Unique Centaur GT to Bring Back Memories for Former Drivers

When retired racing drivers John French and Denis Geary see the many historic cars in action at the South Coast Automotive Speed on Tweed next month, one is sure to trigger special memories for them.

The pair, who will be among a select group of well-known drivers from past racing eras invited to the 10-12 September event in Murwillumbah, will be drawn back to the Sixties when their unique Centaur GT won a string of races and set a benchmark for locally-constructed c ars.

In French’s hands, the then-new Centaur-Waggott GT started competition in February 1962 and won six of its first seven races, finishing second in the other.

It snared the Australian GT Championship in June that year, leading from start to finish over 50 laps at Lakeside International Raceway.

Geary bought the car in early 1963 for, he says, just 500 pounds although it was without the original and rare Waggott twin-cam Holden engine. With a new cross-flow Repco Hi-Power cylinder head and renamed the Repco Centaur,  it won even more races.

Although the car had an active life with Geary and subsequent owners, it  is best remembered as the Centaur-Waggott GT.

With the humble 2.4 litre Holden “grey” motor turning out 208 horsepower (155 kW) – three times more than that in a standard Holden sedan at the time – coupled to a C-Type Jaguar gearbox and with an effective streamlined body, the Centaur was capable of 150 mph (241 kmh).

Painted teal-blue, with polished aluminium sills, right-side exhausts, Triumph wire wheels and unusual gullwing doors, the Centaur-Waggott GT was a beautiful racing car.

After a change of engines, a crash into a tree and several different paint schemes, the Centaur-Waggott GT was returned to its original specification and appearance with a rebuild completed in 1988 by its long-term owner Bevan Batham, of  Warwick.

A car estimated to have cost 2000 pounds ($4000) to construct in a Brisbane garage in 1962 is now a priceless Australian Special.

It will be driven at Murwillumbah for Batham by Matthew Devitt.

More than 180 cars will race against the clock around the South Coast Automotive Speed on Tweed temporary street course.

The theme for this year’s event is Australian Specials, celebrating the ingenuity and success of hundreds of hand-built racing and sports cars like the Centaur GT.

Organisers have invited as special guests Sir Jack Brabham, historic racing identity John Cummins, John French, Denis Geary, Colin Bond and Max Stahl and there will be an on-track appearance by four-time Australian Rally Champion crew Neal Bates and Coral Taylor.

Proceeds from this year’s not-for-profit event will be given to Life Education Australia.

Life Education Australia delivers drug and health programs through its Mobile Learning Centres to more than 300,000 children in New South Wales, including 5479 in the Tweed Shire last year.

Tickets are now on sale for the South Coast Automotive Speed on Tweed, on-line at www.speedonontweed.com.au and from the Tweed Heads and Brisbane new car dealerships of naming sponsor South Coast Automotive Group.

As well as the racing, South Coast Automotive Speed on Tweed visitors will enjoy a free entertainment program including a grand parade of cars through the town centre, Friday night street party, fireworks over the river and a Saturday night rock-and-roll concert.

The South Coast Automotive Speed on Tweed is staged by the Rotary Club of Murwillumbah and Rally Australia. The event has given more than $300,000 to local charities since it began in 2002.