"End of an Era" Bathurst 1979

[@FutureSystem738]

It was still a real race in those days. Brock was a master! Bathurst is BORING now, just a series of short sprints between safety cars. I often don’t even bother watching any more unless I have nothing better to do.

[@keithcarter9396]

Allan Moffat is one of my hero's, A tough competitor who blew away the opposition. I met him in the 200's at Monroe Adelaide when I was working there. He lifted Australian motor sport when he arrived downunder. A real charismatic guy to have on your team.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I loved the quote about "if the car lasts four laps, I just drive it and know it'll last the whole race."

[@davidwarland2680]

lol yea right

[@petergale827]

I'm a holden man. Mr Moffat, the real hero ..and all the boys..

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

i used to sit in front of the tv as a kid for the entire race, and be totally mesmerized.

[@cloudattack3279]

05, The fastest packet of smokes ever seen. That livery was iconic.

[@alanely4161]

Thanks for leaving the ADS on the cars it is good to see them again as they were in the day

[@StuffForNerds]

Back then the Hardie Ferodo was an endurance race, and used virtually unmodified production cars. That's why they have for example a passengers seat. To me the race was far more interesting as they were the cars you and I could have bought and own, not like todays "V8 Supercars" which I find boring.

[@Samsgarden]

ThingsNerdy Virtually unmodified? I don't think so. But yes - compared to today's touring cars, which only bear a resemblance to production cars.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

+ThingsNerdy They actually were quite modified, but at least the original parts were modified.

[@brendonburgess9721]

+ThingsNerdy definitely a sprint race these days!

[@wayneutting9026]

The usual sensationalism from a f***ed in the head reporter trying to make a name for himself... ruined GT/S era... then 7 had the hide to put him on as a commentator for Bathurst.. I prayed that a wheel would come lose and find the arse....

[@risktaker141]

Which reporter? The one in the clip or are you talking about the OP?

[@justindecombes3752]

How nervous was the team when Brocky decided to smash the lap record on the last lap. What an absolute icon.

[@harleylongney7619]

It's so legendary!

[@bradwilliams1691]

Bathurst cheat!

[@harrywalker968]

yeh well.. you have to have a 9'' diff to stand that torture,, not a sht salisbury. or did they ilegaly use 12 bolts.. cheating as usual..hence, drop tanks, so you cant see the diff. 9''.. & torans, with side draughts.. never an option,,su,s only.. fkn sad holdens..

[@qizza7142]

@@harrywalker968have a cry you wanker 😂

[@theworkshopmechanicchannel3296]

Hard to believe that now 2019 and how things have changed, No more Ford vs Holden The Australian Automotove industry has been relocated to the history books.

[@srnunan4783]

There were more manufacturers in the video era than just Holden and Ford, it was the favouring of rules to suit a holden vs Ford event that spelled the beginning of the end, long before 2019

[@paullangenberg5907]

No better looking cars than the toranas and xb's wish i had either one

[@the_road__warrior6185]

A distant memory of what NASCAR used to be.. The times sure have changed.. This was long before my time but I consider myself to be a motor sports historian. The origins of Bathurst & Daytona may be significantly different, The one thing they have in common. *unforgettable history*

[@philsurtees]

Please don't compare Bathurst to the nonsense that is American - we can't turn right - racing. Talk about delusional...

[@Kingmick58]

Crazy good mate. Thanks for posting. Love the old stuff, me being old and all.

[@Troys81]

This is awesome. Thanks for salvaging this footage and sharing it with the world and most importantly Australian car fans of all ages (I wasn't born until 1981).

[@StuffForNerds]

you are welcome, pleased you enjoyed it.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

You want to say a small car isn't an Aussie car but it was a sign of the times. Nowadays we need SUV and 4x4 races.

[@holdenmad111]

To me having never been to bathurst but watching since 1969, 1979 was to me the ultimate race! with 1984's "Last of the big bangers" up there also.

[@patrickodonnell1359]

1977

[@patrickodonnell1359]

Also

[@beagle7622]

The Penrith Pantherettes were one of the big hits of that race . I remember ( come on we where young guys ) watching them . No longer youngsters those girls but were unlike other marching girls.

