AMC BEST LETTER

Norm 1

I could not believe it when I noticed on the front cover of edition #100, the mention of an interview with Stormin’ Norman, and then, I noticed there was also an article on the Ford legend, and father of the legendary Phase III Falcon, Al Turner. Two absolutely unique, never before written, articles on not one, but two, of the most important people in the history of Aussie tin-tip motorsport. How appropriate for a 100th edition.

Growing up in Preston, I was not far from the action. Norm was a hero to all of us. I checked out several cars in his used car yard (actually went for a test drive with him in a 1948 Ford V8!) and visited the Norm Beechey Speedshop many times chasing parts for my FC Holden. Both premises were in Sydney Road, Brunswick.

From his famous early model Holden PK752, to his famous Monaros, all were, like him, spectacular. The cars I remember most prominently in my mind are the 1962 Chev Impala 409 four-door and the Chevy Nova. A weak spot in the Impala driveline was the gearbox, which simply could not handle the prodigious output of the 409. I remember on one occasion in Calder practice, the four-speed gearbox failed, so for the race Norm pulled out the three-speed gearbox of his tow car, which was a 1961 Impala, and installed it in the racecar for next day’s race. Subsequently, on raceday, that gearbox exploded right in front of me about half way down Calder’s main straight, with Norm pulling ridiculous revs in second gear!

The Nova I remember from a race at Sandown. I was in the pits. It was a damp track and Norm came around the turn one totally sideways on pretty much full opposite lock, and he continued to be at out, sideways, along the whole length of the pits!

And Al Turner? Yes, well whilst he wasn’t a driver, we all knew about him and the mysterious ‘Lot 6’, which we drove past regularly. In my mind I can still see “Lot 6” hand painted in black letters on a piece of wood behind a wire fence. No Ford signage at all, just a very ordinary-looking building, and whilst none of us ever got inside we all knew what was happening there!

I, and I’m sure most other enthusiasts, would have had no idea of Al’s brilliant motorsport/engineering background (apart from Australia of course) before reading your article. What a remarkable career he’s had, absolutely the right man that Ford needed to head up its Australian motorsport program at the time!

I’ve been reading car magazines for longer than I care to remember and the Beechey article was very special, but so was the piece on Al Turner. To be able to read two such amazingly interesting articles in just one edition of any magazine is very unusual. Martin Hayden Aspendale, VIC

Norm 2

Congratulations on your milestone 100th issue and congratulations on the fantastic interview with the great man himself, Stormin’ Norman Beechey.

I watched him against the best of the day at both Surfers Paradise and Lakeside. As a matter of fact, I was at Lakeside the day in 1967 when Norm in his Chevy Nova 2 was leading Pete Geoghegan in the one-off race for the Australian Touring Car Championship, only to blow a leftfront tyre and put it in the fence just before the Dunlop Bridge.

Attached is a photo I took from the bridge on my of Norm’s Nova being removed from the circuit. We had been standing only a few yards (as it was in the day) from where Norm clouted the fence and it was interesting to see him sit on the car (couldn’t do such a thing today) and watch the remaining laps with a ringside seat to witness Big Pete take the championship that would surely have been his but for that blown tyre.

I have a few other photos of the day but being taken on an old Instamatic, the action shots are not of good quality. Gary Email

Norm 3

Agreat magazine that I have been reading since issue #1, you have been covering the glory days of the Australian motoring industry and racing, when it was not the procession that we get these days with Supercars.

The article on Norm Beechey in issue #100 almost had me in tears remembering all the racing from the past. I started going to motor racing during the mid 1950s, so remember all the great drivers and races, especially the AGP races at Albert Park with the row of trees along Aughtie Drive with just haybales against the trunks in case of an accident.

I am saddened by our loss of manufacturing expertise with the closing of our car industry. Our governments are very short sighted, as all other countries that assemble cars subsidise their industries. They employ people who ultimately pay taxes instead of getting welfare payments – not good for the economy and not

good for the unemployed.

In the short space of time between the late 1930s and the late 1940s we changed from a nation that assembled items (cars, trucks, planes, engines, etc) into a nation that could do things from scratch. We became a ‘can do’ country with vision for the future. My hope is we can at some stage get this spirit back and to give our younger people jobs (not just in computers) that challenge their design and manufacturing interests.

Keep up the good work, let’s look to the past for memories and look to the future for innovation. Barry Kirkpatrick Mt Martha, VIC

Norm 4

Earnest congratulations to all involved on AMC achieving 100 issues. It has certainly become the ‘bible’ for our local classic car scene.

Also must extend great appreciation for John Smailes’s article on Norm Beechey – very long overdue but barely enough to satisfy the iconic status of the man.

