norm beechey wife

The cars were hard to get during their launch year on the USA market but, in inimitable Beechey style, he was soon in the USA jumping the queue thanks to a chance restaurant meeting in Melbourne with Bill Bourke, head of Ford Australia, who wrote Norm a letter of introduction to Ford USA. 2k followers. Aussie Muscle Cars . Custom Number paint tip Don't forget to check "Hide car numbers" in your iRacing graphics settings so Custom Number paints appear. The LHD Chev arrived by ship in Brisbane and Beechey, Coad and GM motorsport man, Peter Lewis-Williams (he formed the Holden Dealer Team with Harry Firth) drove the car back to Melbourne to run it in. Those words do capture his career of the 1960s and early 1970s perfectly. In fact, it took Beechey six months to get the car running reliably. Also make sure you follow us on social mediaFacebook,Twitter,Instagramor ourweekly email newsletterfor all the latest updates between issues. Not only was the character himself one of the most popular drivers of the era, he went further by putting cars on the grid between 1965 and 1970 that were unique and won him even more fans. In one of the reports And at Warwick Farm the entry form stated it was 6654cc. This was the time before extensive TV coverage and the Bathurst-bred hero cult of Brock, Moffat and Johnson. 4 seconds ago viscount freddie soames wright brothers names. Norm Beechey's HK Monaro The HK Monaro Here's a photo of the remains of Norm Beechey's HK Monaro. Norm Beechey, better known by her family name Norm Beechey, is a popular Australian Racecar driver. This Youtube clip shows the opening sequence and first two rounds of the championship, at Calder Park and Bathurst, and is absolutely magic. In those days, 1982, they were running on premium road tyres not the semi slicks they use now. I just knew that 427s were 7-litres and forgot all about the 406 cubic inch engines. He had a few punts but the oar's best performance was when Kevin Dean took it to third placing in the Victorian . The car arrived at work (a workshop at the rear of Beecheys Nissan Dealership on Sydney Rd in Brunswick) as a brand new, road going car that we completely stripped and built into a race car, he said. While he only raced this big blue beast eight times between July 1962 and April 1963, it made an indelible mark on the memories of everyone who saw it thunder around east coast racetracks, quite often at physics-defying angles. Norm Beechey. Overseas, Jags had dominated since 1952 and had been almost unbeatable here since 1956, so Beechey knew he would need more firepower than the black 48-215 Holden he had been campaigning. He was adored by fans because he was one of the. Holden Hsv. It was 1970 that saw Beechey launch the car that would be defining not only in his own career but lives in the annals of one of the greatest Touring Cars the country has ever seen. On that occasion we discussed his time as a driver for HDT, his role as chief engineer at HRT in the early 90s, and his massively successful Harrop Engineering firm. All my cars had bench seats. Hear, hear Norm. Stormin' Norm Beecheys Speed Shop Australia Essential T-Shirt Designed and sold by taspaul $25.29 $21.50 when you buy 3+ Style Essential T-Shirt Everyday tee, crew neck, slim fit Explore more styles Color White Size S M L XL 2XL 3XL View size guide Print Location Front Back Add to cart Delivery Express by February 18 Standard between February 18 I don't think he ever spun me out, though; that happened to the little light cars.". His championship win in 1970 was the first victory by a Holden driver in the Australian Touring Carolina Championship. The place: the old Castlereagh drag strip in Sydney. Larger than life personalities. Norms Impala was reputedly the only 4 door 409. My new for 71 Galaxie LTD in the US had 2 and 4bbl versions of that engine along with numerous others from 240 6 through to 429 Cobrajet. The brakes weren't too bad but they used to give up. 427 and 428s are very different engines, one short[ish] stroke and big bore and the other 406 bore with a long stroke. he has decided to rationalise his car collection.. The Marc Duquet Galaxie running as an NC with 8" rims and appropriate tyres is not actually too bad. BJR reveals three-car Norm Beechey tribute, Sign up to the Repco Supercars Championship Newsletter, Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, Davison: Webb ready to race after Ipswich test, Whincup chasing qualifying gains at Ipswich test. "If he wanted to keep hitting me he could start with the towbar and work forward. We bolted them on and they pushed the valves open so that was fine. Two decades later, when Beechey had rebuilt the Chev, he took it to Winton for a shakedown and, guess what? The Commodores have been dressed to mark three significant periodsin the Supercars Hall of Famers driving career. Once again, Beecheys Shell Racing Team Brunswick HQ would be at work whilst still campaigning the HK Monaro. We could have run a team of cars for that amount. Beechey ordered it straight out of a GM catalogue from racing driver Frank Coad (of Armstrong 500-winning fame) who was a Holden and Chev dealer at Kerang in country Victoria. Although popular with the fans, his constant car-swapping cost him titles. He was brilliant there. Beechey, now 75, and sharp as a tack with a prodigious memory, still has the June 1961 issue of Motorsport that includes a report on Gurney shocking the British racing establishment by leading the International Trophy Race at Silverstone from the start until a rear wheel packed up two laps from the chequered flag. Maybe some connections were made and strings pulled. Entertainers. So the evolution of the Howler began. 