FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Some club members attended the Gnoo Blas Classic over the weekend. This event is staged in Orange at Sir Jack Brabham park, the location of the old Gnoo Blas road racing circuit and this year celebrated 50yrs of Touring Car Racing. (sound familiar)
Here are some pics.
This is Des West's old race car, that he actually competed with in that first touring car race back in 1960.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas012.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas015.jpg)
Here's the real deal 'hot grey'
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas001.jpg)
Des was on hand over the weekend, as was Sir Jack Brabham, seen here together discussing the early days of motor racing in Australia.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas026.jpg)
Seen here is another driver from those early years, Max Volkers.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas031.jpg)
This is the car that David McKay raced back in the day, a 1958 MK1 Jag.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas008.jpg)
There was a few hundred cars on show, here is a selection.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas044.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas035.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas070.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas084.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas105.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas096.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas112.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas111.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas106.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas128.jpg)
Ohhh, did I mention Sir Jack Brabham was there....
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas117.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/GnooBlas120.jpg)
More pics in the album here:
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/customfc5/Car%20Shows/10%20Gnoo%20Blas%20Classic/ ($2)
Regards
Alex

Great shots as always Alex.

Where was Des' car hiding? Does he still own it?

WOW!!!  Thanks Alex.  I wish I could have been there!!!!

What a privlage to meet the Motor Racing Legend himself, Sir Jack Brabham. You must feel very honoured Alex.

Wow, some amazing photo's there Alex, would have been great to be there and meet Sir Jack.

Thanks again for sharing them.

Keith

@ Craig A
Des does not own the car anymore, but has tried to buy it a few times.
The car is stored in a workshop in Newcastle and was even under water in the fairly recent Newcastle floods. The owner rebuilt the mechanicals to get it going again for this event, however for whatever reason did not even take it off the trailer. He did fire it up a few times, and it sounded great.
The story he tells is that the car was sold by Des in 1962/3 and the new owner did not do anything with it.
He bought the car 25 years ago and it has not been touched.
It is pretty much the same as the last day Des raced it, which I think he said was at Catalina.

When meeting Sir Jack, I was shaking with nervous anticipation.
I got autographs on a few items which I intend to get framed.
He was very down to earth and his wife was of great assistance to him.
I stood around listening to him speak to anyone with a question, and also being interviewed by newspapers and TV and he has a remarkable memory.
Certainly 1 of the better days and yes, I feel very privilaged.

Regards
Alex

Thanks for the explanation Alex, certainly an amazing and unique vehicle.

Hey Craig
Yes it was an amazing car.
If you haven't already done so, check out the album, I took a few detail pics of points of interest on the car.
The extended sump had holes in it for cooling (I guess)
Sorry about the pic quality, I will blame the rain for that.  ;) Shot taken from the rear.
(http://s1.postimage.org/vXdVr.jpg) ($2)
Anyone have any details on those unusual SU's?
Regards
Alex

Alex,

As the earlier cars had comparitevely small radiators and were asked to do a lot with the radiators that were fitted to them all sorts of methods were employed to help keep them cool. Roughly 45% of the heat generated by the engine is cooled by the exhaust, 30% goes out the exhaust which leaves about 25% which is cooled by the oil as it splashes around on the inside of the engine. By cooling the sump, by fitting air tubes through it, effectively increased the surface area of the sump which allowed it to dissipate heat faster and therefore the radiator had less heat to dissipate as well. In creasing the volume of the sump also helped as the engine had to heat a greater quantity of oil.

The carbs aren't SU's they are Amal carbs. They used to be a common fitment in the 50's and 60's. Usually found on old british motorbikes. Simple to maintain, Bastards to tune.

Keith

Hey Keith thanks for the info.
I guessed the holes were for what you have described, but did not want to make the presumption.
Re the Amal carbs, I thought they were motorcycle carbs, but what threw me was that they have 'SU carb' cast in them. Are they perhaps a hybrid set up?
Regards
Alex

There were early SU's before the constant depression type, They might be these type. If they are SU, I haven't seen them before, but they look like Amals. The reason that I thought they were Amal is the cable operated carby slide

Keith

Might be just SU fuel bowls as the rest sure looks like a  Amal.....FC427...

Here's a link to the local paper story.
http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/sir-jack-revs-up-fans-with-gnoo-blas-return/1750456.aspx?storypage=0 ($2)
Regards
Alex

Guys one of the gents I met at the dinner confirmed what you say about the carbs they are Amals and were used on early racing bikes.
Cheers,
Graham

They were fitted  on Norton, BSA, Triumph Motor Cycles .......FC427.......

Yep, had amals on the BSA and Velocette I used to race as a lad and they looked pretty much like them.