Bathurst 1978 at Mount Panorama.

Hardie-Feredo 1000. Bathurst, Mt Panorama, NSW, Australia.
Date: 1-10-78
Winners: Peter Brock and Jim Richards.
Car: Holden LX Torana A9X SS. 308cui.

[@hisheroship]

Beautiful looking cars, didn’t handle brilliantly, broke down easily, no pace car, and easily the best racing we’ve ever seen at Bathurst.

[@beagle7622]

I was there that day with an ARDC all areas pass, yes to the first three points . No to the last. Brock ran away and hid from everybody. It was pretty boring from a racing point of view but I loved every second including overhearing the conversations at Sydney Airport between Edsel Ford & Ford Management. Bathurst was at its peak during the late 90’s early 2000’s with Murphy’s lap of the gods being my all time highlight. In fact it does not matter what anybody does in the future that lap was the absolute peak of touring cars at Bathurst.

[@Rassskle]

The A9X was a fantastic handling car on any track, but not designed for suburban roads and because the front wheels were permanently set at neg 1A for the track, they were dangerous on a wet straight road, but always superb In corners. If you think the A9X is a bad handling car, then you can’t drive.

[@saltydog888]

When we all watched Bathurst all day long with only piss stops😆

[@jamesmcgowen1769]

@@Rassskleif you find an interview of John Harvey in Australian Muscle Car magazine you’ll find he thought they were horrible to drive, but looked great doing it. I’d love to own one but my budget won’t stretch that far lol

[@Rassskle]

@@jamesmcgowen1769 John Harvey was a hero, in sports cars I think, until he went to the HDT and everyone found out he couldn’t drive a heavy sedan, only super light race and sports cars. When HDT built the A9X based sports sedan, he was even worse. A criticle eye might suggest that Harvey only looked good in a quick sports car destroying 4 cylinder MGB’s , clubmans and TR4’s. lol

[@deldridg]

I was 10 and dad, a Holden mechanic and I would have enjoyed watching this together. In my 20s, I was a race photographer and got to know a few drivers, including Brocky - a true gentleman, unlike some of his competitors. Now, in 2023, both my dad and Brocky are in the big racecar in the sky and I really miss those days. Thanks for sharing this mate. Cheers - Dave

[@ERTChimpanzee]

Too bad your father is not with you. Aging sucks! :(

[@codebasher1]

A wonderful age to be a fan... Ford or Holden they were great memories.

[@SPOOKSTR]

That opening lap was the stuff of legend. Bobby Morris all crossed up then going door to door with Bond. Man, it almost brings a tear to my eye just remembering.

[@tonyhadenough2574]

Holden's name will always live on. Number 1 on the track, and Number 1 on the road.

[@Internetbutthurt]

Not really...there was typically more Holdens than Fords, in the later years alot more. There was never much difference on the road though in later years Holdens (HSV) build quality was a better but they cost alot more so...

[@wizrom3046]

Unless you like good cars, like a Ford. 😎 But you are right, Holden is slightly better than Valiant, Holden is the best of the shit cars.

[@redgus68]

This was the first bathurst race that my Dad introduced me to watch and was the start of my journey with the great race

[@pasbert4812]

It is with great nostalgia looking back at my father racing in this race in 1978 , catching up with ol mate black jack, and Ickx ,his one regret was telling channel 7 he wasnt interested in having the inaugural incar camera to weigh him down ,that deficit and honour went to Pete Williamson in his Toyota Celica. In hindsight, it was certainly a missed opportunity for extra TV coverage of the car not to mention the historical context. Great times, great race , last decade of the true muscle cars factory made to go racing .

[@ERTChimpanzee]

What was your father's name?

[@peterrees6488]

The absolute Golden Age of touring car racing.

[@paulstark6818]

Great times of racing great looking cars and terrific drivers thank you for memories ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@phillryan1749]

Back when you knew / could distinguish each and every brand and model in the race.

[@chefsam4760]

I remember watching this, real seat of your pants racing. Peter perfect just an unbelievable talent behind the wheel.

[@SquareEarth1]

Just love those old muscle cars!!

[@fonzaug3355]

thanks for the trip down memory lane and through the nostalgia chicane.

[@brianvogt8125]

It's an excellent commentary team which includes my all-time favourite, Evan Green.

[@Maza675]

Those Fords look absolutely awesome

[@huwgrossmith9555]

Real cars, real drivers, real heroes, mamy makes. Not the fake 2 make, supposedly, crap going around now.

