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WHEN : 7th September 2008

WHERE : Eastern Creek Raceway

WHAT :

THE FANTASTIC FIVE!

For the first time ever, fiv eof Australia's greatest Improved Production muscle cars will be together in the one place for a very special celebration. Allan Moffat's Trans-Am Mustang Norm Beechey's Monaro GTS 350, Pete Geoghegan's XY GT-HO Super falcon, Bob Jane's ZL1 Camaro and Pete Geoghegan's 1967 Mustang GTA will hity the track for a parade like no other. Get your cameras ready for this one - a magic muscle car moment not to be missed!

NEW V8 TOURING CAR CATEGORY!

Old V8 Supercars never die - they just find a new category to compete in. That new category is called 'V8 Touring Cars' Iand it will makse it Muscle Car Masters debut in 2008! V8 Touring Cars is a bright initiative to establish a solid racing future for all the AU Falcon and VT/VX Commodores that will soon no longer be eligible to compete in V8 Supercar' fs second-tier Fujitsu 'development' series.

The Muscle Car Masters will be the perfect place to showcase this exciting new development. With the approval of CAMS and V8SA, these
de-registered Ford and Holden V8 Supercars will compete in the inaugural 'Shannons V8 Touring Car National Series' in 2008, under Shannons National Series chief Rob Curkpatrick and technical consultant, Frank 'father of Craig' LowndesEligible cars must be the log booked original articles (no new cars can be built) with proven competition histories registered with V8SA.

This rule should hopefully encourage competitors to present cars in their original V8 Supercar race liveries, which will add considerable historical interest for spectators. Hopefully, some former V8 Supercar greats will also do some guest drives in the cars that made them stars.
The category is subject to strict technical requirements, with a new 'control' rear wing (same for Ford and Holden), camshaft and race tyre, plus a slightly reduced rev limit (500rpm) to extend component life and reduce running costs. We look forward to seeing this new breed of 'retro racer' firing on all eight cylinders at The Creek.

GROUP 5.0-LITRE TOURING CAR REVIVAL
(Pre-AU falcons & Pre-VT Commodores)

1993 heralded a new era in Australian touring car racing, when CAMS replaced the 'international' Froup A rules with a unique formula based on 5.0 litre V8-powered Falcons and Commodores. The new class was a big hit with Aussie race fans, fed up with years of domination by turbo imports.

In 2008, we invite all owners of log-booked Group A 5.0-litre touring cars to join us at the Muscle Car Masters, with their cars presented in th ecorrect colour schemes and mechanical specs as raced in the 1993-1998 period.
Depending on th eresponse, this first gathering will be either a sinple speed demonstration (like the Master Blast/Heritage Hot lap format) or a short race or two, but this will be determined based on owner feedback and the number of cars entered.

We stress again the eligible Group A 5.0-litre cars for this revival are restricted to EB-EF-El falcons and VP-VR Commodores.

BIANTE TOURING CAR MASTERS

The spectacular Biante Touring Car Masters series returns and this year the Biante grid boast three former Australian Touring car Champions.

Multiple ATCC and Bathurst winner, JIM RICHARDS, is campaigning a '68 Trans-Am Mustang and a '64 Falcon Rally Sprint in the 2008 series. Joining him is 1995 ATCC champ and two-time Bathurst winner JOHN BOWE, driving Tony Hunter's 350 camaro. And 1993/1997 ATCC champion GLENN SETON is driving the incredible BDA Escort driven by Mike Stillwell to second place in th e1972 ATCC behind Bob Jane.

2007 Biante champion STEVE MASON (Camaro) is also back to defend his crown, heading up a stellar field of favourites and newcomers that is the largest since th ecategory's creation.

Get set for a cracking showdown at the Creek!

AT LAST HISTORIC SPORTS SEDANS

Finally, the CAMS' Historic Commission has granted 'historic' status to Australia's unique sports sedan heritage. From July1, 2008, Group U - Historic Sports Sedans (pre-1986)' will become a reality, open to log booked cars that actually competed in Australia prior to 1986 ( no replicas) and presented in the period -correct race livery and mechanechal specification outlined in the vehicles description.

Therefore, we inbit eall cars complying with the new 'Group U - Historic Sports Sedan'rules to join us at the2008 Muscle car masters for someserious track action. If there is a big enough response from the competitiors to make up a decent grid, we will expand th eMasters format to include races for this new breed of Historic racer. Or, for those restorers not wishing to race, they can take part in the popular Heritage Hot Lap speed demonstrations. Either way, we want to see a big roll -up of Historic sports Sedans to shake The Creek in '08!

