by seaqnmac27 » Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:23 am
Steve Holmes wrote:This photo is from 1982. Its easily recognisable as suddenly the field is swamped with the new GM-NZ SS Commodore's, which were specifically designed for this series. Only 30 cars were built (29 painted white with red and blue stripes, plus 1 black one with gold stripes). Robin Curtis was largely responsible for the very existence of these cars, as he was heading up GM-NZ's competition department at the time, and he had Peter Brock and Phil Brock help in both development and parts. At the time, these were the fastest Holden Commodore's you could buy, regardless of which side of the Tasman you were on, because they weren't fitted with the anti-smog equipment of th Aussie cars.
The SS Commodore's completely dominated the series, headed usually by the two GM Dealer Team cars of Peter Brock/David Oxton, and Peter Janson/Denny Hulme. Thats the Janson/Hulme car just ducking into the dog-leg.
In this first season most of the Commodore's retained their factory colours, though many were repainted the following season. Some continued on racing, others ended up back on the road. Car dealers at the time did their best to hide any racing history, as that immediately detracted from their value. These days, of course, the opposite is true!
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Brock Oxton, Wilkinson Chrichton, Rod McCallum Wayne Jones, Janson Hulme, Morton Lowe would probably be the 5 Commodoreas and Bruce and Wayne Anderon in the Fairmont. The fastest Fairmont was Gary Sprague and Leo Leonard, but they refused to take part in the one lap dash for qualifying so started 10th.
Interestingly it was a fastest 14 in that one lap 'Hardies Heroes' style dash.
From the other pic, it would definitely be 83 as this race held 14/11/82 still had Cortinas, plus, now I will stand to be corrected here, but the 626 wasn't introduced, like the Telstar till early 83. Essentially the same cars of course.
[quote="Steve Holmes"]This photo is from 1982. Its easily recognisable as suddenly the field is swamped with the new GM-NZ SS Commodore's, which were specifically designed for this series. Only 30 cars were built (29 painted white with red and blue stripes, plus 1 black one with gold stripes). Robin Curtis was largely responsible for the very existence of these cars, as he was heading up GM-NZ's competition department at the time, and he had Peter Brock and Phil Brock help in both development and parts. At the time, these were the fastest Holden Commodore's you could buy, regardless of which side of the Tasman you were on, because they weren't fitted with the anti-smog equipment of th Aussie cars.
The SS Commodore's completely dominated the series, headed usually by the two GM Dealer Team cars of Peter Brock/David Oxton, and Peter Janson/Denny Hulme. Thats the Janson/Hulme car just ducking into the dog-leg.
In this first season most of the Commodore's retained their factory colours, though many were repainted the following season. Some continued on racing, others ended up back on the road. Car dealers at the time did their best to hide any racing history, as that immediately detracted from their value. These days, of course, the opposite is true!
[ATTACH]23542[/ATTACH][/quote]
Brock Oxton, Wilkinson Chrichton, Rod McCallum Wayne Jones, Janson Hulme, Morton Lowe would probably be the 5 Commodoreas and Bruce and Wayne Anderon in the Fairmont. The fastest Fairmont was Gary Sprague and Leo Leonard, but they refused to take part in the one lap dash for qualifying so started 10th.
Interestingly it was a fastest 14 in that one lap 'Hardies Heroes' style dash.
From the other pic, it would definitely be 83 as this race held 14/11/82 still had Cortinas, plus, now I will stand to be corrected here, but the 626 wasn't introduced, like the Telstar till early 83. Essentially the same cars of course.