Australian Historics 2008 (Biante, GP C/A, etc)

[Senna05]

It's been some time since we had a thread dedicated to these sorts of series alone, so I thought I'd kick one off for 2008.

The practise times for Clipsal are interesting - Bowe a bullet straigh off the bat, Seto flying in the little escort.

Should be a bloody good race!

[Pro Racer]

well interesting to see Bowe in the Camaro and Jim in the Mustang and not forgetting Seto in the Escort, should be a great year, although the ex- Touring car champs are going to have a tough time against defending Biante Champ Steve Mason and the others.

[STEVO]

Err... correct me if I'm wrong... but 1600 RS Escort shouldn't be that high up ahead of other Chevs, Falcons ans Stangs correct?

I was expected the Escort to qualify 15th and finish 10-ish.

Seton's killing it! Lovely! Just wish he was in a race winning model like a Falcon or something!

Great to see him in action... and of course... one with a Blue oval on it! Kinda shows where his heart lies really.

[Bullett]

I think its a BDA escort, and errr Biante aint Historic!

[Pro Racer]

well Adelaide is quite tight so the escort would have fair chance given it would be quick through the 90 degree corners and turn 9, turn 8 wouldbe the only major turn it's not competitive at, come a place like Bathurst the Camaro's, Mustangs, Falcon's and Monaro's will come out ahead only place the Escort will be comptitive is the dipper and the esses down to Forrest elbow. thats not to take away from the good performance by Seto and the guys as it would still be difficult to put and Escort up there.

[RS500]

look at the lotus in the GT's. Its the same story as the escort, the tight street circuit seems to suit the small capacity light weight cars

[alfacors]

Well sorted car + Gun driver = good results. Onya SBargs and Seto

[jd yort]

Originally Posted by STEVO

Err... correct me if I'm wrong... but 1600 RS Escort shouldn't be that high up ahead of other Chevs, Falcons ans Stangs correct?

You must never have seen Bob Pearson's Black BDA Escort run in Group N a few years back. It did not just beat the V8's, it humiliated them. One meeting at Oran Park I think he won the race off the back of the grid and it was only a short race too.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by jd yort

You must never have seen Bob Pearson's Black BDA Escort run in Group N a few years back. It did not just beat the V8's, it humiliated them. One meeting at Oran Park I think he won the race off the back of the grid and it was only a short race too.

Yes but should Escorts really cost $200k to build??

[STEVO]

Originally Posted by jd yort

You must never have seen Bob Pearson's Black BDA Escort run in Group N a few years back. It did not just beat the V8's, it humiliated them. One meeting at Oran Park I think he won the race off the back of the grid and it was only a short race too.

Cool! Well I'm definitely looking forward to this years racing!

Bob Pearson? Hmmm. Pro-Duct Holden was it?

[GTRMagic]

Mr Pearson also had a collection of Group N Cortinas.. one was ex-Alan Mann from memory... they were rocketships considering their competition.. so the Escort was the next logical step..

There were a couple of ProDuct Commodores in Group A... a few bingles too.. plus the Rx7's and Lancers in production cars...

All cars immaculately presented, but not always perfectly reliable.. Dr Mechler made a mess of the Lancer at the 12 hr too

[Heidley]

The Stillwall Escort Seton is driving has a 2litre Cosworth BDG in it and a 5speed box, Makes an extremely quick package

[Senna05]

Cant wait to see some coverage of this!

R2 looks to have been a cracker - Is there REALLY any right to have Seto ONLY lapping 3 seconds a lap slower than Bowe?

Ballus looks to be overcooking it a little.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Yes but should Escorts really cost $200k to build??

Well,,,they ain't Group N anymore, so why not??

Biante Touring Car Masters (much modified Appendix J)

[cornermsport]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Well,,,they ain't Group N anymore, so why not??

Biante Touring Car Masters (much modified Appendix J)

I'm assuming GTR is talking about Bob's Black Nc spec escort and not the
Stillwell car, even though the equivilent would have been spent on that too!

Bob always had no expenses spared when running the group N cars. I was trying to stretch seasons on a set of tyres, while Bob was using a set per session! Even know to change sets mid qualifying session, group A Style, to get pole at the old truck rounds at OP

[RS500]

Originally Posted by Heidley

The Stillwall Escort Seton is driving has a 2litre Cosworth BDG in it and a 5speed box, Makes an extremely quick package

i'm pretty sure its the 1600 (lotus twin cam), having spent quite some time down in that section of the marques. I could be wrong but i will double check tomorrow

[Heidley]

Originally Posted by RS500

i'm pretty sure its the 1600 (lotus twin cam), having spent quite some time down in that section of the marques. I could be wrong but i will double check tomorrow

ts been mention in the comentry by Darren Knight, about have the BDG in it, Ive also looked at it, We used to have a BDG Engine thats what it is.

[BlueMax]

So why is it entered as a 1600cc?

[rdmdog]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Well,,,they ain't Group N anymore, so why not??

Biante Touring Car Masters (much modified Appendix J)

Unfortunately meaning the bigger cars now have better brakes, so smaller ones dont make up as much ground there as they used to.

Seems some people competing this weekend are unaware that as their car's are no longer "Historic" means they need to fit certain safety features (window nets....)

[Peter Nightingale]

Originally Posted by BlueMax

So why is it entered as a 1600cc?

Because that is all the rules allow under the Biante regs.. Do not forget they are no longer a Historic catergory...

[BlueMax]

Originally Posted by Peter Nightingale

Because that is all the rules allow under the Biante regs.. Do not forget they are no longer a Historic catergory...

So are they cheating? Running a 2 litre but entered as a 1600cc

[Peter Nightingale]

If it was a true BDG 2 LITRE powered car it would a lot quicker than it currently is or runs..............

[jd yort]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Mr Pearson also had a collection of Group N Cortinas.. one was ex-Alan Mann from memory... they were rocketships considering their competition.. so the Escort was the next logical step.

This was the Escort at OP.


Genuine S15 Type 28 Consul Cortina that he owned that was an Ex works car raced by Jackie Stewart at one point


This was the Alan Mann replica


There was a black one too at one stage. he probably still has all of them. The S15 is worth a bomb.

[cornermsport]

Originally Posted by jd yort

This was the Escort at OP.


Genuine S15 Type 28 Consul Cortina that he owned that was an Ex works car raced by Jackie Stewart at one point


This was the Alan Mann replica


There was a black one too at one stage. he probably still has all of them. The S15 is worth a bomb.

I think someone has a copy of one of the first "Fast Fours & Rotaries" magazine, the Cortina pics look mighty familiar!

The black car was the final Cortina installment, which was one of the lightest and quickest Lotus's built. Bob used to be able to throw the
thing on the front row against the Mustangs and the Tilley Valiants at the Truck rounds at O.P. This car was destroyed in a start line accident
at a truck round, either in '96 or '97 where Bob had to removed from the car and sent for medical attention. The Torana i was looking after at the time
then rolled three times coming out of suttons, so it was an exciting first lap!!!!!

I remember looking at both the car i was looking after, and bobs Cortina at the crash parc ferme area, thinking that these two will never race again!!

[Peter Nightingale]

Originally Posted by Peter Nightingale

If it was a true BDG 2 LITRE powered car it would a lot quicker than it currently is or runs..............

Also a proper 2l BDG engine has 295 + BHP @ 9500 RPM and the Escort is homologated at 740 KG which is very easy to achieve.