Johnson 1980 Rock XD

[SWRT]

When I got a list of Dick Johnson collection models after joining DJR's mailing list I had a choice between 2 models.....
1981 Johnson Bathurst winner or 1980 Rock XD with scale model of the rock.
I choose to wait for the Rock model.
Admin,when do you think the Rock XD will arrive?

[admin]

Feb or March 2003.

[BSB]

Will this be "before or after" the rock. After the crash would make for a great model. I think it would be a more desirable car given the publicity the car received from the crash. All said and done....it didn't win Bathurst

[XR8]

Originally posted by BSB
"snip" All said and done....it didn't win Bathurst

Your point being??? Who cares if the XD didn't win Bathurst, I thought the reason would have been pretty obvious by now...
I think most people would rather the model of the car be of when it was in one piece.. Maybe they'll do both versions, who knows!!

Ed :)

[Nick Short]

You're going to have to forgive my Pommy ignorance, but what is this rock that everyone's talking about?

[VRSS]

Nick,

The "rock" incident will go down in Bathurst history.

Dickie was leading, if I remember correctly, when he came round a left hander and hit a rock that had dislodged and rolled onto the track from an embankment. Although not a boulder, it was large enough and the ensuing damage to his front-end put him out of the race.

There was talk that an official had dislodged it when he was up near the barrier. Some even claim he did it on purpose.

Dickie was portraid in the media as the little Aussie battler who was doing his racing on a shoe-string budget. After that, he could do no wrong as far as many could see. If I remember correctly, he was teary when interviewed on TV after the incident.

The "tree" incident was a horrendous sight to see when he went off the track at full pelt into a stand of trees. How he survived that crash I'll never know.

[bev]

For Nick or anyone who needs to dial into the history of Bathurst, you can purchase the 6 sets of video tapes or DVDs through Pitstop Bookshop here in Perth. These tapes show highlights from the races from 1960 when they were at Phillip Island right through to 2001.

These will show the cars that raced and many of the top drivers.
There is footage of the 'rock' incident and also you can see how the track has changed from a 'track up and down the mountain' to its current status.

Pitstop have a website where you can order on-line and they will also ship worldwide. Please go to www.pitstop.net.au

[mustang1966]

Yes there are many stories concerning the Rock incident. Some people claim it was a fan who tossed it out on the track.

V8SS, I have the joining of the tree/XE on video and I still wonder how he walked away from that mess. Horrendous is the word.

[drof]

After the incident of the XE vs the Tree, Dick got a lift back to the pits from Brocky, and later Dick said that he could'nt remember getting a lift back from Brocky, as there is no way in his right mind that he would of accepted a lift from Brocky. All in good humor!!

Dave form Kiwiland!!

[oldxr]

The "rock incident" happened on lap 17 of the race, and Johnson had just put brock a LAP DOWN, brock went on to win the race, more *ss than class that year i'd have to say.:D

DJR or nothing

[ZORAK]

If Biante produce the post rock car it will not be the first of its kind, several years ago Action produced a Earnhardt 1997 "Crash Car" that has always been a big hit.

Sample of the car here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1853761717

I say their is a market for the post crash car!

[BSB]

XR8

What I was hinting at, I think such a famous car (incident) would be better served with a model of the "post rock car", rather than a pristine Blue XD Falcon. Whilst I wont complain or buy one if Biante make the "pre rock XD" I would be one of the first to place an order for the "post rock XD".

Cheers

[ET351]

Whilst on the debate over pre or post 'rock', I recalled an article in AMC #2. FM made a diorama of the famous Bill Brown XY crash in 1971. It's in 1:43, features both pre-crash and post-crash cars.

From the pics, the detail looks quite good: clear, easy to read decals, authentic scrubbed tyres, right down to the missing door skin. Also has COA signed by Bill Brown. Significantly, only 25 were made at the premium price of $490ea.

I have a hypothethical to you all: how hard would it be to produce (down to the very last dent, scratch and scrape, 'cause we're a picky lot ;) ) the DJ crash cars in 1:18? Remember Biante would have to design totally new moulds etc for the XD and XE. To do this and then mass produce them to their usual exacting high standards is a big ask (although we can all dream!)

Either way, I'm still hanging for the 'Rock' and 'Forest' cars!

Cheers, ET351

[Nick Short]

I'm going to have to watch my '75-'85 video again, because I don't recall either the "rock" incident or the "tree" incident at all. Perhaps they edited it strangely for Pommy viewing.......Thanks for the info though, guys!

