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Past 'celebrities' in Australasian motorsport


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#1 tracken

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Posted 29 March 2014 - 23:19

This is a little thought that I have had for a while, Celebrities in motor sport, be it pit crews, team owners or drivers. There are a few that spring to mind that have lifted the profile of motor sport by their status and ability, and sometimes lack of ability.

 

Some have become celebrities because of the sport, others may have become celebrities in another field after the sport and some were celebrities before motor sport

 

What constitutes a Celebrity?

a person who has a prominent profile and commands some degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media.one who is celebrated by his peers.

 

Kerry Packer would stand as the pinnacle as he pushed channel 9's exposure on channel 7's coverage, especially if you can get your driver to roll said car at bathurst while the world is watching.

 

 

Ken Moore.


Edited by tracken, 11 April 2014 - 12:05.


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#2 brucemoxon

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 00:45

Passed as in 'passed on' or past as in not present?

 

 

Anyway....

 

Radio star Jack Davey in Redex Trials.

 

Actor Leonard Theile in rallycross and other racing.

 

Film actors Eric Bana and Shane Jacobson at Bathurst in production or GT cars

 

Athletes like Tony Greig, Grant Kenny and Stephen Bradbury.

 

Politcian John Hewson changing wheels at Bathurst.

 

 

 

 

That sort of thing?

 

 

 

 

Bruce Moxon



#3 tracken

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 00:49

Passed as in 'passed on' or past as in not present?

 

 

Anyway....

 

Radio star Jack Davey in Redex Trials.

 

Actor Leonard Theile in rallycross and other racing.

 

Film actors Eric Bana and Shane Jacobson at Bathurst in production or GT cars

 

Athletes like Tony Greig, Grant Kenny and Stephen Bradbury.

 

Politcian John Hewson changing wheels at Bathurst.

 

 

 

 

That sort of thing?

 

 

 

 

Bruce Moxon

Yeah, everbody has fading memories and to collect this imformation as is done on these forums keeps it available for ever.

 

What we will find is amazing. Thanks Bruce, any Pics?



#4 brucemoxon

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 00:53

A recent experience has made me incredibly reluctant to post images in public fora.

 

Not that I have any of most of these people - Eric Bana and Shane Jacobson only, and they hardly count as 'nostalgia' unless you are quite astonishingly young.

 

 

 

 

 

BM



#5 tracken

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 02:16

This is a picture I took at O/Park historic meeting in 1978, I was told it was once owned and raced by Gus Mercurio 

t71z.jpg


Edited by tracken, 30 March 2014 - 02:17.


#6 Catalina Park

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 02:55

Don't forget the racing exploits of actor Leonard Teale during the 60s.

#7 wagons46

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 05:20

I've been waiting for someone to pick up on the 'incorrect' spelling of Leonard 'Teale' where in fact 'Theile' was his correct name. He campaigned a Corolla in the late 60's . I always thought of him as a great bloke.

#8 tracken

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 05:59

Don't forget the racing exploits of actor Leonard Teale during the 60s.

Homicide.

Can we get what they raced and where

 

Jack Davey entered in the first Redex Reliability Trial in a ford customline in 1953, Despite  ongoing health issues, Davey entered in the second Redex Trial in 1954. missed the 1955 Redex trial. entered for the round Australia reliability trial in a Ford Customline in1956,and again in 1957 and 1958 in a Chrysler

 

"Politcian John Hewson changing wheels at Bathurst", Who has a picture of that.



#9 GMACKIE

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 06:08

I've been waiting for someone to pick up on the 'incorrect' spelling of Leonard 'Teale' where in fact 'Theile' was his correct name. He campaigned a Corolla in the late 60's . I always thought of him as a great bloke.

Was he related to Barry Theile, who shared a Morris Major with Ray Kaleda, in the early '60s ?

 

Leonard T. was the best Superman ever.....on the radio. :up:



#10 Repco22

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 06:13

I have a vague recollection that Leonard raced or hill climbed an MGB. ?



