Holden Torana News

Millions of dollars worth of history's finest cars of all shapes and sizes will go for auction this weekend at the close of the Australian International Motor Show.All eyes will be on the 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III, which is expected to sell between $600,000 and $800,000 with the value of Aussie muscle cars going through the roof.This could set a record price paid at auction for a Phase III, the previous sitting at $683,650.“It's one of the nicest Phase IIIs we've ever had on offer,” Shannons national auctions manager Christophe Boribon says. It features racing legend Allan Moffat's signature on the glove box.While seems like a lot of money for a car, it's an old number plate that is expected to be the biggest seller of the event. Organisers believe the No.6 plate will attract $1 million-$1.5 million.A 1929 Hudson Super 6 'Model L' Dual-Cowl Phaeton has a range of $100,000 to $140,000.A classic 1972 LJ Torana XU-1 Sedan is expected to be sold for $85,000 to $100,000.For '50s style, try a pink 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville “Cool 57” Custom (LHD). Restored in 87 days, it's priced at $70,000 to $100,000.But it's not just the big cars going under the hammer. A 1929 Austin Seven Wasp Sports is up for grabs, expecting to attract $10,000 to $15,000.The auction starts at 2pm on Sunday at the Australian International Motor Show; dont miss out.How much do you think the Falcon GTHO Pase III will go for?  

A new GM car with its roots in the Holden Torana and a mechanical package developed from the VE Commodore, could be on the road by 2011. It will be rear-wheel-drive like the Commodore, but smaller and linked to the Torana TT36 concept seen at the 2004 Australian International Motor Show.The idea for a born-again Torana; probably to be called the Pontiac G6; was first floated by the former head of GM Holden, Peter Hanenberger, who believed it was the right car to give GM a prestige rival to the BMW 3 Series.Development of the car is now under way and General Motors vice-president of product development, Bob Lutz, confirms details first leaked through the powerful United Automobile Workers union in the US.Lutz, speaking during a visit to Melbourne to check on technical work at Fishermans Bend, says the compact will be in production within five years.The UAW has already revealed it will be built at a factory at Lordstown, Ohio and will be developed from the Global Alpha mechanical platform.Lutz says the Torana TT36 is a good pointer to the newcomer. “From a size and proportions standpoint that's what we're looking at,” he says.“That's about the size were looking at, but that wasn't completely worked out. That was a sort of truncated Commodore, the components in that.”Lutz says the new compact would work well with the Pontiac brand, which is already committed to a re-badged and re-styled Commodore which will be sold as the G8.“Pontiac wants to be a sporting rear-wheel-drive brand,” Lutz says.“So we have several brands that would be potential beneficiaries of a small rear-wheel-drive architecture and ... Holden is, obviously, one of the logical ones.”He says the car could give GM a crucial point of difference in a crowded marketplace. “Because everybody has highly competent front-wheel-drive sedans and they all look more or less the same,” Lutz says.“And the way to get a slightly different proportion and to do something different, because I'm a firm believer nowadays that if you want to grab market share you have to do something different. "“If you do the same thing that everybody else is doing and you just do it a little bit better you'll kind of hold your own. But I'm a firm believer that, hey, when everybody else is doing small front-wheel-driver cars, which are excellent cars; but let's do something different for Pontiac.”Even if the car is targeted at the 3 Series it will be cheaper.“Well, you'd definitely never price at that level,” Lutz says. “That's the whole premise ... a 3 Series-type car but priced at a more affordable level."“You'd basically have 3 Series ride, handling, steering, all of the dynamic qualities of a smallish rear-wheel-drive sedan; the lighter weight, the ability to use four-cylinder engines; and not have to carry around a big V6 or V8 lump of an engine up there."“And you'd have a very nimble, very agile, dynamically pleasing car reminiscent or great driving German rear-wheel-drive sedans but at a much lower price point.” 

