Pacific Ford- Total Performance Car Show 10th Oct

barra240t · 25-09-2009, 09:40 AM

Press Release: “Total Performance” Car Show

A showcase of Ford’s Australian and American performance heritage from the 1960’s and 70’s Muscle Cars to the latest Falcon FPV and XR models.

Venue:

Pacific Ford, 122-24 Sugar Rd Maroochydore 4558. Bathurst Saturday, October 10th from 9am-3pm weather permitting.

“Total Performance” was the slogan of a Ford advertising campaign in the early to mid1960’s and was part of a directive by US Ford Chairman and grandson of the founder, Henry Ford ll, that Ford would be dominant in all forms of Motorsport it chose to enter.

Ford Motor Company was flush with newly minted money courtesy of the runaway success of the Mustang which commanded a healthy 7.1% market share of all passenger cars sold in the US by 1966. Racing budgets grew as Ford’s Galaxie 427 V8 battled it out for supremacy with the Mopar 426 Hemis on the high-speed banked NASCAR ovals in front of a TV audience of millions. The 600hp Ford SOHC 427 powerhouse was sold over the parts counter for a paltry $US2400 [the same price as a base Mustang Coupe] and powered some of the eras hottest Drag Racers. Carol Shelby’s lethal 289 & 427 Cobra’s and his Shelby Mustangs were the cars to beat on the SCCA circuits. The legendary Offenhauser was finally conquered as Ford-powered Lotus racecars took the Indy 500 for the first time. European Rally titles fell to the Cortina then the Escort, both with help from Lotus.

All this paled into insignificance for Henry Ford ll as the sublime Ford GT40 won the Le Mans 24hour race in 1966 then each year through until 1969, ending Ferraris six year winning streak. HF2 and Enzo Ferrari had locked horns in 1963 over a proposed Ford takeover of Enzo’s beloved Prancing Horse badge, and the GT40 was developed purely to defeat the Italian Marque at it’s own game which it certainly did.

Across the world in mid sixties Australia the success of the Mustang Stateside spurred Ford to release the “Mustang Bred” XR Falcon, as the ads of the period exclaimed, with the 289 V8 an option across the range in 1966. Newly installed Ford Australia Managing Director, Bill Bourke, a noted Petrolhead, drove a V8 Police Interceptor prototype, and decided to put it into production with an upmarket interior and four speed manual, borrowing a badge from the Falcon’s US Mustang and Fairlane cousins, and an Aussie motoring icon was born in March 1967, the Falcon GT.

Bathurst, known as the Gallaher 500 in those halcyon days duly rolled around, and when the dust settled the XR GT driven by Harry Firth and Fred Gibson had taken the chequered flag albeit after a confusing recount of laps that saw 2nd place fellow XR GT drivers, the Geoghegan Brothers initially proclaimed the winners. 1968 would see the new HK Holden Monaro GTS327 line up against the XT GT 302 on the starting grid, ultimately beating the Falcon GT and igniting one of the Great Tribal Battles of our time, one that’s 41 years old and still playing hard. Ford versus Holden with Mt Panorama as the ultimate backdrop and battleground venue. Sunday October 11 2009 and a global audience will pay homage once more, at Bathurst, to the AussieV8 Supercars.

Pacific Ford Maroochydore’s Car show on Saturday 10 will honor Ford’s racing heritage with a collection of classic muscle and the latest FPV models. Dan Bowden from Bowden’s Own has kindly made available Alan Moffat’s historic 1970 XW Falcon GTHO Phase 2 Bathurst winning racecar for display in the Maroochydore showroom from Thursday 8th October. The real deal, this car introduced the legendary 351 Cleveland V8, built for one thing only, to climb up the Mountain quicker than any Holden, and rapidly marched Moffat to his first of several Bathurst victories. Bowden’s Garage will supply another historic classic, certain to be a stand out.

Saturday’s show will feature the new FG FPV Limited Edition “GS” Sedan and Ute, the latest GT’s and F6’s as well as their ancestors, early Falcon GT sedans from XW, XY, XA, and XB model ranges with a pair of XA GT coupes hopefully in attendance, courtesy of the Queensland GT Owner’s Club. An XY GS Fairmont and other Aussie collectable Falcons will also be on display.

Mustang lovers rejoice as local collectors serve up a treat, 1965-68 model fastbacks, coupes and convertibles 1969 is well covered with several 1969 351 Mach1’s, a Cobra Jet 428 big block, a Boss 302 or two, with possibly a Boss 429 and a Shelby GT350. A ’70 Boss 302 with big brother ’70 Torino GT 429 and cousin ’70 Mercury Cougar Eliminator will all sing a song of a time when petrol was cheap and the road was wide open. Special thanks to Anthony Tenkate for his involvement in assisting with the organisation of this show and specifically for the spread of Mustangs.

Chris List from Torque and Tune will be operating a dynamometer that will provide a detailed and graphic record of the kilowatt and torque produced by vehicles presented. Chris will be taking bookings for this service and for $50 you will receive his professional advice and a detailed printout of your vehicles result. Please refer to Greg Manchester on phone number 5458 9715 for bookings.

Mick Collins from Emergency Management Team (EMT) will also be at the show. Mick and his team are Sunshine Coast based and are responsible for managing medical response for local and interstate car racing events.

Admission is free to the public for the car show as Pacific Ford is proud to showcase the Blue Oval badge at our Sugar Road dealership and the rich heritage of race winning performance that comes with it. We have allocated are holding ten parking spots down the length of our showroom exclusively for our FPV Owners who would like to support this event by presenting your FPV on the day. Please call to book your spot.

If you have any questions please contact Bruce Simpson on 5458 9712 or Greg Manchester on 5458 9715 otherwise mark down Saturday the 10th October at Pacific Ford and FPV to enjoy the Total Performance Car Show day.