#11 DJH

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 06:29

I remember seeing Leonard Teale racing a Honda Zot at Warwick Farm in the late 60's.



#12 Lola5000

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 08:56

Teale raced a Toyota Corolla at Sandown,

 

Sam Newman a Lambo.



#13 Catalina Park

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 09:41

Sam Newman a Lambo.

Who the hell is Sam Newman?

Back in the late 90's I was driving my HQ Holden in a support race at the Winton touring car round. Sam Newman had been driving a Falcon XR6 Production car to get his licence signatures so he could run at Bathurst and he had some sort of sponsorship deal from Ford. He needed to run at this meeting to get his signature and there was no way he could drive a Holden without upsetting Ford and there was no other classes that he could run in so they wanted to run a Falcon Production car in a HQ race.
They called all the HQ drivers to a meeting with the Clerk of the Course as they needed all the drivers to agree to allowing this to happen. Sam was huge in Victoria at the time so all the Victorians were bending over backwards to let him race.
There was one lone voice in the room that said... "Who the hell is Sam Newman?"

I had been robbed the day before by the organisers over the entry fee and private practice costs so I decided to hold out against the Victorians until they refunded me the $50 cost of the private practice that they had charged me twice.
They kept saying "but it is Sam Newman!" and I kept saying "Who the hell is Sam Newman?" and refused to sign.
They eventually agreed to refund my $50 if I would let Sam race and I made the mistake of signing before they gave me the money which I never ever saw.

#14 275 GTB-4

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 10:01

Passed or Past?

Little Stewie Littlemore?....

http://www.drive.com...0710-2ppuo.html

What about those drivers who helped with movies? etc

#15 Hank the Deuce

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 11:19

"Huge" Darrell Eastlake raced a Leyland P76 in the 70's if I remember correctly!


Edited by Hank the Deuce, 30 March 2014 - 11:21.


#16 brucemoxon

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 19:05

"Huge" Darrell Eastlake raced a Leyland P76 in the 70's if I remember correctly!

 

He did indeed, but that was before he was any sort of a celebrity.

 

Born 'Thiele', changed to 'Teale'. I'm now wondering if he was related to "Storm Boy" author Colin Thiele. Anyway...

 

Nevil Shute (author - A Town Like Alice, On The Beach) raced a bit too in a Jaguar at places like Phillip Island and Fishermans Bend,

 

 

 

 

Bruce Moxon



#17 ellrosso

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 21:10

Here are a few shots of Leonard Teale from his Tassy trip in 1969 (Vee shot is 1972 from another trip down). He was very popular and not a bad steerer either, in what was basically a standard Corolla with twin d/draft Webers and extractors. The Vee was a prize put up by the Tas Vee Association - brand new Trowbridge and won by Terry Bowe (John's brother) from memory..153-H-Teal-72-lo_zpsa5410de1.jpg1406-H-Teal-69-lo_zpsbc23d6b3.jpg1399-H-Teale-69-lo_zps308053eb.jpg1419-H-Div2-69-lo_zps2ee28650.jpg


Edited by ellrosso, 30 March 2014 - 21:13.


#18 ellrosso

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 21:50

Tony Greig at Winton5414_N_Greig_87-lo_zpsc1fb5f5c.jpg



#19 275 GTB-4

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Posted 30 March 2014 - 22:22

Here are a few shots of Leonard Teale from his Tassy trip in 1969 (Vee shot is 1972 from another trip down). He was very popular and not a bad steerer either, in what was basically a standard Corolla with twin d/draft Webers and extractors. The Vee was a prize put up by the Tas Vee Association - brand new Trowbridge and won by Terry Bowe (John's brother) from memory..

