Be proud

27 January 2023

Yesterday was Australia Day. Time for backyard cricket, a roast lunch, and a road trip to the beach. It has got me thinking about Australian motoring milestones.

So here it is, my Top 10 Aussie Auto Hits:

1. Bathurst. One of the world’s greatest endurance races. It consistently delivers wheel-to-wheel racing and close results. Unmissable.
2. Holden Monaro. My all-time favourite Australian-built car. Make mine a 1969 GTS 350 V8 with manual transmission. Awesome.
3. Sir Jack Brabham. Three-time Formula 1 World Champion and still the only person to win a world title in a car of their own design. Unrepeatable.
4. Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. The magic Albert Park location sells Australia like nothing else. Iconic.
5. Australian International Motor Show. No longer with us, but what a ride! For 75 years it dazzled Aussies with the latest and greatest in motoring. Missed.
6. Aussie ingenuity. From Formula 1-winning Repco V8s, to Bill Buckle’s Goggomobil Dart, and the latest Brabham BT63. We take on the world and often win. Respect.
7. National Automobile Museum of Tasmania. A Launceston favourite that consistently delivers world-class entertainment for historic vehicle fans. Classy.
8. Historic racing at Baskerville. A must-see every year: racing cars from every era at one of Australia’s best circuits. Memorable.
9. Australian MotoGP. Jack Miller missed out on a podium last time. Maybe this year.
10. David Shearer. Australia was building cars back in 1898, not long after the first-ever Benz, built in Germany. Amazing.

Have I missed anything?

Words: TACC State Manager Bruce McIntosh. As featured in the Mercury Friday 27 January 2023.