Previous Bathurst 1000 Winners 1963 Harry Firth/Bob Jane Ford Cortina GT 1964 Bob Jane/George Reynolds Ford Cortina GT 1965 Bo Seton/Midge Bosworth Ford Cortina GT500 1966 Rauno Aaltonen/Bob Holden Morris Mini Cooper S 1967 Harry Firth/Fred Gibson Ford Falcon XRGT 1968 Bruce McPhee/Barry Mulholland Holden Monaro GTS

 Organisers of the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 are predicting the massive crowd generated last year by the death of Peter Brock will be overtaken tomorrow week.More than 193,000 spectators, a rise of almost 30,000 on 2005, turned up over four days at Mt Panorama in 2006 as the tide of emotion following nine-time winner Brock's untimely death a month earlier descended on Australia's most hallowed motor-racing venue.“We are on track for the biggest Bathurst 1000 ever,” V8 Supercars Australia chairman Tony Cochrane said.“Many people thought with the death of Peter Brock last year those crowds would never be repeated.“More than 80,000 advance Bathurst ticket sales had been made before the Sandown 500 last month.“We are further ahead with grandstand sales than we were last year.”Special celebrations have been organised for the 45th running of Bathurst that will include a parade of some former champions and their cars.The legendary Harry Firth and tyre king Bob Jane wrote the first chapter in the Bathurst story when they shared a Ford Cortina GT and won what was called the Armstrong 500 Mile race in 1963.Firth and Jane's Cortina will be one of several former winning machines which will be honoured in a special parade of champions before the 161-lap marathon next Sunday.The traditional race start of 10am will be pushed back to 10.30am to make way for extended pre-race hoopla.Series broadcaster Channel 7 will showcase each of the 31 cars in the race, showing them on individual laps immediately before they grid-up and informing viewers of their progress since rolling out for the opening practice sessions on Thursday.The Bathurst bangers will go off on presentation laps at about 40-second intervals which will add about 20 minutes to the pre-race hype.Channel 7 has committed an unprecedented 21 hours of live coverage over three days from next Friday to Sunday.Even if bad weather and safety cars conspire to slow the race, Seven has given an assurance that it will bump its 6pm news back if necessary to show the race in its entirety.The later start gives organisers some breathing space to help spectators filter into Mt Panorama and there is now time for two support races prior to the Bathurst 1000 starting.“The later start helps from a point of view of filtering traffic into the circuit precinct, easing the pressure on day-trippers from Sydney and has made way for two support events (Carrera Cup and Touring Car Masters),” V8 Supercars general manager of special events, Shane Howard, said.There are modifications to the movement and consumption of alcohol in response to a tightening of NSW liquor laws at major events this year.An insignificant number of punters have requested refunds in light of the changes.“Let's deal with the truth . . . we are approaching over 80,000-odd advance ticket sales,” Cochrane said.“We've had 20 — two-zero — requests for refunds.”Alcohol can still be brought into and consumed in the camping areas but it is prohibited to take alcohol into or out of the licensed areas, defined this year at the bottom of the circuit.The bottom of the mountain from the Chase through to Pit Straight and Harris Park and up Mountain Straight will be fully licensed.“We don't have any choice in that these are the terms and conditions of operating a major event in NSW,” Howard said.“What we can do is negotiate with our caterer to ensure that alcohol prices in the venue are as low as the caterers can operate to.”More than $750,000 is being spent on beefed-up police and security.There will be 160 police at the circuit, double that of last year and there will be tougher searches at the entry points for fireworks and other contraband.Great Race highlights1963 Legendary Harry Firth and Bob Jane claim the first Bathurst enduro, the Armstrong 500, in a Ford Cortina GT.1966 It was the year the mighty Morris Mini Cooper S conquered Mt Panorama with Rauno Aaltonen and Bob Holden sharing the wheel.1967 Firth claims his second Bathurst win with Fred Gibson in a Ford Falcon XR GT.1972 A youthful Peter Brock won the first of his nine victories at the mountain with a brilliant solo drive in a Holden Torana LJ XU1.1981 A star was born when Dick Johnson and his co-driver, Brisbane car dealer John French, steered a Ford Falcon XD to victory a year after the well-chronicled “rock” incident.1995 After suffering a puncture on the opening lap, Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall came from a lap down to win.2002 The decorated Jim Richards claims a seventh title as co-driver to Mark Skaife in the lead Holden Racing Team Commodore.2006 Peter Brock's understudy Craig Lowndes takes an emotional win with Jamie Whincup a month after the legendary racer was killed in a tarmac rally in Perth.