1419-H-Div2-69-lo_zps2ee28650.jpg


Terrific pics, thanks....love the way the FJ driver is making his presence "felt" behind the anglebox and tina :)



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#20 2Bob

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Posted 31 March 2014 - 01:57

I raced against Leonard Teale a few times at Calder in the early 60s, Mini S v Corolla.  Can't really remember the results though.  More recently (this month) was in the same garage at Phillip Island as Stuart Littlemore (4 in each garage, 2 Morgans on one side and 2 ASPs on the other).  When i said to one of the other 3 of us there that "that's Stuart Littlemore" there were blank looks from two of them, such is fame, or possibly such is the parochialism of us crow eaters... 



#21 DavidI

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Posted 31 March 2014 - 02:48

I seem to recall Ian "the Bear" Maurice, at the time on Wide World Of Sports, racing a Lotus 23 in Historics in the '80s.

Also, didn't John Laws do a couple of events in the '60s before his employers put a stop to it, too valuable etc.?



#22 Paul Newby

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Posted 31 March 2014 - 02:58

I seem to recall Ian "the Bear" Maurice, at the time on Wide World Of Sports, racing a Lotus 23 in Historics in the '80s.

Also, didn't John Laws do a couple of events in the '60s before his employers put a stop to it, too valuable etc.?

 

That wasn't Ian Maurice, but Ken Sparkes, who used to anchor Channel 9's Formula 1 coverage.

 

Leonard Teale also had a go in the factory BMC lightweight MG Midget at Castlereagh Dragstrip in 1968.



#23 Ian G

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Posted 31 March 2014 - 03:04

Also, didn't John Laws do a couple of events in the '60s before his employers put a stop to it, too valuable etc.?

 

Yeah,rumour has it as a Cooper S under an assumed name on his CL but he has never(AFAIK) confirmed it on his Radio show other than to say he used to pick up plenty of speeding tickets in the 1960's.

I once walked past him and GS having a conversation on the steps of the AARC office so there may be something to it.



#24 Ray Bell

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 00:25

Originally posted by DavidI
I seem to recall Ian "the Bear" Maurice, at the time on Wide World Of Sports, racing a Lotus 23 in Historics in the '80s.....


That would be a total joke!

Yes, it was Ken Sparkes who raced a 23 and who always talked about motor sport on his shows. Ian Maurice, however, didn't even know motor sports existed.

When I worked at 2KA he was the morning announcer, with talkback with the mums between nine and midday. As he was walking out after his shift one day I asked where he was off to. "I'm going to work!" he said. "Oh, do you have another job?"

He was aghast that somebody in the world didn't know he was a sports (ie. football) commentator on Channel 9!

#25 tracken

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 01:15

That would be a total joke!

Yes, it was Ken Sparkes who raced a 23 and who always talked about motor sport on his shows. Ian Maurice, however, didn't even know motor sports existed.

When I worked at 2KA he was the morning announcer, with talkback with the mums between nine and midday. As he was walking out after his shift one day I asked where he was off to. "I'm going to work!" he said. "Oh, do you have another job?"

He was aghast that somebody in the world didn't know he was a sports (ie. football) commentator on Channel 9!

Ken Sparkes can still be found Saturday nights at 7.30pm fox 183 Aurora channel, Presenting Jukebox Saturday Night, highly recomended.



#26 tracken

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 01:26

Jack Elsegood,  He played for the Sea Eagles from 1993 - 1996 then the Roosters till 2000. in 2002He raced in the V8 ute series which he won in 2009.

 

914910-jack-elsegood-ex-nrl-player-v8-ut

Change in direction ... former Rugby League player Jack Elsegood with his V8 ute. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph



#27 DavidI

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 02:39

Well, at least I had the show right!

I had a vague recollection of seeing a story aired about it many years ago, and I'm not often one for celebrity myself. The only other thing I recall from seeing it was that it was when I discovered what a Lotus 23 was (I was in my early teens at the time and did not come from racing background) and have been enamoured with them ever since!



#28 seldo

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 03:42

...Also, didn't John Laws do a couple of events in the '60s before his employers put a stop to it, too valuable etc.?