What chance of John Smailes being able to do a follow-up to his Moffat autobiography with a similar book on ‘Uncle Norm’ to ll in much of the detail from his racing exploits?

Would love to know if it is true that Norm once sent PK-752 to Sydney by train for a Warwick Farm meet, and then afterwards drove it back down the Hume with the race tyres and gear on the backseat?

And challenging a very young Bob Jane to ‘street races’ around Brunswick in an old Buick, and beating him for the rst time!

We will hope for more. Barry Cockayne Sydney, NSW

Norm 5

Congratulations on the 100th issue of AMC and a big congratulations on getting the Norm Beechey interview!

Back in 2001 a mate of mine in the HSV owners club invited me to one of their meetings when Norm was the guest speaker. I had the pleasure of speaking to Norm before the event got started and found him to be very friendly, good humoured and generous with his time.

Afterwards I wrote a letter to him thanking him for taking the time to speak to me and Norm responded with a letter of his own and an autographed photo of the HT GTS 350 Monaro. These are now framed and hang on my wall at home along with an autographed poster that I later received from Norm. Dave Stewart Email

Norm 6

It’s been a long and exciting road for AMC, a road that I have thoroughly enjoyed over the years. The interview with Al Turner was fantastic as many of us would not have been aware of the impact he had on the Australian motoring and racing scene.

As was the Norm Beechey interview. I remember sitting on the Armco fence with my sister on the exit from Creek Corner (where only a few select journalists could be, thanks to my dad, Bill Tuckey) at Warwick Farm watching Norm sliding the Monaro at stupid angles. Norm was a master showman and the interview showed the private side that most were not aware of.

These articles set aside AMC from all other motoring magazines. You revive memories and senses in your readers which is one of the keys to being such a great magazine.

My dad was an avid reader of AMC and he was always impressed with the quality and content. Your feature in issue #73 on his achievements in his career meant so much to our family. Romsey Quints was proud.

To achieve 100 issues is such an achievement and a testament to the quality of the editorial content. Here’s to another 100 great issues.

Thank you so much for the ride. Stuart Tuckey (AKA Fred Markone) Email ED: Stuart, your father’s writing, especially his penmanship of the early Great Race annuals in which he romanticised Mount Panorama, contributed greatly to my love of the sport and future career direction. So it’s fantastic that he and the wider Tuckey family have enjoyed the magazine so much.

Brothers in arms

Following the cover of issue #100 I thought you may like this picture of my GT-F next to its opposite number... literally! Check the number plates!

I had parked in the competitors’ car park at Bathurst in February where I was privileged to race my De Tomaso Pantera in the Group S support events when this turns up and even more coincidentally is owned by a friend of a friend, arriving to help crew on my car!

Owning the 17th and last GT in that long line from 1967-2014 is an amazing experience. The character and DNA of the car is apparent every time I drive it – and drive it I do! You will see it at almost every Victorian Historic race meeting, near its distant 351 engined relative, the mighty Pantera.

Congratulations on 100 issues. I have bought and kept every one. Ross Jackson Email

Setting the record straight

Iread the article on John Goss (issue #99). Not bad reading. However, there are two mistakes in the section headed ‘Cat out of the Bag’. I should know the truth for I was the engineer on both cars.

Firstly, the Goss and Walkinshaw XJ-S Group C did not destroy the clutch on the startline in 1984. An incorrect starting method was engaged (pun intended) resulting in the snapping of the gearbox mainshaft due to the overly high loads placed upon it. I should know for I stripped the driveline including the gearbox back in Sydney to determine what failed.

The second mistake is regarding the comment that a second-hand seat was tted to John and Armin’s car #10 from a crashed car prior to the cars arriving in Australia. Bullshit!

I take personal offence at that remark for I restored all three cars for Bathurst 1985 in England and no seats were replaced nor was there any requirement to. So for someone to suggest that a damaged seat was tted to #10 is nothing short of bullshit. The seat passed every spanner check inspection all week and showed no sign of failure whatsoever.

I happened to be the manager of car #10 throughout the race so I know exactly what happened to it and when.

The other supporting point I make is why would a $750,000 budget team scrimp on a seat if indeed one was required. The natural thing would be to t a new one. Another interesting thing is that soon after this failure the seat manufacturer relocated the mounting points from the base to the sides. Blue Dorward TWR engineer (retired) Email

Birds of a feather

Iwas reading issue #93 and was interested in the ‘Bird of Paradise’ article. The story is about an XT Falcon GT winning the Surfers Paradise 12 hour production race in 1969.

