Nostalgia thread

[BrianP]

Just thought I would start a nostalgia thread for us old blokes who remember when racers were real racers and not computer nerds.

I can remember going to my first race meeting at Warwick Farm near Sydney about 1963 and seeing a 2 door falcon with 6 Amal carbies sliding onto the straigt in practice, from then on I was hooked.

I remember at the "Farm" again when Ian Geoghan broke down in his 1.5 litre Lotus open wheeler and as he stood beside the car the famous Creek Corner Bugler blew the Last Post, Ian stood with his head bowed, helmet under arm and hand on heart, the crowd loved it.

Who could forget the first time Pete Geoghan brought the Mustang out, straight off the boat and Johnny Harvey gave him hell in his Austin Cooper S, great race for 10 laps with Pete only winning by a few yards, different story next meeting however.

I could go on but I am keen to hear from other people who were around before you were allowed to put sponsor decals on the cars.

[lukey73]

I can recall going to Sandown in 1978 and seeing a heap of Torana's plus a few Falcons run around in the Hangten 400.

Plus going to Keilor Raceway ( Calder Park ) before they extended it to see various cars running around, i still remember seeing Tony Edmonson's Alfetta running at the front of the pack.

[AmonFan]

I can recall going to Sandown in 1978 and seeing a heap of Torana's plus a few Falcons run around in the Hangten 400.

Plus going to Keilor Raceway ( Calder Park ) before they extended it to see various cars running around, i still remember seeing Tony Edmonson's Alfetta running at the front of the pack.

So u were at Sandown when me and Wayno were there ;)

[CowboyMatt]

Earliest memories - not as early as some but they're what I remember:

Amaroo Park 1974 - Colin Bond raced the XU-1 and L34 on the same day.

Amaroo Park, Easter Meeting 1976 - Grice punted Bond sideways going over the hill. Bond's car was totalled.

Oran Park 1976 - still have the program.

Bathurst practice days '76-'78. How the track has changed.

[BrianP]

I used to work for Castrol and was at the Hang Ten in 1978, Brock power sliding under the Dunlop bridge, fantastic.

I was also at Symmons Plains one day when Grice got "unloaded" on the back straight by Moffat, he sat there and waited till Moffat came around again and "accidently" bumped him back.

I think the same day Greg Hansford and possibly ToM Phiilis, not sure now, raced the Kawasaki 750cc "Green Meanies" and swapped position lap after lap, sometimes 2 or 3 times a lap, marvellous racing.

[wayno]

My first meeting was Brock in the 4 door at the non-championship Sandown meeting in 1978. Why I still have such a soft spot for this car and would love to see one in 1:18.
Was lucky enough to see Fangio in the W-196, F-5000 and Sports Sedan when they were prime categories.
Getting old, as a rule, sucks - but it has it's advantages as well. :)

[whitlam]

Getting old, as a rule, sucks - but it has it's advantages as well. :)

In how ever many years time I'll be able to get all nostalgic about being at Lee Holdsworth's first round in at Oran Park

[malscar]

Ahhh Memories, Evan Green in the Alfetta GTV sideways over a water crossing, Or Dunko playing in the Nissan Ute, Carr in many guises, Bondy in the Green XU1, (can't tell my first love:wacko:)

grabs another beer to kill off a few more memory cells.http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/image s/smilies/beer.gif

[Dragferret]

In the '60s I was too young to get to the Farm but living in the eastern suburbs of Sydney spent most summer Saturday nights at the Showground. It was the golden era of speedway. And on the nights I didn't go I was close enough to hear the roar from home.

And for those who attend Summernats I attended one of the first Street Machine Nationals in the US. Pro Street was yet to take off and the heavy hitters were jacked up high with a straight front axle, ladder bar rear, velour interior, metal flake paint and slicks as really wide street tyres hadn't been invented yet. 30 years later I still get a kick out of watching the movie I shot.

