We are having a 2 sided A frame display information board made for display at historic race meets. We have found a lot of people get great enjoyment and take the time to read information on the cars presented. Here is what will be on the information side slightly modified to protect privacy of those concerned and on the other side will be a heap of historic documents and pictures from the race. In the background will be one of the original photos faded as background and the writing may well be bold Orange to match the 242GT stripe colour.
1979 VOLVO 242GT – Group C
Drivers - David McKay and Spencer Martin
Team - Scuderia Veloce Motors
Hugh B team manager and Gary S mechanic
Wheels and tyres – Uniroyal technical officer Peter G
Other team members – Bill B, Dom D, Rick C and Bob A
Bathurst 1979 – Finished 20th
In July 1979 David McKay decided he wanted to enter a standard show room car to return to the original concept of the Bathurst race. Spencer had driven for David in the past and agreed to be the lead driver. The Scuderia Veloce Board approved the cars entry and agreed to sell David the car at dealer cost. Volvo originally refused any contribution as they were busy with the Volvo Repco rally project but in the end agreed to contribute by way of a lower dealer price for the car. David was able to get Ivan Stibbard’s encouragement to enter and they commenced getting all relevant documentation underway. David secured the use of the Orange Volvo dealers workshop of Edwards and Hill via the support of Chris E to use on race week.
Rod S of Ferntree Gully built and supplied the 110litre fuel tank and Wally S of Mawer Engineering fitted the tank. Cost for tank, valves, fitting including a mutilated boot lid was $2,196
Rallyspeed at Crows nest fitted the roll cage and harness at a cost of $313
Bob V of Lovell springs lowered the springs and Super Shock Pty Ltd made a set of Bilstein shocks which were later changed for Konis by Proven products on advice from David L due to suspension travel and bump steer issues
Riverstone, Australia car research manufactured the exhaust
A Volvo oil cooler and a catch can (made by Harry G) was fitted in house at Scuderia Veloce
Scheel seats lent David a 201 S seat for the race
The dry break fuel valves supplied by David H – Surfers Paradise Raceway and the 10 Gallon fuel churns by Barry J at $120 each
August 27, 1979 David McKay, Peter A and Archie W left Sydney bound for a six day return trip to Perth to run the engine in. They travelled a total distance of 7827km at an average fuel consumption of 7.5 km/l (21.18mpg) and fuel cost a total of $342
Car was cleared to race via a special Cams meeting held on Tuesday 11th September 1979 as the standard Australian Specification 2.3 litre Engine was not homologated as FIA group 1 but group 2. The 2.3 litre engine was only used in Canada and Australia with the rest of the world using 2.1 Litre version
Auscar Dyno prior to race showed car had 63kw at the rear wheels – Equivalent to a GMH 253 and a Chrysler 265
Wednesday 26th September, 1979 a Repco sign was used to fabricate a solid firewall behind the rear seat to satisfy scrutineers at Bathurst
It was extremely wet for qualifying and Spencer’s skill and courage won the day with a 3.12 on a rain slick road. 47th fastest of the 60 qualifiers.
Saturday Afternoon Practice was dry and Spencer did 25 laps with a full fuel load and his best time was 2.58
The car was driven back to Orange Saturday night for a thorough check over and early start back at Bathurst by 7.00am race day.
Sunday 30th September 1979 some 45 minutes into the race Duggan in an RX3 pushed Spencer and the Volvo into the fence approaching the dipper. The car was also biffed later by Hall from WA in an A9X with little further damage
The car performed flawlessly throughout the race. Fuel consumption was 4.5km/l and the engine was spun to 7000rpm during practice and 6500rpm during the race. Top speed was slightly over 200kmh (with a good tail wind) and Spencer was consistently turning 2.58 lap times at the end of the race
The car ran the entire race on Uniroyal Steel cat road tyres with only one being replaced (following the Duggan incident as a precaution) and the bonnet was not lifted during the race. Wheels were 15*7 Bathurst Globe
Following the race the car was driven back to Sydney where it graced the SVM showroom floor for a number of months. The car was also snapped in the paddock at Winton Raceway late in October 1979 for the Rose City 10,000 but was not there to compete
Once showroom duty was finished Gary S removed the alloy tank and roll cage and the car was returned to standard and was sold as a road going car. The ownership from late 1979 to 1988 is unknown but rumour has it stayed close to its North Sydney origins and the owners knew it was the ex Bathurst car
The car was bought at auction by Kevin E in 1988 and he owned it until 2010. He did not know of cars link to Bathurst at time of purchase. This came later. It was bought and used as a family road car and from approximately 2001 on as a road rally car. At some point late in his ownership a past owner who still had the original entrants pack and folder from the 1979 race reunited the pack with the car after inspecting it to satisfy themselves Kevin had the Bathurst car. A very grand gesture for which we are grateful. A copy of the original group C application was also obtained from Cams which verified the correct chassis and engine number. All documentation remains with the car today
Car was bought by Kris V in 2010 and Peter W later bought a 50% share and the car was restored over a 4 year period by Kris and Peter before making its return to the race track at Morgan Park Raceway in May 2015. The Car has a group C Cams historic log book and COD. The car will be raced regularly and we are proud to have saved and own a little bit of Bathurst history and we love the diversity of the group C era