My how we forget

Paul Gulliver · December 07, 2009, 02:21:05 PM

There has been an interesting thread on alfa BB on the crusing speed of an alfetta ( have i got your attention now Matt Francis).

After reading this i vaguely remmembered in the mid 1970's Wheels magazine was reporting of the record for a Trans Australia Crossing. Highly illegal then and possibly a hanging offence now.

Anyway in 1977 after the final section of dirt road was sealed a 2 litre Alfetta Sedan completed the trip, Sydney to Perth 4263 kilometres in 29 hours 14 minutes 5 seconds including pertol stops. The average speed was approximately 145 Km's per hour. The record apparently still stands today.

Anyway it was a long time ago, pretty impressive then and worth remembering now. Here's the link to article in Wheels Magazine.

http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/wheels/site/articleIDs/6D3A95A4FFFD0F31CA2572CE0009926B?open&pagenum=1

Cheers

Gully

Alan Hopla · December 07, 2009, 07:43:38 PM

Paul,

That did jog a memory.
I went to the vault and dragged out my November 1980 edition of Wheels ($1.50).
There it is on the front cover, a bright red Alfetta.
"Sydney to Perth in 29 hours at an average of 135km/h"

The article is titled "Seven red lights to Perth"
The car was basically standard, just an auxiliary 70l fuel tank and a pair of Super Oscars.
Mind you it only averaged 17mpg so they probably needed the fuel tank.

Mat, If you talk to me nicely I'll try and negotiate the release of this historic volume from the curators of my literary museum and bring it down the island this weekend.

MD · December 07, 2009, 07:49:55 PM

As good a reason as any to refresh the avatar in honour of the Alfetta.

Mat Francis · December 07, 2009, 08:27:33 PM

Alright, so given it is about 130km from my house to Phillip Island, and i can safely remove the need for a fuel stop, (of course this is not to say i'm ruling out a break down, just that the car is unlikely to become stationary due to a shortage of fuel in the tank), i don't see why i couldn't achieve an average speed upwards of 150! Which would mean the trip would last what, about 5 minutes before a have to stop for a red light? (accompanied by a blue one).

I even have the pair of Super Oscars currently fitted to Scott's Alfetta for testing! Quick switcheroo and i'd be ready to go!

Alan, if aforementioned curators could have this organised it would be greatly appreciated. Rumour has it there may be a copy of a road test of a 1.8L sedan become available to them.

Paul Gulliver · December 07, 2009, 08:44:41 PM

Having driven to Perth many times in the 70 & 80's for sailing regatta's you can't help but think what bloody hero's these blokes must have been. Sure there was less coppers & survelliance during the 70s & 80's, but there was still just as much wildlife to hit at night. Anyone who hasn't seen all of Australia's wildlife ought to just drive to Perth . You can see it all dead on the side of the road & some of it is very big indeed.

Gully

Barry Edmunds · December 07, 2009, 09:35:17 PM

Gully

Those certainly were the days, when driving was actually fun. At least we have those old magazine articles to remind us.

As far as I know that Alfa record still stands, and is unlikely ever to be bettered.

Barry

L4OMEO · December 08, 2009, 05:24:26 PM

I remember that article, great journey indeed. From memory they used a 'Sud as a support vehicle which came in a few hours later.

But ...

I hope to God I'm wrong, but Wheels mag did another trip in the 80's to break their previous record, and they used a ... 'scuse me while I dry-retch ... Toyota Camry. Can someone please reassure me that this was a different route??

L4OMEO · December 08, 2009, 05:28:30 PM

Having just read the article in Paul's link there's no reference to the Camry record for Sydney to Perth, must have been a different route after all.

There is a God.

ProvaRacing · December 08, 2009, 05:37:56 PM

Quote from: L4OMEO on December 08, 2009, 05:24:26 PM
...and they used a ... 'scuse me while I dry-retch ... Toyota Camry....

I like the boy!! I couldn't have expressed that better (appologies to camry drivers...not)

Quote from: L4OMEO on December 08, 2009, 05:28:30 PM
Having just read the article in Paul's link there's no reference to the Camry record for Sydney to Perth, must have been a different route after all.

There is a God.

So I can put away the defibrillator then?...thanks for shortening my life

PS I had VS, VT Commodores, EL Falcon and even a TJ Magna as company cars but I refused to ever have a Camry!!!

Craig Sinclair · December 08, 2009, 08:47:46 PM

In the Wheels Yearbook 1976, there's an article written by Peter Robinson on his first drive of the Alfetta GT 1.8. He claimed 705k Monaco to Rome in a driving (not elapsed) time of 4hours 40 minutes, averaging 151KPH (94MPH). To quote: "It was the right way to drive, and the safe way" Always liked Robbo's test reports!
But I think that the most impressive "public road" speed record would have to be that of Stirling Moss in last stage the 1955 Mille Miglia. 83 miles (134K) with Denis Jenkinson navigating, in the Mercedes 300SLR. Moss did it in 30 minutes and 54 seconds, an average of 260.1 KPH (161.6MPH). There's a great story on it in the October '09 issue of Motor Sport. Nigel Roebuck points out that that speed (on a public road over half a century ago) is faster than the fastest EVER qualifying lap for a F1 Grand Prix (Juan Pablo Montoya, William BMW Monza 2002 @ 259.7 KPH (161.4 MPH). Awesome. Pity he couldn't have done it in an Alfa!

ProvaRacing · December 09, 2009, 09:37:22 AM

Alfa Romeo Bimotore & Nuvolari set the record
From http://www.atlasf1.com/2000/bri/okeefe.html
On June 16, 1935, the Bimotore record car was successful in setting a new maximum speed record of 364 km/h (218.4 mph) and an average of more than 323 km/h (193.8 mph) over a kilometer distance - speeds reached on a stretch of the roadway from Florence to Livorno on the Italian coast.

Of the two Alfa Bimotore that remain, one a replica, the original one was found in Australia!!!

Specs;
http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/alfabimotore.htm