The Gnoo Blas Classic Car Club’s line-up of special guests for its annual Gnoo Blas Classic AutoFest will be led by former international racer Vern Schuppan AM.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He’ll be joined by V8 team owner Garry Rogers and former motor racing champion Spencer Martin.
Classic cars, vintage cars, street cars, sports cars, racing cars, classic trucks, motorcycles and new cars will be lined up in Jack Brabham Park from 10am on Saturday, February 16.
According to car club president Denis Gregory the show is now considered “the biggest and best in country NSW” and attracts more than 500 entrants from 105 different postcodes and 5,000 people through the day.
“Vern Schuppan is one of Australia’s most accomplished and versatile drivers marked by his 1983 Le Mans 24 Hour win in the famous Rothmans 956 Porsche,” Mr Gregory said.
“He raced in three Indianapolis 500s, winning Rookie of the Year in 1976 and finishing third in 1981 and was an ambassador for PIRTEK Team Murray as Matt Brabham, grandson of Sir Jack, made his debut in 2016.”
Mr Gregory said earlier in his career Mr Schuppan won the 1971 British Formula Atlantic Championship, the Singapore Grand Prix in 1973 and the 1974 and 1976 Macau Grand Prix.
At home he won the 1976 Rothmans International Series for Formula 5000 cars.
“He was an open-wheel driver in Europe, North America, Japan and Australia, with 15 Formula 1 starts and was a co-driver in the Bathurst 1000 for three of the biggest names in the race’s history, Dick Johnson, Peter Brock and Allan Moffat,” Mr Gregory said.
“His best result was fifth but he and Moffat were leading the race in 1976 when their XB Falcon had engine problems.”
Mr Schuppan was awarded the Order of Australia and inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
According to Mr Gregory V8 Racing team owner Mr Rogers may be one of the seniors of Supercars but few in the sport are as fun-loving.
“He’s irreverent, mischievous and an unabashed show-off, making him a refreshing change from his mostly humourless peers and his high-spirited behaviour makes him V8 racing's most colourful character,” Mr Gregory said.
His team’s biggest win in V8s was at Bathurst in 2000 with then youngsters Garth Tander, a GRM Holden team driver and three-time 1000 winner, and Jason Bargwanna.
Spencer Martin was a champion open-wheel driver who won Australian Gold Stars in 1966 and 1967 in Bob Jane’s Brabham Climax after a top 10 championship finish in the 1966 Tasman Series.
He raced Holdens for the Holden Dealer Team, won a Six Hour Le Mans with David McKay in a Ferrari and was third in the Ferrari in the Australian Tourist Trophy in 1965 and 1966.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below …