[@ronnykauffmann812]

Man even the tire squeez sonds like Mad Max, amazing. That Falcon doing a spin and a burnout gave me goosebumps. Man if i could have been there...

[@racketman2u]

The Toranas may have been quick, but I must admit I loved the look of the Falcon GTs of that era.

[@cancan8467]

Falcon GT look like big grandpa cars That Torana just looks amazing Looks tough as

[@rodneyjones4890]

@@cancan8467 Go look at how many times the grandpa Falcons won Bathurst compared to your girly toranas. How does the torana look tough ? Oh, a woman basher driving it makes it look tough ? The man who had to follow orders his whole life. He died cause he didnt follow what he was told. Harry Firth told him not to run. Giant Killer ? It was Wet & Moffat got a 3min penalty, not to mention you bitched about the XA-GT cause you had nothing to catch it so you got it banned. Luck not Giant Killer. Holden fans are the biggest wankers on Earth. How is a car sexy ? You crack-a-fat over a car ? Loser.

[@cancan8467]

@@rodneyjones4890 don’t get upset cry baby You know Holden’s won so many more races than Ford there was really no point them even turning up most days .. Ford Look outdated soon as released they were 5 plus years behind Holden if not 10 years in design and sexiness .. XD was only car they released looked ok

[@thomasraftery409]

@@cancan8467 Not playing with a level field. The Falcons by 79 were hardly competitive and swamped by Toranas in numbers. CAMS should never have let it develope in to a series of Odd ball makes

[@boss351gt6]

Torana looks like a cheap box with ugly bolt ons. Hardtops have style.

[@davehad-enough2369]

Great video. The livery still on the cars, as it should be, and a focus not only on drivers reactions but also the times. 10.10 makes the point and that theme continues. A wonderful win for Peter Brock and as Moffat stated, Brock was driving around like it was a Sunday School Picnic.

[@GoldCoastCB]

Now days I look at the title of these clips and think, nah. But after a few seconds I'm hooked again. Racers like Brock, Johnson etc weren't just racers back then. They were also entertaining commentators as well. Miss the lot of them (even Dick). Modern day racing is too commercialised for me to bother looking at.

[@StuffForNerds]

GoldCoastCB Yes I agree, I loved Australian motorsport back then. Dick Johnson was always being interviewed as he drove, as it was guaranteed to be a laugh.

[@robertanderson5796]

The only day of the year when I would sit in front of the tv for hours watching these talented people driving the state of the art vehicles of the time. Today it's not the same. Computers , electronics , trans axles. The excitement of motor racing is still there but it's not the same. Maybe I'm just getting old.

[@gazoline7093]

back in the day when drivers were worried if the car would even start or the brakes would work LOVE IT. all the computer monitors in V8 supercars should be banned and they should race a stock car that we can buy imagine if they would race a Holden HSV LSA and a ford falcon GT-R unmodified

[@woopimagpie]

They do. It's called production car racing. You should check out the Bathurst 6 Hour, 19th - 21st April 2019. It's pretty much exactly what you're asking for.

[@manofwar577]

@@woopimagpie And the 6 hour is far more interesting!

[@petercare3756]

If memory serves me correct this was the first race where we had on board camera inside a car. It was in the Toyota Celica of Peter Williamson. I remember watching the on board camera and thinking "how good is this?" It was a great innovation introduced by Channel 7. What made it better is the Williamson Celica lasted the whole race, winning its class and finished 9th. A top 10 finish in a little Celica was a sensational result for Peter Williamson, and the TV viewers were the beneficiaries.

[@chuckcarter7864]

And when he came over Skyline Peter said “I can see all the way to Blakehurst” where he lived .

[@jimrockford3662]

That Federation/ Camel Falcon was by far the best looking car in the race. Deserved better. That’s racing.

[@DerekArmsden]

I remember watching the build-up to this race. The commentator clearly wasn't aware that his microphone was still live and you could hear him going "Fwoar", "Ooooooooooooohhhhh" and other groaning noises at the Pink Pantherettes. Dad & I were pissing ourselves.

