The Bathurst 1000 km (620 mile) v8 road race is on today.

As it is the Great Race here in Australia today, with the proceedings starting in less than 10 minutes minutes and going for around 11 hours, I, for one, will be sitting in front of the TV set most of the day.

161 laps of the one of the toughest racing circuits in the world, with 23 corners (none of this oval racing here) and around 6 1/2 hours duration. Some parts of the course are so steep that they used to run a hill climb up it., in the opposite direction.

The most coveted trophy in Australasian motorsport. Starts around 10 am Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time(in about 4 hours time) and is telecast to 130 countries. V8 sedan road racing at its finest. 2 makes only, Ford and Holden (GMH) 4 door sedans with around 600 horsepower and speeds up to nearly 300 kilometres per hour (190 mph approx).

If you still don't know what I am raving about, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_1000 , scroll down the page for the full round of info., or Google for Bathurst 1000

Another link is http://www.v8supercars.com.au/

Catch you later, or maybe tomorrow. :-D Bazza

 

Last years ad was better than this year-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PF3qxypJpU

I liked this one too from TopGear-

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6j1sy_australian-supertourisme-bathurst-c_auto

England got the Holden V8 and the US got the junky Pontiac GTO with only a V6.

 

race is over Holden didn't win again what a shame but hats off to Craig Lowndes for his hat trick 3 in a row.ps by Australian media i read some where that the pontiac gto that goes to the us is a 6lt v8 there is a yellow on that gets around my neighborhood that is a 6lt v8 really nice beats our 5lt v8 hsv hands down

 

Not so. GM should have brought over the 6lt V8, and instead only brought over the 6. They are said to import a RHD ute and call it Pontiac Sports Truck and THAT will have the V8.

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/pontiac-sports-truck.htm

Sorry to hijack your thread Bazza!

 

That's OK. :-D Bazza

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From 2004 to 2006 the Pontiac GTO did come with a V8, just to be clear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_GTO#2004

They discontinued it after 2006. It was based on the Holden Monaro. Speaking of cool Australian V8's, there is a local guy here in Minnesota with an old Ford Falcon (just like the Mad Max Interceptor car). I was in shock when I saw that.

Wish we had cool racing like that stuff here, thanks for sharing!!!

 

Both the GX8 and the GX ST are based on the Monaro as well.

Imagine if Ford had brought back the Falcon and ditched the baby Mustang. Varoom!