The STP treatment

STP

is an American fuel additive whose brand is an icon in racing through sponsorship of legends such as Mario Andretti and Richard Petty. Locally the Roadways team tapped into this razzle-dazzle in the early 1980s when it gained access to a range of branded merchandise like brightly coloured jackets, caps and err, hotpants…

The owner today of the STP Commodore known as Elvis, Ed Singleton, continued the tradition for the 2013 Muscle Car Masters’ Grid Spectacular.

“[Former] Roadways mechanic John McCarthy gave me an original promotional STP poster that featured both the racing Commodores and a model in T-shirt and blue STP hotpants. So we made up a few sets for the grid extravaganza. My panelbeater Glenn’s daughter was a former Penrith Pantherette and she and a few mates got dressed up and came out for the day. It was good fun!

“I know that on the 1982 Bathurst grid, the STP girls were wearing these silver space suits. I haven’t tried to replicate those…”