I'm thinking it may have been 2, but I could be wrong, may have just been 1 re-bodied. That's a good question for Graeme or Myles...

Speaking of Myles..... he supplied some of his artwork today for posting on here

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/2995/monzaa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/monzaa.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5287/monza1a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/233/monza1a.jpg/)

These are its doors!

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/7691/thedoorsf.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/808/thedoorsf.jpg/)

[Steve Holmes]

GREAT post there Leo! Where did those first guise body molds come from? Are they something made by Pat Purcell? Were they purchased already completed? I see it was fitted with "Jim Richards" wheels? Didn't JR own a Bob Jane T-Marts around this time? I assume he put his name to a wheel styled by Bob Jane T-Marts as opposed to releasing his own brand of wheel? I didn't even know there was such a thing as Jim Richards wheels. Anyone got more info on these?

[Rod Grimwood]

Think there may be a set in Waikato on a mustang that some one has owned for very long time, if not on one of his cars he has them in shed. One of the Mustangs has the wheels off John Goss's blue Bathurst winning coupe, and original engine from JR'S Mustang (Webers and all). Now this could be another story some time (get his permission first)

[Leo D]

I suggest Myles would be the best man to answer the bodywork questions...... you have to drag him away from the Camaro thread first though :-)

Jim Richards did have a "T-Mart" in the Melbourne suburb of Preston in the mid to late 1980's, after that, as far as i know he had another out Oakleigh (East of Melbourne) way..... but that was along long time ago....

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for the info there guys. Rod, do you know if the JR wheels are of his own making, or has he put his name to a wheel style created by Bob Jane T-Marts? Come to think of it, didn't JR's Falcon hardtop Sports Sedan have similar wheels to the Monza?

[Rod Grimwood]

Thats where they came from, the Falcon. He painted the Falcon and other cars for Jim, has alot of gear off some pretty famous cars.

[Leo D]

Murray Bunn was a very talented "Kiwi" that had a lot to do with Jims cars... particularly the Mustang and especially the Falcon which he built.... now there's a story waiting to be told..

[thunder427]

GREAT post there Leo! Where did those first guise body molds come from? Are they something made by Pat Purcell? Were they purchased already completed? I see it was fitted with "Jim Richards" wheels? Didn't JR own a Bob Jane T-Marts around this time? I assume he put his name to a wheel styled by Bob Jane T-Marts as opposed to releasing his own brand of wheel? I didn't even know there was such a thing as Jim Richards wheels. Anyone got more info on these?

Steve;the Pat Purcell was the Master Mechanic,they had to 'Hire' a 'Kiwi' to do thier body and Paint!!!!!!!!!!!!

I purchased a model (which I still have in the 2o/ft Locker!!) of a Zachspeed Capri as this was the car that Pat said, we should style our Monza on considering the success the Capri's where having...I made the 'bucks' and with time restrictions we contracted Mr Neil McArther of 'McArther Fibreglass' fame..(he made all the body kits for Peter Brock/HDT)to make the Moulds and then the parts as required.............then I fitted (And Modified!) a lot of the 'new' parts.........then 'Custom Paint' Time..Acryilic with 'Clear' over coats.......sign writen by a great 'brush' artist Laurie Knutt..no 'Bloody'stickers in those days...most of this work was done at night as every body refused to work with me because of the 'Stink.........was it personal do you think????........regards thunder427/MJ:)

[Steve Holmes]

Thats where they came from, the Falcon. He painted the Falcon and other cars for Jim, has alot of gear off some pretty famous cars.

Which car are you referring to Rod? The Monza or the Mustang in the Waikato?

[Steve Holmes]

Steve;the Pat Purcell was the Master Mechanic,they had to 'Hire' a 'Kiwi' to do thier body and Paint!!!!!!!!!!!!

I purchased a model (which I still have in the 2o/ft Locker!!) of a Zachspeed Capri as this was the car that Pat said, we should style our Monza on considering the success the Capri's where having...I made the 'bucks' and with time restrictions we contracted Mr Neil McArther of 'McArther Fibreglass' fame..(he made all the body kits for Peter Brock/HDT)to make the Moulds and then the parts as required.............then I fitted (And Modified!) a lot of the 'new' parts.........then 'Custom Paint' Time..Acryilic with 'Clear' over coats.......sign writen by a great 'brush' artist Laurie Knutt..no 'Bloody'stickers in those days...most of this work was done at night as every body refused to work with me because of the 'Stink.........was it personal do you think????........regards thunder427/MJ:)

Thanks Myles. So was this Monza built from scratch in Aus, or was it imported from the US and modified?

