Motorsports

Even at a time when fuel economy is top-of-mind with a growing number of Australian drivers there is plenty of space on the roads for Commodores and Falcons with old-fashioned V8 muscle under the bonnet. They burble menacingly at idle. They are the backbone of V8 Supercar racing.Yet V8s in the 21st century are not what they were in the days when they first conquered Mount Panorama and a GTHO Falcon or a Monaro - or even a Valiant V8 - was a dream machine for a generation of Aussie youngsters.Since 1970 the crude oil price has exploded from $20 a barrel to double that amount during the Iran revolution, over $70 during the first Gulf War, broke through the $100 barrier ahead of the Global Financial Crisis and has now settled at just below $100.In Australia, petrol prices have correspondingly risen from about 8c a litre in 1970 to about 50c in 1984 and almost $1.50 today.Despite all this, and despite one attempt at a death sentence by Ford in the 1980s, the V8 has not been wiped from Australian showrooms. Holden and Ford have continued to produce large cars with a V8 alternative and continue to slog it out at Bathurst.But Australian cars, even the ones that now have American V8s imported for local use, are not the only bent-eight blasters on the road.Germans are prolific builders of V8s and produce some of the most powerful engines in the world thanks to AMG-Mercedes, BMW and Audi. English V8s are built by Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar, while the Americans provide V8s in the Chrysler 300C sold here. Even the Japanese luxury brand Lexus has a V8 in its IS F hero and its luxury saloon LS460, as well as the LandCruiser-cloned LX470.Most V8s are powerful enough breathing ordinary air, but there are many forced-induction models with either turbo or supercharging to liberate even more power. Walkinshaw Performance does the job in Australia for Holden, BMW is going down the turbo V8 road for its latest M cars and Benz had a time with a supercharged AMG V8.But V8s are not just about unrestricted power. The push for greater fuel economy has also reached V8 land and so Chrysler and Holden have V8s with multiple displacement technology which shuts down half the cylinders when the car is just cruising to improve fuel economy. Formula One racing engines now do the same thing when they are idling on a grand prix starting grid.Holden's Active Fuel Management (AFM) was introduced on the V8 Commodore and Caprice in 2008 and the red lion brand is committed to the engine - with future technology updates - despite near-record fuel prices."It is incumbent on us to keep it relevant and continue introducing new technology that delivers on our customers' needs," says Holden's Shayna Welsh.Holden has the biggest stake in V8s with more models than any other company selling in Australia. It has a total of 12 models with V8 engines across four nameplates and four body styles, including Commodore SS, SS V, Calais V, Caprice V and the recently introduced Redline range. V8s account for about one quarter of Commodore sedan sales and almost half of Ute sales."We see it as being more than just the V8 engine - it's about the entire car. It's the whole performance package that appeals to people and we want to continue making cars that people are proud to own," Welsh says."The combination of features and technology, great handling and braking and outstanding value is consistent across our V8 model range."Ford fans are also committed to V8s, according to company spokesperson Sinead McAlary, who says a recent Facebook survey was overwhelmingly positive."We asked whether they worry about petrol prices and they say 'No, it's the sound of the V8 we love and we are prepared to pay the price'," she says.Both Ford and Holden also have performance divisions where the V8 was, and still is, king. Ford's is Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) and Holden's is Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).HSV marketing manager Tim Jackson says their sales are "on par" with last year."That's despite the fact that last year we had the limited edition GX-P which is an entry level product for us," he says. "We don't have that model in our range at all this year and you would expect numbers to come off, but we've been able to maintain sales volume."All of HSV's range are powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine (6200cc 