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BJR goes retro with Norm Beechey tribute
Freightliner-sponsored team honours one of Australia's touring car championship greats for upcoming 'Retro Round' at SandownThe Freightliner-sponsored Brad Jones Racing team has unveiled its livery ahead of the upcoming 'Retro Round' of the V8 Supercars Championship, due to be held at Victoria's Sandown Raceway over September 15-17.
The team's three-car Norm Beechey tribute pays homage to the Supercar Hall of Famer who contested the Australian Touring Car Championship from 1963 to 1972. The period spanned 31 ATCC rounds and 26 races, of which Beechey won seven, also claiming the championship title twice.
All three of the BJR Supercars uniquely honor 'Stormin Norman', as he is still known to his legion of fans.
Norm's first Touring Car Championship was won in 1965 at Sandown, when the championship was decided by a single race rather than a series. This was behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang. This blue and white livery is showcased on the #4 (21) Team CoolDrive Commodore, with the #4 representing Beechey's racing number.
His second Championship win came in 1970, driving the famous yellow HT GTS 350 Monaro, which was the first ever Holden (and Australian-built car) to win the championship. To this day, Norm recognises the work that went into that season, and the win, as one of his greatest motor racing achievements.
This livery is brought to life on the #75 Freightliner Racing Commodore. The number 75 is to highlight Freightliners' 75 years in the truck and transport industry.
Finally, the third livery is revealed on the #8 Mongrel Boots Racing entry of Nick Percat, with the tough black and red/yellow stripe design emulating that of Beechey's 1967 Chevy Nova.
"We wanted to do something really special for the retro round, so Brad and I were reminiscing about our time growing up and some of our motorsport heroes, of which Norm was most definitely one," said Kim Jones.
"Norm had this unique driving style, with plenty of sideways flair and a determined attitude. He was just brilliant to watch."
Kim's brother Brad was quick the echo the sentiments.
"There’s a photo of me as a youngster sitting on the guard of the Chevy Nova with Norm and Peter Manton," he said.
"I believe all motorsport fans have a fond memory like that, and that’s certainly one of mine. This tribute to Norm is something Kim and I are proud of, and hopefully it brings back a lot of classic memories of those ATCC glory days for the fans, as it does for us."
Norm Beechey said he was thrilled to have his liveries taken up by BJR for the Retro Round.
"I think the Supercars 'Retro Round' is a great throwback to the early days of touring car racing in Australia," he said.
"I'm honored that the Jones Brothers are representing some of my liveries and they have done a great job bringing them to life on the modern-day Supercar. It will be a real thrill to see them on track, and hopefully on the podium at the end of the 500."
The liveries follow on from the scheme adopted by Freightliner Racer for last year's Retro Round, when Tim Slade's Commodore was decked out in a similar fashion to the 1968 HK Monaro GTS 327 of Jim Palmer and Phil West, which was driven to second place in that year's Bathurst 500.
That car also featured Freightliner's vintage 'boomerang' logo, like this year's #75 car.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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