[rogered]

2589

the wincup monza (which one, im not sure)
(with my young chap looking for the start button.)
This shot was taken on the gold coast around 2005 and the car was stored in my brothers workshop. it was still being used occasionally and ended up on display at Peter Champions.

[seaqnmac27]

I remember Peter Sloman had one that he raced at Te Marua and Palmerston North Speedway late 70s early 80s. There was someone as at PN as well, amongst the Sunbeam Tigers and Dennis Dromgools Fiat 850

[pallmall]

There have been lots of Monzas and Skylarks, etc raced on the NZ speedway tracks, some are still around today, although the only Monza connection with most is a fibreglass replica body.
USA visitor Tony Vilante.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/References/76usaTonyVilante1975750x532.jpg

Peter Sloman
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/References/85PeterSloman750x507.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/References/PeterSloman85p750x434.jpg

Gary McKelvie
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/References/McKelve1980750x385.jpg

Palmy Saloons.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/References/palmysaloons750x498.jpg

[Rod Grimwood]

The Mustang

Which car are you referring to Rod? The Monza or the Mustang in the Waikato?

[Rod Grimwood]

I was lucky enough to be working for Paton - Black back in those days at Waikaraka with Wally Page for a while. When Tony Valante came over I took them around the different tracks, it was a interesting trip. His car was very light steel (tin) with rubber front and back. Tony had a mechanic Tom Corbin who's family had a big grain supply outfit and he also was a top racer back home. Tony was a rice farmer and involved in a big motorsport supply outfit called Tognotti's. They supplied everything from complete cars to nuts and bolts and from Nascar, drag, offroad to speedway, very big in speedway. The car was a Chev Monza one night and a Oldsmobile Starfire the next, depending on the promotion.
Should post this in other thread suppose but it was my first sight of a Monza (body shape)

[seaqnmac27]

The Bryant and Simpson one number 62 in post#57 is, I thought Peter Sloman, when I was first taken to Te Marua Speedway in 1979??? Dad bought me a large photograph of it. it is notable because of the US flag on the roof to go with the brilliant red. It is the only thing I remember from that meet, although I have vague memories of an Odlins VW Beetle (Tom DOnovan). I am sure if Dad reads this he will be able to correct this, for me, like I say though this over 30 years ago and I was 6 at my first speedway meet.

[seaqnmac27]

Sorry Gary McKelvie

[Rod Grimwood]

Ooh! regards the speedway Valente Monza, the sign on front guard 282ci,(don,t you love it) wish they made up my wages. it was a 400 small block, I think they thought we were not up with that stuff.

[thunder427]

Palmy Saloons.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/References/palmysaloons750x498.jpg[/QUOTE]

....see #62 is wearing the Bob Jane Racing 'warpaint'...Something about 'Imitation is a form of flattery'................regards thunder427/MJ:D:)

[Steve Holmes]

Did you not patent that design Myles?

[Steve Holmes]

2589

the wincup monza (which one, im not sure)
(with my young chap looking for the start button.)
This shot was taken on the gold coast around 2005 and the car was stored in my brothers workshop. it was still being used occasionally and ended up on display at Peter Champions.

Very cool photo Roger. Did Stephen Voight own the Monza before or after his V8 Honda Prelude?

[rogered]

pretty it was sure after

[seaqnmac27]

Interestingly at the same time as Sloman and McKelvie were competing in Palmerston there were 2 Sunbeam Tigers as well, one night one of them I think drive by a chap called Kevin something ended up in the catch fencing on the southern end of the oval, can't remember how it happened, all I can say is it was 1982 and a Demolition Derby evening.

[bigbanger]

Interestingly at the same time as Sloman and McKelvie were competing in Palmerston there were 2 Sunbeam Tigers as well, one night one of them I think drive by a chap called Kevin something ended up in the catch fencing on the southern end of the oval, can't remember how it happened, all I can say is it was 1982 and a Demolition Derby evening.