[wayno]

I can also remember seeing USA v Australia Grand Nationals at Liverpool Speedway in Sydney and Ole Olsen racing Phil Crump at Brookland in Melbourne when I was a kid.
First drag racing memory was Al Hoffman in a USA v Australia Funny Car meet at Calder and for NASCAR it was going out to the Thunderdome to watch Richard Petty do the initial tyre testing out there.
Saw Cowin run the first Top Fuel '4', first Top Alcohol '5' for Funny Car and Dragster, first 200mph 'Doorslammer' pass and too many more to mention.
Also being at the showgrounds for the finish of the 1979 Repco.
I've been very lucky with what I've managed to see over the course of my life. :cool:

[inter]

Hi all
i am 42 years old and i have been a motor sport fan since probably 1974 ( my idle was Niky Lauda) and my dad took my to the italian gp at monza.
We has a group of forum readers/ writers, i am sure have been to many races and all have great memories. These memories will be coming from a different perspective due to driver / car allegiance ,position on track or just the mood at the time in your life. I have hundreds and i think it would be great if we all write and share our memory. These are perspectives that a journalist covering a race could never write.
i Migrated to Australia in 1977 in september and the first race i ever saw in oz tv was bathurst 1,2 ford finish.( not a bad start for a ford supporter). My story stars at the 1981 bathust race ( my first bathurst);
I was frustraded at the bias that holden and Peter Brock received in the late seventees. His dominance of the australian scene was great and i personally belive that will never be matched. Fords stock of drivers was dwindling away Moffat was nor getting the support, Bond was virtually a part timer. Johnson,Carter and willmigton were privateers. 1978,1979 were Holden white wash.
I was coppin heaps at school. In 1980 Dick improved , he became a contender. Nearly won ( those damm rocks:D ).
Come 1981 my dad decides to go to bathurst , my first bathurst.
I only saw Oran park races ( tcr and the 300Km) and amaroo park ( tcr and amscar). I was really exiced.
We arrived at bathurst on sunday morning and it was day break. I was freezing but i did not feel the cold. My idle was Bond but he was driving a Capri so i knew he could not win. There were 4 gun cars with maybe Harvey and moffat with an out side chance.
Dick 17 Falcon
Bartlett 9 Camaro
Brock 05 holden
Morris 7 Falcon
It was just before 10 am and the cars start their engines. I was positioned just before the over head bridge on pitt straight at hell corner.
The start was woderful, The first 4 laps were like a sprint for the four main cars mentioned above. I remember Brock car slowing just before the corner and the spectators silence as he drove past the pit entrance at speeds that would suit city driving ( i was happy ). Just being 15 years old and seeing holdens main gun with mechanical problems was great.
Johnson and Bartlett were havin a good dice with Morris just holding back. With my naive mind i felt that the camaro could handle the heat an dwould eventually drop off. About one hour into the race Bartlett came in the pits and i thought this is in the bag. I must admit i started counting down the laps from there on.
All i kept doing is watching the cars go around and looking at the lap board ( manual in those day ) make mistake after mistake.
Cars that impressed me was the williamson celica (late braking at con ron) Moffat rx7 and the mcloud rx7 ( the loudest car i have ever heard). Other thing i remember is how loose the cars became on the third hump on con rod. The race wore on it became a two horse race regardin speed. If no# 17 did not faulter it woud win.
I remember the 17 car showing a puff of smoke buring the braking period at the end of the straight, i was really worried.( this happened for about10 odd laps) Then on lap 121 the crash came. The p.a. system was either not there or not working. The noise dissapeared and the traffic stopped. we were sitting at Hell corner with a silent track and no cars coming past. We saw smoke on the hill and gathered there was trouble.
After about 10 minutes ( it seemed like a life time )some cars came around, we saw no#17 but no No#7. It was all silent, I did not know exactly what happened. At that stage we were positioned opposite the DJR pit stop. They had blue overall and red gloves and we saw half a dozen pairs of gloves fly in the air and thats when i realise that dj won the race.
I know this thread is long, but look forward to reading some experiences from all concerned.
inter :)

[Richard Poole]

Not sure if it was the same trip Wayno, but the USA team came to Latrobe Speedway in Tassie. The only name I remember is Big Ed Wilbur. My Dad ran the speedway at the time and I remember meeting the whole team when they were in town. Can't remember a lot as I was about 5 or 6 at the time but they were very nice guys.

I don't really have many single standout racing memories but I always enjoyed going along to the races with my Dad. If it wasn't speedway it was touring cars or motorbikes. I was pretty stoked to repay the favour and take him along to the first Muscle Car Masters at Eastern Creek. A small payback for all the years he looked after me. Plan on doing it again next year.

[AmonFan]

I remember Big Ed Wilbur at the Melbourne Speedbowl, circa approx 1981.... maybe 82....
I still vividly remember the 78 AGP and a big cloud of dust past Rothmans rise where Garrie Cooper went off in a big way.....

Another stand out and a bit odd is a demo by Bruce?? Watt in a LPG powered ex Murray Carter XC and Ray Allford in a petrol XC at the 79 Sandown 400....

[wayno]

I remember the Cooper accident and then was around at Dunlop bridge when Hamilton went in. I can see what I'm pretty sure is me and my brother pressed up against the fence in the footage.

[lukey73]

So u were at Sandown when me and Wayno were there ;)


Yea but i am a fair bit younger than you 2 oldies :D

[waldo]

Remember Alan Jones crashing his PJ Falcon on the warm up lap at Phillip Island, all three races were red flagged due to weather.:confused:

[jager]

If you're into Australian racing nostalgia, there is already a thread on the Atlas F1 Nostagia Forum (TNF) about Australian Motor Racing Memories of the 1950's to 1970's.

http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php?threadi d=93148

There are heaps of old photo's, even of long forgotten tracks like Caversham.

Here's just a little taste of some of the gems on TNF. Bathurst paddock circa 1969 :

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5205/04apitsqw3 .jpg

[TAG05]

I remember being a kid on holidays with the family on the Gold Coast, and driving past what was then Surfers Paradise International Raceway.
Dad stopped the car along side the road going past the track at the end of the main straight, and we watched for a little while...
I remember seeing Allan Moffat come backwards under the bridge in the Mazda RX-7 and into an earth bank and tree.
Can't remember the year exactly.... 1983 or 84 I think:o

[AmonFan]

Ok, big Pete, Dave McKay, with the grey hair, middle guy looks like Alan Hamilton, lol but im wrong id reckon....

[Leigh]

Also being at the showgrounds for the finish of the 1979 Repco.


I was there as well...the old man hoisted me up so I could see the map on the roof of Brockies Commode;)

[Poita]

I remember going to my first speedway event as a five year old in 1969 at the old Toowoomba Show grounds. One of the cars slammed though the gates that lead them out onto the track and killed a young kid and seriously injuring the father. My parents never took me again, I had to wait until I was old enough to take myself.

[Buffalo]

I was there as well...the old man hoisted me up so I could see the map on the roof of Brockies Commode;)

Leigh and Wayno - Don;t know if you have it or have seen it but there is a great DVD out on the 79 Repco with some good footage of the crowd at the showgrounds ... I can;t remember exactly what the DVD is called but I'll check at home tonight - there may be some footage of you guys as little tackers !!:D

[AmonFan]

I went to the Repco finish, didnt go to the start though as it clashed with a Sports Sedan round at Calder from mem..... ;)

[whitlam]

Leigh and Wayno - Don;t know if you have it or have seen it but there is a great DVD out on the 79 Repco with some good footage of the crowd at the showgrounds ... I can;t remember exactly what the DVD is called but I'll check at home tonight - there may be some footage of you guys as little tackers !!:D

Its called "Holden - First Around Australia (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/229161)" ;)


and its a great watch

[Buffalo]

Thanks Whitlam - yep that's it - a really good DVD.

[whitlam]

Thanks Whitlam - yep that's it - a really good DVD.

Its just lucky it was sitting on the desk next to me

[Patterson]

Its called "Holden - First Around Australia (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/229161)" ;)


and its a great watch

Yes, I concur...

GO Brocky!

[BrianP]

One thing that will always stay in my mind was the sound of the David McKay LM250 Ferrari with Spencer Martin at the wheel, it was the first Ferrari I ever saw or heard and wanted one ever since, still do actually.
I was lucky enough to meet spencer acouple of years ago and what a great guy, happy to talk and reminisce at length.

Also remember one day at the Sandown 500 I think it was then, may have been the Hang Ten but Dick Johnson was driving that Green Mustang, I think he had pole for the race, again not sure but in those days the drivers were allowed to do "Burn Outs" before start and DJ did a beauty, only problem was he broke the axle and never got started, the Holden fans loved it.

