John McCormack Charger Question

Kingair · 29 Jan 2017, 08:52 (Ref:3706786)

Just been reading the article on John McCormack's Charger and Jaguar in the latest issue of AMC, and wonder why he designed the car with the gear change on the right hand side of his seat.

The driving position for both cars was on the right, was it a carry on from Formula 5000 design or something that suited John's driving style?

The Charger must have been a nice piece of kit in its day, anyone ever see it action?

one five five · 29 Jan 2017, 09:54 (Ref:3706811)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingair

The driving position for both cars was on the right, was it a carry on from Formula 5000 design or something that suited John's driving style?

Abit of both, he was used to changing gear with his right hand, and it was standard design for an open-wheeler and the car was F5000 based under the body.

Librules · 30 Jan 2017, 06:36 (Ref:3707704)

The Charger must have been a nice piece of kit in its day, anyone ever see it action?

I saw it run when new and it was the 'duck's guts'. The only problem was that each new car that came along was a little
bit faster than the one before so gun cars tended to become also-rans within a couple of years. Having said that, some of the most memorable local tin-tops come from that era, my alltime favourite being Thommo's VW.

Chris125 · 30 Jan 2017, 09:45 (Ref:3707723)

McCormack going under the bridge at Surfers was something special.

Average Punter · 30 Jan 2017, 23:23 (Ref:3707925)

I can remember the sound of it powersliding around the final turn at Oran Park many moons ago....

There was also a fastback VW and maybe Gricey's Corsair too.

I'd say 1974. I was a very excited 10 year old to get Max Stewart's autograph after a F5000 race.

sizzle · 31 Jan 2017, 03:18 (Ref:3707982)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

I can remember the sound of it powersliding around the final turn at Oran Park many moons ago....

There was also a fastback VW and maybe Gricey's Corsair too.

I'd say 1974. I was a very excited 10 year old to get Max Stewart's autograph after a F5000 race.

That fast back VW was Bryan Thomson's with the Chev in the back. I remember when it debuted at Calder. It was a weapon.

Matt · 6 Feb 2017, 15:55 (Ref:3710506)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingair

Just been reading the article on John McCormack's Charger and Jaguar in the latest issue of AMC, and wonder why he designed the car with the gear change on the right hand side of his seat.

The driving position for both cars was on the right, was it a carry on from Formula 5000 design or something that suited John's driving style?

The Charger must have been a nice piece of kit in its day, anyone ever see it action?

No where to put it on the left side.

bluesport · 6 Feb 2017, 21:21 (Ref:3710560)

McCormack called them "yipeee" cars from memory, but there was no yipeeing when John Goss put him into the wall at Oran Park.

Kingair · 7 Feb 2017, 07:50 (Ref:3710636)

Got to love those see through roll bars and safety cage John had in the Charger.

Revolutionary type of stuff for the 70's, wonder why the V8 guys don't use that today-must be lightweight, easy for the driver to get in and out of the car and doesn't alter the CofG too much.

kmsport · 10 Feb 2017, 10:13 (Ref:3711375)

I'm sure if someone contacted Dale Koennecke or Harry Aust the real answer would come to light

spook · 10 Feb 2017, 12:01 (Ref:3711387)

I remember this car at Lakeside when it had a fire in the engine - I think Tony E was driving it by then (John Mc was injured in a road accident I think ?) - Tony was out of the car before it stopped rolling opposite the tower. A few years later Tony had an even bigger fire in the Alfetta at Surfers.

Forda · 10 Feb 2017, 23:22 (Ref:3711464)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

No where to put it on the left side.

More pics/details here: https://primotipo.com/2015/06/30/hey...charger-repco/

RedZedMikey · 11 Feb 2017, 03:30 (Ref:3711479)

Thanks for that, a great read. As a teenager into my twenties, I loved it when the ASSC circus came to Wanneroo (now Barbagallo) each year. Got to see all those monsters, my favourites were Moff's Capri, the Sidchrome Mustang and the Charger.

Matt · 14 Feb 2017, 19:55 (Ref:3712181)

Mixer · 16 Feb 2017, 04:25 (Ref:3712495)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sizzle

That fast back VW was Bryan Thomson's with the Chev in the back. I remember when it debuted at Calder. It was a weapon.

I spannered on Bryan Thomson's Benz that followed the VW, in its later life.

It was all F5000 underneath, and by the time I was working on it, was a brittle and fickle thing.

Got pretty good at rebuilding DG300s though...

Kingair · 17 Feb 2017, 05:46 (Ref:3712755)

In Forda's picture it shows no driver side bar work, yet in Matt's picture it shows bar work and a roll cage?

Part of the cars evolution over its racing career?

Librules · 17 Feb 2017, 10:41 (Ref:3712796)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingair

In Forda's picture it shows no driver side bar work, yet in Matt's picture it shows bar work and a roll cage?

Part of the cars evolution over its racing career?

No, just made a bit safer during its restoration for the odd fast run on the track.

kmsport · 22 Feb 2017, 09:00 (Ref:3713920)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingair

In Forda's picture it shows no driver side bar work, yet in Matt's picture it shows bar work and a roll cage?

Part of the cars evolution over its racing career?

To a large degree, the tubework you might be looking for is irrelevant. It was built as an aluminium monocoque, not a space frame.

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