317kW-325kW), while the opposition at FPV has gained the kilowatt advantage with forced induction (supercharged 5000cc 315kW-335kW).Jackson says their LS3 V8 has been "validated" by customers."We're not getting guys screaming at us to go turbocharging. The LS3 is an extraordinary unit. It's a light engine with a good power-to-weight figure. There is not a turbo engine that would do it for us at the right development cost. But I wouldn't rule it (turbo) out or rule it in."Jackson says there have been no repercussions from the rise in petrol prices."Our customers don't have other choices in their repertoire," he says. "A small car doesn't suit them and they're not into an SUV. They're of a certain level where the whole cost of running the car is easy for them to absorb."The top-selling HSV is the ClubSport R8, followed by the Maloo R8, then GTS.However, the greatest HSV in history is debatable, Jackson says.HSV engineering boss Joel Stoddart prefers the all-wheel-drive Coupe4 and sales boss Darren Bowler the SV5000."The Coupe4 is special because of its engineering but I like the W427 because it's the fastest," Jackson says.FPV boss Rod Barrett says they are also experiencing strong sales growth. He says they sold about 500 cars in the first quarter, which is up 32 per cent on the previous year. He also says sales of the F6 have slowed since the launch of the supercharged V8 engine variants late last year, as customers "opt for power". Ford no longer offers a V8 with the demise of the XR8 sedan and ute last year."Our middle name is performance so we have all the V8s," Barrett says. "When we were launching this new supercharged car all the V8s came across here."Barrett says their supercharged engine has changed people's minds about "dinosaur V8s"."The turbocharged F6 was a cult hero car in its day and people thought a V8 was a low-tech dinosaur," he says. "But when we produced a high-tech all-alloy five-litre supercharged V8 built in Australia people started to think that V8s aren't all that bad after all. I'm not seeing the demise of the V8 just yet, but for us, the future is hi-tech."The supercharged 5.0Litre V8 335kW FPV GT continues to be FPV's top-selling vehicle followed closely by the supercharged V8 5.0 litre 315kW GS sedan and GS ute.Barrett believes the current GT is the best FPV car yet with its segment-leading power, light weight and improved fuel economy."However, I think our most iconic car was the 2007 BF Mk II 302kW Cobra in white with blue stripes. That car brought back the passion of '78 with the original Cobra. If you have a look at the second-hand prices, they are still holding up very well" he says.

Holden leads with 12 models plus 10 HSVs, all of which are naturally aspirated. Ford was second, before it deleted all its XR8 models and handed the V8 exclusively keys to FPV which has nine supercharged V8s in its Falcons.So it's now - surprisingly - Mercedes-Benz that is runner-up to Holden in the muscle-car stakes, with 12 models, four different V8 capacities and three turbocharged choices.Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says the number will increase with the introduction of the E 63 AMG estate with twin turbo later this year."And that's in response to customer demand," he says.McCarthy calculates that V8 sales represent about $200 million a year in AMG and $50 million in other models."A quarter of a billion dollars is a pretty sizeable chunk of our business."He says V8s account for about 10 per cent of sales in most classes, except the super-costly CL 500 which is 20 per cent."That will probably change a little when we release the CL 500 bi-turbo."McCarthy says the future looks good for V8s."The reason for that is that technology is delivering lower emissions and better fuel economy without sacrificing power," he says.The ranks of the supercars are surprisingly not dominated by V8s, but by bigger cylinder capacities. For example, all Lamborghinis are either V10 or V12. The most expensive V8 in Australia is the $526,950 Ferrari 458 Italia with a 419kW 4499cc V8. If you can still find one, the cheapest is the Falcon XR8 ute with a 290kW 5408cc V8 starting at $41,690.The most powerful is the 420kW 6208cc V8 in the Mercedes-Benz SLS ($468,820) which has just 1kW more than the 458 Italia. Least powerful V8 is the 250kW 5.7-litre HEMI in the Chrysler 300C ($46,000), although the SRT version is a healthy 317kW.