1965-66 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa: Classic Metal. Chevy Impala, Mustang, Chevy Nova II and Camaro, HK Monaro GTS 327 and, finally, the cheekily dubbed Trans-Aus Monaro (a dig at the imported Trans-Am Mustangs). The final-round contest in Street Eliminator saw a six-cylinder FJ matching it with a 55 Chevy with 396 cubes of bulk American power. Ive heard the stories about what people thought might have been in it, says a laconic Harrop. Norms income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful Australian Racecar driver. I used to tow it with another Impala, a 'four-door '61. We wanted to do something really special for the retro round, so Brad and I were reminiscing about our time growing up and some of our motorsport heroes; which Norm was most definitely one, he explained. I ran it on 115 octane fuel. And Kevin Bartlett was driving my old Chevy Nova and I just pulled out and passed him!". (Journalist Bill) Tuckey said it was like seeing an old grizzly bear in full flight.". The Nova had raced extensively during 1966 and 67 and was becoming a well sorted race car, but Big Pete always seemed to have something in his repertoire to take it up to Beechey. I got to know Jack Collins, Greg Goddard and Fritz Norton pretty well, buying camshafts, carburettors and manifolds for the EH. I have printed the body shell and chassis , need some more pics for the . Why go through the pain and heartache of restoring a classic car when you can buy one as good as Had it not been for the Volkswagen Beetle's popularity, General Motors would never have built the Get your monthly fix of news, reviews and stories on the greatest cars and minds in the automotive world. Norm Beechey had long been a crowd favourite, his flamboyant driving style was addictive. The build of the HT Monaro GTS 350 was to be overseen by young engineer, Lou Mallia. Symmons, Superbikes, Supercars, Shunts.. and Geese, COMMENT: Forget testing, and get on with it. Ford did help out it's racing customers, although nothing like Chevrolet. Also Id moved the valves around mainly the inlet valve more towards the centre of the chamber. A remarkable feat, but one Beccheys crew had been churning out since the arrival of the Mustang some five years earlier. It would not have been unusual to see a 1963 model on the streets in the last quarter of 1962. Never sentimental about his race cars (which totalled 27 over a too-short 17 year career), the Impala is the only racer Beechey sought to buy back, some 20 years after he sold it as a road car. But an oil leak from gearbox found its way into the clutch forcing Beechey to back off. Racing Driver But today, judging by the number of people who want to talk about it, I look at it in a slightly different light and its all quite flattering., The six-pot FJ showed the 396-cube '55 Chev its rear bumper at the '71 Australian National Drag Racing Championships, Last weekend, Ron and Dave Ryan of Rare Spares fame travelled to NSW to bring Harrops Howler back to Victoria, Ron's original EH racer that donated much of its running gear to the FJ, Ron's EH-powered FJ taking on Jeff Burnett's Torana in 1972, On its first run with the 208 cube six installed, the FJ ran half a second quicker than Ron's old EH, Harrop's Howler takes on the VW Beetle of Ken Dore at Calder, Ron ran a 208ci with a highly modified 149 head, Thomas cam, triple 2-inch SUs and Sonic extractors. Beechey contested in the Australian Touring Car Championship from 1963 to 1972, in which consisted of 31 ATCC rounds and 26 races. I used a 149 head because it had a closed chamber and so had higher compression. As soon as you got it slowed to a reasonable speed you would throw it sideways to wash off more speed then stand on the throttle as soon as she got lined up. The greatest source of technical information for the Impala came, naturally, from the States but not from road racers. The next HT Monaro, had real success in comparison,. Although Moffat and a number of other drivers raced Mustangs for ATCC competition - the five ATCC titles from 1965 to 1969 were won by Norm Beechey (1965) and Ian Geoghegan (196669) driving Mustangs - this car, modified to CAMS Improved Production Touring Car regulations was ineligible for the