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You could call it the Waltz of
the Toreadors. This was the sort of action that had the Nissan men and the spectators
jumping, but for very different reasons. Chris Snowdon Nissan
prepared and provided the racecars, close-to-stock versions of the zappy little
Australianised Pulsar ET Turbo, modified only to satisfy safety requirements. Engines,
suspensions and brakes were as they left the factory, the idea being to provide a
realistic test of a kosher road-going car. Even the radial street tyres - Bridgestones
early in the series; Goodyears later-were unbuffed. The series opened at Amaroo, returned
there twice and also made a couple of stops at Calder and Adelaide. Grice was the
nominated early favourite. He knew Amaroo better than most, logging countless laps there
every year both in racecars and as part of his regular work with his popular advanced
driving school. And, as well, Grice had campaigned a turbo ET during season
A moment of considerable
controversy John Bowe and Allan Grice disagreeing the lead at Honda corner, Amaroo Park.
This incident was the cause of a stewards enquiry which blamed neither driver. Chris
Snowdon
At a point in the series Ford Australia produced a very naughty press
release. Now Broadmeadows has shown a traditional indifference to motor racing and yet it
doesn't mind lunching off the sport when the occasion arises. FoMoCo's PR arm was
shamelessly pointing out the Laser was faster on the track than the rival turbo Pulsar ET.
Of course Ford was conveniently ignoring the fact that the Goodyear Lasers were modified
to a far greater extent than were the racing Pulsar ETs. Put a bog standard ET alongside a
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Positions 1.
Jim Richards 293
2. George Fury 286
2. Allan Grice 286
4. Dick Johnson 281
5. Colin Bond 279
6. John Bowe 276
7. Gary Scott 253
8. Peter McKay 220
9. Geoff Portman 207
10. Garry Rogers 173
11. Steve Masterton 143
12. Glenn Seton 109 |