Kevin Fillingham had a Sunbeam Tiger with a Ford 351 V8. Paul Hoggard from Wellington also had a similar car but with a smaller engine, (302 or 289) from memory.

[Steve Holmes]

Yep, thats correct. One of the Tigers was unearthed by a Streetstock racer a couple of years ago, and converted for Streetstock racing. Bit of a sad ending really. Theres only one place for cars after they've been Streetstocked.

[bry3500]

Couple of Monza's here ..John Briggs and Mike Imrie in the ex Brock, Thommo, Grice car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPrIjiLL8as

[Steve Holmes]

Here you go, I've embedded it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPrIjiLL8as

[bry3500]

thanks Steve..Gotta love Big Darryl Eastlakes Commentary

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah he is good isn't he. Jeff Barnes, who spins the Monza early in the race, thats the old DeKon 1001. But what happened to that Monza that was built for Brock and Jones to race internationally and that Mike Imrie ended up with?

[Steve Holmes]

And although he is listed in the line up, Tino Leo didn't actually compete in this race, but he did race at this event in the old Bob Jane HQ Monaro. I believe this was the last race this car did, after 22 years active duty.

[bry3500]

Art McKee NZ Monza built by Grant King. Raced by John Pollard, John Chambers (1981 - 1984), Rowan Harmon, Geoff Munday, Mike Imrie, Chris Fing (Owned at least from 1996 - 2001) and is now in VIC owned by Camaroz

[bry3500]

http://www.canepacollection.com/detail-1976-chevrolet-monza-dekon-used-6761308.html

[Steve Holmes]

Art McKee NZ Monza built by Grant King. Raced by John Pollard, John Chambers (1981 - 1984), Rowan Harmon, Geoff Munday, Mike Imrie, Chris Fing (Owned at least from 1996 - 2001) and is now in VIC owned by Camaroz

But the King built Monza is different to the one in the vid raced by Imrie. That car was built (or rebuilt) in Australia I believe specifically for racing in the US. Where the hell is Rowan/Camaroz/Aussiemonza when you need him? Chad, can you help with this one?

[Kiwiboss]

Interestingly at the same time as Sloman and McKelvie were competing in Palmerston there were 2 Sunbeam Tigers as well, one night one of them I think drive by a chap called Kevin something ended up in the catch fencing on the southern end of the oval, can't remember how it happened, all I can say is it was 1982 and a Demolition Derby evening.

Kevin Gimblett that classic races a black 67 Camaro these days told me he raced a Sunbeam Tiger on the dirt back in the day, said he hated it!! as he had got out for super charged Escort at the time that was a winner!! Kevin is ex Levin and raced at Palmy so he's possibly the other Tiger!!

Dale Mathers

[bry3500]

hmmm - this is getting somewhat confusing..Do you mean the Bob Jane/ Pete Brock car Steve? I'm 99% sure this ended up as the Des Wall Supra...

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah, I need Rowan to chime in here, he is the expert on the Aussie raced Monza's. I have a copy somewhere of an Aussie motor racing annual for 1983, and in it is a very short article of a red Monza that had been built to take to the US and that a couple of high profile Aus drivers would race. I thought it was Peter Brock and Alan Jones, though could be wrong about that. Anyway, for some reason the whole deal fell through and the Monza ended up being raced in Aus as a sports sedan. And I believe this is the car the commentators are referring to at the start of the video in post #71, driven here by Mike Imrie.

The Bob Jane/ Bryan Thomson Monza did end up as a Supra Sports Sedan, which I think Des Wall still owns, though I think there is some talk it may be reverted back to the Monza.

[thunder427]

Yeah, I need Rowan to chime in here, he is the expert on the Aussie raced Monza's. I have a copy somewhere of an Aussie motor racing annual for 1983, and in it is a very short article of a red Monza that had been built to take to the US and that a couple of high profile Aus drivers would race. I thought it was Peter Brock and Alan Jones, though could be wrong about that. Anyway, for some reason the whole deal fell through and the Monza ended up being raced in Aus as a sports sedan. And I believe this is the car the commentators are referring to at the start of the video in post #71, driven here by Mike Imrie.

