Josh's Car Corner - Ep. 63 - Day Trip to Bathurst

In this first episode of a series of shows coming to you from the Land Down Under, I spend the day at the most famous racetrack in Australian motorsport, Bathurst. With the help of my friends from Track Day Club, I get to tour the track in two amazing Holden cars, and I'm taken on a guided tour of National Motor Racing Museum next to the track.

[@johnd8892]

At 22:38 a question is asked about the Ford Cortina in Australian Motor Racing. The Ford Cortina, but not a Lotus version, won the first, second and third Bathurst 500 mile races. The Australian built Cortina GT won the then Armstrong 500 mile race at Bathurst in 1963 and 1964 and the Ford Cortina GT500 development won again in 1965. So a triple from the first 1963 Bathurst to 1965. The 500 mile race then was for "showroom stock" cars without even roll cages or race tyres. Not Lotus Cortina models but just pushrod OHV 1500cc motors. Back then the race was for cars made in Australia. The Cortinas were so dominant the rules were changed in 1966 to exclude low volume race specials like the Cortina. In 1966 the Morris Mini Cooper S filled the first nine places. The most dominant win for the Minis anywhere. Cannot think of any major race so dominated. In these early years cars like Studebakers and Valiant V8s were beaten by the four cylinder cars. For 1967 Ford developed the Falcon XR GT with a 289 V8 and won in 1967, not 1966, as recalled in the video. From then on it was mainly V8 Holdens and Fords except for the 1972 win of Peter Brock in the 6 cylinder LJ Torana GTR XU1.

[@aussieausdeutschland4245]

Don't forget John Goss and Armin Hahne won it in 1985 with the V12 Jaguar

[@tjclt250r]

awesome video id love to visit australia and bathurst....i have an 06 6 speed gto myself.... although i am a gm guy i love the 71 gtho falcon.... crazy car... and cant forget to mention peter brock and his holdens....thumbs up

[@johnd8892]

At about ten hours forty one minutes into this auction a Falcon XY GT HO went for $1,300,000 : kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmGlo5mfd8Z-Z7c Just the other week. Pity you missed out. Take about 30% off for US dollars. Not even a matching numbers car is the rumour. Never saw one with a vinyl roof either. Lots of other rare crazy expensive cars near the end.

[@richmcdowell]

I'm waiting for the new season of supercar races to be televised over here in the states. GO HOLDEN!!

[@russe19642]

No aussie made cars though,kinda lost interest now over here

[@richmcdowell]

@@russe19642 but isn't the camaro designed and built in Australia?

[@russe19642]

I dont think so

[@unsavermeanusm2318]

@@richmcdowell no the camaro is imported from america and converted to right hand drive by HSV

[@christophernicola9293]

I believe the Camaro was based on the zeta platform which is designed in Australia for the commodore

[@aussieausdeutschland4245]

What ole mate didn't explain a few things, like the Cortina of Craig Lowndes, when he was driving for Holden Racing Team he was NOT allowed to drive his own personal car(the Cortina) because it is a Ford and he refused to sell it. The MKI Cortina GT also WON the first three Bathurst 500 mile races and started the "Bathurst Homologation Special" car wars between the big 3 of Chrysler, Ford and GM of the 60s, 70s and 80s which ended with the VN SS Group A Commodore.

[@johnd8892]

Surprised that this museum guide thought the Bathurst 500 winning Cortinas were the Lotus version. The locally assembled Cortinas GT raced were just revised and upgraded pushrod engined Cortinas not the much faster and very exotic for the time twin overhead cam Lotus versions. Although Lotus Cortinas raced here, and the museum car shown may have been one, they were not eligible to run in the series production Bathurst events. Another early race special up against the Cortina GT was the EH S4 Holden limited production race special which despite the name ran a three speed column change gearbox. Better located back axle and suspension were the main upgrades along with being, at first, the only way you could get the new 179 red engine without an automatic gearbox with the whopping, for Holden then, 115hp. Still ran drum brakes all round. Now even rarer and sought after.

[@markgriffin4888]

SO glad you had the opportunity to drive around Mt Panorama Of the 15 or so cars that I have and do own only about 5 had never been around THE MOUNTAIN it is my ritual when I purchase another car and the funny part is i always stop at #1 grid and take a photo PLUS a big thanks to your mates for letting you have the chance to feel what it's like to drive around the track ( or should I say the streets )

[@braddallan]

Good to see u enjoyed your trip to Bathurst. Awesome racing there- best in Australia and maybe the world!

[@PontiacBanker]

I’ve been waiting anxiously for this!

[@stevesmith6528]

I live just around the corner lol nice video mate 👍🏻

[@PontiacBanker]

Thanks for the “steering wheel shoutout!”

[@PontiacBanker]

That Torana LH is SWEET!

[@Chad_Engineer_Main]

I’m Australian and I never knew there were drive ways and houses on Bathurst I never see them when watching the v8’s on tv how long has it been like this?

[@johnd8892]

Always. Even on tv in the sixties you would also see farms and a drive in theatre on Conrod straight. Built using additions and upgrade to public roads in the thirties for a scenic lookout drive. Soon used for car racing on dirt roads after a year or two.

[@BBob33524]

I'd love to rock a old school holden livery on the gto

[@djizzah]

josh, you sure you dont have an aussie mum or dad?? just kidding, great to see you enjoying your trip