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Muscle Car
Masters 2013 – Bathurst Grid Spectacular
This year at Muscle Car Masters one of the features was a Grid
Spectacular of 60 genuine Bathurst race cars representing 50 years
from 1963-2012. I was invited to participate with my ex Needham’s
Motors 1964 Studebaker Commander which competed in the 1967
Gallagher 500 (#55D) and the 1968 Hardie-Ferodo 500 (#21D) driven
both years by Warren Weldon and John Hall. I have presented the car
in its 1967 livery in which race it finished 3rd in Class D and 11th
outright.
Unfortunately, Warren Weldon passed away last year from pancreatic
cancer, however, it was terrific to have co-driver John Hall join me
on the grid with the Studebaker as the Bathurst “legend” with his
long term mates and motor racing enthusiasts Dick Israel, Gary
Treloar and Neil Wanstall as my “crew”.
As the oldest car there and representing the 1967 Bathurst race, I
would have thought the Studebaker would have been on pole for the
spectacular. However, the front row was given to car #9D, the
Gibson/Seton XT Falcon GT and #23D, the Hawkins/Brown Monaro GTS327
from the 1968 Bathurst race. Ironically, the Studebaker (which was
on row three alongside Steven Richards in father Jim’s JPS BMW 635
from the 1985 race) finished the 1968 race ahead of both the Falcon
and the Monaro on the front row! Row two had the pole sitting Nissan
Bluebird Turbo of George Fury from 1984 and the Perkins/Ingall Commodore from the 1997 race.
Behind the Studebaker was a further 50+ genuine Bathurst racers with
their own legends and crew – it was a fantastic sight. As we motored
down the main straight to the grid, each of the cars was introduced
over the PA and while I couldn’t hear the announcer from within the
car I am told the Studebaker was given a great wrap including
acknowledging that John Hall was present for the festivities.
After all the hoopla of the brass band and dancing girls etc the
grid was cleared and we proceeded to demonstrate the cars for two
laps of the full Brabham Circuit. This gave the public an
opportunity to see all the cars perform at a reasonable pace. While
I have been racing historic cars for the past 30 years, I must say I
am in awe of the guys that punted cars such as the Studebaker around
Bathurst with no rollbar, bench seat, huge steering wheel and drum
brakes! I said this to John Hall and he said the Studebaker was an
absolute pleasure to drive at Bathurst, mechanically reliable and
steady as a rock. While a lot is made of its brakes, wheels and
tyres, John said the major mechanical components were very tough and
the car just kept going. This is attested to by the fact that it
finished both the 1967 and 1968 races.
The cars were displayed in the pits both before and after the Grid
Spectacular and it was pleasing to receive a great deal of positive
feedback about the Studebaker from enthusiasts both young and old.
Apart from having John Hall reunited with the car after 45 years,
another highlight for me was Jim Richards coming over while we were
lined up on the dummy grid, introducing himself and being genuinely
excited that the Studebaker was there in all its glory. He looked
all over it and expressed his admiration at its original condition
and current presentation. I can tell you this meant a lot.
Rick Marks
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