22 replies to this topic

[mountedwets]

Just getting to the end of a long restoration of the Doug Clark RA40. Toyota Celica Sports Sedan.I post this in the off chance someone might have some pics,articles or info that will assist in getting the signage right.Would also help in the COD process.Car started life as a Rally Car but had a big hit.Avanti then fabricated a Space Frame ladder front for it.A Bo Seton prepared mid mount 202 was fitted.Car was quite successful particularly around Amaroo.Went on to win at least 2 Queensland Sports Sedan Championships.A near sister Car was produced for John Bourke.Its development took it down the turbo route.

Doug has been most helpful in the restoration process.

Any help or info greatly appreciated.

[Wirra]

This doesn't look like a Sports Sedan to me but you might try contacting Autopics.to see what they have,

 

 http://autopics.com....-lance-j-ruting

Edited by Wirra, 28 January 2018 - 19:38.

[E1pix]

Or you might try the ever-awesome Lindsay Ross here:
http://oldracephotos.com/content/home/

Edit: This car?: http://oldracephotos...g Clark&x=0&y=0


Per signage, PM me if you need the art re-created for vinyl. Long history of race signage here, and I abhor graphics that aren't as original. :-)

Edited by E1pix, 28 January 2018 - 19:53.

[Ray Bell]

A critical thing will be the year you're shooting to re-create...

I never knew it to have a Holden engine, so I'd be thinking it might have been after 1984.

Where is Doug these days? I caught up with him when he had the Toymotor dealership in Grafton about 24 years ago, but I'm sure he's out of that now.

[Dick Willis]

He is still in Grafton, Ray.

Edited by Dick Willis, 29 January 2018 - 00:48.

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, Dick...

And wasn't there a Racing Car News cover which showed this car?

[mountedwets]

Thanks for the leads.The depth of knowledge here never ceases to amaze.

Ray,the original engine was indeed quite a trick 202 with Irving or Duggan themed head.I think this was the configuration until the second owner,Ray Short,installed a Nissan Turbo around 1986.Then based in Shepparton it was a regular starter at Winton and to a lesser extent Calder.

All fabrication was undertaken by John Wright of Avanti,who I understand manufactured the wheels also.I believe Avanti were also responsible for some Clubman and Formula cars?

Doug was based on the Central Coast and worked with Brian Hilton Toyota who appears to sponsor the car when new.I understand Doug went out on his own a started a Toyota Dealership in Grafton and the car then featured Doug Clark Toyota signage.It was around then that there was more focus on competing on Queensland Tracks rather than supporting the Colmalco or Wunderlich Series at Amaroo.Closer I guess?

Unlike obtaining a Group A or C COD there obviously were never any Homologation Papers making period photos,race reports and recollections important for a accurate and period correct restoration for Group U.

I am aiming to perhaps represent the car in its 1983 Queensland Sports Sedan Championship winning livery and mechanicals featuring Doug’s signage.Thanks again.

[Lee Nicolle]

Thanks, Dick...

And wasn't there a Racing Car News cover which showed this car?

It showed one of them but I cannot remember if it was this one or the John Burke car.

[Lee Nicolle]

Thanks for the leads.The depth of knowledge here never ceases to amaze.

Ray,the original engine was indeed quite a trick 202 with Irving or Duggan themed head.I think this was the configuration until the second owner,Ray Short,installed a Nissan Turbo around 1986.Then based in Shepparton it was a regular starter at Winton and to a lesser extent Calder.

All fabrication was undertaken by John Wright of Avanti,who I understand manufactured the wheels also.I believe Avanti were also responsible for some Clubman and Formula cars?

Doug was based on the Central Coast and worked with Brian Hilton Toyota who appears to sponsor the car when new.I understand Doug went out on his own a started a Toyota Dealership in Grafton and the car then featured Doug Clark Toyota signage.It was around then that there was more focus on competing on Queensland Tracks rather than supporting the Colmalco or Wunderlich Series at Amaroo.Closer I guess?

Unlike obtaining a Group A or C COD there obviously were never any Homologation Papers making period photos,race reports and recollections important for a accurate and period correct restoration for Group U.

I am aiming to perhaps represent the car in its 1983 Queensland Sports Sedan Championship winning livery and mechanicals featuring Doug’s signage.Thanks again.

For some reason a Duggan head is in my head for that car, I think by reading race reports of overheating maybe,, as those Duggans were all porous. I believe the JZ head available now is an improved version of the Duggan cast in far better material. 