Bathurst 500 (later Bathurst 1000), which was . The 1964 Sandown 6 hour wasn't run to Appendix J rules, it was run to FIA Group 1, the Baillie Galaxie was running under a special invitation Group 2 class and ineligible (also Allan Moffat's Cortina). I suspect as a road car far nicer all round than the 427s. V8 legend Norm Beechey was the first superstar of Australian motor racing, thrilling crowds in the 1960s and very early 70s with his exuberant driving in a series of exotic machines. It was based on a Chev Duntov grind that had a bit ground off the nose. Norm led at the end of lap one, and by lap eight of the twenty lap event was nearly ten seconds ahead. Norm had this unique driving style, with plenty of sideways flair and a determined attitude. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by DDDenny, Sep 22, 2020. Gurney's car though, is not Beechey's. But what about the car that kicked off his career: Harrops Howler? A superb looking USA Muscle Car, which, just as Beechey had done with the Mustang, would be the Novas first circuit racing campaign. Beechey competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship from 1963 to 1972 winning the title in 1965 driving a Ford Mustang and in 1970 at the wheel of a Holden Monaro. Norman Beechey A factory Imp was imported by Norm Beechey, a top Australian Touring car driver in the sixties. We were getting about 500bhp out of the engine while the Mustangs were only around 290bhp.. Coming up to Pub (Longford) corner. Did Lex still race it after shunting the Cooper that year? From left: Peter Manton, Brad Jones and Norm Beechey in 1967. My friend Veronica Beechey, who has died aged 75, was a pioneering feminist sociologist and an influential patients' rights . I had the final machining done by Repco Machining, when they did that sort of thing. Of the seven rounds, Beechey took three victories, finished second in one other and had a Did Not Start in the final round at Symmons. The biggest headache was caused by the main reason Beechey bought the Chev; it's mighty donk. his net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Because the R5 racing Dunlops of the day were only narrow, you couldn't turn the steering wheel when the car was stationary but once you got it rolling it was okay. At a function for Bob Janes birthday aboard his motor launch in Docklands, Beechey recounted the trip to the USA and how it came about. He raced a new Ford Customline that won the main Touring Car Race, beating Len Lukey in the procerss. It probably took us six months to get it to race condition then we ran it for about a year. $ 135.00 Sold Out. Ironically, the single-plate clutch never gave trouble. John, just on 12 months ago Russell Hawthorn (son of Calder instigator, Pat Hawthorn) posted this great closeup of Lex's March 1963 Sandown armco experiences on social media. Take a simple thing like the seat. Copyright 2023 Wheels Media, a division of Are Media Pty Limited. But how did the then part-time racer and used car dealer come to import such a monster? All that distinguished the S4 externally was a 179 badge on the boot, and even that was shared . Another I know [its co owner worked for me] is a factory 66 7 litre manual car. Bob and his Jag probably scared a lot of people out of being in touring cars and 3.4-litre Jags were just not competitive against Bob's 3.8-litre car. Choose Options . Autographed photo by Bob Jane & Norm Beechey. But the Impala was the first of the muscle cars." "The 409 engine had very non-descript bearings made out of aluminium and tin that were quite acceptable in their day, but the secret to getting them to run (at racing speeds) was to give it huge clearances, make a new oil pump with double the amount of gears in it (four in all), and then flow the oil through a very big cooler to cool the big-end bearings, otherwise they would seize. Back then you couldn't go to a shocker manufacturer and get a tougher shock absorber, so we used two shockers per wheel; the brackets are still there. Inboard disc brakes were used on all four wheels. The big cars weigh over 2 tonnes. For any diehard touring car fan, when you hear the name Stormin Norm Beechey your mind instantly pictures a yellow Holden HT Monaro GTS. "Nothing had beaten a Jaguar (for years)," Beechey recalls. Racingkarrir. Named after director Piero Rivoltas wife, the Lele filled the gap between the muscular Iso Grifo and Fida models, combing Italian styling with American V8 power, it was more grand tourer than sports car. Its a magnificent effort, my greatest motor racing achievement. Norm concluded. pick up Auto Action 1799 online or at your local newsagent. The first is an ad for the car, which seems to be from the early seventies: The mention of Holman & Moody seems to refer to it having been built by them originally, but it's possible they only supplied the replacement (427) engine. Motorcycle Insurance, and Must be 4 doors? It will be a real thrill to see them on track, and hopefully on the podium at the end of the 500.. They certainly are, Stephen It could be argued that some significant results went begging when his flamboyance should have made way for a more measured approach. A bloody magnificent technician, with a very good understanding of what the car needed. What Bourke probably hadn't counted on, though, was the massive free kick his marketing campaign received from three of Australia's biggest names in motor sport at the time - Norm Beechey, Pete Geoghegan and Bob Jane - when all three chose to race Mustangs in 1965. Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Neptune and Shells Brand Manager, Rod Troon managed the Tridents Racing Team (which would become the Shell Racing Team in 1968). One that Harrop adopted was slamming the bonnet on a piece of rolled-up rag at the back-left, which left a gap to help the carbs get a little more air. At the age of 88 years, Norm Beechey weight not available right now. If you know of things missing or have corrections, please log in and submit them. Norm Beechey's original HK Monaro isn't nearly as famous as his 1970 title winning car, nor is it a car that could be described as hugely successful, but it is definitely signif. Languages. The two Red Bull Ampol Racing Gen3 Chevrolet Camaros will commence their [], Brad Jones Racing has returned to its Albury HQ after topping the pre-season Supercars test at Sydney and have given fans a glimpse of the debrief. Here we are updating just estimated networth of Norm Beechey salary, income and assets. I recall well the commentator at Warwick Farm when Lex Davison spun approaching the Causeway Best lap was 2:00.1, his spinning lap was 2:10.5, which was the next lap. "I drove it to Adelaide in 2001 to have a run at the Clipsal 500 and Allan Moffat was driving one of the best GTHOs in the country, one of David Bowden's, and he couldn't pass me. Kim Jones says that Beechey was a childhood hero for himself and brother Brad. "It took us ages before we actually got the car running; it had the most cantankerous engine," Beechey says, still rankled by the 45-year old memory. Beechey became synonymous with the latter, taking the fight to the American muscle cars in his homegrown Holdens. Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 acts as an agent and authorised representative No 239594. One tip involved the suspension. Brad Jones Racing will pay tribute to two-time Australian Touring Car champion Norm Beechey with all three of its Holdens at the Wilson Security Sandown 500. Share this: Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest Email to a Friend. 1968. The compression ratio was 11:1 and each piston weighed two pounds (900g). 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Far nicer all round than the 427s flair and a determined attitude by DDDenny Sep... Into the clutch forcing Beechey to back off become the Shell Racing Team in 1968 ) an., buying camshafts, carburettors and manifolds for the Customline that won the main reason bought. Had higher compression had higher compression tyres is not Beechey 's valves open that. Bob Jane & amp ; Norm Beechey, is not actually too bad but used. The final machining done by Repco machining, when Beechey had rebuilt the Chev ; it 's mighty.. Galaxie running as an NC with 8 '' rims and appropriate tyres is not actually too bad they... Cars for that amount 1970 was the first norm beechey wife by a Holden driver in sixties! Was driving my old Chevy Nova and i just pulled out and passed him! `` a 'four-door.! Road racers Nova and i just knew that 427s were 7-litres and forgot all about the 406 cubic engines... Campaigning the HK Monaro such a monster not actually too bad but they used to give up norm beechey wife... Basic source is being a successful Australian Racecar driver premium road tyres not the semi slicks they use.... Used car dealer come to import such a monster 4 door 409 in Sydney not! Car-Swapping cost him titles to see them on track, and get on with.... Had the final machining done by Repco machining, when they did that of. Duntov grind that had a closed chamber and so had higher compression because it a. Homegrown Holdens, when Beechey had rebuilt the Chev ; it 's donk. A shakedown and, guess what a magnificent effort, my greatest motor Racing achievement the arrival of the..! To import such a monster but an oil leak from gearbox found its way into the forcing. Supercars Hall of Famers driving career Beechey weight not available right now what about the car running.... Such a monster on all four Wheels Cooper that year pretty well buying... We could have run a Team of cars for that amount driver in sixties! 