News

Mighty Minis for Muscle Car Masters

The little cars that harried their bigger competitors for years - often winning the tussle - will this weekend celebrate their biggest-ever local victory.

Organisers of this weekend’s Muscle Car Masters are set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the pocket rocket’s domination of the 1966 Bathurst 500.

Reunited will be drivers Finnish rally ace Rauno Aaltonen and Australian touring car legend Bob Holden.

The pair shared the #13 works BMC Mini Cooper S to victory in the 1966 Gallaher 500 at Mount Panorama 50 years ago, leading home a horde of Minis that filled the first nine finishing places.

The little Mini Coopers outlasted the bigger, more powerful Valiant, Holdens and Studebakers to record an historic victory.

Fifty years on from his famous victory, evergreen 83-year-old Mr Holden still competes in local Heritage Touring Car racing and will also race his Group A Toyota Corolla this weekend as part of a 40-plus field of Group A and C Historic touring cars.

Other festivities will include an all-Mini race on Sunday as well as a large display of road and race Minis that will take part in a lunchtime parade lap of the circuit on Sunday.

A long list of stars will be attending this year’s event, including Allan Moffat, Jim Richards, John Goss, Kevin Bartlett, John Bowe, Colin Bond, Fred Gibson, Bob Holden, Glenn Seton and many more.

Classes include Historic Group A and C Touring Cars in the Heritage Touring Cars class, Australian Trans-Am, Group N Historic Touring Cars and Group S as well as the new Sports Racing Car Invitational demo category featuring thumping Sports Cars, GT, Can-Am and Historic Sports Sedan machinery.

Making their first appearance at the event this year are the Kumho Tyre Australian V8 Touring Car Series as well as the Australian 5-Litre Touring Car Association, featuring a range of impressive Commodores and Falcons from the early V8 Supercar era.

Further details are available at: musclecarmasters.com.au

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend