Australian Muscle Car Issue 82

The feedback our Sacred Sites section generates never ceases to amaze me. Dedicated to telling the stories of defunct racetracks of the muscle car era, Sacred Sites has really struck a chord since its introduction 10 issues ago. The hallowed ground revisited this edition, Caversham, was the epicentre of Perth’s racing scene in the 1950s and ’60s. Hope you enjoy the history lesson from page 112. Skipping across the continent – and 47 years forward – it’s incredible Sydney Motorsport Park turns 25 this year. It’s a milestone that will be celebrated at the 11th Australian Muscle Car Masters on Father’s Day with a 25-minute Heritage Touring Cars race. Fittingly, as Fred Gibson explains in his column, the pole-sitting car from 1990’s Nissan Sydney 500 is entered for September 6’s…

The Masters Tourist Trophy Touring Car Masters returns to the race program for 2015, with the big field of Aussie and Yankee muscle boasting some stellar names. TCM’s touring car maestros include John Bowe, Jim Richards, Andrew Miedecke, Glenn Seton, Greg Crick and, hopefully, Steven Johnson. The tin-top heroes will perform live on stage – that stage being Sydney Motorsport Park’s 3.9km Grand Prix Circuit. This traditional layout will host all races across the six categories. This is the only 2015 TCM round in Sydney. Birthday bash 2015 sees Sydney Motorsport Park celebrate its 25th birthday. So a 25-minute race for Group A/C Heritage Touring Cars will act as a nod to the first major race at the Eastern Creek venue, the 1990 Nissan Sydney 500. Owners of the 36…

The Premier Suite offers the opportunity for individuals and small groups to gather at reserved tables. Entertain business associates, round up a group of friends or take your dad somewhere he really wants to go this Father’s Day. Reserved tables and seating are identified with your name, company name or host’s name. Use the air-conditioned Premier Suite and balcony as your day long race base. Serviced rest rooms are nearby. Benefits include: Reserved dining, with tables in your name, your host or your business. Private balcony overlooking Brabham Straight and Pit Lane. Non-transferable Premier Suite wristbands. Morning Tea, Buffet lunch and Afternoon Tea. Brewed tea and coffee all day. Cash bar (hosts may arrange a tab for guests). Entry to track/competitor paddock/grandstand. In-suite live TV coverage In-suite computerised TV lap…

Where: Sydney Motorsport Park Enter via Gate A. (Competitors entrance) When: Saturday night 5 September 2015, 7.00pm - 10.30pm Dress: Smart/casual Cost: $145 per person. Includes canapés and drinks on arrival followed by a three-course dinner with fine wine, beer, soft drink and coffee. RSVP: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 Limited seats available. Hosted by the V8 Sleuth Aaron Noonan…

The release of a special edition turbo model next year will put the exclamation mark on 50 years of fast, locally produced Falcons. A bungle in the final run-out of the Falcon XR8 has prompted an aggressive approach to the last XR6 turbo at Broadmeadows. Ford Australia severely under-called demand for the XR8 and, despite doubling production to 2800 cars through to the end of the line in late 2016, admits it has a sellout success that means some potential buyers are unlikely to get a car. It will not repeat the mistake with a super-hot XR6 that draws the best bits from the Ford Performance Vehicles’ parts bin, just as the last XR8 is a thinly disguised FPV GT at a bargain price. Ford sources confirm for the first…

Holden is battling to retain its homegrown supporter base as the reality of its manufacturing shutdown begins to hit home. The decision means that by 2018 there will be an Opel Insignia as the family-car contender but likely to be carrying a Commodore badge, with no homegrown V8 for the first time since 1968 and no car-based ute for the first time since 1951. Holden got the news from the respected research company, Roy Morgan, in June after a survey of more than 5000 customers. The result shows the number of people who plan to buy a Holden has dropped by half in just five years. Comparing the result, the number of Holden ‘intenders’ in 2010 was about 14 per cent of the total sales figure, but that had dropped…