It is nearly a year since Peter Brock left us. Memories of him still burn and will burn even brighter thanks to a new book on the great man.Peter Brock is an innovative and original sports book, thanks to the creative approach of HyperActive Inc.The company collected personal pictures, press clippings and race pictures and has assembled them in a book covering Brock's life from start to finish.Added spice comes from personal introductions to each chapter by Brock's family, friends and racing rivals.It is a big book, bold and bright and straight to the point, much like the man himself.Turning the pages is like flicking through a family album, from school pictures to Brock's early racing days and his incredible Bathurst successes.There are some great memories from his brothers, Neil, Phil, Lewis and his race mates."The first time I met Peter Brock was during the 1971 Hattah Desert Rally," race rival Larry Perkins says. "He was broken down on the side of the road in a Torana as I flashed past in an EH wagon."“I stopped and towed him back to the finish at a hundred miles an hour. We arrived in a cloud of dust, much to the excitement of the event announcer who thought it was one of the closest finishes ever! Life with Brock was always interesting.”Fellow Holden driver Mark Skaife says: “Like Muhammad Ali, he matched ordinary technique with freakish skills, hand speed and reflexes — the bloke was an absolute superstar.”CARSguide is giving away six copies of Peter Brock. For a chance to win a copy, email the word 'Brocky' to carsguide@heraldsun.com.au with your name, address and a contact phone number. Winners will be notified by return email.If you miss out, buy one anyway. Peter Brock is $79.95 it's a wonderful tribute to a fallen hero. 

Racing legend Peter Brock drove many race cars in his long and successful career. And with his passing late last year, the value of his classics increased dramatically. So it's not surprising that what could be the most important car of his life, where he first began his racing passion, has been valued at a massive $400,000. Or is it surprising?It's not a vehicle from the muscle car family and there's no V8 power under the bonnet. The only race track it's been on was a self-made dirt course on the Brock family farm.It has no brakes and has been sitting in pieces for more than 50 years.But now, the 1929 Austin 7, the car where the racing legend learned to drive at the age of 12, is driveable once again.After six months of hard work, restorer Peter Denman has returned the car from Brock's childhood to its original form.As a friend of Brock's and with his wife as the director of the Peter Brock Foundation, Denman put his hand up for the job.He used four photographs that were taken at the time by Brock's older brother Neil, to help in the restoration process.The photographs of the engine, chassis and rear end allowed him to recreate the car as closely as possible.“The car was remarkably complete except for a few items,” he says.“The original engine was on it and the chassis was the original. It needed quite a bit of cutting rust out and so forth.”Denman says that despite its small size, there was considerable work involved, including a rebuild on the front and rear ends, the gearbox and repairing the engine.The engine was in a poor state and was split in half, so Denman had to call on the Austin 7 club to help weld it together so the original engine could remain in the car.Another obstacle Denman faced was the flooring. As the original had rotted away, he used wood Peter had collected to make his own furniture in recent years.Brock's younger brother, Lewis Brock, last weekend re-enacted the image of Brock racing around the family farm in his first car.He says the image of Peter and his dad working on the car is etched in his memory.“I won't forget it, all the boys were involved in varying degrees, but it was Peter's car. He did the work on it,” he says.Lewis fondly recalls Peter getting into trouble from their mother for cutting the body of the car with an axe. He says she was more concerned about the damage to the axe.Lewis believes he and Peter were the only two to have driven the car as youngsters and the one time he got behind the wheel, he ended up in a palm tree.“I was struggling to get my legs down to the pedals,” he says.Lewis says his brother had to fine-tune his skills of going down through the gears and putting it into a slide in order to stop.Brock drove the car until he was 16. Although many decades have passed, Lewis says the noise of the engine is still identical from their childhood.“It's fabulous,” he says. “When we started the engine, my uncle Sandy was there ... we looked at each other when the car fired up and said that's the same noise.”Both Lewis and Denman describe it as interesting to drive, Denman claiming it feels like a “rocket ship”. “It only weighs probably 200kg.“It's very, very low to the ground, it's something that you couldn't describe,” he says.Lewis is concerned over the lack of brakes and says he won't be driving it again until brakes are installed.The previous owner bought the car from Sandy Brock 45 years ago and had it sitting in the roof of his factory for most of that time. About 10 years ago he discovered it was Brock's first car.Lewis says Brock knew about the car, but didn't have any plans to reclaim it. But after Brock's death last year, the owner decided to sell it and it was purchased and donated to the Peter Brock Foundation by a supporter.“Peter would be rapt,” Lewis says. “He would think it was a hoot and he was probably sitting on the back axle watching me drive it. That's what it felt like.”If Brock's history was taken out of the picture, Denman says the car would be worth a lot less.