The Bob Jane/ Bryan Thomson Monza did end up as a Supra Sports Sedan, which I think Des Wall still owns, though I think there is some talk it may be reverted back to the Monza.

......OK!!!..said 'MONZA' was built by John Reardon (of Whincup/Monza fame!) for Daryl Sydal, whom fluctuated between the USA and Australia on business (we all thought he might have been an FBI agent??!!!) and yes, it was to be driven by 'Named' Aussie drivers inc those already mentioned,.....Yes, the enterprise did flounder and eventually the Monza arrived back in Aust.where it was sold to somebody in Queensland (ever noticed they walk funny in Qld!!!?)....now we need Camaroz for 'names and places'

...Daryl Sydal was one of the early importers of 'Muscle' cars from the USA (we didnt think of them in those days as such!!) Daryl lives on the 'Gold Coast' these days and is close friends with 'Winky' (Graeme Whincup) along with Ron the Harrop (The Musketeers/No money then but heaps of 'Get It Done!!)those three had some major foresight when it came to building these 'Sports Sedan' type cars,John Reardon then went on to work for Williams F1,where I believe he is still employed to this day...not bad for a kid selling train tickets with a dream......I've spent many hours working with John/'the ferret',consuming 'Fish-n-chips and Beer (weren't fussy what brand as long as it was 'FREE!!)....I was also rather privlaged by both Bob Jane Racing's Pat Purcell and Graeme Whincup likewise,that I could work at 'BJR' and 'Moonlight' at 'AAR (All Australian Racers) and not get the 'demon tweeks' mixed up!!!!!!.......you would be 'Sacked' into days world!!!!.........regards thunder427/MJ:):)

[Steve Holmes]

Hey Myles, you're awesome! Thats great info.

[thunder427]

Hey Myles, you're awesome! Thats great info.

......Steve,your inspiration brings many Great memories back for so many of us that have no one to tell, (A)... they are not interested!!,(B)...they don't believe you could of had that much fun with your pants on!!!......reminds me,must tell you the story of 'Big Pete setting the lake on fire!!!!:confused:.........I know, I know, your all going....'BULLSHIT'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and your all going to tell me, that water doesn't Burn??????????????????.......Oh!! side bar, the Monza of Sydal, I'm imformed has now 'Morphed' into a SAAB,according to 'Winky',possibly some body named Goulay/NSW? or such.....come on you :cool:Detectives,we want Bloody results !!!!!!.......regards thunder427/MJ:D:D:)

[Rod Grimwood]

Tell the stories thunder427, as some of us believe as we have witnessed all sorts over the years, (not involved) just seen as i was the quite one.
Yep tell the stories it is all good, no names needed, the old rule "The van went well and it rained on Sunday"

[Steve Holmes]

OK, I have managed to unearth my 1983 Australian Raceyear annual. Towards the back of the book is a small b/w photo of a Monza and a caption next to it which reads: "January's highlight was the announcement that this Monza would be driven by Alan Jones and Peter Brock in America during the year, but nothing came of it. Ron Harrop raced the car at Calder in February and failed to finish a race".

Whats confusing is that the bodywork on the car looks more like that of Graeme Whincups as pictured here rather than the car of Imrie which appears in the above video clip, and which the commentators say is the car that was to race in the US. Its still quite different to the Whincup car, but has the square rear box guards similar to this.

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[BMCBOY]

Here are a couple of shots from Baypark that may be of interest

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[Steve Holmes]

Ross, these are sensational! Thanks for posting them. Typically for me, I wrote a magazine article on this very event and couldn't find colour photos for love nor money!

These are beautiful and really enjoyable to see. And those are some pretty significant cars too.

[rogered]

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The chris cord car at Harrahs Reno around 15 years ago

[OCTARD-USA]

Great pic, Rogered. This photo is better than I have from back in this car's days in the National Auto Museum (ex Harrahs collection, Reno, Nevada). When I was in my teens, I'd have my parents drop me off at this museum for the afternoon, while they went and enjoyed "Hot August Nights."