[@andymartinez767]

This was real racing and real great times. The cars, all different breeds too not just two as we have now.

[@denisegore1884]

This is brilliant, thanks for a great upload. You can see why Brock was the media darling: good looking, articulate and confident. Even when he started talking rubbish, the media were loathe to say anything bad about him.

[@philsurtees]

Are you saying that crystals won't improve my fuel economy?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

No one's ever heard of you two.

[@MrValiantAP6]

Many thanks mate. Good restoration, it's safe now for ever.

[@mickcarson8504]

MrValiant are you a Valiant fan/owner?

[@chopperking1122]

the monaro he flying around in 79 is the only surviving HDT 350 monaro . spencer martin put it thru the fence at the end of the main straight at sandown in 1969 . It was repaired and sold as a road car . its still round to this day .

[@ldnwholesale8552]

This sort of victory will never happen again. The safety car will come out and slow the field down.

[@woopimagpie]

Yeah, cos we all want to see somebody win by 6 laps. How fucking boring.

[@EODChaosWo1f]

@@woopimagpie how is that boring? the idea is to WIN the race if you allow the race leader to get 6 laps ahead of the entire field then your car is shit get a better faster car, forcing to reel in racers to give other teams a fighting chance is whats fucking boring its a race to see who is the best not a special ed class where everyone is a "winner" because reasons. its attitudes like yours and others thats ruined motorsport today!

[@MickH60]

@@woopimagpie It was far better racing back then, far better...

[@fins59]

Great video, great sound & music, great drivers & cars.

[@StuffForNerds]

Thanks.

[@DrFelonious]

Back when it was still interesting.

[@StuffForNerds]

I heartily agree

[@Super100MPH]

What a wonderful video, takes me back, thanks so much for the upload, great effort!

[@StuffForNerds]

thanks

[@gladeye2]

King of the mountain RIP

[@StuffForNerds]

True! He was the Golden Holden boy back then. Me, I batted for the other team back then, old Comeoffit Moffat and the mighty Falcons. These days I dont care what badge is on a car, as long as its good and doesnt cause me stress!

[@pauldroop]

The A9X was such a pretty car

[@harrisionstan3773]

Great car, great drivers, crushing win. Will be at Bathurst this year for the 40th Anniversary of the Falcons getting handed their arse.

[@mickcarson8504]

LOL. As you say...

[@Mr_Bute]

Brass Band music at the start of the video is "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" from the 1965 movie of the same name Excellent choice Bandmaster.

[@michaelandrew4488]

Good to see all of the old sponsors

[@alecyoung3107]

1996 "The end of the mens race at Bathurst" 1997 "And the start of the Under 10's Girls race to replace it" along with the mandatory mornings teas and scones at 11:00 am, all cars stop for a hug and a good scone with a cup of tea or even 2.. for the more adventurous....... Then it's back into the cars for gaggle of little girls to finish the race before 7pm.

[@StuffForNerds]

I tend to agree :)

[@richardjohnson4696]

Yep, end of an era. That was the last era where women still had a full bush and were proud of them.

[@peter12266]

:) he he he

[@ColtSSR]

Good riddance

[@richardjohnson4696]

It was like sasquatch blowing you kisses through a thick mane of fur.

[@vesnabernjak-ord8674]

Screw you, focus in the racing. Not a bush you idiot! 🖕

[@Zubatec]

Thanks so much for uploading.. From Czech Republic with love !

[@StuffForNerds]

you are welcome, I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@Zubatec]

@@StuffForNerds I really appreciate it. I love everything Australian, especially motorsport. And this movie gave me so many informations, plus the lovely vhs quality.. thanks again !

[@Gr8mate13]

Never going to beat the HDT Toranas fully sponsored and full backing , Moffat was buying his own Sparkplugs as Ford had pulled out

[@phantomwalker8251]

at least the ford was ford,& not part ford like the holdens.9" diffs,v8 brakes on a 6 cyl,anything to win,.sierras 4 laps ahead of brock,ban them,we have to win.ITS A FIXED RACE.PERIOD.never seen a holden beat a ferrari.,,eh..real races,not fixed..