Based on bang-for-buck impact, as well as classic muscle appeal, Shannons Insurance says it has to be the Falcon XY GTHO Phase 3 that ruled at Bathurst in the 1970s and was the world's fastest four-door sedan at the time it was introduced.A Silver HO was passed in at the Brisbane Motor Show auction in 2008 at about $750,000."You wouldn't get those prices now as the bubble burst on the Aussie V8 muscle car market over 12 months ago and we haven't seen those numbers back ... yet," says Shannons spokesman Phil Ross.But Dan Bowden, whose family museum has one of the greatest collections of Aussie muscle cars, reckons the top prize goes to the Falcon XR GT which he calls "The first of the real Aussie V8s". It won Bathurst in 1967.What about Holdens?Ross says the number two and three cars in the price stake are both Bathurst winning Holdens: the A9X hatchback 308 V8 LX SS and the 1968 327 V8 HK Holden Monaro, "or possibly the 1970 HT 350 V8 Monaro". Shannons Auctions sold a HK 327 Monaro for $220,000 at one of our auctions at the height of the muscle car price wars," he says."We have an A9X in our next auction ... and it may go for around $250,000 or more. They only made 100 of these so the Holden fans will argue it's the number one Aussie V8 of all time and the most collectable."Bowden's museum seems to favour the Falcons, but he agrees that the HK 327 GTS Monaro is "one of the most beautiful and a real contender", winning Bathurst in 1968.Others to consider are:Falcon XA GTHO Phase IV, the one Ford said they never built, killed by the super car scare and only one road car ever made.Holden L34 Torana, with Hi-Po option, our only all-Aussie-made engine.VL HDT Group A Brock Commodore, another homologation special. "The polariser plus pack version just adds to the story," says Bowden.Falcon XA RPO-83 option GT. A lot of those Phase IV bits went on these special cars.Falcon XC Cobra, one of the first 30, the Bathurst special versions.Ross says the cars that conquered Bathurst were awarded hero status by the car-buying public."But I don't think this kind of hero status for Aussie V8s will be as big with the later model cars but time may prove me wrong," he says. "I have just noticed there is a bit of a cult following starting with younger guys and the humble XD Falcon at shows. I always thought it looked more like a taxi but after looking at the Dick Johnson `Tru Blu' Falcon Group C race car at Bowden's museum I have changed my mind."Neither Ross nor Bowden mentioned any Chrysler product."Sadly Chrysler didn't have any good V8s," says Bowden. "The ones with any real sporting pedigree were the six-cylinder versions. In the end they built the V8s in the Charger, the VJ E55 versions, but they were very toned down, marketed against the big luxury Ford Fairmont and LS Monaros, not as a sporting car."Ross says the six-cylinder E49 E49 RT Charger in the popular Vitamin C (orange) six pack "Big Tank" (extra Fuel for Bathurst) fully restored can be worth $170,000-$200.000."I once asked Leo Geogeghan if he thought a Charger could win Bathurst and he said not without a V8," he says. "He couldn't beat the V8 GT Falcons up the mountain. There was a 770 Charger released with a V8 but it never ran at Bathurst. If they had won maybe they would be worth more."Of the current batch of Aussie V8s, Bowden likes the FPV GT."Amazing engine. The only manufacturer that hand assembles its engine in Australia," he says.Bowden also throws a monkey into the works with the rear-mounted HSV V8 engine in the Alfa Romeo Sprint made by Giocattolo Motori Pty Ltd.The Australian car company built just 15 cars from 1986 to 1989 which were capable of up to 260km/h.

... from Melbourne to Noosa from August 2.The rally aims aims to raise more than $50,000 for Make-A-Wish Australia, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. The first Auzrun last year raised $44,000. Visit www.auzrun.com.Meanwhile, riders are invited to participate in the fourth annual Long Ride in November to raise awareness of prostate cancer.The first ride in 2007 raised $50,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service while $249,000 was raised last year for the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia (PCFA).Riders from across Australia will head towards Sale on November 10 then ride together to Sydney with the ride ending on november 12.Ride founder Christopher Dunne says there are many defence members riding in this year's event "as well as CEOs, general managers, managers, tradesmen and women, retired couples and my wife and me". It will cost each rider about $3000 to participate with most donating other funds raised. Visit www.freewebs.com/longride2010.

Stage one of the redevelopment will include the construction of a link road, laid between turns four and nine of the circuit. The link road will allow the existing circuit to be split into two separate racing circuits, effectively doubling the potential capacity of the facility. Australian Racing Driver's Club CEO Glenn Matthews and Eastern Creek Raceway general manager Geoff Arnold helped break ground at the development site. The work is being carried out at night by Penrith-based construction company JK Williams. The link road is expected to be completed within twelve weeks. Future development works, which are scheduled to begin later in 2011, will include a significant track extension, new race control tower and amenities buildings.

