2016 NEWS: Big Banger sporties ready!

The first and last cars to win the CAMS Australian Sports Car Championship are the latest additions to the new Sports Racing Car Invitational category at this year’s Australian Muscle Car Masters on October 29-30 at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Alan Nolan and his Nola-Chevrolet became the last-ever CAMS Australian Sports Car Champions in 1988, claiming the four-round title by eight points before the championship was discontinued at the end of that season.

First held in 1969 the Australian Sports Car Championship honour roll includes the likes of Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan, John Harvey, Allan Moffat and John Bowe.

Now, 28 years on, Nolan and his Nola will be joined by the car that won the inaugural Australian Sports Car Championship in 1969 in the hands of the late Frank Matich; the mighty Matich SR4 (pictured) now owned by Nigel Tait.

They will be part of a trio of 15-minute demonstrations featuring big banger Sportscars, historically significant Sports Sedans and muscle-packed GT and Can-Am cars.

Also confirmed among the Historic Sports Sedans line-up are two of legend John McCormack’s old cars.

Mark Trenoweth is bringing to Sydney the ex-McCormack Jaguar XJ-S that the Tasmanian racing legend drove, while fellow Tasmanian Bruce Gowans has recently finished restoration of the wild Toyota Celica Sports Sedan that McCormack helped build. The Trenoweth-owned Charger Sports Sedan will also be on static display.

Wall Racing will return to the Muscle Car Masters with its Formula 5000-powered Holden Dealer Team Torana formerly raced by Colin Bond. The team had hoped to have its Toyota Supra; a car that began its life as a Chevrolet Monza, but it is a late scratching due to mechanical issues.

Australian-built Sportscars will be well-represented by Steve Webb’s Repco-powered Elfin 360, Nigel Tait’s gorgeous 1969 Australian Sports Car Championship-winning Matich SR4 and Keith and Tim Berryman’s Matich SR3.

The glorious Can-Am cars of the 1970s will also be represented by Andrew Kluver’s marvellous ex-Keke Rosberg Newman-Haas Lola Can-Am car.

Event organisers still have room for additional cars with owners of suitable Sports Cars, GT, Can-Am and Historic Sports Sedans invited to contact them.