As you probably already know, where others might not... This is the Chris Cord DeKon Monza that Doane Spencer modified even more than the other team chassis seen here (in vintage competition, owned and driven by Ken Epsman):

http://cdn-4.motorsport.com/static/img/mgl/500000/540000/545000/545700/545744/s1_1.jpg

With the chassis in your picture, Doane converted the car to into an IRS and played with a bit more ground effects.

Great stuff, and perhaps my all time favorite car.

[rogered]

Great stuff, and perhaps my all time favorite car.

Yip it would rank high on my list as well.
Has all the right ingredients

[rogered]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXs2nG3MP8Y
Just found this , so this is the same chassis i assume

[OCTARD-USA]

The video link you've posted, Rogered, is of the chassis that Ken Epsman now owns and runs in vintage racing here in the USA.

The chassis in your picture from the museum is the other Chris Cord DeKon Monza. The chassis pictured in your museum image is not presently being raced.

[rogered]

Cheers Octard
So is the cord car still in the in Reno or has somebody got it?

[OCTARD-USA]

Cheers Octard
So is the cord car still in the in Reno or has somebody got it?

Hello Rogered,

To be clear, there were two DeKon Monzas fielded by Chris Cord. They are DeKon Monza chassis numbers 1011 and 1012. There is some question about which chassis is which, and I'll not go into my take on the proper chassis identification in this thread.

The chassis that you pictured in the Reno museum 15 years ago, is no longer there. This chassis is in private hands, and not presently being raced. Doane Spencer modified this chassis from live axle to IRS, and has additional ground effects added/tested.

The other chassis (never in the Reno Museum) is owned and driven by Ken Epsman, and can be seen in both your video link and this photo link (http://cdn-4.motorsport.com/static/img/mgl/500000/540000/545000/545700/545744/s1_1.jpg).

[Steve Holmes]

Just out of interest Chad, what sort of ground effects work did Doane Spencer do on this car?

He was a very clever guy, Doane. Those of us with an interest in hot rodding history will know of his beautiful '32 Ford roadster, which is one of the most celebrated hot rods of all time, and one of the most emulated. He used it as his daily driver from 1944 when he first purchased it off his classmate Jack Dorn, and raced it on the dry lakes with a 243ci Mercury flathead, hitting 126mph. His love for road racing was evident quite early, as he tore the '32 apart and began rebuilding it to race in La Carrera Panamericana, and made some significant modifications such as running the exhausts through the frame rails to provide better ground clearance. Unfortunately he never got the chance to race it, as the Mexican road race was cancelled before he completed the '32. This car is now owned by Bruce Meyer, and was restored by Pete Chapouris, who now owns Co-Cal Speed Shop.

Interestingly, Spencer also built a fantastic looking and very successful Sunbeam Tiger in the '60s, and also ran the exhausts out through the rocker panels. His cars were quick, but boy they looked great too!

[OCTARD-USA]

Just out of interest Chad, what sort of ground effects work did Doane Spencer do on this car?

Doane put a belly pan on the car, and the rear section had a cavity/tunnel at the back, but this is all detail received from word of mouth. The car was roped off at the Reno Auto Museum, and I could never look underneath.

When and if I ever get to see the thing in person, I have about a thousand other things to inspect.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Chad. Would be great to find out more about this. I take it the belly pan was full length? Looking at the front of the car, I assume air must have been directed through either the centre hole or the two smaller holes either side of it and ducted beneath the car but kept separate from the air going to the radiator and travelling around the engine bay? Were the ground effects effective?

[OCTARD-USA]

Regarding the ground effects on the ex-Chris Cord DeKon Monza that once resided at the Reno Auto Museum... yes, a full length belly pan. Split into a front and rear section, as I'm told.

As I haven't seen it, I don't have the detail needed to comment any further.

[Steve Holmes]

Kiwi motorsport photographer Warwick Clayton has sent me a few really neat Monza photos from the late 70s and early 80s, kicking off with the NZ debut of the Red Dawson DeKon 1001 and Allan Moffat DeKon 1005 at Bay Park in late 1975.

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[Steve Holmes]

The Moffat car continued on to Australia after its NZ races, while Dawson straightened his car out after shunting it a couple of times during the 1975/76 season (adding to the shunts it'd recieved in the US before he'd purchased it), fitted fuel injection, and headed into the 1976/77 season with high hopes. But his season, and his racing career came to a violent end when he spun into the infield at Manfeild at the start of the new season, slammed into a drain, and rolled.