“The car itself is probably worth $2000 if you wanted to buy one, for the chassis, the engine, that's what you'd pay,” he says. “It's the history of the car, the car is complete.”The Peter Brock Foundation will now display the car at different shows and racetracks around the country and it's likely to end up in a museum.“When Peter signed signatures he'd put on posters `follow your dreams',” Lewis says.“That's where it started for him, he turned it into something to hone his skills in.”And Lewis says Peter would want everyone to see it. While this might have been his first, there are many more cars where Brock mastered his driving skills. According to the fans and collectors, Brock would have raced more than 100 cars during his time on the track. The most valued and important of those would have been his victories at Bathurst.Queenslander Peter Champion has a collection of 32 Brock cars, both ones he raced and road registered models.He's collected the cars over the past 15 years and believes they would be worth between $6 million and $7 million.The collection includes a replica of the Austin A30 Brock raced in 1967, a project Brock's step-son James Brock completed for Champion. The first Bathurst car Brock raced, the 1969 Monaro is also in the collection, as well as the 1974 L34 Torana and the 1982, 1983 and 1984 Bathurst-winning Commodores.He also has the Ford Sierra and the 2002 Motorola-sponsored Commodore that he raced at Bathurst. And Champion this week said he and his team are currently rebuilding the car that claimed Brock's life.“I'm guessing they're worth from half a million to a million each, that's what people say. I don't get involved, they're not for sale.”As Brock's friend, navigator and competitor, Champion wants to share his collection from Brock's career with the public.“I'm building a museum which I have been doing for a number of years. Peter was involved in with me for quite a few years. A lot of the personal stuff, he gave to it,” Champion says.“The reason he was an icon was because he always had time for people, he always stood there and signed autographs, he stayed well after dark.”Champion says the museum should be opened in Queensland by the end of the year.Fellow Queenslander, David Bowden, has his own slice of Brock history. He owns the Bathurst-winning A9X Torana's from 1978 and 1979, as well as Brock's 1987 VL Commodore. He says that although the value of the cars has increased with Brock's passing, Bowden's not comfortable talking about what they're worth.“It's so hard, he was such a good mate to everyone, that I hate talking about things like that,” he says.The value is not important, Bowden says, as he wouldn't consider selling them at this stage. He says he's spent too much money building up his collection to sell them.“I don't expect to jump on for a quick profit,” says Bowden, who often sends his cars to Bathurst so the public can see them.“Brocky” did his last hot lap at Bathurst in the 1979 A9X Torana. Where are they now? Brock's classic cars 1967 Austin A30 original lost, replica owned by Peter Champion1969 Monaro (Bathurst third place) owned by Peter Champion1972 XU-1 Torana (Bathurst winner) owned by Glen Amos1973-74 XU-1 Torana sold last year for $500,000 to an anonymous Melbourne buyer1974 L34 Torana owned by Peter Champion1975 Torana (Bathurst winner) lost1978 A9X Torana (Bathurst winner) owned by David Bowden1979 A9X Torana (Bathurst winner) owned by David Bowden1979 Commodore (Round Australia trial winner) owned by Holden1980 Commodore (Bathurst winner) claimed to be owned by Rowan Harmon1982-83 VH Commodore (Bathurst winner) owned by Peter Champion1983 VH Commodore (Bathurst car) owned by Peter Champion1984 VK Commodores (Bathurst winner and third) owned by Peter Champion and the Bathurst Museum1986 Commodore Spa 24-Hour Race owned by Peter Champion1987 VL Commodore (Bathurst winner) owned by David Bowden1988 BMW (Bathurst car) unknown1989-1990 Ford Sierra owned by Peter Champion2003 Monaro 24-hour race winner owned by Rob Sherrard2006 Daytona Coupe owned by Peter Champion 

They include his six-lap winning margin at Bathurst in 1979, on the day he slam-dunked his superiority by setting the fastest lap of the race on his last lap.And his first Bathurst win, driving single-handed for 500 miles in a giant-killing Holden Torana XU1.And what about the two-hour queue of fans at Bathurst, waiting patiently for a word and an autograph the year of his first (second and third) retirement race?Many of the Brocky stories have passed into folklore. Such as fans getting his autograph on their body and then having a tattoo put over the top of his signature ...There are countless youngsters named Brock by parents who loved the man. Some of us were lucky enough to spend more time with Brocky, and Peter in private, and so the memories are even more special.Here are a few of mine:THRILL RIDESRiding with Brocky was always something to remember. He was brilliant at the Holden proving ground in a V8 Commodore rally car, holding the car in massive sideways drifts as he calmly chatted about a bunch of stuff I can't remember. My brain was overloaded and as frozen by his skill as a kangaroo in a set of headlights.He was totally relaxed as we headed out of the pits at Phillip Island in his Ford Sierra race car, even though my side of the ride was on a piece of foam without a seat belt or even a seat.He was incredibly focussed as he blitzed Sandown in the same Sierra, after asking what lap time Dick Johnson had done in an earlier passenger ride. Brock was so committed to beating the mark that