Both the Irving and Duggan heads are downdraft and make really good power, though personally they cost too much to get into the car so I went the far cheaper route, a Chev! The first one I built cost less than buying an Irving head [with carbs and pipes] and had more power as well.

[Ray Bell]

I went through the RCNs later...

It showed Bourke's Production Supra. January 1987.




.

Edited by Ray Bell, 29 January 2018 - 22:52.

[Lee Nicolle]

I went through the RCNs later...

It showed Bourke's Production Supra. January 1987.




.

The Celica was shown. probably a decade before. All my old RCNs are all mixed up these days.

[Ray Bell]

Not Doug Clark's...

The Chickadee Celica made a cover at one stage, maybe there's a rally car in there somewhere. But a decade earlier Doug was still racing a Sports Car, the Wright Renault.

April '73 they featured the Brian Sampson Celica Sports Sedan.




.

Edited by Ray Bell, 30 January 2018 - 01:32.

[ellrosso]

Amaroo April 1979

[mountedwets]

Thanks for the interesting pic.Doug raced two Celica Sports Sedans as well as the Group C car.The one in this pic is the first one,mine being an RA40.I am not sure if that one survived.Wheels look similar to my untrained eye possibly Avanti.I have located some new authentic castings.

Will take and attempt to post some pics as it is now if there’s any interest.

Small thread drift but whose Falcon is that in the background.It looks like it is on ‘travel wheels’?

[Lee Nicolle]

Amaroo April 1979

Quite a lot happening there. The Falcon with Torana Flares!! on an obviously too narrow trailer with the back of the Fairlane jacked right up to gain exhaust clearance.

Is there a dog in the Celica, something in the seat.

What breed is that truck behind the Falcon.

Seemingly an FJ parked behind the trailer with presumably the tow vehicle a little AT4 Dodge.

The 105E looked familiar, but not. similar to the recently restored Mick Monterosso unit.

That pit area looks a good place to avoid as none of it is level!

[Ray Bell]

What I really like about that pic is the family scene on the trailer...

Mother and babe, it appears to me. And I think the 'dog' in the Celica might be Doug's spare clothing.

The truck behind the Falcon is one of those very forgettable Japanese models. I think it's a Hino.

[mountedwets]

One can also see the Grice/Gardner/Craven Mild Race Shop.Would have been busy there that year running both the Corvair and Gp C Torana’s.

The Citizen Watches Transporter is also visible which I reckon was used to move the Garry Cooke Gp C Torana.It also appears that it could be a bevy of Ron Hodgson cars and transporter behind.That would possibly make it the day Allan Moffatt drove a second A9X along side Bob Morris?

[Catalina Park]

The ugly truck is a Bedford Forward (by Isuzu).

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Lee Nicolle
.....That pit area looks a good place to avoid as none of it is level!

Actually it wasn't that bad, Lee...

Up the hill it was tiered so there was some relatively flat ground, while the section between the control tower and scrutineering bay (this pic is rignt in the middle of that) was flat.

Certainly flatter than Bathurst, Catalina and Oran Park, though not as flat as Warwick Farm.

[Lee Nicolle]

I guess I have been spoilt, AIR Mallala, Sandown and too an extent PI. Plus most speedways that I have been too which is every one in SA and Western Victoria plus Broken hill.

Yes I can see some sort of terracing up the hill.

I have had decent areas and bog at PI. Luckily that meet I had a car to tow us out of the bog. Though my last visit the pits [and the rest of the place too] was vastly improved. Dare I say for at least Support categories the best in Oz now.

Collingrove is on the side of a hill and these days you are in effect not allowed to work on cars there!

Mt Gambier was horrid though IF you got there a day early the was some decent spots and Mt Alma is literally a cow paddock.

[Lee Nicolle]

One can also see the Grice/Gardner/Craven Mild Race Shop.Would have been busy there that year running both the Corvair and Gp C Torana’s.

The Citizen Watches Transporter is also visible which I reckon was used to move the Garry Cooke Gp C Torana.It also appears that it could be a bevy of Ron Hodgson cars and transporter behind.That would possibly make it the day Allan Moffatt drove a second A9X along side Bob Morris?

So at least Gricey had a really good pit area, though a fair hike from the track.

[mountedwets]

I can’t recall if the Craven Mild backed cars ran out of the shed on race days or used the permanent Car Port that definitely was used latter by the JPS cars.Maybe that was only used after the Grice/Gardner bust up?The JPS Team then located to Tepko Rd. Terrey Hills,which was,I believe,probably was the first European/F1 inspired facility in Australia.

[Ray Bell]

They never went back to the shed during the days of a race meeting...

They had a nice carport in the paddock area.