[Olly]

As the Bathurst 24 hour endurance race in Australia gathers momentum each year, it now seems appropriate that someone from the states brings a 2004 GTO to oz to see if they can take the winners laurels away from the monaro. For the uninitiated, monaro 427's have won both the inaugural 2002 race and the 2003 race. I would love to see this happen as a contest, as it would add even more interest to an increasingly popular event on the oz motor racing calendar. Any takers?.....my money is on the home team..........gto won't beat a monaro

 

[forrestd]

high end supercars have trouble dealing with the (restricted) 427.. a stock GTO would have next to zero chance. Inclusion of the 427 is rather contentious issue down under however.

 

[DevilYellow]

do the C5R's race at Bathurst ?

 

[forrestd]

do the C5R's race at Bathurst ?

here is the entrant list for '03

http://www.bathurst24hr.com/BathurstEntryList03.htm

 

[DANSLS1]

FWIW the Mosler (#900 on the entry list) is an LS6 powered car.

 

[Olly]

Well from my point of view, it would be good for motor sport to see a monaro v gto showdown. However, both cars would have to be of similar configuration, surely the rules would apply equally to both cars..427 engines, suspension, brakes and wheel mods....it would be an absorbing head to head confrontation.

 

[steve d]

monaro V gto

As the Bathurst 24 hour endurance race in Australia gathers momentum each year, it now seems appropriate that someone from the states brings a 2004 GTO to oz to see if they can take the winners laurels away from the monaro. For the uninitiated, monaro 427's have won both the inaugural 2002 race and the 2003 race. I would love to see this happen as a contest, as it would add even more interest to an increasingly popular event on the oz motor racing calendar. Any takers?.....my money is on the home team..........gto won't beat a monaro

richards,tander,murphy,bright,brock,
versus don garlits,paul tracy, tony stewart,and a few drivers from indy,i think i would stay home!! next year they wouldn,t know what hit em,,a viper wouldn,t win at bathurst,,even team chamberlane who runs them at le mans wouldn,t win, thats a fact the aurora vesion of the LS1 is balistic,,,compared to a viper with a truck motor.

 

[monaroCountry]

The aurora engine is still in develoupment mode. Pretty intresting to see the aurora (5.0 L) against the C5R (7.0L), at this stage ill go with the 5.0. The corvette C5R did race once in Adelade?. Not quite sure of its placings.

As for Aust vs america? Ill go with the aust drivers. Most of them are V8 supercar drivers, therefore would know the circuit, conditions, have home develoupment/equipment adv, and are Aust top drivers. Look at OS drivers and their placing. Several former F1 drivers didnt rate, especially in the 1000 race. Another example is David Brabham, he basically comes every year to sandown, 1000 and the 24 hr races yet fail to place for whatever reason.

People tend to forget that V8 drivers are either top konica drivers, procar drivers or open wheeler drivers. Some have tried their luck OS but due to funding and/ or intrest and support from aust companies have failed.

GTO = monaro. With 3 in the field this year adding more would not be good for Procar and holden.

 

[mistermike]

School me on the 427. Is that 427 as in cubic inch Big Block?

 

[DevilYellow]

To get a 427 you need a stroked and bored (4.125) LS1. You can do that by replacing the sleeves in a 5.7 and using a 4" stroke crank (its early in the morning but I think I have those #'s right)

OR

You can spend $6300us to get a C5R bare block that can be bored out to i think 4.155 safely. Some people dont think so and I think a few have pushed it farther. In theory you can get a 455c.i. + out of it depending on how crazy you are. The block itself is amazing.

 

[mistermike]

I didn't know you could get those kind of cubes safely out of a small block. Any metal left?

 

[Olly]

The aurora engine is still in develoupment mode. Pretty intresting to see the aurora (5.0 L) against the C5R (7.0L), at this stage ill go with the 5.0. The corvette C5R did race once in Adelade?. Not quite sure of its placings.

As for Aust vs america? Ill go with the aust drivers. Most of them are V8 supercar drivers, therefore would know the circuit, conditions, have home develoupment/equipment adv, and are Aust top drivers. Look at OS drivers and their placing. Several former F1 drivers didnt rate, especially in the 1000 race. Another example is David Brabham, he basically comes every year to sandown, 1000 and the 24 hr races yet fail to place for whatever reason.

People tend to forget that V8 drivers are either top konica drivers, procar drivers or open wheeler drivers. Some have tried their luck OS but due to funding and/ or intrest and support from aust companies have failed.

GTO = monaro. With 3 in the field this year adding more would not be good for Procar and holden.

Monarocountry, I agree with most of what you said, but, for the 24 hour race to increase it's popularity, there must be new interest injected each year to "fuel the fire" so to speak. I personally can't see any problem whatsoever with GTO teams from the states trying their luck. I can remember many years ago when Kevin Bartlett drove the Comaro at Bathurst. It was great for the race to see an oz product v an american product. Yes, we know the monaro is the basis for the GTO, but I think the americans see it quite differenty. To them, the GTO is a Pontiac, and they would most definately be wanting the GTO to beat the Monaro home. Yes, we have the home ground advantage, but this will only bring out more determination from the U.S. guys to bring home the bacon. We all like to see competition in sport, that's what makes it interesing. Personally, bring it on.

 

[monaroCountry]

olly

Most times i really would like the GTO and monaro to run at the same time and the same event i.e. 24hr bathurst. However hanging around the procar guys led me to the conclusion that there would be many detractors to this idea. In their view ONLY european cars should race. They would see it as holdenising their exclusive club. Trust me ive tried to convince and change their views, in the end I gave up. Only Ross Palmer and a couple of others guys seem to be defending the monaro, good on them.

 

[Olly]

olly

Most times i really would like the GTO and monaro to run at the same time and the same event i.e. 24hr bathurst. However hanging around the procar guys led me to the conclusion that there would be many detractors to this idea. In their view ONLY european cars should race. They would see it as holdenising their exclusive club. Trust me ive tried to convince and change their views, in the end I gave up. Only Ross Palmer and a couple of others guys seem to be defending the monaro, good on them.

Monarocountry
If that is the case and they want to exclude cars like the monaro, then i can only assume one thing. The 24hr will die an agonisingly slow death, on second thoughts, that should be a quick death. Without it and cars like it in the race, interest will wane. On the other hand, you know my thoughts. It gets under my skin when it's so obvious where this race could end up on the international calendar in future years......ohh well.

 

[monaroCountry]

Yep agree with you there.......however there are many europhiles around. Still I disagree with a gto and monaro (essentially the same car).

 

[Olly]

Yep agree with you there.......however there are many europhiles around. Still I disagree with a gto and monaro (essentially the same car).

How about we agree to disagree.............lol

 

[monaroCountry]

yeah i think we have to. Agree

 

[GMH GTO]

I wouldn't count the american GTO race team out. Put Scott Pruett, Boris Said, Lou Gigliotti and Tom Kendall in a GTO and see what happens.

I do have on video from 1990 when Dick Johnson came over here to run Nascar race at Waklins Glen a road course.

 

[isszy]

I wouldn't count the american GTO race team out. Put Scott Pruett, Boris Said, Lou Gigliotti and Tom Kendall in a GTO and see what happens.

I do have on video from 1990 when Dick Johnson came over here to run Nascar race at Waklins Glen a road course.

If somebody in the US was smart, they would sponsor one of the existing Monaro 427's (there are 3 competing) on the condition that they whack a GTO nose on it. Pontiac then have an instant front runner in an international event!!

If they were really smart, they would insist on at least one lead Australian driver and share the Yanks amongst the other Monaros. Mt Panorama is an awesome track, and one not easily conquered on the first visit.

 

[Odin]

Yeah if they do come it would be a good idea to get one or two local drivers in the team