Laws co-drove a Volvo 144 to 13th O/R in the 1970 Ampol Round Australia Rally and has been a prodigious collector/user of fine cars all his life

Edited by seldo, 01 April 2014 - 05:42.


#29 W154

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 11:15

Ken Sparkes can still be found Saturday nights at 7.30pm fox 183 Aurora channel, Presenting Jukebox Saturday Night, highly recomended.

Thanks for that info. I remember Sparksie from his days at 3UZ and "Kommotion", although in the latter I was more interested in the voluptuous Denise Drysdale than KS! I understand he also drove a reasonably quick Lotus Elan before the 23 ?

#30 Piquet959

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 16:54

At one stage that man mountain "Aussie" Joe Bugner worked for Terry Finegan at Bathurst. It was very interesting to see him pick up two fuel churns one on shoulder. He was/ is so big he made them look like very large milk bottles. I think it was in 1984 or 85

"Aussie" Joe was one of the few boxers to go full distance with Muhamad Ali.

Edited by Piquet959, 01 April 2014 - 16:55.


#31 Ray Bell

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Posted 02 April 2014 - 22:37

Did Bill Gates get a mention here?

He was a well-known Brisbane 'disc jockey' and graduated from a regular Elan to a competition Elan (26R), he also won a 12-hour at Surfers teamed up with Jimmy Bertram in a Falcon. It was the only major win by the XT IIRC.

#32 seldo

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 03:31

Did Bill Gates get a mention here?

He was a well-known Brisbane 'disc jockey' and graduated from a regular Elan to a competition Elan (26R), he also won a 12-hour at Surfers teamed up with Jimmy Bertram in a Falcon. It was the only major win by the XT IIRC.

And, I believe he was one of the original "G"s in the Bee Gees

#33 Gary Davies

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 07:33

May I request either the thread starter or the moderator to correct the spelling of the first word in the thread title.

 

I also wonder why the common noun celebrities has been given a capital C? That irregularity, however, is something up with which I would happily put if only passed became past.    ;)   :yawnface:   :|



#34 Ray Bell

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:08

It's amazing it's got this far, isn't it?

Maybe a note to Twinny?

#35 racer69

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:11

Doug Mulray had a run or two in the ex-Griffin Mazda Sports Sedan in the late-80s, and Garry Wilkinson raced in a Formula Vee race at Amaroo in 1989 as well.

 

Do the Donaher's count as celebrities?



#36 tracken

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 11:02

 

May I request either the thread starter or the moderator to correct the spelling of the first word in the thread title.

 

I also wonder why the common noun celebrities has been given a capital C? That irregularity, however, is something up with which I would happily put if only passed became past.    ;)   :yawnface:   :|

 

Passed is tongue in cheek and the C because we are talking

Celebrities

I think the english lesson is finished, and past tense :clap:


Edited by tracken, 03 April 2014 - 11:10.


#37 Gary Davies

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 11:58

Thank you, tracken. Your reply is most enlightening.



#38 DanTra2858

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Posted 05 April 2014 - 00:14

John Laws ran a Daimler SP250 in the early days of Warick Farm.

#39 Repco22

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Posted 05 April 2014 - 03:24

Canadian Buddy Clark was a popular Perth radio personality in the late fifties and ran his ivory Healey '100' at one Caversham meeting.

There followed a story in 'The Sunday Times' in which he was quoted as saying that motor racing was easy. The publisher of

'The Visor', a combined WA motor club newsletter, the late Russell Fenton, took exception to this remark and contacted Clark

who apparently then agreed that motor racing was quite difficult, a view which Fenton was quick to print.

The mighty Murdoch-owned Sunday Times then flexed its muscles and forced the little 'Visor' to print a retraction.

As I recall, 'Bud-Bud's' results at the track suggested he might have found motor racing difficult.



