The Kiwis Are Back!

They blew us away with their AMCMasters debut in 2007, so we’re very excited to confirm that after a two-year break, New Zealand’s wildest muscle car competition - Central Muscle Cars - is returning to shake The Creek again in 2009. The CMC series is one NZ’s most popular motor sport attractions, boasting some of the fastest and most powerful muscle cars ever let loose on a race track. And flying the flag for Australia will be Paul ‘Sideways’ Stubber in a new killer Camaro. We can’t wait!

GT-HO 40th Anniversary!

Mention the term ‘Australian Muscle Car’ and the first image in most people’s minds (apart from this great magazine) is the Falcon GT-HO. Born and bred to win at Bathurst, the mighty ‘Super Roo’ was an instant classic when released in 1969 and has remained the undisputed king of Aussie muscle cars ever since. To celebrate the 40th birthday of this iconic Ford super car, the 2009 AMCMasters will be GT-HO heaven. Not only is this rare Bathurst breed one of the ‘Featured Muscle Marques’ this year (see page 7), but the Masters will also play host to arguably the greatest gathering of famous competition ‘HOs ever seen on a race track. Look forward to some exciting announcements over the coming months about the famous GT-HOs that will be joining us for the ultimate birthday bash!

AMCMasters Team of Champions Driver Parade!

The attendance of so many racing champions and big names from our motor racing past is one of the major attractions of the AMCMasters each year, so we’ve decided to give the fans even more with a special ‘Team of Champions’ driver parade during the event. It will give all of us a chance to cheer our many racing heroes when they’re out on the track, just as we did during their racing careers. Of course, these muscle car legends will also be on hand to chat and sign as many pieces of racing memorabilia as they can.

Legends already confirmed as attending the 2009 Masters include Fred and Chris Gibson, Harry Firth, Allan Moffat, Colin Bond, Allan Grice, Kevin Bartlett, Jim Richards, Glenn and Barry Seton, John French, John Bowe, Bob Morris, Bob Holden and John Harvey. More to be announced soon!

Trans-Am Replicas!

The halcyon days of Australia?fs Improved Production class in the 1960s and early ‘70s are inextricably linked with the SCCA Trans-Am series, that was taking place at the same time in the USA. Cars like Bob Jane’s ‘68 Shelby Mustang and Allan Moffat’s ‘69 Bud Moorebuilt Boss 302 raced here and many of the Trans-Am themes in design and construction had a strong influence on our local car builders and rule makers. To acknowledge this strong historic link, we are encouraging construction of authentic replicas of famous Trans-Am racers from the 1966-1971 era; specifically the V8 factory muscle cars raced by Ford, Mercury, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Dodge, Plymouth and American Motors. These Trans-Am replicas will strut their stuff in the ‘Heritage Hot Lap’ sessions. A handful of these cars have already been built, so the more the merrier!

Featured Muscle Marques

To acknowledge the dedication, enthusiasm and passion of muscle car clubs, in 2009 we will again showcase particular makes and models of muscle cars that are celebrating special anniversaries.

An all-new road car display strategy will be employed this year, as event organisers continue to respond to the rapid growth of the event and the need to minimise traffic congestion in the increasingly busy pit area complex. This year, all Featured Muscle Marque cars will be displayed exclusively on the bitumen-sealed car parking area directly behind the main grandstand and the bitumen-sealed car park/lawn areas directly in front of the main administration building.

These newly dedicated areas not only provide a superior all-weather display facility, but also allow easy access to/from the racetrack via a new sealed access way for the speed-controlled parade lap session that will take place during Sunday’s program.

So, if you’re lucky enough to own one of the rare Australian muscle cars highlighted below (must be in clean, presentable condition to be displayed) and you would like to join us for a great day out, then make sure you get your entry in early.

Falcon GT-HO 40th Anniversary

In August 1969, the Ford Motor Company of Australia released a special limited-build competition version of its XW Falcon GT, called the GT-HO. It was designed and built with one job in mind - victory in Australia?fs biggest motor race. The GT-HO failed in its bid to win on debut at Bathurst that year due to unsuitable tyres, but the new Ford?fs ferocious performance and astonishing top speeds on Mount Panorama?fs long straights raised Australia?fs motoring pulse to a new level of excitement, as these cars could be purchased straight off the showroom floor! The faster, tougher GT-HO models that followed in 1970 (Phase II) and 1971 (Phase III) enjoyed back-to-back wins, making Ford the undisputed ‘King Of The Mountain’. The death of the 1972 Phase IV, when it was poised for production, brought the GT-HO era to a
crushing end but not before the Phase III wrapped up both the 1972 ManChamp and 1973 ATCC titles. In 2009, we invite owners of all GT-HOs to join us for this very special celebration of the quintessential Australian muscle car. All XW, XY and XA GTs also welcome.

Monaro GTS 350 40th Anniversary

August 1969 also marked the public release of Holden’s most powerful Bathurst contender of the Series Production era - the HT Monaro GTS 350. This was when the escalating muscle car war for Bathurst supremacy between Ford and Holden reached flashpoint. Powered by a potent 350ci Chevrolet V8, the new Monaro took the battle right up to the new GT-HOs at Bathurst that year and scored a memorable victory as the Ford attack ‘deflated’ during an epic contest. The following year, Holden replaced the Monaro with the new six cylinder Torana as its Series Production race car, so the Monaro GTS 350 ended its competitive life on a high with victory at Bathurst in 1969. And, thanks to Stormin‘ Norm Beechey, Holden’s first Australian Touring Car Championship title the following season. With those brutally handsome lines, it is also one the of best looking Australian muscle cars ever made. So, let?fs celebrate the 40th birthday of this famous Monaro in style, with as many HT GTS 350s as we can muster.

‘Brocky’s Biggest Bathurst Win’ 30th Anniversary

No one had done it before. No one has come close since. And thanks to today’s Safety Car rules, it will stand for all time. The outright victory by Peter Brock and Jim Richards in their HDT Torana A9X at Bathurst in 1979 was
unprecedented. They won by six laps - or nearly 40 kms ahead of the secondplaced car! It is, quite simply, the biggest win in Bathurst history. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of that astonishing achievement, we invite all Torana A9X owners to gather at Eastern Creek on Father’s Day to celebrate that special Sunday in September, 1979.
• All Torana L34s also welcome, as this iconic Aussie Muscle Car celebrates its 35th birthday in 2009.

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by phone 02 9672 1000 or at the Eastern Creek Raceway office