Destroyed in seconds circa 1981

[pearcesnr]

Here are photo's of my 1st Bellett Sports Sedan with Gemini G161 sohc built Jan 1981 destroyed in Oct 1981, we saved 3 wheels, roll cage hoop, seat, head and twin 45mm webbers. All else was destroyed, broken block, g/box and diff. Fortunaty I only received internal bruising from the seat belt. I was leading our club championsip and combined clubs championship at the time with 1 round to go in two weeks time. I purchased a rolling chassis that night and hobbled together a car after work, completing it at 3am the morning of the final round, it was only 3 tenths of second slower than the destroyed car, wich was good enough to win both championships that year. Note bootlid in pic 4 in front of the Avis truck!

[RobSA]

It's sad to see a great car destroyed like that, I'm glad you came out of it in one piece.
Do you know who's is the other Bellett in the foreground of one of the pictures (with the P plate).

Might be fun to recreate one of those beastie's.

Cheers
Rob

[PR91]

jeez snr, thats a hit and a half mate!!
glad u got out ok.
this is my main concern when i race my car, and as u'd agree, they're a harder thing to replace now in 2010 than it was in 1981, so it'd be a much bigger task today, for sure.
still, a full re-shell in 1 night and only 3 tenths off the old car is a top effort!

it looked like a quick thing back then.
i gather the racer u have now is the overnight re-shell? and if so, how much of it is still the same spec as back then?

that section of track looks like going up towards bitupave hill at amaroo. is this correct?

sorry for all the questions, but as we Bellett racers are a rarity, it's always interesting to find out what goes on with the other racers!

cheers.
brett.

[pearcesnr]

Hi Rod, The Bellett in the forground was my brother in laws, it had a rather worked GT motor in it, unfortunatly he rolled and wrote it off at the last round chasing my hobbled together car, I ran wide at Suttons corner at Oran Park and thought here is a chance for Barry to pass me going over the dogleg, looking in the mirror Barry had ran wider than me, all was OK untill the right rear wheel dug in and over he went for 3 barrel rolls, he was unhurt,though in 2 weeks it was 2* standing - 2 Belletts!

Hello Brett. Yes it was a big hit, it went in back first, though to this day I can still not recall the front hitting, possibly a good thing? Yes they would be harder now to replace, as a floorpan car, all that seems to be left are beaut cars that you would not like to pull apart, or to far gone unless you use lots of fibreglass and tubing.
The roller I bought to hobble togeter is still the same car we have today, it was a very lucky buy, it was sitting in a club members shed in which they had started building as a sports sedan 10 yes 10 years previously. it had complete GT works suspension, rear leaf, springs,shocks,LSD disck brakes, fiberglass full front,bootlid and doorskins all for $400.00. the only change in spec over the years has been Koni special D shocks in the front ( still has the Isuzu rear shocks ) and still running rear drums, also mods to the front wishbones for camber and caster.

Yes it is on the run up the hill at Amaroo, the Cortina in the pic tried to go up the inside at the kink, hit the rear door and it was a wild ride.

The hobble car was rebuilt over the Xmas period in 1981 and hit the track in June 1982, the only spec change was a SOHC G180 bored to 1949cc using G200 Jackaroo pistons. great HP upgrade Oran park GP 10 sec quicker Amaroo 4 sec quicker.

[KJB]

Great pics.. Brings back memories of the atmosphere that surrounded motor sport ,when motor sport was more about relaxation rather than regulation .
KB

[P.R.90]

pearcesnr
Geoff were you racing at the same time as Dave Waldon & Gary Vandenberg & George Steeden if so do you have any photo's of their Bellett race cars that could be posted it would mean a lot to Waldo on the forum to see pics of his Dad' s race car & it would mean heaps to me to see Vando's & Daves green machines & george's black GT again hope you can help out

Cheers Ken

[1968GT]

Ken,
I will check my photos, I know most days I was in the Pits with George Steedon, I know I have action photos of George's car at Amaroo. Also Geoff Pierce's car (piercesenior) racing the same day, it might take a while to find, I will scan and send to you or place here. I don't have your home email.

They were great days, Aln Linton-Smith also had a Sport sedan which ended up in Victoria, not sure if I have photos of that car.
Dave M.

[P.R.90]

Thanks Dave that would be great , no body seems to have any photo's of Gary Vandenberg's "slime lime" race car from the early days we have a colour slide somewhere in the "ether" of the car taken outside Doug & Jeanlace at Villawood. Would appreciate photo's of what you have email as follows [email protected]
thanks for the effort Dave
cheers ken

[pearcesnr]

Hi Ken, the only photo of Garry's car I have is up on axle stands at amaroo hillclimb, I have posted it in Share your Bellett history with a couple of others from the 70's, I do not have any of Waldo's in the 80's, but there is a couple of earlier shots. I will post pics of Ted Freeman's Screaming Squirrel before David raced it. I hope there is more pics out there of any Belletts that was raced, rallied, khana, in any condition.

[1968GT]

Bloody hell Guys this all brings back GREAT MEMORIES OF THE PAST!!
We had a lot of fun those days!!

hopefully Geoff, you will come to the COONABARABRAN Nationals and bring the memorabilia with you, I will be taking my photos!!
I also have DVD's of the more up to date activities, which I will be taking along.
Dave M.

[KJB]

All of these Bellett Motorsport pics need to be put on an "Belletts in Motorsport Album" page.
They all bring back memories of great times and should be preserved for all Isuzu enthusiasts to see before they are lost forever.
Really enjoyed seeing these pics, thanks for going to the trouble of making them available for us all.
KB

[KJB]

Love the rear view of the "early" Bellett at the crash scene.
KB

[GTtoo]

That must have been one hell of a shunt snr . Those tough little blighters dont bend too easily, especially "race braced".
Those are legendary pics. KJB is right, these need to be especially archived and will be appreciated by all interested.


B.

[pearcesnr]

Found a photo of Barry's Oranatang Bellett chasing me at BP corner Oran Park 1981