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#40 GD66

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Posted 05 April 2014 - 07:37

Can't get the pox quote box to work (let alone get a photo up : thanks for the "improvements !" :mad: :mad:) but I think, Piquet, that "Aussie" Joe Bugner went the distance with Ali twice. Impressive... :clap:



#41 275 GTB-4

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Posted 06 April 2014 - 23:01

Can't get the pox quote box to work (let alone get a photo up : thanks for the "improvements !" :mad: :mad:) but I think, Piquet, that "Aussie" Joe Bugner went the distance with Ali twice. Impressive... :clap:


Carm orn GD...if an apprentice older fella like me can do it...anyone can :lol:
 
Wakefield on the weekemd...great to see sidecars go around again, good close racing as well...

P1020591Sidecar_zps0d735967.jpg

[PS PM me if I can help...]

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 06 April 2014 - 23:03.


#42 DanTra2858

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 08:29

Kevin Wolf, Radio Announcer 2wl Wollongong NSW, then Editor of Sports Car World. Cars competed in Hillman, Honda 600 & Lotus Elan Coupe Mk2

#43 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 09:31

Teale raced a Toyota Corolla at Sandown,

 

Sam Newman a Lambo.

Sam Newman,, a total pratt who could barely drive. Though at least he was honest about that. Slow but did not crash too often!

Though the Stupid Car thing!!!!  They will let anyone drive one of them for some publicity.



#44 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 09:37

"Huge" Darrell Eastlake raced a Leyland P76 in the 70's if I remember correctly!

 

He did indeed, but that was before he was any sort of a celebrity.

 

Born 'Thiele', changed to 'Teale'. I'm now wondering if he was related to "Storm Boy" author Colin Thiele. Anyway...

 

Nevil Shute (author - A Town Like Alice, On The Beach) raced a bit too in a Jaguar at places like Phillip Island and Fishermans Bend,

 

 

 

 

Bruce Moxon

Yes, it showed in one of his books. Of which the name escpaes me ATM. On the Beach,,, go look in the bookcase. He spent some time researching here in Oz in the 50s.


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 07 April 2014 - 09:50.


#45 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 09:49

Paul Makin here in SA raced speedway saloons, for a while gave a fair rap to speedway when the roving reporter on John Vincents breakfast show.

 

There was some other news types that had a 'go' locally in a variety of cars. One in a Vee, one in a [hire] FF. nbames escape me,, going senile I think!

 

I once shared AIR with Ann Fulwood. She was getting some practice laps for the celebrity race and I was running in an engine. I followed her for a dozen or so laps and she though she was going real well [she was actually doing ok] though I upset her I think when I figured I had done enough slow laps and went past her quite quickly

 

Interestingly some of the celebs that did the celebrity race actually went and dabbled at various levels. Some did quite well, some very average.  Tony Greig, Elsgood? Newman, and some others did at least some regular racing. Tony Greig was an honest driver, at times somewhere near the pace. Jack Elsgood has been very good at times.



#46 DavidI

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Posted 08 April 2014 - 02:37

For those of us in non-AFL states, how about Wally Lewis' attempts at HQ racing? And local TV presenter Rick Burnett about the same time in the same category.



#47 275 GTB-4

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Posted 08 April 2014 - 04:42

Midnight to Dawn radio presenter Brian Wilshire won his class at Bathurst 1993...



#48 Catalina Park

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Posted 08 April 2014 - 07:04

Midnight to Dawn radio presenter Brian Wilshire won his class at Bathurst 1993...

My seat belt finished second in Class A.

#49 GMACKIE

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Posted 08 April 2014 - 07:25

My seat belt finished second in Class A.

Oh, well done!!!!! fantastic effort. :clap:  ;)



#50 275 GTB-4

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Posted 08 April 2014 - 09:13

Midnight to Dawn radio presenter Brian Wilshire won his class at Bathurst 1993...


Oops! Brian Wilshire racing story here....(anyone who has owned TWO Vanguard Spacemasters is OK by me!)

http://www.drive.com...0203-1aei0.html