The road-registrable Formula Q Chilli Rowdster is the result of a partnership between veteran racer and racecar builder Rob Rowe, 63, and amateur racer Rodney Moynahan, 44, both of Sydney. It started about 14 years when Moynahan wanted a lighter, cheaper and more track-oriented car than the Clubsport he had been using. "I wanted to go from a V8 taxi to something like a Lotus 7 Clubman," he says. But when he approached Lowe he was immediately dissuaded from the project. "He took one look at me - and I'm 6'2" (187cm) and weigh about 130kg - and he said there is no way you could fit into a Clubman. I couldn't even drive one around the carpark as it was too small for me. So he showed me a picture of a 1952 Watson Roadster from an Indy racecar book and I immediately fell in love with it. "He offered to make me one and I bought a fibreglass nose and tail replica form the States and we put together a frame and chassis; something wide enough for two people,a although it just fits me comfortably." The car uses the running gear from a 1970s Holden HQ and weighs just 750kg. But it's quite big and will accommodate many other running gear combinations even up to a current V8 or turbo four-cylinder engine. "I had just started racing HQ race sedans because it was cheap and CAMS was talking about getting rid of the old HQ cars," Moynahan says. "We had a couple of HQs and thought we'd take the running gear, pull the body off it, use the front cross member and put it into a jig to make up a later-style chassis." The result is the Rowdster which can race in the iRace Series, open sports cars and hillclimbs. "Originally we just wanted a cheap form of motorsport, but we got a bit carried away and worked with the RTA in NSW for two years to get it registered," he says. "The idea is to drive it to the track instead of trailoring it. It's registered as a home-made vehicle (ICV - individually constructed vehicle) like other kit cars. NSW is the hardest state to get a vehicle registered so I believe it can be driven in other states." They have since built eight powder-coated chassis, sold three race versions and another rolling chassis, and Moynahan owns two registered cars, one of which he plans to sell for about $28,000. The road-going models have headlights, windscreen, indicators and an LPG system with a different carburettor and bigger manifold, while the race models are petrol-powered. It takes about four days to make the chassis and Moynahan reckons it would take buyer "about seven weekends" to complete the car. "It's pretty easy. It's like a big version of a Meccano set," he says. Cost is about $5000 for the chassis, another $5000 for the body and the cost of whatever engine and transmission the owner wants installed. A quick check of carsguide.com.au shows 1972 HQs available from $50 to $35,000 for a fully restored model. "Most of our buyers are new to motor racing and like the cheap price," Moynahan says. "They're not really interested in putting them on the road. Financially we're not up to competing against Morgan or Caterham as road-going sports cars. This is just a hobby." Contact: Rowe Auto (02) 9627 9455

Overseas support for the Ford-against-Holden championship is running ahead of export demand for Australian-built cars, with America joining the Middle East and New Zealand on the upcoming calendar. Plans eventually call for six overseas races in the championship, although this is likely to be at the expense of Tasmania - likely to be dropped after this year - and perhaps Winton in rural Victoria in 2013. Singapore is also expected to join the touring car tussle from 2013 with Qatar targeted to take over the vacant date for a race in Bahrain, which ran for two years and created a double-header flyaway with Abu Dhabi. The V8 series is continuing to copy the expansion of Formula One and will even race on the same American track, at the all-new facility called the Cirucit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. F1 is set for Austin in 2012 with V8s to follow a year later with the first full championship race for any Australian category. The showdown in the Lone Star State could also include a cameo appearance by Marcos Ambrose, the two-time V8 champion now competing in Nascar races in the US. He had hoped to guest at the V8 finale in Sydney in 2009 and a special rule was passed as a result to allow high-profile guest drivers in the series. "This is a huge deal for V8 Supercars and one that all Australians should be proud of," says the head honcho of V8 Supercar racing, Tony Cochrane. "Our sport is delighted to have entered this partnership with Austin and the incredible Circuit of the Americas. This is a truly amazing place." Construction of the track at Austin - a sister city to Adelaide - is already underway and it will eventually run 5.5 kilometres with elevation changes of more than 30 metres. Apart from V8 Supercars and F1 it will host a round of the MotoGP world title in 2013.

