One of Australia’s most famous Sports Sedan racecars from the iconic 1970s will make its first public appearance since being restored at next weekend’s Muscle Car Masters event at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 29-30.
The famous Ansett Valiant Charger driven by three-time Australian Drivers Champion John McCormack and now owned by former racer Mark Trenoweth will be on static display after many years unseen by the racing public.
As a special bonus, McCormack himself and two of his other groundbreaking Sports Sedans from the period – the Repco V8-powered Celica now owned by Bruce Gowans and the Jaguar XJ-S also owned by Trenoweth – will be on hand at Muscle Car Masters.
Entry to the paddock area is free.
Powered by a Repco-Holden five-litre V8 engine mounted right alongside the driver in a bid to optimize weight distribution – a practice adopted by virtually all similar cars in the years that followed – McCormack’s Charger debuted in early 1974 and was instantly a success. Built in Adelaide by former Chrysler engineer Harry Aust, McCormack’s Charger used many components taken from an Elfin Formula 5000 open wheeler including fully adjustable twin wishbone suspension, powerful disc brakes and a Hewland five-speed gearbox.
The Tasmanian won the prestigious Toby Lee Sports Sedan Series at Oran Park in 1974 aboard the Charger, which remains one of the iconic cars from the early era of Australian Sports Sedan racing.
First held in 2005 it has become a permanent part of Sydney Motorsport Park’s calendar and this year moves from the Father’s Day weekend to October 29-30.
The 2016 event will feature an all-star racing line-up of Historic Group A and C Touring Cars in the Heritage Touring Cars class, Australian Trans-Am, Group N Historic Touring Cars and Group S as well as the new Sports Racing Car Invitational demo category featuring thumping Sports Cars, GT, Can-Am and Historic Sports Sedan machinery.
Tickets are now available for Muscle Car Masters with online purchases offering a significant saving compared to on-the-day prices.
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