[david5]

I rememeber watching Hang Ten 400 on tv when Dick did a burnout, but i thought it was in the XE and had something to do with mud in the pits.Also first race meeting I attended was Bathurst 83, stood outside DJR workshop allnight,tried to nick the key out of the bootlid from the crashed car as they had all the removeable panels between the shed and the transporter,but it was wired to the inside of the boot!. Serves me right for being
a thief.
Went back 84 and was in the main grandstand right next to a certain J.Goss,s XJS, saw Masterton push Moff up the wall,looked back to see a Camaro get a new hood ornament & hear Williamson going right off about his Celica. I think from memory Skaifey was going to co drive that day for Willo.
Also many meetings in the group A era at Amaroo,Oran Park,
Winton & Sandown, pitcrew for ex Yellowpages VL Commodore
& Murray Carter at Sandown & Bathurst in 1990.Hardwork & you
dont see much of the racing.

Cheers David

[AmonFan]

Good stuff David, so you crewed for Matt Wacker.... there are probably pics of you here mate.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7529046@N04/484579727/

[david5]

No fotos of me,but of my army mates Peter & Cammo,he was mad rotary guy, thats how we got in crew,I did Winton with Commodore,Sandown & Bathurst with Sierra.
Stayed with Wackers for Sandown after Bathurst Matt sold up & never saw him again,years in fotos are wrong ,Commodore was 89,Sierra was 90
Thanks David

[malscar]

Just came across this on another forum. Since this thread is about memories, have a look here to bring them back.http://www.aussieroadracing.homestead.com/Sta nley1.html

[BrianP]

What a great site Malscar, thanks for that, it has brought back some great memories, I was lucky enough to go to the last Longford meeting in 1968, Piers Courage won in the wet I remember but the most outstanding memory was for 2 things, Jack Brabham Stirling Moss, Jim Clark and Co stopped at the rail crossing for the "Tasman limited" to go by! The then Premier of Tasmania Eric Reece had a fit.

Last race was a sports car event, Chris Amon could not start the Ferrari P3 on the line due a flat battery so all the rest of the field had gone by the time he got a new battery and under way, the sound of the Ferrari at full noise on its own was awesome, I watched from the "Pub" corner (where else) and you could hear it coming, Oh, he won the race also.

Great days,Graham Hill wore the famous "Spinning Disk" visor, not sure it it worked or not.

[CowboyMatt]

Another couple of Amaroo memories:

ATCC Round 4 1978 - Moffat led Grice up until the last corner. Crowd went wild seeing him lose right at the end. I can also remember the crowd giving Moffat a razz when the announcer read out the progress points at the end of the race. Up until that point Moffat hadn't finished a race and he picked up 9 for 2nd place but was last in the points of the top class at that point. The Holden fans rubbed it in!!!

Another weekend, not sure if it was 77 or 78. The touring cars had a three-race special format - 5, 10,lap heats and 15 lap final. Moffat and Bond, Morris, Jim Richards (in the Sidchrome Falcon) and Goss (Citizen Watches Falcon). Brock was a no-show and I can't remember Grice or Johnson.

Moffat won one heat and Morris the other. Bond was third in both. On lap 1 in the final, Morris won the start but spun going over Bitupave Hill. You couldn't see it and there was no commentary - and all of a sudden Bond comes flying around leading the pack and Morris and Moffat are nowhere to be seen.

The crowd goes wild when they finally emerge - both badly damaged and out of the race. On tv replays later what happened was Morris spun, Moffat went one side and Bond the other - unfortunately for Moffat he chose the wrong side and Morris spun into his path and cleaned them both out.

The whole crowd went wild when Bond went on to win. Seemed like he was a universal sentimental favourite that united Ford and Holden fans.

I can still hear the deep roar of Bond's falcon thundering up the main straight.

[BrianP]

I went to a couple of Castrol 6 hours at Amaroo but the best was seeing Mike "the Bike" Hailwood on a 750cc Ducatti (Ithink, may be wrong) up against the 1000 & 1100cc Jap bikes, his bike did not qualify but they let him start anyway because of who he was (I think it had mechanical trouble, not because it was to slow), he started off the back of the "Le Mans" start and by the end of his stint was up near the lead, can't remember how close but not far off the leaders, he handed over to his Italian co-rider who promptly fell off on the short straight opposite the pits, Hailwood ran over to see if he could get going again but no luck, I think the crowd would have lynched the co-rider if they could have got him, it was an amazing ride against the much more powerful bikes.
It was not long aftre that he was killed in car accident.

[Patterson]

That site is awesome!!