As you may have seen in the last few issues of NZV8, 26 of New Zealand’s toughest muscle cars have been confirmed to compete at the 2016 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, being held over October 6–9. The 26 cars, all of which compete in the local Enzed Central Muscle Cars series were loaded into containers over the weekend of September 10–11 for the long slow trip across the Tasman.
Included in the cars heading abroad are vehicles synonymous with Bathurst from days gone by, like Dr John Elliott’s six-cylinder LJ Torana and Greg Cuttance’s XE Falcon, both wearing period-correct graphics [not pictured above].
However, there’s also a handful of cars more associated with racing in America rather than Australia that are making the trip, and they are sure to impress the crowds just as much — like Duane Ingley’s Dodge Challenger and Paul Clarke’s Mustang.
When we popped in to see the cars being loaded, Steve Scole’s first-gen Camaro was just being closed in.
Meanwhile, to avoid any customs delays on the other side, racks of brand-new tyres were being secured before more vehicles could be pushed into place — two per container.
Long-time CMC committee member, and even longer-time VK Commodore racer, Andrew Turner soon arrived, and his Marlboro-liveried VK was rolled from trailer to container.
Showing up at the same time was Michael Eden’s Falcon. The fact that it was towed by a Holden was sure to wind up those one-eyed car-lovers out there.
If ever a driver needed to be grateful for his crew, it’s Tristan Teki — while he lay on a beach in Bali, his crew dragged his road-legal Camaro up from Whanganui.
Maybe we just arrived at Camaro-loading time, as Colin Meadow’s impressive second-gen was also making the transition from trailer to container.
Once landed in Australia, the containers will be trucked to Bathurst for the great race. The schedule includes three seven-lap races against the similarly specced Australian ‘TCM’ class, which is bound to have the crowds on their feet. Imagine the sight and sound of 50 old muscle cars flying over the mountain!
We wish the team all the best for the adventure, and we are sure it’ll be the trip of a lifetime.
- Bruce Anderson — Ford Mustang
- Calvin Andrew — VK Commodore
- Tony Barrow — VK Commodore
- Paul Clarke — Ford Mustang
- Cam Crawford — XA Falcon
- Greg Cuttance — XE Falcon
- Grant Dalton — Chev Camaro
- Michael Eden — XY Falcon
- John Elliott — LJ Torana
- Sean Fowler — LX Torana
- Tony Galbraith — Valiant Charger
- Ross Graham — LX Torana
- Steve Hildred — HT Monaro
- Greg Holden — XR Falcon
- Mark Holland — Chev Camaro
- David Hopper — Chev Camaro
- Duane Ingley — Dodge Challenger
- Brendan Mason — Chev Camaro
- Colin Meadows — Chev Camaro
- John Midgley — XE Falcon
- Steve Noyer — Ford Mustang
- Dean Perkins — XD Falcon
- Steve Ross — VK Commodore
- Steve Scoles — Chev Camaro
- Tristan Teki — Chev Camaro
- Andrew Turner — VK Commodore