[@phantomwalker8251]

oh yeh,& cambered wheels on the radial tuned suspension b/s,of about 3.5 degrees.BECAUSE TORANAS NEVER HANDLED.

[@01ajmc]

@@phantomwalker8251 Tons Of Rust And No Acceleration

[@MickH60]

@@phantomwalker8251 I've owned both GT's and SLR,s mate, loved both too, to say the Torana's never handled is pure BS....

[@martywarner1779]

The GOAT ... RIP Champ!

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

I have four race falcons ! And one mustang

[@NetmanOnline]

@ThingsNerdy. If you ask Dick Johnson, Alan Moffett and (RIP) Peter Brock. They have all said that the ATCC was the way Australian motorsport had to go. Trust me, Peter Perfect did say that one day to Crompo.

[@rossteazis9760]

Brocky b rolling in his grave to c what has happened 2 his beloved Holden, cant believe it myself. RIP

[@brittenv1000]

Janson was second.? What a legend .

[@glendooer6211]

Had a 302 and every time a 308 would pull up at the lights I would panic thinking about those extra 6 cubes..So got a bigger cam 500 2 barrel and extractors..moved on to my work car Yellow 1/2 white Vynl roof XY GT

[@StegRacing]

ThingsNerdy's reply: "I personally dont recognise the music at around the 8 minute mark, but Shazam on my phone reckons its called "Midnight Moodles" by Joe Walsh." Just in case you didn't come back to check :)

[@boss351gt6]

Nothing looks better than a fat ass falcon

[@kerrynball2734]

How bad are the shocks on the Commodore when he jumps in at the end.

[@StuffForNerds]

I personally dont recognise the music at around the 8 minute mark, but Shazam on my phone reckons its called "Midnight Moodles" by Joe Walsh.

[@StuffForNerds]

yes, sorry I haven't been able to answer here until just now, you are correct, I got a copyright hit on that exact song :)

[@iandibley8032]

A fantastic era of motor sport the atmosphere extremely entertaining racing today's V8 cars are to controlled too many rules too people in the pits on computers controlling the race .. bring back the more simple era.

[@rodneyjones4890]

The Era started in 1967 with the XR GT 289 not the Monaro 350. You totally forgot the 327 Monaro.

[@StuffForNerds]

This laserdisc WAS a Holden Promo Disc, so very biassed as you can imagine.

[@patmcardle2769]

I have never understood why ford never released a 351 V8 cortina and Chrysler never entering a 318 fireball centura ... Could have changed the game back then I think ....

[@noelgibson5956]

They struggled to get the Cortina six right. What hope would they have with a V8 model? Holden was able to do Torana six and V8, and get the cars right. Torana was a masterstroke for them.

[@noelgibson5956]

Holden's final foray into Bathurst was a farce. The imported ZB Commodores running V8 engines that weren't available to the public......why bother? Nobody bought those cars, and i never watched Bathurst by that stage. I'd never get those Sunday's back.

[@carlosgibson2777]

go the fords

[@joelbibleminorprophet3411]

2:40 the next year, 1980 Moffat XD Falcon blew up on the first lap. He predicted that one.

[@darrendeal3103]

Remember watching a interview with Moffat saying Fords big bosses ya need to dig deep into your pockets as Holdens are coming for us after 1977 fords 1-2 finish 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

A fortune driving around that track. If they'd have known how much those cars would be worth today they'd have purchased a few more and put them away

[@tedsmith6137]

Brocky saying it is his 10th Bathurst, but still hasn't learnt to pronounce it properly. Then again, many of the people commenting during the 2020 race couldn't say it properly either.

[@no-namecrown5510]

This is exactly why Supercars can't hold a candle to the original Group C touring cars. Brocky's A9X is worth more $$ than any car of the future ever will be!

[@GMHNUT]

Hi. I have a Discovision unit and am trying to digitise each disc without much luck I'm afraid. I can digitise audio but not video. Have tried several techniques including first converting to VHS which works however once again the image won't transfer to HDD. How did you convert your discs? Any guidance would be appreciated.