PIT STRAIGHT CAR CLUB CORRAL

For car clubs and independent (non-club) car owners not participating as a ‘Featured Muscle Marque’ this year, display space will once again be available in the Car Club Corral located on the spacious grass spectator bank right next to the grandstand. Due to increasing demand, we are expanding this display space in 2008 to include the large bitumen-sealed areas directly behind the grandstand.

These show cars will gain access to the venue via a special ‘show car only’ express entry gate. These prime viewing/display areas are exclusively for the display of muscle cars relevant to the event and all display areas must be pre-booked. We recommend that clubs interested in reserving a display space should nominate a single representative to deal with event organisers, to help streamline this process. Independent owners are also most welcome and will be grouped together.

To add to the unique atmosphere of The Corral, clubs are encouraged to create interesting displays to attract spectator interest and conduct membership drives. Members and friends can use their exclusive reserved area as a convenient day-long base and picnic spot that’s close to all amenities (please note – no portable BBQs allowed due to health and safety regulations).

FEATURED MUSCLE MARQUES

A new road car display strategy, introduced last year to reduce critical traffic congestion in the pit area, proved successful and will be employed again. To acknowledge the dedication, enthusiasm and passion of muscle car clubs, in 2008 we will again showcase particular makes and models of muscle cars celebrating special anniversaries.

Featured Muscle Marque car owners are invited to display their cars in designated areas within the pit area (a site map showing these display areas will be published closer to the event) and take part in a speed-controlled parade lap session around Eastern Creek Raceway during the day. So, if you own one of the cars highlighted below (must be in clean presentable condition to be displayed) and you would like to join us for a great day out, then get your entry in early!


XT Falcon GT 40th Anniversary
The XT Falcon GT is remembered as the great all-rounder of Ford’s local performance breed. Its design brief was to be a star performer not only on the race track but also in local and international rallying. The XT GT certainly delivered, narrowly missing out on a ‘68 Bathurst victory over the new Monaros due to a holed radiator, but scoring a brilliant 3rd/5th/8th finish and Team’s Prize for the three-car works entry in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon. This is the year we celebrate the XT GT’s unique achievements. And, as it shares an anniversary with the first London-Sydney Marathon, we would also love to see any of the original Marathon cars (or accurate replicas) that took part to make it a dual celebration.

VL ‘Walkinshaw’ 20th Anniversary
Holden entered a new era of ‘special vehicle’ development in 1988, in the wake of its bust-up with Peter Brock and his HDT operation. The General’s new man was a hard-nosed Scot called Tom Walkinshaw and their first joint effort produced the VL Commodore SS Group A SV. That name was so damn long, it was soon referred to simply as the ‘Walkinshaw’. Although its radical appearance was very controversial at release, this Panorama Silver limited-build ‘SV’ didn’t pretend to be anything other than a wind tunnel-tuned race homologation special with one job in mind. Its Bathurst victory against the turbos in 1990 proved the point and ensured its status as an Aussie muscle classic.
Falcon Cobra 30th Anniversary
In 1978, Edsel Ford (a great grandson of Henry Ford) was the assistant managing director of Ford Australia. In typically brash American fashion, Edsel figured the rub-off from such a revered Ford performance name like ‘Cobra’, as used on the sports cars and Mustangs developed by Carroll Shelby in the 1960s, would be just the thing to inject some excitement into the brand and help clear Ford’s remaining stocks of its slow-selling XC Falcon hardtops. Edsel was right. The limited build of 400 individually- numbered Cobras was a sell-out, which included a batch of 30 cars equipped with various homologation tweaks for Bathurst use. The ’78 Mountain win proved elusive, but the Cobra remains an Aussie favourite and a legacy of Edsel’s in-ya-face approach. A colourful line-up of these iconic Fords at The Creek will be a sight to savour!

Monaro HK GTS 327 40th Anniversary
Holden’s first Monaro was a styling sensation, but what made it a muscle car great was the hot GTS 327 version, built specifically with a Bathurst win in mind. Under the skin were heavy-duty imported Chevrolet engine, gearbox and rear axle components chosen to topple Ford’s Falcon GT at Mount Panorama. The new Monaro delivered of course, claiming a remarkable win on debut in the ’68 Bathurst 500 and planting the seed for the wonderful variety of Monaros that followed. This year we’re throwing a 40th birthday party for the car that started it all, so come one, come all!

Come and meet AMC’s‘ team of champions’

SHOCK & AWE: THE MASTERS TRACK ATTACK!