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[Steve Holmes]

After its big Manfeild shunt, Dawson had the Monza rebuilt, and sold it to John Briggs, who raced it in Aussie Sports Sedan events, and took the car back to NZ in 1979 for a couple of races.

Another Monza to visit NZ was the Graeme Whincup car, which Warwick also photographed. Note the different signage on the Whincup Monza in the two different shots. Did this car visit NZ twice? I know Jim Richards borrowed the car to race in NZ, did Whincup drive it himself on a different occasion?

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[Shano]

Not sure what's more horrible, the mess of that car, or the bloke in the plaid shorts and stripey shirt.

[Steve Holmes]

Anyone got any interior or engine shots of either Moffats or Dawsons Monzas? Or of the Dawson Monza when Briggs, Barnes, or any of its other owners raced it?

[aussiemonza]

Yeah, I need Rowan to chime in here, he is the expert on the Aussie raced Monza's. I have a copy somewhere of an Aussie motor racing annual for 1983, and in it is a very short article of a red Monza that had been built to take to the US and that a couple of high profile Aus drivers would race. I thought it was Peter Brock and Alan Jones, though could be wrong about that. Anyway, for some reason the whole deal fell through and the Monza ended up being raced in Aus as a sports sedan. And I believe this is the car the commentators are referring to at the start of the video in post #71, driven here by Mike Imrie.

The Bob Jane/ Bryan Thomson Monza did end up as a Supra Sports Sedan, which I think Des Wall still owns, though I think there is some talk it may be reverted back to the Monza.

Sorry for the late response. The Imrie Monza in the video is the ex Sidell car built by John Reardon. This car then morphed into Imrie's SAAB Sports Sedan (built by John Gourlay) and still competing. Imrie had the Sidell Monza body intact up to a few years ago and it is now with Andy Kilgour who is looking for a chassis. At about the same time John Reardon was building the Sidell Monza, Graeme Whincup decided to build a similar car, Sidell's for IMSA GT and Whincup's for Aussie GT. Whincup sold his original Monza, (known as the Rotex Monza) less running gear, to Bob Gill who reconfigured the chassis but did not get too much further. Gill later sold all the body to Chris Fing in Qld and I then bought the body back and it is about to be reunited with the chassis by Tony Edwards. The Whincup (Gen II) Monza was delayed as some of Whincup's components were "lent" to the Sidell effort but when it finally hit the track, Whincup ran spasmodically over a couple of years (refer photo at Amaroo). Whincup then sold the car to Steve Voight in Qld who still has the car. it is currently in 'mock-up' Bob Jane livery in the Champion Brock Museum.

[Steve Holmes]

Rowan, thanks heaps for that info. I didn't realise you also had the first Whincup Monza. The Tony Edwards you mention, is he the same Tony Edwards who races TCM? The second Whincup Monza bought by Voight, was this car rebodied as a Honda Prelude, or is the Prelude a completely different car? So many of these cars get rebodied, it gets confusing.

So Whincup had two Monzas or three?

[aussiemonza]

Whincup had two Monza's. In the shots above is the first car (Rotex Monza), the first image (Union Travel on screen) was when Jim Richards drove, I'm not sure which meeting. The second shot is when Graeme drove. Both Jim and Graeme may have shared the car at different rounds on the same visit or it may have been two different visits. The second Whincup Monza is all still intact, I think Voight may have built the Prelude. Tony Edwards is the TCM Torana SL/R 5000 pilot.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for that info Rowan, so I take it the second Whincup Monza had its bodywork changed at some point?

[rogered]

Was the prelude not the ex greg crick car?

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah you could be right about that. Crick did have a Prelude built, by Elfin if memory serves???

[bry3500]

1984 1000km of Sandown Park - Allan Grice/Dick Johnson/Ron Harrop - Re-Car Chevrolet Monza
Photo by Dale Rogers. The 6.0 litre Monza didn't make the transition from sprint racer to endurance racer at all well. It had loads of grunt but the handling was off. Qualified 18th with a time of 1:40.300 (2nd in the special AC or Australian Cars class) but was eventually disqualified for receiving outside assistance after completing only 114 of the winners 206 laps. And yes Ford fans, this is actually Dick Johnson driving a Chev.