[@StuffForNerds]

I had quite a bit of trouble myself as the disk and the player only support NTSC. I had trouble with all the dropouts as the disk is badly laser rotted. In the end I used a Sony digital8 camcorder with a tape I recorded nothing but the timecode on, them used it to record the output from the laserdisc player. I then used the firewire connection to get the contents onto my PC for clean up, editing etc. These days I have an old Canopus ADVC-500 which works very well and tolerates the tape or disk dropouts form old and rather tired media. Hope that all makes sense and helps.

[@StuffForNerds]

Thanks for the comments.

[@gjmob]

I remember the Pioneer discoVision well. We used it at Sutton's Motors Darwin. The sales department would use it for P.R., then it would come to the workshop for training nights.

[@leoverrilli7498]

Good clip, haven't seen this one before. What exactly ended in 1979 though?

[@denisegore1884]

Toranas. At the very end of the film, he drives off in a Commodore.

[@kateokeefe4186]

I realise I sound like a trainspotter, but 44D was Bondy's 1969 race winning Monaro...

[@howardreynolds2183]

Brock was driving the monaro that he shared with des west which came in 3rd.

[@rowanparmiter7622]

Brocktober

[@brentanllewellyn3898]

Thank you for this post

[@StuffForNerds]

You're welcome

[@Miatacrosser]

Wow. Ya'll have marching bands and cheerleaders in Australia! How cool is that. Tired of these holden commercials though

[@drummarr61]

Fantastic, thanks.

[@charliebruce4132]

Awesome, thanks for the upload.

[@jonwilliams4507]

Poor old Dicky J. Always getting the sympathy vote. He was pretty good, but unlucky and such a sook.

[@StegRacing]

24:45 Thank you for uploading this :)

[@StuffForNerds]

you are welcome

[@OzBloke]

It was virtually a 'production' race back then.

[@alabvt]

Is that Eddie McGuire on the podium behind Brocky?

[@stefanvermaes661]

I wonder if the commadore at the end was or turned out to be a Brocky?

[@mickabikhair675]

You knew why " they were that much quicker". The public doesn't.

[@kingofthejungle3833]

what was the era that ended? because it was still the Marlboro HDT through to the mid 80's

[@seanbyrne7919]

King OfTheJungle end of the Tirana’s

[@JBofBrisbane]

But wasn't Pioneer DiscoVision the same principle as CDs? In which case, it was already digital.

[@StuffForNerds]

Actually no, with CDs the audio is digitised then stored on the disc as binary bits, with the Pioneer DiscoVision, the Video was stored as an analogue FM signal, with the "tops" of the FM waveform clipped making a pseudo digital signal. Later Laser Discs were true digital with the video and audio digitised before being written to the master. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaserDisc look under the "design" heading.

[@zeromega]

Legends

[@Snakelegs-go8qo]

Who else besides me is so grateful to have been a kid in the 70's? Nowadays, all the racing is like life, heavily regulated. politically correct & covered in bubble wrap for fear of offending someone.. I miss the 70's.. I wish i'd never sold my old XB coupe in 1988.. it was only 15yrs old then LOL

[@notamoron2246]

Brock was a freak of a driver. Imagine if he'd been driving a Falcon, he would have won 20 times.

[@Rassskle]

Heavy editing and definitely sneaky false advertising for Holden at every opportunity. Bond would claim his first win was justified and earnt, but it wasn't. I don't believe he would claim to grab the lead about half distance and maintain the lead to the finnish. The Falcons blew them away, but only Moffat could handle the big Fords and look after the tyres. All the quick Falcons had crippling tyre problems, while Moffat dissappeared into the distance with perfect tyres. Moffat was cruising with about half a lap leed, when team boss Harry Firth ordered Moffat to pit.. ....for tyres that were still as new. Moffat left the pits with no time to catch Bond in the leed. Unbeknown to Ford and Moffat, team boss Harry Firth had already signed with Holden to be the HDT boss next year. Both Firth and Holden should have been investigated and then rubbed out for at least 12 months.

[@har234908234]

I'd love to know what that timing gear is at around 9:09

[@gregorybathurst7171]

ever since i can remember , dick johnson would always go for it , call it risky ? call it what you like , history be pretty damn slow with out him , i like those 2 door toranas going over fast

[@harrisonmcinerney4285]

40 yrs ago on Sunday

[@ajimaster287]

Makes it sound like bathurst went from 69 to 79.

