Qld Historics - July 25-27

[DAVID PATERSON]

If you enjoy Group N Historic Touring cars, come out and see two grids full, plus a dozen genuine Group C Touring cars racing, plus the super fast open wheelers of the '70s and '80s, classic Production Sports cars and Sports Racing cars and the skinny wheeled excitement of the pre-war thoroughbreds.

Plus, the largest collection of Shelby American Mustangs and Cobras ever seen in Australia, plus a huge classic car show and some very famous, legends of Australian motorsport.

I hope I'll see you there.

[Crash Test]

Some additional info

Media Bulletin - 2 July 2003
Legends Return to the Track
Shannons Historic Racing and Classic Car Festival
July 26th and 27th 2003

The big banger Group C touring cars are coming back to town, with race fans in for a treat at the Shannons Historic Racing and Classic Car Festival at Queensland Raceway on July 26-27.

Two of Australia's motorsport greats will be united on the track, with legend Kevin Bartlett listed to compete in Allan Moffat's 1983 Australian Touring Car Championship winning Mazda RX7

Bartlett, a veteran of 45 years in motorsport will be behind the wheel of the first Japanese car, and the only rotary powered car to win the Australian Touring Car Championship.

Bartlett is a multiple Australian Drivers Champion, and won the Bathurst 1000 in a rain soaked 1974 race with John Goss.

Although the prospect of 'KB' hitting the track in anger again will have memories flooding back for spectators, 2004 will see Bartlett teamed up with his famous Channel Nine Camaro once again.

Also returning to the racetrack next season will be the Group A Touring Cars, which ruled the Australian motorsport scene from 1985 to 1992.

Cars that will be eligible to compete as historic racecars will include favourites such as Ford Sierras, Nissan Skylines, and Walkinshaw VL Commodores.

This year however at the Shannons Historic and Classic Car Festival, expect a strong field of Group C racers from around the nation, after their debut at Queensland Raceway last season.

While entries are still rolling in, some expected starters include XE Falcons, A9X Toranas, as well as a swarm of small capacity class cars.

Kevin Bartlett Biography

Born- Coffs Harbour, NSW, May 25 1940

First Race- Mount Druitt (NSW) 1958 in an MGTC

Bathurst Record- 1st Outright 1974 (with John Goss, Falcon GT), 1st Class (1968 with Doug Chivas in a GTV, and 1969 with Len Goodwin in a GTV), 24 starts between 1963 and 1990. Raced in the Bathurst 6-hour in 1962, the year before 'The Great Race' moved to Bathurst.

Australian Drivers Championship- 1st in 1968 and 1969

Australia Touring Car Championship- 2nd in 1980 in Camaro

Australian Grand Prix- 2nd in 1971 (held at Warwick Farm NSW)

Macau Grand Prix- 1st in 1969


Media Bulletin - 26 June 2003
Shelby American Spectacular at Queensland Raceway
Shannons Historic Racing and Classic Car Festival
July 26th and 27th 2003

The largest ever gathering of Shelby American cars in Australia is set to take place at the Historic Racing Car Club promoted Shannons Historic Racing and Classic Car Festival at Queensland Raceway on July 26 and 27.

15 of the rarest and most desirable American muscle cars of all time will be on display, and on Sunday the 27th of July will lead the Historic Touring Car field around to start of the Jack Lacey Memorial feature race.

The Shannons Show and Shine will feature the Mustangs and Cobras from the famed workshop of Caroll Shelby, which will be joined by 50 cars from the Mustang Owners Club of Australia, and many other rare and classic cars.

Shannons representative Phil Ross is thrilled to be involved in the 26th annual Historic Racing and Classic Car Festival.

“Shannons is very excited, not only about the show and shine in the pit area on Sunday, but also two days of on track racing, with competitors coming from far and wide for the meeting.

“We expect over 200 racing entries, but also nearly 250 cars in the show and shine and grand parade, so there will really be an event within an event.

The line up of Shelby American cars will have fans salivating, with cars ranging from AC Mark I Cobras, to big block 1969 GT500 Mustangs.

One car certain to gain the attention of race fans will be Pete Geoghegan's 1965 Mustang, which won an incredible 68 times from 74 race starts.

Geoghegan won the 1966 Australian Touring Car Championship in the car, and set the lap record at every circuit he competed at.

Another remarkable car scheduled to attend is a 1966 Group Two Shelby Mustang, which won the New Zealand Touring Car Championship three times in the late sixties.

21 of these cars were built, of which it is believed that only seven are still in existence.

For three of the Shelby owners, the weekend at Queensland Raceway won't simply be a relaxing time in the sun, with them taking to the track in the Shannons Regularity Trials and the Group S Sports Car Races.

Massive interstate interest will ensure that this year's event is the biggest and best ever.

Not only will the off track displays keep fans entertained, but non-stop racing on the track will ensure something to please everybody.

Europe and North America's best racing and sports cars will take to the track, as well as a huge contingent of Aussie bred Historic Touring Cars.

The 'big banger' Group C Touring cars will make their second appearance at Queensland Raceway since their classification as an historic racing class, and are sure to provide a quality field of cars from yesteryear.

Fast Facts
Where- Queensland Raceway
When- July 26-27 2003
Shannons Show and Shine Contact- Phil Ross on (07) 3722 0498
Location- Queensland Raceway is at the end of Champions Way, Willowbank, adjacent to the Willowbank Drag Strip, and off the Cunningham Highway (just south of the Amberley RAAF Base).
Internet sites-
www.hrcc.org.au - Home of the Historic Racing Car Club (Qld) Inc.
www.qrda.asn.au - Accelerate- for more stories and information on State level, Hillclimb and Historic competition in Queensland.

[275 GTB-4]

Frothing at the mouth actually.......

Roll on September and Eastern Creek....

[DAVID PATERSON]

Entries have closed, there are 15 Group C Touring Cars and over 60 Group N Historic Touring cars. Total of 280 entries for the meeting.

This will be huge folks, see you there?

[Crash Test]

Also Dick Johnson will be there on Sunday to have a cruise around in his XC Hardtop...

[jetsetter]

I can't wait, as usual i'll head out for the Sunday as the historic meeting is one i never miss.

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Crash Test
Also Dick Johnson will be there on Sunday to have a cruise around in his XC Hardtop...

I'd be a bit dissapointed if he was only cruising!

[hoonboyz]

I'll be there tomorrow and Sunday , i cant wait!!!!

[moffman]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Frothing at the mouth actually.......

Roll on September and Eastern Creek....

HERE HERE

[jetsetter]

An exceptional days racing & entertainment, full credit to both the organisers & competitors for putting on a great event.

[Bob]

That was one hell of a weekends racing.
My highlight would have to be watching Kevin Heffernan start off on the last row of the grid in both Historic races and moving up to 5 and 6 place, awesome driving, he also drove the wheels off his group c commodore which was an incredible effort considering it hadn't been raced in 10 years.

[Crash Test]

I think I nearly messed myself in commentary in the first bottom-50% race on Saturday, he would have been going twice the speed of everyone else, then was boxed out by a wall of Cortinas! And yeah, the old Commodore never really came onto the straight in a conventional manner

[DAVID PATERSON]

Crash, we were more worried about you being overcome, pardon the pun, when you interviewed DJ live on air in the box. You didn't hump his leg did you?

[Bob]

Both of Kevin’s #74 cars

[Bob]

Both of Kevin’s #74 cars

[Crash Test]

Patto- take a hike

I've got a recorded copy of that interviewer, and it was a cack in places