[Nick Short]

OK, I've rewatched my Bathurst '75-85 video (which is where I have to get most of my knowledge of earlier Bathurst races) and of the "rock" incident there is only a shot of Johnson's car stopped on the track and the commentators speculate that he must have been baulked by a rescue truck that was travelling along that part of the track. And of the "trees" incident there is no mention at all. DJ is there racing in the pack at the start and then later he isn't there any more, with no comment from the commentators! For a highlights video it seems a bit remiss to forget to mention something that important. I said in an earlier thread that on my '86-92 video in the same series Mike Burgmann and Denny Hulme have what turn out to be fatal accidents and there's precisely zero mention of that by any of the commentators, even at the end. Maybe it's just the Pommy edit - although I thought they were the same videos as you guys had in Oz.

[ZORAK]

The tree incident was prior to the race in the pole shootout. I can remember on the grid the next morning and the reporter leans his hand on the car and lifts it off and it is all green!

Clips can be seen here:

Rock:
http://www.djr.com.au/photos/body_right_l3_vids_4. asp#

Tree:
http://www.djr.com.au/photos/body_right_l3_vids_5. asp#

Oh and it wasn't the "Infamous 19260 Accident At Bathurst" as quoted on the site, not sure what that is about!

You owe me big time Nick!

hehehehe

[terrine]

thanks for those links....
i also see under dicks photos/cars/crashes

www.shellhelixracing.com/tl_photos.html

some good (for want of a better word) after shots
note the skinny's advertising on the rear quarter panel...
......brings back memories ....those sheep skin seat covers

peter

[ZORAK]

I would by a model of the post rock or tree cars. I mean in all honesty most of us don't wheel our cars around and play with them, they are collector items that help us to remember things that we have either lived through and saw or wish we had - and they are great conversation pieces and way cool!

[ET351]

Nick,

The XE accident at Forrest's Elbow happened during the 'Hardie's Heroes' top 10 shootout for final grid placings, on the Saturday morning. I don't think you'll find that on any video package, but I could be wrong.

Cheers, ET351

PS Sorry guys, maybe I should read 'page 2' of the thread before I go answering!!

ET

[biante2224]

For further footage & info on the damage to the 1980 XD and the 1983 XE, try & pickup the video titled Dick Johnson - True Blue.

It is usually available in video sections (sport) in major department stores such as Big W, K-Mart, Target etc.

It goes for approx 90 minutes and shows footage of dick hitting the rock and his rather emotional interview afterwards which resulted in the financial pledging by fans.

It also shows the prang of the XE at the '83 Bathurst in the Hardies Heroes, and the acquisitin of another teams car and rebuilding overnight to make the grid on sunday morning.

Hope this helps.

[bayden]

The rock incident with the XD almost broke Dick and reduced him to tears when he realised that this may be the end of a dream. Only the Australian racing public had a different idea and phone calls pledging money to help prop up this upcoming Aussie legend poured in. I seem to remember that Ford also pledged to match any money, dollar for dollar. When the news was broken to Dick he was once again reduced to tears, because he couldn't believe the response. I'm sure nobody knew what would arise from that historic incident, including Dick himself.
The Forest Elbow incident happened as already reported. It was in Dicks flying lap in the top ten shoot out. On the exit to Forest Elbow Dick clipped the tyre barrier that was placed up against the concrete barrier with his right hand front wheel. This wrenched the steering wheel out of his hands and flung him straight into the trees. You'll notice that this tyre barrier was removed for the race, it was actually removed immediately (such is the value of hindsight). When the video footage was replayed in slow motion it is an absolute miracle that Johnson got out alive, let alone unhurt. A rival competitor (I can't remember who) donated his car to Johnson and subsequently gave up his drive. An all night attempt saw the donated car on the track to start the race, but repainted in the original green livery. Hope this helps explain a little further.:D

[ET351]

Biante2224: Thanks for the tip. I'll try and find that video.

bayden: spot on, except the replacement car for the XE wasn't donated, sponsor Ross Palmer actually bought a car that was going to race in Channel 9 livery, and they salvaged what they could and ran that car (unsuccessfully) next day.

Cheers, ET351

[Nick Short]

Just watched the video, and it cuts out just as DJ goes off, but I can see it would be a very heavy accident! And the guy starts the race anyway, rather than do what normal people would do and stay at home...

[Nick Short]

I think the photo of the Greens Tuf XE after going through the trees gives a better impression than the video - I can't believe that was survivable! And he must have been fairly uninjured to be allowed to race! The "rock" incident isn't too clear on the video clip either, but I can see why people suspected a marshal of putting the rock on the track, as someone is seen running away from the crash site as it happens...I can see I need more than just the highlights videos. Does anyone know where (for a start) I can get original footage of the 1978 race...Particularly the footage of Moffat qualifying the heavy XC and being unable to speak afterwards!