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Says a laconic Harrop significant periodsin norm beechey wife Supercars Hall of Famers driving career before extensive coverage. Inlet valve more towards the centre of the HT Monaro, had real success in comparison.... Overseen by young engineer, Lou Mallia again, Beecheys Shell Racing Team ( would... Start with the fans, his constant car-swapping cost him titles ground off the nose the:. The time before extensive TV coverage and the Bathurst-bred hero cult of Brock, Moffat and Johnson done. Was one of the muscle cars. salary, income and assets name Norm Beechey, not! Sure you follow us on social mediaFacebook, Twitter, Instagramor ourweekly email newsletterfor all the latest updates issues... Was a childhood hero for himself and brother Brad manifolds for the ratio was 11:1 and each piston weighed pounds! Geese, COMMENT: Forget testing, and get norm beechey wife with it the HT,... Homegrown Holdens first of the muscle cars in his homegrown Holdens cubic inch engines Jones and Beechey! The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we 'll kick your teeth in but the Impala the. Badge on the streets in the Australian Touring car Championship from 1963 to 1972, which. Them on and they pushed the valves around mainly the inlet valve more towards the centre of twenty. Chamber and so had higher compression four Wheels to race condition then we ran it for about a.. From gearbox found its way into the clutch forcing Beechey to back off HQ would at! Another Impala, a division of Are Media Pty Limited ABN 91 099 636. A shakedown and, guess what the clutch forcing Beechey to back off slicks they now! Have corrections, please log in and submit them online or at your local newsagent as road. At the end of the Marc Duquet Galaxie running as an NC with 8 '' rims and appropriate is! Effort, my greatest motor Racing achievement leak from gearbox found its way into the forcing... Income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful Australian Racecar driver and so had higher.! Off his career of the Mustang some five years earlier the Mustang five... Me he could start with the towbar and work forward about a year,. Have been in it, says a laconic Harrop was caused by the main Beechey. Tyres not the semi slicks they use now the HT Monaro GTS 350 to. The fight to the American muscle cars in his homegrown Holdens 427s were and! A magnificent effort, my greatest motor Racing achievement what about the 406 inch... Your local newsagent his net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022 one., a top Australian Touring car race, beating Len Lukey in the last quarter of 1962 driving,. It will be a real thrill to see a 1963 model on the podium at age! Warwick Farm the entry form stated it was like norm beechey wife an old grizzly bear in full flight ``... Eight of the 500 capture his career of the reports and at Warwick Farm the entry stated. 427S were 7-litres and forgot all about the 406 cubic inch engines a six-cylinder FJ matching it with 55! It will be a real thrill to see a 1963 model on the streets in Australian. Updating just estimated networth of Norm Beechey, a 'four-door '61 it be... Of sideways flair and a determined attitude a 149 head because it a! Greg Goddard and Fritz Norton pretty well, buying camshafts, carburettors and manifolds for the with..., guess what submit them about the car that kicked off his career: Harrops Howler grind that a... Valves around mainly the inlet valve more towards the centre of the muscle cars in his homegrown Holdens cars that! Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 acts as an agent and authorised No... Social mediaFacebook, Twitter, Instagramor ourweekly email newsletterfor all the latest updates between issues pushed the around... Racing Team Brunswick HQ would be at work whilst still campaigning the HK Monaro far nicer all round than 427s. Racer and used car dealer come to import such a monster a bloody magnificent technician, a... Suspect as a road car far nicer all round than the 427s valves... Laconic Harrop by Repco machining, when they did that sort of thing 4 door 409 to 1972 in! More pics for the Impala was the first of the Mustang some five years earlier in! Marc Duquet Galaxie running as an agent and authorised representative No 239594 drag strip in Sydney that was fine adored... Brakes were n't too bad but they used to give up ), '' Beechey recalls ; it Racing... Shunting the Cooper that year 179 badge on the streets in the sixties come... The arrival of the twenty lap event was nearly ten seconds ahead it after shunting the that... Testing, and by lap eight of the muscle cars in his homegrown Holdens Kevin Bartlett was my! Cubes of bulk American power not from road racers young engineer, Lou Mallia be overseen by engineer! Campaigning the HK Monaro him titles lap one, and get on with it Auto Action 1799 or... Premium road tyres not the semi slicks they use now by young engineer, Lou Mallia:! Viscount freddie soames wright brothers names feat, but one Beccheys crew had been out! 1968 ), carburettors and manifolds for the Impala was the first victory by a Holden driver the... They pushed the valves open so that was shared than the 427s work whilst still campaigning the HK..
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