[@YouCantSawSawdust]

6:36....There's young Bo again.

[@domenicozagari2443]

The Torana was inspired by the alfa gta , a bigger car with a bigger engine.

[@c2105026]

If that VB SLE is still getting about now, imagine what it'd be worth!

[@FerrariKangaroo]

That was my first car. I had one in mint condition and with 30k on the clock when a drunk random drove into my lane one night and hit me head-on at 80kph when I was a teenager. Fortunately I had my drivers seat all the way back (like a tosser) and it averted me from any injury other than bruising from the seatbelt. The VB was a total write-off though :(. I remember sitting in the wreck of the car that was sitting in my parents driveway every weekend for a couple of years after that as I couldn't afford to repair it as I was still paying it off. That moment ruined my early teens/twenties of my life but I still miss that car.

[@jonwilliams4507]

Is the Joe Walsh sound track yours or original. Great tunes.

[@StuffForNerds]

The sound track is original, straight from the old laserdisc

[@philmoore815]

I cant believe they had the passenger seat in the race cars....did they not understand anything about weight?

[@FerrariKangaroo]

They were just warm/lightly modified street cars; that was the point of the race. It was meant to be representative of what you could buy in a showroom. Are you young or just daft?

[@UberLummox]

Odd seeing 4dr. race cars. Are those US based V8s I'm hearing? I do recognize British Ford Zephyr based cars that had V6s I think.

[@sammy_dog]

Brock's HDT Torana had a 308 Holden 5L or 4999cc bent 8 Australian engine while the fords had the 351 some fords may of being using 302's as well

[@UberLummox]

@@sammy_dog Thanks!

[@marcust510]

I’m from America. What kind of fords are those?? & did Holden always use Chevy engines?? Someone educate me please lol

[@sammy_dog]

the Ford is a Falcon XC coupe the same type of car as the Mad Max car just a later model. No the A9X Torana had a Holden 308 V8 made in Australia

[@marcust510]

Sammy Dog ok awesome thanks for the info

[@jjacer1]

The Fords had a 351 Cleveland engine from the US - or at least US designed anyway.

[@Rob-jh3eo]

@@jjacer1 The engines were made here, Ford Australia was stamping out 302 and 351 Clevelands long after they ceased production in the US.

[@jamiesonscott7577]

Peter Brock's 05 A9X Torana was developing some 16 more horsepower at the end of that race compared to the hp rating at scrutineering! Brocky won by 6 laps to 2nd place and set a new lap record on the final lap. Best guess is that particular Torana, which is owned by the Bowden family in Queensland, is worth around $3,000,000 nowadays!

[@rowanparmiter7622]

Possibly something to do with ... Rules??

[@emanon86]

25:44 confirms it :)

[@Interceptor000]

The actual HT GTS Brock used here the he is driving is I recall 57 D which was painted up for Bathurst occassions 57 D was the BARTLETT MARTIN Sandown 1969 car and the number is incorrect it should be 43 D Brock & West 44D was BOND & ROBERTS winning number facebook.com/groups/BATHURSTcars/

[@Rob-fc9wg]

Who doesn't remember the Penrith Panthers?

[@peternicol7956]

Only one Peter Brock

[@justaname1862]

1979? ...1992 was the end of an Era!

[@vesnabernjak-ord8674]

Nah. 1980 started a new era of Bathurst because toranas left and racing body kits were fitted onto cars.

[@justaname1862]

@vesnabernjak-ord8674 wrong...Torana's were the most "Body Kit" fitted cars on the tracks...front splitter, Flared guards, Rear wings etc from factory...have you ever seen an SLR or A9X?

[@markwaters3050]

I must agree with those who pronounce today's Bathust 1,000 as rather boring. If we must have racing dictated by safety cars, then it is well past time to throw other classes of racing cars back into the mix. Supercar pilots are bloody good, but the actual challenge is not there. Safety is one thing, hence the interference of safety cars... but I think that dealing with minor classes is what this "classic race" needs to get back to.