[oldxr]

Hey Nick, when you watch the video footage of the hot lap of Dick's "tree" car turn the volume up real load and hear what a REAL racecar sounds like. Group C rules.:D :D

[mustang1966]

ET351,

That car which Palmer brought, was it the car that a channel 7 camera man lent on and left and arm print in the still wet paint?

If that was the car then that very car is up your way at Springwood. A guy who works for Sinclair Ford owns it as well as several other Dick Johnson road cars inc an Turbo 6 XE and a XF Falcon.


.

[oneeighteen]

Bayden and ET351

Whilst my memory is a little fuzzy, I recall something about a three way swap, DJ needed a Falcon and one was purchased, these funds were then used purchase a Commodore and was then itself resprayed in the channel 9 livery for the race.

I can recall the Channel 7 commentator with the green paint on his jacket sleeve after talking to DJ on the grid. What happened to the other car, I don't know if it made it to the line in time.

The bathurst year book has a number of pages dedicted to the incident including the DJ's car on the flat-top and a sequence of photo's taken of the rebuild at various times during the night. If you can get a hold of the book, its well worth the read and brings back those memories.

[ET351]

mustang1966:
I'm not surprised some one at Sinclair has it; Ross Sinclair himself was associated with racing Fords back in the XW/XY days. Can't say I've seen or heard of it at Springwood, but nice to know someone still has it. I hate it when old race cars are thrashed, crashed or dismantled:mad:

oneeighteen:
No doubt it was the 'wet paint' car. Not sure about all the 'swapsies' you mentioned. I just remember the story from a Chevron book on DJ ("Dick Johnson: the real story of a folk hero"). Sidenote: I actually got Dick to autograph the book for me. Very nice bloke.

Cheers, ET351

[BSB]

From memory the car Dick raced was the Andrew Harris car. Harris offered the car to Dick for nothing. Because of the sponsorship from channel 9, they (harris) had to come up with a car to run. Dick Smith bought the Commodore for Harris to race in, sponsored by Channel 9.

[oneeighteen]

ET 351

Had a look through my Bathurst '83/'84 book and you are correct. The Harris/Cooke car became DJ's overnight and the Lawrence/Russell car (VH C'dore) #28 was resprayed in the Channel 9, Bendigo Livery.

The respray on the Commodore was completed at around 2.30 a.m. The car went on to complete 151 laps by the end of the race, finishing in a creditable 10th position on the day.

The book also has a photo supposedly taken at 10.42 a.m. of DJ after the accident (holding his neck) and talking to Brock who had stopped in the HDT #05.

The more you dig about this story, the more you have to admire the efforts of all involved in putting the whole thing together, Holden and Ford drivers, support teams, TAFE and the fans alike. I suppose that's what makes this race the great event that it is.

[Forbesy]

If I also recall correctly, Dick was offered a drive of a Commodore (can't remember which one) but turned it down because of his loyalty to Ford. How long did he last in the race, and what problem put him out?

A few years ago I was lucky to have dinner with Dick, very nice bloke. About a week after that he sent me a signed copy of his Chevron book. A true legend, even though I'm a Holden man I'll always have the utmost respect for this bloke. It's disappointing to see his team struggling so much, hopefully they'll be back up there soon.

[2Monaros]

Another interesting anecdote to the Johnson Forrest Elbow incident.

Apparently the channel 7 race cam operator was watching the pictures from Dick's car as he went into the trees but no one else got to see it because he forgot to press the Record button. Doh!!!

Glenn D

[ferrari fan]

on page 298 of 83/84 yearbook is a pic of the crashed car.
on page 46/53 of 84/85 Yearbook is an indebt article on the DJR Ford called
#The Last Dinosaur Dick Johnson's Ford Falcon XE# with lots of foto's and an indebt article."These yearbooks are a treasure trove!!!!
In one of these books there is also an article about the cars that came second till tenth and you will find that the car that came tenth was the old blue DJR ford, now driven by the son of Mr.Harris the same that currently races in the Konica series and at that time was the youngest participant to take part on the mountain race.
As a Footnote Craig bought from Perth the original Cat car ( EF)? that was driven on only a few occasions, and was a item in the windup of the centurion collapse who'se leasee was the driving force behind the Caterpillar raceteam formation, this car was built in a BP service garage after hours? here on Wanneroo road :)