he fired us on to the track before I had time to grab a helmet. And, yes, he went quicker. But only after we slip-streamed past Allan Moffat at the top of the back straight.The last time I took a track lap was at Bathurst in 2002. Mount Panorama was damp, we were on slicks, and Brock's black eyes were flashing like a pair of precious pearls. Then we ran off the road coming into The Chase. It was never a drama but Brocky was annoyed."Bugger," he joked. "As soon as I realised we were going on to the grass I knew you had your story."MONEYBrock never spoke about money. And often didn't have his wallet with him but he lit up when we published a story which said he was earning $1 million a year.I was called into the presence of Peter Perfect for a severe dressing down.Once he had calmed down, it emerged that he was really worried about the Tax Department reading the story and chasing him for more money.After all, he had been through a long, tough fight with the cash men in Canberra after the collapse of his Holden Dealer Team operation that was only resolved many years later.A few months later, Brocky was smiling again when I asked him about the $1 million man tag. "So, did we get it right?" I asked. "Actually, you were about $200,000 light," he said laughing.LUCKUntil last Friday, Brock had barely stubbed a toe during his race career. He walked away from some big hits and was only really injured twice, once while driving Bob Jane's Chevrolet Monza sports sedan in Adelaide and more recently when he raced a go-kart in a fun run in Darwin.But there was much more to his luck."Brock never made a mistake," says his friend and rally co-driver, journalist Wayne Webster. "He never took the wrong road, it was always my fault."He never crashed when we competed in the Australian Safari. I had told him the wrong thing."LIFE ADVICEYou could always rely on Brock for an inspiring note alongside his signature. Something along the lines of "Live your dream". But, privately, he could deliver amazing insights.There were many times when Brock was involved in a difficult story, from his troubles with the Tax Department to his Bathurst comebacks and even the split from Beverley.His attitude was simple, like the time I called to ask about that Bathurst comeback. "Please don't ask me today. I don't want to have to lie to you," Brock said.And when things got messy with his life partner? "You have to do what you have to do. I understand," he said.CO-DRIVERSOne-time Bathurst winner Tomas Mezera shared a Commodore with Peter Perfect at Mount Panorama and learned all about the legend."Brock ruined my career," Mezera jokes. "He came in at Bathurst and gave me the car and it was like a pachinko parlour in Japan. All the lights were on and flashing. It was stuffed."But Brock told everyone on TV that 'Tomas broke the car' and they believed him. The bugger. But no one thought that Peter Brock could do anything wrong."THE POLARIZERA tiny device cost Brock his Holden Dealer Team business and drove a wedge into his relationship with Holden.It was called the Energy Polarizer and was developed in partnership with his friend Ric Dowker to align the energy fields in a car. The theory was that it would make any car drive better.I sampled a car in 1986 and agreed. I even wrote in a story that I thought the Polarizer worked.Most people though it was bunk and Brock was driven into the wilderness, while Dowker was branded as "Doctor Feelgood" and the man who brought Brock down.But Brock bounced back, he and Dowker remained best friends, and he privately stayed committed to the Polarizer."How do we prove it works? They haven't invented the machine yet to prove it works," Brock said, just last year.SAFETY Brock knew that motor racing was dangerous. He also believed he could not be hurt in a car, and had no real fear of death.Which is perhaps why his ideas on an upgrade for Mount Panorama were not what the officials were expecting when they called to consult him."I told them to get big billets of aluminium, then sharpen them like pencils," he said."Then I told them to install them in the wall where you come over Skyline. That would get people thinking. You have to have consequences in motor racing."NICKNAMESIn Brock's world, all the significant people had some sort of nickname. Beverley became "Bevo" and his public relations man Tim Pemberton became "Plastic" (something to do with his ability to withstand heat).Neil Burns was "Part" because of he was prematurely bald and had the world's lowest hair parting.John Harvey was "Slug" because he was from Sydney, which Brock called "slug city", and Grant Steers was "The Spear" because he had a pointed head but also because he was the Mister Fixit for Brock at Holden.THE LAST STARTWhen Brock went to Bathurst in 2004 to drive for the Holden Racing Team he was past it. He had not driven a V8 Supercar for too long, he was getting old, and his heart was not in the racing.No one said it, no one wanted to believe it, but the stopwatch does not lie. Still, Brocky was as popular as ever and in huge demand from his fans, who were dreaming of a miracle 10th win at the Mountain.HRT had imported crack British racer Jason Plato and he was chosen to start the race, to keep Brock out of the early rough-house racing. But he hit the wall and then was hit by John Cleland, who upended his Falcon over the top of the 05 Commodore.Brock was still in the pits, wearing his fireproof suit and looking like the legend. Now he did not have to race, or have his incredible reputation tarnished by a sub-Brock result."It's amazing how the universe looks after these things, isn't it," Brock told me, with just the touch of a smile. 

