Studebaker Car Club Of New South Wales

Studebakers competed in endurance races at Phillip Island (Vic), and Bathurst (NSW).

1961 - Armstrong 500, Phillip Island, Victoria, 19th November.

David McKay / Brian Foley, Studebaker Lark, Class A 1st, 2nd outright, on 166 laps.

Fred Sutherland / Bill Graetz, Studebaker Lark, Class A, 4th outright on 165 laps.

1962 - Bathurst 6 Hour, NSW, 30th September.

Don Algie / Kingsley Hibbard, Studebaker Lark, Class D 1st, 2nd outright, on 99 laps.

J. Wright / F. Hann, Studebaker Lark, Class D 6th, on 95 laps.

Bill Slattery / J. Burge, Studebaker Lark, Class D 7th, on 92 laps.

Studebaker won the team prize.

The J. Wright / F. Hann Lark shared fastest saloon speed on Conrod at 114.65 m.p.h. (184.5 k/h).

Click >here< to see extracts from the race day program.

1962 - Armstrong 500, Phillip Island, Victoria, 22nd October.

Fred Sutherland / Bill Graetz, Studebaker Lark, Class A 1st, 2nd outright, on 167 laps.

Don Algie / Kingsley Hibbard, Studebaker Lark, Class A 8th 32nd outright, on 127 laps.

1963 - Armstrong 500, Mount Panorama, Bathurst, 6th October.

Bert Needham / Warren Weldon, Studebaker Lark, Class D 4th, 27 outright, on 115 laps.

Jim Wright / Ian Ferguson, Studebaker Lark, DNF.

1964 - Armstrong 500, Mount Panorama, Bathurst, 4th October.

Bert Needham Jr / Warren Weldon, Studebaker, Class D 1st, 4th outright, on 128 laps.

See below for more info and photo on this vehicle.

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram, Studebaker, Class D 2nd, 8th outright, on 126 laps.

1965 - Armstrong 500, Mount Panorama, Bathurst, 3rd October.

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram, Studebaker Lark, Class D 6th, 13th outright, on 120 laps.

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery, Studebaker Lark, Class D 8th, 27th outright, on 112 laps.

1966 - Gallaher 500, Mount Panorama, Bathurst, 2nd October.

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery, Studebaker Lark, Class D 6th, 38th outright, on 88 laps.

1967 - Gallaher 500, Mount Panorama, Bathurst, 1st October.

Warren Weldon / John Hall, Studebaker Lark, Class D 3rd, 11th outright, on 124 laps.

1968 - Hardie-Ferodo 500, Mount Panorama, Bathurst 6th October.

Warren Weldon / John Hall, Studebaker Lark, Class D 8th, 13th outright, on 123 laps.

Studebakers on the mountain at Mt Panorama, Bathurst, NSW.

This group of photo's belong to Bruce Neasmith who purchased them from official motoring photographer

 Lance Rutting in 1991, who in turn gave Bruce permission to use them as he sees fit.

Bruce has kindly allowed us to present them here for all Studebaker enthusiasts to enjoy.

Many thanks Bruce.

1964 Armstrong 500

Warren Weldon / Bert Needham Jr, 4th place.

1964 Armstrong 500

Warren Weldon / Bert Needham Jr. 4th place.

1964 Armstrong 500

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram 8th place.

1965 Armstrong 500

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram 13th place.

1965 Armstrong 500

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram 13th place.

1965 Armstrong 500

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram 13th place.

1965 Armstrong 500

Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram 13th place, leads Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery, 27th place.

1965 Armstrong 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery, 27th place leads Fred Sutherland / Alan Mottram, 13th place.

1965 Armstrong 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery, 27th place.

1966 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery,  38th place.

1966 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery,  38th place.

1966 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery,  38th place.

1966 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery,  38th place.

1966 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery,  38th place.

1966 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / Bill Slattery,  38th place.

1967 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / John Hall,  11th place.

1967 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / John Hall,  11th place.

1967 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / John Hall,  11th place.

1967 Gallaher 500

Warren Weldon / John Hall,  11th place.

Studebakers also competed at Catalina Park Raceway, Katoomba, NSW.

This image was found on ClassicRally.com.au

This information from 'Bonhams' Auction description when this vehicle was offered for sale in March 2007.

"The ex-Bert Needham, Bathurst Class-Winning 1964 Studebaker Commander R4
Chassis No: C505830
Engine No: R 3847"
 

"Studebaker had an excellent reputation in Australia for making solid, but powerful compact cars.
In the early 1960s their Lark and Cruiser models became popular among racers, being relatively small cars fitted with powerful V8 engines. For this reason several Police forces in Australia also ran these models.

The most famous and successful of the Studebaker racing drivers was Bert Needham, who also ran a Studebaker dealership in New South Wales. He competed in a series of cars and races including most famously, Bathurst. It is in this car that Needham had his greatest successes, including a class win at Bathurst, when it came 4th outright. The car raced twice at Bathurst, as well as at several other eastern states circuits and was said to have been capable of "almost 150mph on Conrod Straight".

The car was delivered to Needham specifically for racing with the 2-door body not normally available. It features a Granatelli R4 engine, disc brakes, race suspension (uprated springs, shock absorbers, sway-bars), a bigger fuel tank, Twin-Traction limited slip differential, tachometer, etc - all correct, optional Studebaker parts, fitted for competition in period.
The 4.2 litre V8 engine produces 210kW (280bhp), which helps explain the car's success on the track.

Legendary US racing engine builder Andy Granatelli built the R4 engines for Studebaker. In 1968 Needham purchased a new R4 engine from Granatelli and changed the car to floor-shift from the column gear-change it had originally had. It was driven at the Castlereagh drag strip in NSW, where the car achieved a 13.93 second run."

....oo0oo....

"Bert Needham opposite-locks his Studebaker Lark in front of Bosworth's FX at Catalina Park"

from p99, The Book of Australian MOTOR RACING, W P Tuckey, circa 1964.

Thanks to Jack DeVries for sharing.