Jim Richards' long-awaited 1964 Falcon Sprint will make its racetrack debut at the inaugural Shannons Sports & Muscle Car Showdown at Queensland Raceway over the May 31/June 1 weekend.
It will be the seven-time Bathurst winner's first Queensland racetrack appearance in a classic Ford since he drove a Falcon XC Hardtop in the 1980 Australian Sports Sedan Championship.
The stumpy, lightweight two-door Falcon Sprint that Richards is preparing for the Biante Touring Car Masters series will also mark his serious entry into historic motorsport.
Rebuilt from the ground up over the past 18 months, the Sprint is currently being readied for its Shannons Muscle Car Showdown in Richards' Melbourne race workshop.
It is powered by a 289-cid Ford V8 engine pushing out 509HP (380kW) and driving through a four-speed Borg Warner Super T10 gearbox, which means it will be giving away around 60-70HP to the bigger-engined Camaros and Mustangs that currently dominate the Biante series.
However as it is required to weigh just 1360kg all up with Richards on board - thanks to its fibreglass front mudguards, bonnet, boot lid and doors - it will be some 200kg lighter than its main rivals, which should give it an advantage in braking and handling - particularly over a full race distance.
The Sprint in its new Shannons livery will be making the trip to Queensland Raceway in company with Richards' new and even more powerful 523HP (390kW) Porsche 911 GT2, which weighs around 80kg more and will have similar straight line performance.
He plans to demonstrate both cars at the meeting, with the Sprint stretching its legs for the first time on the circuit in several planned demonstration laps as a prelude to its race debut in the Hidden Valley, Darwin round of the Biante Muscle Car Masters on July 6.
Other significant vehicles already confirmed for demonstrations at the Shannons meeting include Allan Moffat's famed Trans-Am Mustang and Norm Beechey's 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship winning Monaro GTS 350. Two-time Australian driving champion Kevin Bartlett will also be a celebrity participant.
Richards, who is Patron of the meeting, will also head a phalanx of Porsches taking to the circuit, with his GT2 lining up alongside the ex-Vern Schuppan All-Japan Sports Car Championship-winning 'Iseki' Porsche 956C sports car and Australia's only V10 Carrera GT supercar.
The race programme includes four events for Group N Historic Touring Cars and Group S Historic sports cars. Including the two Shelby GT350s entered, what is believed to be a record 17 Mustangs will compete at the meeting alongside a number of Camaros, GT Falcons and Torana XU-1s.
Sixty Australian and American V8 muscle cars will so take part in timed sprints over the weekend, while 30 exotic sports cars including Corvette, Porsche, Lotus and Jaguar models will participate in average speed time trials.
A major attraction for many spectators will be the Show & Shine, with over 100 entries lining up from the Pony Car, GT Falcon, Monaro, HSV and Mustang clubs. Individual enthusiasts can also enter on the day. All Sunday Show & Shine entrants will compete for trophies and take part in Grand Parade around the circuit at midday.
Displays and Trade stands will be other features of the 2008 Shannons Sports & Muscle Car Showdown, with traders including racing engine builders and muscle car die cast model makers.
Entry to the meeting costs $20 per day for adults, or $30 for a two-day pass, with children under 12 free.
For further meeting details contact Phil Ross on 0418 269 056
For media information and publication quality photographs contact Michael Browning (03) 9879 9111/0418 324 328 or Andrew Laing on 0407 569 437.
For entry forms for racing, sprints and regularity, visit www.queenslandraceway.com.au
For more information on Jim Richards Racing visit http://www.greenfield.com.au/JimRichardsHome.php
