Glory days of Bathurst revisited

GLORY DAYS OF BATHURST REVISITED

The glory days of 40-plus cars lining up on the grid at Mount Panorama will be relived with a huge field of Biante Historic Touring Cars entered to race at the WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival over Easter.

The WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival will be held on April 13-16 at the famous Mount Panorama circuit. Promoted and managed by a joint venture between the Bathurst Regional Council and Global Entertainment Team Pty Ltd the event has gained inspiration from the world renowned Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival in the UK.

A massive field of almost 50 cars is expected to converge on the prestigious Mount Panorama circuit including the Ford Mustang driven with much success by the late Ian "Pete" Geoghegan.

The Mustang which was made famous by Geoghegan on his way to winning the 1967, 68 and 69 championships will be driven by Sydneysider Des Wall at the Festival.

"The Bathurst Festival is going to be very exciting and will hopefully build into a big feature on the Australian motorsport calendar," said Wall.

"It will be the first time I have raced the Mustang since purchasing it in a restored condition from Ross Donnelly late last year. I competed in the Bathurst 1000 four times in the early 90's and also the first 24-hour race but to drive such a significant car around the famous circuit is certainly going to be a huge highlight for me.

"It looks like it is going to be a great field of Historic Cars which will be assembled at the Festival which is sure to provide the fans with some great racing."

A name synonymous with Bathurst is Bo Seton. Seton won the Great Race at Mount Panorama in 1965 while co-driving with Midge Bosworth in a Ford Cortina GT500.

Throughout his career Seton enjoyed 22 consecutive starts in the Great Race from 1963 through until his retirement in 1984. He will compete at the Festival in a replica of the Ford Capri in which he enjoyed various success in the three-litre class during his career.

Phil Ward raced from 1960 through until the last Easter meeting in 1973. He began his career in a Ford Anglia before contesting the endurance feature on many occasions in a variety of cars. He contested the Great Race in 1973 with Jim Hunter, who will also be racing at this year's Festival aboard a Holden Torana XU1.

Ward will compete at the Festival driving a replica of his original Ford Anglia, the car has only raced sparingly since being completed in the early 90's.

David Clement has competed at Bathurst in every decade for the past four in a variety of categories including the Great race during the 1970's and 80's along with the Easter event in 1969 and 1973. He made his name in the early days driving a mini before turning to a Holden Torana XU1 later in his career.

At the Festival Clement will be one of more than a dozen drivers who will compete in the Historic Touring Cars aboard a Holden Torana XU1.

In 2000 Jason Bargwanna took the victory in Australia's Great Race at Bathurst. Over Easter there will be three of his family members aiming to replicate the V8 Supercar driver's success with his Father Harry, Uncle Alf and Cousin, Scott, competing at the Festival. Both Harry and Scott will be driving a Ford Capri while Alf will manoeuvre his way around the famous circuit aboard his Holden Torana XU1.

The on-track action for the Festival will include a Legends event in V8 Utes, car club parade laps, Historic Touring Car racing, Aussie Racing Cars, Team Australia demonstration laps, GT Championship Cars as well as several manufacturer sessions.

There will also be nostalgia sessions where race and road cars from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s will cut laps of the famous 6.213km Bathurst circuit.

Off-track entertainment is set to include historic car displays, product displays, bands, dirt bike expression sessions and kids' entertainment areas.

<pre> BIANTE HISTORIC TOURING CARS
Entry List Correct at March 8, 2006

Des Wall                NSW     Ford Mustang
Steve Mason             NSW     Chevrolet Camaro
David Clement           NSW     Holden Torana XU1
Bob Sudall              QLD     Mazda RX2
Bruce Dummett           QLD     Holden Torana XU1
Gary Michael            QLD     Holden Torana XU1
Michael Terry           NSW     Holden Torana XU1
Wes Anderson            NSW     Alfa Romeo GTV
John Kingcott           QLD     Ford Cortina MKII
Phil Ward               NSW     Ford Anglia
Garry Treloar           VIC     Chevrolet Camaro
Warren Bossie           NSW     Holden Torana XU1
Simon Phillips          QLD     Holden Torana XU1
Greg Luca               NSW     Holden Torana GTR
Matt McGrath            NSW     Ford Falcon XY GTHO
Paul Zazryn             VIC     Jaguar MK II
Michael Simpson         QLD     Holden Torana XU1
Grahame Hill            NSW     Ford Mustang
Joe McGinnes            NSW     Ford Falcon XW GT
Bill Campbell           QLD     Holden Torana XU1
Robert Ingram           NSW     Lotus Cortina
Jim Hunter              NSW     Holden Torana XU1
David Paterson          QLD     Holden Torana XU1
Graham Slater           VIC     Holden Torana XU1
Paul Trevethan          VIC     Lotus Cortina
Bo Seton                QLD     Ford Capri
Shane Wilson            QLD     Ford Mustang
David Wheatley          NSW     Morris Cooper S
Doug Westwood           NSW     Ford Falcon XY GTHO
Phil Kirkham            VIC     Ford Falcon XY GTHO
Grant Wilson            QLD     Chevrolet Camaro
Alf Bargwanna           NSW     Holden Torana XU1
Stephen Land            NSW     Ford Capri
Andrew Bergan           NSW     Austin Cooper S
Greg Toepfer            NSW     Ford Mustang
John Harrison           NSW     Holden Torana XU1
Ron Shepherd            NSW     Holden Torana XU1
David Waldon            QLD     Mazda RX2
Scott Bargwanna         NSW     Ford Capri
Harry Bargwanna         NSW     Ford Capri
Robert Hayden           NSW     Holden EH
Greg Lamond             NSW     Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV
Glen Featherstone       NSW     Holden Torana XU1
Wayne Rogerson          NSW     Mazda RX2
Len McCarthy            NSW     Mazda R X2
Wayne Potts             NSW     Holden HT GTS Monaro
Fred Brain              NSW     Holden HT GTS Monaro

Tickets are on sale through www.ticketek.com.au

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