This will be our third year in North Queensland which was a previously an untapped market for V8 Supercars. It's a great street circuit designed by Mark Skaife with plenty in it for the drivers and the fans. You might say a street circuit is only as good as the streets available, but Skaifey has put them to good use with a combination of tight hairpins, fast flowing corners and a kink in the main straight. They've also chosen a good area a few blocks away from the CBD to minimise disruption and there are some high earth mounds to give the fans plenty of viewing over the wire barriers, plus like all street circuits there is a host of external activities and concerts to keep everyone entertained. This year I'm going to Townsville on a bit of a roll. We have great consistency and momentum and I'm looking forward to turning my Townsville record around. We are currently the second-best qualifier behind my teammate Jamie Whincup and if we can maintain a good starting position we have a good shot at a podium. The race format is two 200km races with one set of soft tyres in each race with two pit stops per race. The track will be colder than Darwin so the soft tyres should last a little longer, but there is a series of long right handers which will kill the left rear tyre. There are two clear strategies: start on soft tyres or finish on soft tyres. However, on street circuits there are usually a lot of safety cars which can undo the advantage you may get from starting on soft tyres, so I think the majority will try to finish on them. It's a lottery, really. It's also a great chance for some teams to snatch a win out of nowhere with a bit of luck. I have always been a bit critical of V8 Supercars expanding overseas into time zones that make it difficult for Aussie fans to tune in to the TV coverage. But now that V8 Supercars has done a deal to race at the new circuit in Austin, Texas, there is no point whining about it. We simply have to make it work. We will race on the Saturday and Sunday which means Australian TV coverage on Sunday morning, which is ok, and Monday morning, which is a bit of a problem. It may have been better to race Friday and Saturday, but we also have to appease the massive US TV coverage. As a driver, I think it's great to go to new countries and drive on new circuits. It's also a great opportunity to expand V8 recognition globally. America is a tough market to crack and getting a five-year deal is unbelievable. There will be a fair amount of pressure on both sides to make this work and I will put all my energies into helping, rather than hindering that process. Speaking of racing overseas, I still haven't heard whether I have qualified to race in any of the world endurance events. However, I'm grateful to have the full support of Audi Australia boss Uwe Hagen who wants us to return to the Bathurst 12-hour race next year. My ultimate goal is to race at Le Mans, Daytona and Nurburgring.

... as a selection of the world’s most desirable cars are wheeled out in Melbourne.For some, it’s their first visit to Australia and the first time visitors to the Australian International Motor Show can see some of the hero cars of today – and in some cases, the future.Supercar fans get their first glimpse of the stunning Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, which replaces the Murcielago and that now sets the standard for exotic cars.Named after a champion Spanish bull, the carbon-fibre and alloy version of the Aventador rushes to 100km/h from rest in only 2.9 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 350km/h.The powerplant responsible for this is a 6.5-litre V12 with 515kW and 690Nm of torque running through all four wheels.But the exceptional performance pales against the coupe’s styling. It is all low-slung wedge and razor-sharp edges – a work of art that mesmerises from every angle.Lamborghini Melbourne managing director Andrew Smith says the car is two generations ahead in terms of design and technology."The Aventador is a truly exceptional package of design, style and technical perfection," he says.  "Its performance is simply astonishing and is unrivalled in the super sports car arena. It looks amazing in photographs but that is nothing to seeing it in the flesh."Sister company Audi won’t be outdone. It has unwrapped its fiercest R8 supercar, the GT, bristling with 412kW of power and 540Nm of torque from its 5.2-litre direct-injection V10. The all-wheel drive coupe has a price tag of $470,700 and even if you had the cash, Audi Australia says only five examples are allocated for our country."And they’re all spoken for," a spokesperson says.Audi will also show its new A6 that has taken Europe and the US by storm. The sleek sedan will enter Australia with a range of engines that all include fuel-saving systems, including stop-start and energy recovery technology.At the other end of the scale, the baby Audi A1 in its diesel form will make its debut in Melbourne. This will be available this year and become the third engine in the A1 franchise. Audi claims the 66kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel will sip just 3.8L/100km and expects it to account for 25-30 per cent of the A1 sales.The Germans continue to dominate the performance stands with two Mercedes-Benz models on show for the first time. The first Australian showing of the breathtaking C-Class Coupe and C63 Coupe pair is so impressive they even overshadow the awesome CLS63 AMG – finished in a spectacular red paint and also on display for the first time.The CLS63 impresses with its 386kW/700Nm bi-turbo 5.5-litre V8 that averages 10L/100km – not much more than a Holden Commodore V6. In the AMG version, its output jumps to 410kW and 800Nm. Mercedes-Benz Australia says that despite the leap in power, the fuel consumption is 31 per cent – equal to 4.6L/100km – better than its predecessor.The two C-Class coupes are extensions of the recently upgraded C-Class range, but the styling exercise is condensed and the effect is a startling change from the previous models.Output for the C63 AMG Coupe’s 6.3-litre V8 is 336kW and 600Nm which pushes the two-door to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. Yet it is surprisingly low on fuel consumption and emissions, recording an average of 12L/100km.These Mercedes newcomers are joined by 15 other models, including another first – the debut of the new SLK range – before it hits the showrooms in late July. For many prospective buyers, this will be the first time they can come face to grille with the latest Mercedes convertibles.The SLK will initially arrive with three engines – two four-cylinder turbo models, a 135kW SLK200 BlueEfficiency and 150kW SLK250 BlueEfficiency, and the 225kW SLK350 V6. New equipment includes a panoramic roof called "Magic Sky Control" that is made of glass and switches between light and dark at the press of a button.

Not the sewing machine company, but the Swedish off-road motorcycle manufacturer now owned by BMW. That link with the German road bike manufacturer has prompted the development of the company's first street bike. Husqvarna has issued an artist's sketch of the bike and images of it on test outside BMW's headquarters in Munich. The bike will be fully revealed next Friday (JULY 1), but is not expected to reach our shores until late next year. It has been designed by Italian Raffaele Zaccagnini as the first in a range of Husky road bikes with sharp angles, big air ducts and a narrow rear end. The 900 naked bike is yet to be named and prices announced but it will compete with the BMW F 800 ($13,900-$15,800), KTM 990 Super Duke ($19,995) and Ducati Hypermotard ($15,990-$20,990). From the images we can see it has one massive exhaust on the left, upside down forks, twin front discs with Brembo brakes like the rest of the range, and is powered by BMW's F 800 parallel twin bored out to about 900cc. Although BMW now owns Husqvarna, Australian importer The Paul Feeney Group continues to import the Swedish bikes. Group marketing manager Jorg Hoffmann says it is difficult to define the customer for the new 900. "It's hard to tell at the moment," he says. "We hope to get some customers from the F 800 who want better performance and maybe riders coming from sportsbikes going to supermotard because it is easier to ride and you have more fun. "It's is a completely new bike for us." Hoffmann won't comment on whether BMW will take over Husqvarna imports, but says their worth is based on a good sales performance. From 2007-08 sales were up 27 per cent, 16 per cent in 2009-09 and 21 per cent to 1614 last year. "We're on target for 2000 this year," Hoffmann says. "Sales are going up as Husqvarna gets more recognised, plus the dealer group is doing a good job providing good customer service." Meanwhile, details of the 2012 Husky range have been released with the bikes arriving in November. Hoffmann says pricing will be announced closer to the release date. All new models feature a black chassis instead of white, anodised silver Excel hubs and redesigned graphics. The enduro four-stroke machines have new engine mapping and a 4mm lower shock absorber to lower the seat height and make them easier to ride and appeal to more riders. The TE 250 and 310 have also moved from a Sachs to a Kayaba shock absorber for better handling. Apart from the new graphics, there are no changes to the two-stroke range.