Historic Touring Cars
aka Appendix J Racing


When it comes to motorsport, I'm really not that fussy. Drag Racing, Salt Lake Racing, V8 Supercars... I like 'em all. When it comes to roundy-round racing though, nothing beats the look of cool 60's cars getting thrown around a race track much faster than they were ever meant to!

No technology required here, just cubic inches and big balls. Everything from Mini Coopers to Chevy Bel Air's get thrown around in this class of racing, and quite often it's surprisingly close.

The big V8's pull away in the straights, but when the road stops going straight, look out, because those Mini's don't even lift off!

Below are some of the cars that caught my eye on the day. They're not all Appendix J's, but still cool nonetheless.



One of the most popular cars to race in this category is the EH Holden. To the non-Aussies out there, this is General Motors Holden 1964 model.

In race trim they run a 179 cid 6 cyl with triple Webers or Su's. Unfortunately, they are limited due to the fact that they have to run the original 3-speed box and drum brakes!

Plenty of horsepower out of the engines means that quite often gearboxes and diffs end up worse for wear.
If you're not a Holden/GM man, then this is what most run in Appencix J/Group N/Historic Touring Cars...whatever you want to call it.

Big advantage with the Mustang is the 289 Windsor (in my opinion the sweetest sounding motor ever to come out of Dearborn), 4 downdraft Webers (who needs Fuel Injection), 4 speed and disc brakes.

This is a freshly rebuilt race car that is beautifully finished inside and out...and it goes like the clappers too!
Here's another EH Holden. I'm not sure why, but it wasn't racing this weekend.

Just peel the stickers off and take grandad to the bowling club and scare the pants off him!
Probably the most popular car to race in this category is the "Flying Brick" aka Mini Cooper S. In a straight line they're not much of a match to the V8's, but in the bends or if it rains a little, Look Out!

With only 1275cc's (heck, motor bikes have bigger engines nowadays!), twin SU's or a single Weber and not much weight to pull around, they are a very quick little car. I'm sure they don't bother lifting off in corners, just throw it in and hang on... Just watch out for those other race cars practically stopping to get around the corner.
Almost as popular as the Mini's are the Ford Cortina's. This is a 1600GT, but there are also a few of the Lotus Cortina's with the legendary DOHC engines.

This is a brand new car, so it's still nice and shiny with hardly any dents on it. Due to the closeness of the racing, especially in the corners, there can be a bit of battle damage at the end of the day.
No, this isn't my race car. I think it belongs to a cousin of my Dad's, Frank Viskovich.

This is another new car, but it was built for a class that allows cars from between 1965 and 1972.

Once again, for all you foreigners, this is an LJ Torana, and fitted with a similar, only larger 202 cid motor to the EH's, but with a 4-speed, disc brakes and much less weight, they really give the V8's a run for their money.
Not exactly a Historic Touring Car but a legend nonetheless. This is probably the worlds fastest Alfa Romeo. Powered by a mid-engined smal block Chev, the tube framed and fibreglass bodied car has to be seen to be believed.

I've heard it described as a drag car that handles, and that just about sums it up. Just about nothing in the country gets near it and that's why it's got that big #1 on the door.
A legend amongst many Australian's, the SLR/5000 Torana was designed with one thing in mind, to win Bathurst. You may wonder what is the deal with the big flares and scoop, well CLICK on the picture and you'll see.
Here's a shot of most of the field turning into Pit Straight after the first lap. This was the scene for most of the day, Paul Stubber leading in the HQ Monaro followed by Phil Morris in the XY GT Falcon with the XU-1 Torana's, E49 Charger and a few Mustangs trying to keep in touch.
This is the brand new HQ Monaro Coupe (built and driven on the day by Paul Stubber) owned by Lou Jack. On the day nothing could come close to it due to the fact that Paul was driving it like it belonged to someone else!

Better check those rear tyres Lou!
Nicest car in the car park was this '63 Chev. Don't know anything about it and I've never seen it before. It actually has a set of ghost flames in Pearl Pink, but you can't quite see them in the photo.
Nothin' to do with Historic Touring cars or roundy round motor racing at all, but this is your typical Aussie Yoot! Well maybe it's got a slightly bigger engine and some fat tyres on the back!

This was just on display, but when he cranked it up, nobody hung around to watch the racing!
This fine Ford belongs to Bill Meeke. It's not your average '64 Falcon either, it's a replica Rallye Sprint, which means it's got a 289 with quad Webers and most of the body is fibreglass. This thing flies.