I was surprised at how many similarities there were with my car. I bought my car from a guy in Brisbane in 2003 (March) and it still had the original number plates PFV199. The car was originally purchased from McLuskey Ford in Brisbane and has previously been featured in your magazine (issue #7, page 122).

The vehicle identification numbers are: My car: JG33HK 45600 192609 Winning car: JG33HK 45601 192608

Both cars might have crossed paths in the McLuskey Ford showroom back in June 1968. Brian Wollongong, NSW

On deployment

I’m writing to say a sincere congratulations to the entire team at AMC that contributed over the years to the greatest magazine I’ve ever read and collected. At the time of writing I’m currently deployed with the RAAF in the Middle East but I have issue #99 over here with me and cannot wait to receive from my missus a copy of issue 100 via mail.

The magazine’s effort in preserving our important and unique motoring/racing history (especially now that local manufacturing has ceased) has ensured that generations to follow will continue to enjoy it, myself included.

I got into muscle cars around the time issue one was released. I was 15 and working a Saturday job during high school for a family who run their own business in the Blue Mountains and have had their cars displayed on the covers of your magazine. They drove them to work every now and again. The rst car I saw them bring to the shop while I was sweeping the garage was an XY GT-HO Phase III, my jaw dropped at the sight of the shaker and sound of the exhaust as it pulled up in front of me, I had no idea what I was looking at because sighting a then 30-year old pristine Aussie muscle car wasn’t too common – I was instantly hooked.

Outside of work they put me onto AMC magazine and drove me to my Year 12 formal in their Phase III – a ride that has stayed with me for the rest of my life! They were great people to work for and I still keep in touch with them.

Since my high school job I’ve been to numerous events including Nc races, show and shines and the Muscle Car Masters. Along the way I’ve read and taken in our proud history from every issue of your magazine and met great people who share the same passion, some of whom have also let me experience a ride in their cars out of their own kindness. One hundred issues is a magnificent achievement and I’m sure there are many great issues ahead.

I remember in an early issue of AMC a muscle mail letter was published from a bloke who reckoned the magazine would fail because there was only so much history that could be covered. History has clearly proven him wrong.

A case in point was your article on Ray Kaleda a couple of issues back. His achievements as a privateer at Bathurst in 1971 and 1972 are beyond words and it was the AMC article that really put his achievements into perspective for me. I met Ray and his great family at last year’s MCM before I deployed and had an awesome time hearing rst hand from him what it was like to purchase, prep and race a road car at Bathurst. I think he was taken back a

bit that younger people are aware of his achievements and have an interest in the golden era of motorsport. He cracked a big smile when I told him how much I wish I lived in his time when you could buy an E38 or E49 Charger and enter Bathurst as a privateer! Meeting Ray made last year’s Masters a real stand out for me and ultimately I have AMC magazine to thank for it. Phil Email ED: Stay safe, Phil.

I beg to disagree with Lee

Congratulations on 100 issues. Loved the Beechey and Turner interviews. No doubt you’ve already received a few comments on Lee Nicolle’s letter in the same issue. Although it is hypothetical, I think he misses the point with the aborted 1972 Bathurst V8 LJ. Making reference to the early problems with the L34 is a moot point, as the specifications of a 1972 car would have meant a less developed and less stressed motor, as well as far thinner wheels and tyres which would not produce the same lateral forces resulting in oil surge, etc.

Also, the banjo diff was no doubt a weak point, but L34s won Bathurst twice with the same diff (and with more power and grip). Also, Harry had also conducted tests with the same mechanicals in a few Sports Sedan races. Pete Minahan Email

Better late than never

Why haven’t I known about this magazine before? My brother-in-law told me about it a couple of weeks ago and I picked up issue #100 today. Fantastic! Best motoring magazine I have ever seen. But, why no photo of Norm Beechey’s Chevy Nova in an otherwise great article? I still remember Norm in the Nova at the 1964 ATCC at Lakeside in 1964. Les Sharpe From Facebook ED: Where have you been the last 16 years, Les? Not visiting newsagencies, we know that much. Welcome! Couldn’t t a shot in of every one of his cars.

Pin’s rallycross Charger?

Would the Phil Brock rallycross Valiant Charger on page 79 of the ‘Top 25 Muscle Cars on Dirt’ in issue #99 still be in existence? If so, would you do a feature on it or do you have any more pictures of it? Gotta love an old Mopar! Or what about the Charger that Mark Oastler co-drove to the very top of Australia. They’d make for a good feature! Terry Bedford, WA ED: Re Pin’s old rallycross Charger, no idea, sorry. Maybe readers can help? We struggled to nd a good shot of the Charger for our feature, hence the one published was a bit scratchy. I dare say that MarkO would have run his ‘travel’ story during his 53 issues as editor had there been pics to colour it.