The attached photos of this car are just superb. The detail is really there for those of us into that sort of thing.Originally Posted by Steve Holmes
Shame I have not got the money and one can’t live in a car....
The attached photos of this car are just superb. The detail is really there for those of us into that sort of thing.
Shame I have not got the money and one can’t live in a car....
I agree Bruce. The car was never really changed from how Gardner raced it in 1971, even though it ended up in Australia being campaigned in the Sports Sedan ranks. It only raced briefly as a Sports Sedan and then quietly put away. So although its been restored, there was very little to actually change, so its now presented as a really honest car, and something of a timewarp.
That sounds right then Ray. Gardner did the deal with Bob Jane in early 1973 after he'd raced the Camaro in New Zealand and then in Australia. He'd already been racing his new second generation Camaro throughout 1972, but fitted with a small block Chevy 350. The big block 427 motor/box was fitted to the new car for 1973.
It was fun to watch this Camaro in action, especially when these two Australians, Brian "Yogi"Muir and Frank Gardner were racing at the same time. (Luckily there was no live on-board "mike" in 1973 !)
( Ken H )
Great clippings Ken. These two had some furious battles in the BSCC, beginning in 1970 when Gardner raced an ex-Bud Moore Trans-Am Mustang and Muir had an ex-Penske Racing Camaro.
Superb shots of the 2nd Gen Camaro. What rules did this race in Steve. Why I ask is that the bonnet is modified with a rear facing scoop.
Bruce,
This was the 1973 RAC British Saloon Car Championship. Touring Cars class A-D.
Is this any help ? It certainly had a wide range of engine sizes and the big complaint of the day was the speed differences and you can see why !
You can read a bit about it here;
http://www.btcc.net/history/in-depth/1958-1990/
(Ken H)
Bruce, it was actually raced under Group 2 regulations, although these were obviously getting further and further offtrack throughout the 1970s. This is why its important to use the FIA date classifications when building a racing group around Appendix K regs.
While messing around today I found the original slide I took at Silverstone July 1973 at the British GP Meet.
It gives an idea of how Becketts Corner looked back then as the Saloon Car race started.
(K Hyndman photo..)
This is a modern day clip of the same corner.(The grandstand is about where the red and yellow
Land Rover is in the top photo ..but a lot further back from the track !)
(We had more fun in 1973!)
Ken H
Last edited by khyndart in CA; 02-10-2019 at 02:31 AM.
Wow! Superb photo Ken. In the end Frank Gardner in the Camaro took the win, from David Howe in an AMC Javelin who finished just ahead of Jonathan Buncombe in an Escort. Muir in the BMW was out early with engine failure, while Dennis Leech pictured in the Mustang drifted back to 14th due to various issues.While messing around today I found the original slide I took at Silverstone July 1973 at the British GP Meet.
It gives an idea of how Becketts Corner looked back then as the Saloon Car race started.
(K Hyndman photo..)
This is a modern day clip of the same corner.(The grandstand is about where the red and yellow
Land Rover is in the top photo ..but a lot further back from the track !)
(We had more fun in 1973!)
Ken H
Not sure if you recalled Ken there was a big shunt early in this race?
Steve,
The day was spoiled by the accident in that race.
Dave Mathews was in the Broadspeed Capri which had a slow start and is in about 7th position behind the white Escort. If you look closely you will see it is a LHD Capri and that is a factor that helped saved Dave's life.
You can read more at this site written many years later.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebri...eated-10523107
(Ken H)
Last edited by khyndart in CA; 02-11-2019 at 01:09 AM.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote