1979 Repco Round Australia - What can you tell me?

[jamolad]

So I want to know what you know about the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial - particularly what you know of the HDT VB specs, and the route (then and now).

I was 8 and have fond memories of PB taking out that trial, and in the mid-80's when I was 14 I swore to myself that I would lap Australia when I got my license in 87.

Never got around to it, but for the past few years have been piss-talking about doing this sometime in the near-ish future with a couple of mates (we are now early 40's).

Idea is:

- get an old VB V8 project in the next year or two
- build it to same spec as PB's 1979 HDT trial car (including as much livery as is legal on-road)
- take it round Australia, hopefully retracing as much of the 1979 'circuit' as is possible these days
- have a chat/drink with the occasional property owner, publican and punter along the way re their memories of the field coming through in 79
- resist the urge to do a lap of honour if we complete the full loop ;D

From what I saw at Birdwood (complete with decades-old red dust), and what I have heard through unreliable channels, the HDT cars weren't much more than stock - but then again I am not naive enough to think that Holden wouldn't possibly have a 'press-special' to avoid a very public PR nightmare with Kingswood's new replacement. So let me know if you know anything of the HDT specs - particularly if you know more than Googlepedia.

The 'circuit' - well I figure some of it is now sealed as opposed to back then, and no longer as challenging, and from my memory at 8 I think some was private property, so we may not get to follow the exact route. But hoping to get more detail of this so that we can contact private property owners in advance to gain permission to cross their property if required - then have a drink/reminisce with them when we come though.

Obviously not trying to match PB's time or skills - more a case of retracing his steps than replicating his efforts.

Giving myself a very achievable 3-4 year timeline to put it together - thought about waiting for 40th anniversary but 2019 is too far away.

So, if you have anything to share, be it personal knowledge or experience or just good links, please do share...either here or via PM.

Cheers,

Mark

[Bundy]

Can't really help you Jamo but I will open this page to outside users to see if they can help you.

Good luck on fulfilling your dream

[jamolad]

Cheers Bundy.

Also posted this over at LS1 and have found out a bit more - I always thought they were V8s (308) but turns out they were XU1 spec 202s.

[wrighty05]

Jamload, wheels mag did a retrospective on this.
Was re-printed when PB died. I have that article.

Tuckey also wrote a book on the reliability trials up to that point. Could pick that book up for under $50 if you so want it. (It's probably cheaper and I'm covering my arse here).

Keep in mind, PB said its the greatest thing he's ever done in a car. There is no Ford hero I know of on Tarmac that could've done that.

[jamolad]

Cheers, Wrighty, I am slowly piecing together enough about the car specs to build something similar-ish, but not sure how I am going to go finding out details of the route. Will definitely look into the Wheels article and Tuckey's book.

Was surprised to see Harry Firth won the trial back in the 60s.

Got some details of the cars from an old Unique Cars article: www.uniquecarsmag.com.au/news-and-reviews/article/articleid/78911.aspx

And a bit more here: www.torquenpower.com/CommodoreBF.htm

Not sure I will go as far as alloy boot and bonnet.

And an old for sale ad had this: "The car is one of 16 built by GMH /HDT for the Repco reliability Around Australia Trial in 1979. It was built in July 1979, coming from the factory with a re welded and strengthened body, full Bond alloy roll cage and sump guard, bilstein suspension and a 180 litre fuel tank and storage box in the boot."

Re the route, all I know so far is it was between 19000 and 20000km, they went clockwise, and they had to open a ****-load of gates so obviously quite a few property owners will need to be asked permission to cross their land. Took them only a couple of weeks back in '79, but we will be doing it over a leisurely 4-6 weeks taking it easy and taking in sights and having a few "chats". Going to be one stinky VB at the end of it.

We're also thinking of starting/finishing locally here in Adelaide, rather than start/finish in Melbourne - not certain, may still start/finish in Vic if funds allow an extra couple of thousand kms.

I expect more than the occasional encounter with wildlife, but have been told some of the entrants in '79 also encountered some not happy indigenous folk along the way. Hoping to avoid them.

Will obviously head off at the same time of year as the Repco did to avoid cyclones and washouts etc.

Quite a few people have mentioned the HDT support car - a heavily modded V8 Kingswood panelvan that often raced through the night to set up at the next stop-point - and it is said it often completed stages faster than most of the competitors.

[wrighty05]

From memory Ian Tate built the engines and they were the same engines that pretty much used to go in the LJ Torana!

[commodore30s]

Bill Tuckey wrote a book on the '79 epic, called "An old dog for a hard road", which features some great info, and naturally with Bill doing the writing, some fantastic prose.

A more official book was also released after the event, called "Challenge Australia", which documents and profiles every entrant in the event.

Both books would be helpful with the route.

The video/DVD called "Holden - First Around Australia" , which features the 1995 & 1979 trials, could also be helpful.

A great project you have started & i hope you complete it, the '79 Repco proved to be a very valuable advertisement for what the six cylinder VB could do

[jamolad]

Cheers for the leads guys - good job.

Giving myself a good couple of years to put it together so should be able to make it happen - well, should be able to build a car of similar spec and head off anyway, but completing the full lap might be another story.

Since going public with my plans I have had a couple of extras express interest in this - might end up with 2 cars, a HDT 1-2 . Team orders dictate my car crosses the line first - if we make it.

Hopefully catch up with those of you that live on the coast on the way around, but at this stage not looking to head off until middle of 2015 so still a while away yet.

If I make it all the way, I have a feeling I will never part with the car once we are done.

[commodore30s]

Feb 16, 2013 0:05:37 GMT 10 jamolad said:

- get an old VB V8 project in the next year or two

Just re-reading the opening post, is there plan to find an old six to fit to the car, in keeping with the MHDT cars in the '79 event?

[jamolad]

Yeah, I was always under the impression they were 5 litres, but since that original post I have found out they were XU1 spec 202s, so will be looking for a VB with a 202 in it and then throw some XU1 goodies at it.