And what better place for a reunion and an anniversary celebration than the Australian Muscle Car Masters at Eastern Creek, where more than 500 of these powerful, historic cars will be raced and displayed.It's a step into the past as racing car legends such as Morris, Peter Brock, Allan Moffat, Leo Geoghegan, Harry Firth, John Goss and many more will be in attendance to meet fans and sign autographs.All the best cars from the 1960s, '70s and '80s will strut their stuff in Historic Touring Races and Hot Lap sessions. Morris hasn't driven that winning Torana L34 in almost 30 years, and is looking forward to his hot lap next Sunday, September 3."It was the very first Torana with a V8 engine and the car that we raced was the very first Torana L34 that was ever built off the production line," Morris said this week. "It was fantastic. I raced that car in 1975, also, and I drove with Frank Gardner that year and we came in second place. So it had a second outright and a first outright at Bathurst, and I don't know if that's been repeated."Morris says the 1976 victory was the highlight of his 20-year career, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The piece of nostalgia that saw him to success now lives at the Bathurst Museum but will make the trek to Eastern Creek next weekend.In a contrast of fortune, also on display will be the Torana that captured all the 1976 pre-race publicity but crashed on the grid. The blue Torana due to be driven in that race by Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss jammed in gear at the start and was rammed from behind by a little Triumph Dolomite.Now, 30 years later, it too has been restored for display.More than 150 cars have already entered the race events with a range of Historic Touring Car events covering categories from the 1950s to the '90s. And there will be specific events, such as the biggest Torana race in the world and the best of the best.Racing driver Des Wall is looking forward to toeing the line next Sunday in the classic he bought at an auction last November.The Ian "Pete" Geoghegan Mustang, which has a story of its own, is worth quite a large sum. Wall claims it is probably the best car of its time."It's a significant car in Australian motor-racing history. It won three Australian touring car championships and it's been restored to the way it was in 1971," Wall says.Wall has been racing for more than 30 years and his son, David, has followed in his footsteps as a race driver.He says the Mustang performs surprisingly well, but differently, of course, to the newer Porsches and Chev Corvette he usually races."It's very good. It surprised me how competitive the car is for a car of that era," he says. "We drive current race cars also. The difference ... I expected it to be wider than what it is. Apart from the brakes not being what current cars have, the car is quite a substantial race car."Next Sunday's show is expected to draw big crowds, after the same event last year attracted more than 10,000 people, despite appalling weather."I think a lot of people who are motor-racing enthusiasts are getting more and more interested in the history, they want to see the cars that the heroes were in," Wall says."Some people love football and tennis and various things, we just love motor racing. It's our sport of choice, something we're very passionate about."Among the classic old touring cars on display that became famous in the golden Bathurst era of the 1970s and '80s will be the VK Group A Commodore that gave Allan Grice his first Bathurst win, in 1986. Also on show is the Allan Moffat/Jacky Ickx Falcon XC Hardtop that was involved in the dominant Ford 1-2 team win in 1977. The only man to win Bathurst and the Australian Grand Prix, John Goss, will display his 1974 winning Falcon and the 1985 winning Jag XJS. Kevin Bartlett will have his Chev Camaro in action.The event is also a major drawcard for car clubs. The 2006 Torana GTR and XU-1 Nationals are expected to attract up to 80 road-going machines.