Norm Beechey enters 1952 Hudson Hornet Hollywood

Legendary motor racing personality "Stormin" Norm Beechey has entered the 2008 Bay to Birdwood Run with his 1952 Hudson Hornet Hollywood coupe. Whilst Hudson were as successful at motor racing in America as Norm was with other makes here in Australia, Norm's Hollywood coupe is a not a race car but a glamourous example of American styling at its very best.

Norm Beechey Racing Profile

‘Stormin’ Norm Beechey competed at the leading edge of Australian Touring Car Racing over a sixteen year period. He won his first -ever race, the KLG Trophy, at the Olympic Games Albert Park meeting in 1956 and his last, the West Australian Touring Car Championship in 1972.

Twice Australian National Touring Car Champion, in 1965 (Ford Mustang) and 1970 Holden Monaro, and a total of 15 individual State Touring Car Titles plus countless other race wins and lap records. Norm’s flamboyant and aggressive driving style attracted enthusiastic fans all overAustralia and during his most colourful racing career, he competed in 27 different cars and was works-supported by Australia’s leading car companies including GMH, Chrysler and Ford.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1956: His first main race was at the Albert Park Olympic Games meeting in a new overhead valve Ford Customline. A surprising win against the then top touring car racers in the country. After a number of subsequent events in this and other racing Ford Customlines, a black early model Holden was developed. This infamous car (reg. no. PK 752) was raced over a five-year period from 1959 to 1964 and recognised as one of Australia’s fastest-ever early model racing Holdens.

1962: While still running the black Holden, a brand-new 409 cu.in. V8 Mark 1 big block Chevrolet Impala 4-speed was imported from USA specifically to confront the dominant Jaguars. The Castrol-backed Chrevrolet Impala was a spectacular success winning outright 70% of its racing starts in 1962. These included the NSW and Victorian Touting Car Championships (Sandown), with new lap records in both events.

1963: The year of a Lukey Mufflers sponsored drive in a 406 cu.in V8 Ford Calaxie, fully race-prepared by the famous Holman & Moody company in USA. A series of aggressive confrontations with Bob Jane’s 4.2 Jaguar included 2nd by a length and a new lap record in the Victorian Touring Car Championship at Sandown.

1964: Second in the Australian Championship in a new Holden S4. Also the foundation of the three-member Neptune (Shell) Racing Team which soon became Australia first and most successful Touring Car Racing Team:
Norm Beechey
- Lukey Ford Calaxie
- Holden Sedan (PK 752)
- Holden S4 Sedan (PK 751)
Jim McKeown - Ford Lotus Cortina
Peter Manton - Mini Cooper “9”

1965: Imported to Australia the first radical new Ford Mustang 289 cu.in. V8 sporty 2-door from USA. It was equipped with a “full house’ Shelby Cobra competition engine and was an immediate success on the track. In fact, it not only became the first Mustang in the world to win a road race, but also won the Australian Touring Car Championship and the NSW, SA and Tasmanian Touring Car Titles.

1966: The import of a super lightweight Chevrolet Nova II 327 cu.in. V8 2-door from USA. This car was comfortably leading the Australian Touring Car Championship on its maiden run at Bathurst, but a slipping clutch saw the car finish second.

1967: Wins in the Qld, Vic and SA Touring Car Championships in the Chevy Nova. With only seven laps to go and leading comfortably in the Australian Title, a rear tyre blew, resulting in a crash into the fence. The Chevy Nova was also taken to Bay Park Raceway in New Zealand for a number of winning outings during the year.

1968: After a win in the Victorian Touring Car Championship in the Nova early in the year, a new 350 cu.in. V8 Chev Camaro was debuted for the Australian Title at Warwick Farm. A new lap record but a retirement due to overheating. The Neptune Racing Team had now become the Shell Racing Team and in late 1968 the Chev Camaro was replaced by a popular Australian Holden Monaro GTS 327. Surprisingly this car won first time out at Calder Raceway against the dominant Trans-Am Mustangs and went on to win the WA Touring Car Championship. The SA Touring Car Championship was won in a Lotus Cortina loaned by team-mate Jim McKeown.

1969: The Qld and Tasmanian Touring Car Championships were won in the Holden Monaro GTS 327 as part of the Australian Championship which had now become a multi-round series. Shell sponsorship of the Holden Monaro expanded to include new sponsors Sidchrome Tools, ROH Wheels and BF Goodrich Tyres.

1970: Arguably the pinnacle and most satisfying year of Norm’s super successful career with the development of a homegrown product, a Shell yellow Holden Monaro GTS 350, into a car to beat the world’s best. Spectacular wins in three rounds, a second and three new lap records gave Holden its first ever and Norm his second Australian Touring Car Championship. Also numerous wins in the series production Factory-supplied Chrysler Valiant Pacer.

1971: Continued to campaign the GTS 350 Holden Monaro throughout the year including winning the prestigious Air New Zealand Touring Car Trophy at the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting in Auckland against all the top NZ Touring Cars setting a new lap record. Also won first time out at Winton in a Ford factory-supported series production GTHO Falcon.

1972: A win in the Holden Monaro GTS 350 at the Calder round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, but the era of the part-time racer and businessman in Australian Touring Car Racing was drawing to a close. It was no longer realistic to try and compete on even terms with the full-time professional drivers. Retirement followed an all-the-way win in the WA Touring Car Championship and the Monaro was sold.

1992 Re-purchased and restored his favourite car, the Chevrolet Impala 409, first imported in 1962. This 500 bhp veteran is now surprising much more modern competition in hill climbs and classic rallies.

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