I
t seems logical to have a quick look at Allan
Moffat RX7 models this issue. His team only
built four of these giant-killers and one was
written-off, but the models survive.
The best-known and most popular are
Biante’s 1:18 scale versions. A quick look on
Biante’s website reveals another variant on this
model is on the way, this being the 1982 Bathurst
1000 car as shared by Moffat and Yoshimi
Katayama.
As with all these cars that bore cigarette
sponsorship, the model has big blank areas on
the sides. But you can get aftermarket stickers in
either waterslide or ‘peel and stick’ vinyl to make
the model accurate.
Another version of the model is the Daytona
24-Hour car, as shared by Moffat, Gregg
Hansford, Kevin Bartlett and Peter McLeod (a
diversely talented line-up or what?). The car ran
almost as it had nished Bathurst – just 20kg of
CAMS ballast lighter. The foursome took it to a
creditable seventh in the GTO class.
Moffatalsoracedoneof thecarsat Macau,in
theGuiaTouringCarracein 1981,not long after its Bathurst debut. And it’s this
model that we’ll feature here. Another creation
of the highly-skilled model-maker Geoff
Woods, who takes up the story:
“This is my version of how Allan’s RX7 ran
in the 1981 Guia 200 at the Macau Grand Prix.
Also pics from the event showing how different
it looked from the Bathurst model l based it on.
“Of technical interest, the race was run to
Group 5 Sports Car specs so Allan and team
set about removing the CAMS mandated
ballast (30kg) and passenger’s seat, allowing
it to run at its FIA approved racing weight of
920kg. Allan has always stated that the 950kg
Group C handicap cost him any chance of
conquering the Mountain.
“You will also notice they removed the
windscreen wipers and taped up the front
indicator recesses to reduce drag in order to
‘try’ to stay in the slipstream of the open class
Porsche 935s and BMW 318 turbos.
“All these tweaks allowed Allan to take victory
in the smaller capacity class, while proudly
carrying a huge ‘Advance Australia’ logo on the
rear hatch... as chassis AMR-001 was built in
the iconic Malvern Road workshop.
“The week prior to Macau saw Allan conduct
ve days of testing with the Mazdaspeed factory
team at the Fuji circuit, in an example of his
typical trademark determination to get the most
out of his racecars.”
Geoff dug up pictures from the Giua race to
use as a base – the man’s attention to detail is
legendary! Of course, it helps he’s mates with
Moffat. There’s no source like the original.Mini
Muscle
with Bruce Moxon