Steve Holmes
09-30-2013, 11:47 PM
Another great piece of old motor racing footage from Warwick Farm. This is from the Tasman Series event, held on February 11, 1973, where Touring Cars played as support to the F5000s.
Although many of the cars here are recognisable as Improved Touring Cars, in 1972, CAMS gave touring car rules in Australia a major shake-up for 1973. The two main categories being contested were Series Production Cars, for essentially showroom stock cars, and Improved Production Cars, where more modifications were allowed. While the Improved Touring Cars fought out the Australian Touring Car Championship, Series Production Cars contested the annual Bathurst endurance race, among others. From 1973 onwards, both categories were dropped, with Group C being introduced, which would contest both the ATCC, and Bathurst.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Improved Touring Cars were consigned to the Sports Sedan ranks. In the early 1970s, and particularly in NSW, Sports Sedan racing was hugely popular. However, a National Championship for the class wouldn't be introduced until 1976.
So while most of the front running cars in this video, such as Allan Moffat's Mustang, Pete Geoghegan's Super Falcon, and John Goss' Porsche 911, were all built to Improved Production rules, here they're racing as Sports Sedans. Also n the field is Frank Gardner in the SCA Freight Camaro, which he brought over from the UK to race in both New Zealand and Australia, plus Bob Stevens in the ex-Bob Jane Shelby Trans-Am Mustang, and the purpose-built Sports Sedan V8 Torana's of John Harvey (in Bob Jane's car) and Bryan Thomson.
Shame about the weather, would have been great to have seen this field competing in the dry. But great stuff anyway. Turn the sound up and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llH17HQgXEU&feature=share
Although many of the cars here are recognisable as Improved Touring Cars, in 1972, CAMS gave touring car rules in Australia a major shake-up for 1973. The two main categories being contested were Series Production Cars, for essentially showroom stock cars, and Improved Production Cars, where more modifications were allowed. While the Improved Touring Cars fought out the Australian Touring Car Championship, Series Production Cars contested the annual Bathurst endurance race, among others. From 1973 onwards, both categories were dropped, with Group C being introduced, which would contest both the ATCC, and Bathurst.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Improved Touring Cars were consigned to the Sports Sedan ranks. In the early 1970s, and particularly in NSW, Sports Sedan racing was hugely popular. However, a National Championship for the class wouldn't be introduced until 1976.
So while most of the front running cars in this video, such as Allan Moffat's Mustang, Pete Geoghegan's Super Falcon, and John Goss' Porsche 911, were all built to Improved Production rules, here they're racing as Sports Sedans. Also n the field is Frank Gardner in the SCA Freight Camaro, which he brought over from the UK to race in both New Zealand and Australia, plus Bob Stevens in the ex-Bob Jane Shelby Trans-Am Mustang, and the purpose-built Sports Sedan V8 Torana's of John Harvey (in Bob Jane's car) and Bryan Thomson.
Shame about the weather, would have been great to have seen this field competing in the dry. But great stuff anyway. Turn the sound up and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llH17HQgXEU&feature=share