[bry3500]

1984 Australian GT Championship Rd 3 @ Calder Park Raceway - Allan Grice - Re-Car Chevrolet Monza

[aussiemonza]

Thanks for that info Rowan, so I take it the second Whincup Monza had its bodywork changed at some point?

The second Whincup Monza was built with a new body shape based on the Sidell "GE" panels.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for that info Rowan.

[Rod Grimwood]

Here are a couple more old shots taken by a then keen young fella with his own little camera. I actually bumped into him at Hampton Festival and he said he had some old photos. he sent them to me and I will post them on threads and may even start a thread for them and any similar shots taken by amatuers with ordinary gear. It is all good.

[Steve Holmes]

I love seeing this stuff Rod, thanks for posting. Please go ahead and start a dedicated thread for these if you like. Its these amateur photos that the historians and the restorers really love, as most were taken with basic cheap cameras, so most were static photos shot in the pits. These photos end up providing more detail on the cars than many of the action on-track photos. The guys who took these photos think that because they weren't professional photographers, nobody wants to see their pictures. In fact the total opposite is true. This stuff is gold!

[Rod Grimwood]

My thoughts also Steve, some only have bits of the car, but thats what happened when you were shotting through pits with the big man chasing you.

[khyndart in CA]

Rowan,
I thought of you while I was at Laguna Seca last weekend and tried to photograph the Ken Epsman DeKon Monza which I believe to be either number 1010 or 1011. Anyway it ran well and did not lose a left rear wheel at this corner as it had in 2014 !
Sorry the photos are a bit smudgy but I wanted to post them and hope they can be of some help to you.
Both Bruce Thompson and I were admiring the high quality of workmanship such as the louvers cut out in the rear widow.
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Ken Epsman in the DeKon Monza # 20 ahead of the 1979 Greenwood Corvette # 88 driven by Jules Gounon.
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Epsman DeKon Monza interior with Chris Cord's signature on the dash.
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(Note the rear window louvers )
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(Ken Hyndman photos )

[aussiemonza]

Thanks heaps for these. I hope to pick-up Dekon 1001 from NSW in the next few weeks and will post images. CCR

[Steve Holmes]

This cool photo was taken by Bazza Morland at Ruapuna. A rare shot of Art McKee's Chevy Monza.

McKee had won the 1976 Castrol GTX series and decided to make the next move up to the ShellSport NZ Saloon Car Championship. It was clear to everyone during the 1976 season that Red Dawson' tube-frame DeKon built Monza was the car of the future, so McKee went to the US to try and purchase a similar DeKon. However, none were available at the time, so he instead bought a similar car built by speedway racer Grant King.

The King Monza didn't perform as well as the DeKon cars, and McKee had a tough time. But he persevered and slowly began to develop it. The car arrived as pictured, painted a light metallic blue with dark blue and silver highlights. But while in the US at an IMSA race, McKee watched the Al Holbert DeKon Monza racing and really liked the paint scheme, so changed his car mid-season.

At seasons end he had to send the car to Australia due to the import tax rules. While there the wharfies went on strike and the car was stranded for months. By the time it eventually returned to NZ, McKee had lost interest, and decided to sell it. It went to Australia and has been there ever since. Now owned by Rowan Harman who also owns DeKon Monza 1001, ex-Red Dawson.

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[Muscle Garage]

This is the Ex John White Monza, Built in Qld by John White back in the late 70's, this photo is circa 1983/84. It was campaigned by John for quite a few years before being sold to the "Osborne" Family in maybe 91/92 one a few QLD Sports Sedan championships then sold to Maurie Pickering in 1994, Raced at the AGP and GC Indy then sold to NSW where it ended its competition life in 1998.

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[Muscle Garage]

We purchased the car back in 2017 with the plans to restore it to the GT Era (as above pic). Parts are slowly coming together and we hope to get stuck back into it and have it out in 2021/22.
This pic is as it currently sits.
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[Ellis]

The Grant King Monza now lives in Tasmania and has been rebuilt over past 2 or 3 years and will make its circuit return at Baskerville Historics Nov 1,2,3 2024 in spirited demonstration laps