[@kaychikybabexo]

Legendary team up of Brock and richards! two of the best on the mountain on the same team

[@Ticonderous1]

As a Chevy guy , Damn those Cobra Falcons looked sweet...

[@bjscorpio4041]

Gee those Falcons look tough.

[@realaussiemale567]

The great old days of Aussie motor racing. Now we have Yank Tanks racing on our tracks. R.I.P Aussie motor sport.

[@leonardgmiller8924]

This is when racing was enjoyable to watch not just touring taxis they had over 34 cars on the field then now only 26 or less needs to be more also more than just two makes now as well

[@MySteamChannel]

Holden guy here...i've had Monaro & Torana coupes but I also love those falcons. Even the Chargers were killer @ Bathhurst!

[@cloudattack3279]

What an opening lap.

[@simonsays602]

Al having his traditional rant at the governing body (albeit he was mostly right)

[@daleharrison3159]

It was great to look back to 1978 James hardy 1000 I was there bought a James hardy beer glass had it for years then got divorced 30 yes later and lost my glass but I got the memories back watching this clip

[@trevoratchison3904]

Wow this is a great off the floor race cars. Not like todays cars well that must be progress

[@CaliforniaAdventurer]

When I was a teenager in the 70s I was OBSESSED with auto racing but over the decades I've slowly lost interest to the point that now I have almost no interest at all. I used to think it was just age, but when I see old videos like this I realize that racing was SO much more entertaining back then: natural terrain around the track, spectators close to the action, softly sprung cars on skinny tires that favored a sideways driving style where you could really see the driver and car working, an element of danger...man, that was excitement; THAT was drama.

[@Baggyarsediver]

I remember this race and watching the axe to the boot as a kid and has always been an enduring memory of Bathurst. Back when Conrod Straight was actually straight and racing into the corner was a test of who had the biggest balls. Sadly not all survived the challenge and paid the ultimate price of the real consequences when it was pushed too far.

[@shanemonro6807]

Better days of Bathurst

[@nickpower-fj9bu]

Big field!!!

[@lorenzomagazzeni5425]

Thats Australiana... No, @hisheroship the cars for the public were bullet proof.

[@JohnJohnson-hk7cj]

When real men raced real cars!

[@johnlinnenlucke3944]

A9X the best Holden ever

[@durbledurb3992]

'If it doesn't weigh at least 2 tonnes I won't sit into it.' - Australian driver logic in 1978.

[@Rob-fc9wg]

If it doesn't have steering, brakes and suspension straight off an 1850s Cobb & Co mail coach, I don't wanna race it!

[@Mahatheyew]

There's at least 500 cars in that field right?

[@johnlinnenlucke3944]

A9X at there best

[@wizrom3046]

Were the Toranas V8s?

[@Rob-fc9wg]

5 litre (308 ci) V8.

[@wizrom3046]

@@Rob-fc9wg ... thanks. And the ford falcons were 351 V8? Surprising how much better the 351 was on the long straight, I would have thought a small Torana with a 308 would beat a big heavy Falcon with a 351

[@Rob-fc9wg]

@@wizrom3046 Yeah, that's just one of the factors that made this series so good.

[@kerrykelaher2607]

" brock got bad start ?" ( wheelspin) then caught up 😮 !

[@garydoeblin2980]

Good ole bondy...if you cant beat them, ram them out of the way

[@markchilcott719]

Not always deliberately ramming, brakes were often drum rear and tyres would go off. Basically family cars modified a little !

[@jamesmcgowen1769]

@@markchilcott719Cobra’s and A9X’s had disc brake rear ends

[@whatsupshittafabraans1926]

Cut the infill at the dipper whilst your there

[@mortenfrosthansen84]

It a bit paradoxical to watch. When in USA, the Ford models were the slim, lightweight sporty cars, with GM and Dodge being the big boys. Here it's completely the other way around

[@swedishbob_7315]

Conrod ALL straight

[@happivaras]

Did any fuct on race day s manage to finish on race day ?

[@MajorT0m]

😂

[@johngoogle8635]

murray carter came third

[@happivaras]

@@johngoogle8635 Was that during a ménage à trois?

[@philkelly8031]

5he smaller car wins

[@Rapture_Ready_Rabbit]

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[@brianvogt8125]

True, but to anyone who hasn't had it translated into English, it's just meaningless dribble which turns their minds away from a future message which would otherwise have been useful.

[@oldmanJ]

What has John 3:16 have to do with motor racing?