The ARMSTRONG 500 (1960-1964)

/ super100mph
Evan Green introduces us to the first years of the race known as the Armstrong 500, then the Bathurst 500. The race was initially held at Phillip Island in Victoria and later at Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia.
Evan Green was the journalist who published a controversial newspaper article in 1972 which caused what was known as the "Supercar Scare". For more info on that story see: en.wikipedia.or...
For more info on the first Armstrong 500 in 1960 see: en.wikipedia.or...
All credit to Channel 7 Sport, Sydney.
Motor sport is an international language.

[@raymondwelsh6028]

One of many reasons why the race was moved to Bathurst was as pointed out was track being destroyed. At the time the Phillip Island bridge was unable to carry the trucks to lay the track in hot mix, so they had to make do with cold mix which was never going to be up to the job. Love these old videos.🇦🇺

[@viennapalace]

One of the greatest tragedies I have witnessed in my lifetime is the fact they no longer race standard production cars at Bathurst. You can find out a lot about a car's design by racing it for 500 miles. I suspect that's why the idea was dropped... Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@matthays716]

It would be with suvs such as the rav4 vs Tucson vs cx5

[@viennapalace]

@@matthays716 Most of them would end up on their roofs before they made it to the top of the mountain!

[@kingey71]

@@viennapalace yeah well good! Might teach these current car designers how to build a car properly. Bring production racing back!

[@woodywoody51]

Yes I remember Allan Moffat on TV whining because he had broken a wishbone and demanding that they should be allowed to modify the Vehicles as it was unsafe racing production cars, I thought at the time that he was going against the whole concept ,and look at it now

[@greensocks4507]

My first car was a PA Velox when I was 17, black. Never knew the Bathurst connection. Thanks for posting.

[@saxongreen78]

It's a thrill to see Morris Majors and Austin Lancers racing in those early events...I own a couple, and while they're no slowcoach, they sure ain't no race car, either!

[@geoffroy9383]

They used to put Holden motors in them

[@andrewphillips4897]

I had an Austin Lancer and it was great to see the vehicle going around.

[@steeden54]

My Dad had Vauxhalls when I was growing up. His last one was a Cresta. Great car.

[@andrewphillips4897]

I loved the old Mount Panorama. They have destroyed all the corners so that the class drivers can drive around the circuite.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Evan lied!! The Vauxhall he is leaning on is a PAX, not the earlier PA.

[@andrewphillips4897]

These were all stock standard motor vehicles.

[@Kytabu]

This is awesome! Thanks for uploading :D.

[@barneyda351]

My Dad purchased one of these after this race .

[@alittleodd1]

barneyda351 do you still have it?

[@beagle7622]

They really need to go back to series production. There are some very good cars out there that would make for good racing. Perhaps Upgraded brakes could be used . The race is dying as a spectator sport.

[@Mercmad]

#47 Merc Finny, looks like it had a big roll over.Driven by the Youl Brothers from Tasmania.

[@peregrinemccauley7819]

I remember those Vauxhalls as a youngster . Two tone paint jobs . Blue and white .

[@andrewphillips4897]

The Vauxhall was a great motor vehicle.

[@AVportau]

great nostalgic vid... the race was always going to evolve, especially when factors like manufacturers, investors, broadcasters, and advertisers got involved for profit.... i think the best times were of the 60's to early 80's ... mixed classes always add that challenge of racing in traffic.... but it will never return to the glory days because of broadcast and advertising rights, and boofhead fans who care about a brand, alcohol, who's car is louder and meaner, or how fast a car can go... it's the consumer who drives all that. don't watch, or support supercars, and demand more production racing, and things would change for the better.

[@gregrobins5615]

Given that the Peugeot 403 started 30 seconds behind the Vauxhall but finished quicker, the Pug should have been awarded the win.

[@mrt723]

Pity today's Bathurst cars aren't factory production instead of purpose built super cars that you can not buy as the early ones were able to be purchased The 1970s GTHO Ford Falcons, in my opinion, were the best cars produced and will always will be the best A1970s real Super Car you could buy if you had the $$$$$

[@MrZillaman73]

Agree, Production car racing is how it should be. Install coolers for engine,gearbox and diff, breathers for crankcase, upgrade the braking package, two or three tyre manufactures and go racing.. Unfortunately humans will always winge...

[@darryllspalding9680]

the grang touring production series in Australia folded in 2002, you whinging no nothing clowns annoy us

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

4:21 240Z, mmmm yummie!

[@andrewread154]

And then they ruined it by making it exclusive to V8 stupid cars

[@garyjones1549]

Evan green killed aussie muscle cars should have worn an apron

[@johngoogle8635]

rubbish, the 1973 oil crisis did it, people valued economy over muscle from then on

[@billmago7991]

Ha Ha I've owned a Humber Vogue.....saw one racing in Armstrong 500

[@shadowgaming6660]

Wow 1960s racing looks incredibly boring compared to the modern stuff.

[@criticalmass181]

Fuck yeah, to all the below comments. Now? You have to be a rich kid...or, more so, a rich kid of a team owner, to even be a a part of this race.. A money making machine, owned and run by people who drove it. What a shame that it has no semblance to it's original roots. Ruined by rich kids, and their rich fathers...just like most motor sports. Argue, if you like....