Race Day

The day we had all been waiting for... 22 May 1994

Although we didn't see Marshall Perron, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory lead the race out from the Darwin wharf, being a recognised revhead himself, he escorted prevailing Cannonball Run cars out in his very own custom built Ford hotrod, with a display of flames painted down the sides.

Waiting to go....

Car 184: Porsche 911 Turbo

1982

Overall Winners

Driver: Ron Conrad

Navigator: Andrew Kelly 

You will notice the crowd closing in as more cars go through. At one stage a police officer was called in to keep the crowd back. Even looking at these pictures now people were allowed to stand on both sides of the road without the road being roped off at all. At the time, we didn't think about it, however looking back the event, it does appear a bit dangerous. We can remember having so much of a crowd there at one stage with everyone trying to get photographs, the bottle neck to get a car through the crowd, we actually slowed the cars down to as little as 40km's an hour.

Official Pace Car: Nissan 300ZX 1993

These two participants were the dentists from Japan that paid the ultimate price for their passion, and arguably a lack in safety from race organisers. Rumour has it... these two guys had international racing licenses. If this rumour is true these two would have been no strangers to speed.

Driver: Akihiro Kabe

Navigator: Takeshi Okano

Rest in Peace boys...

Car 121: 1991 Mitsubishi 3000 GT

We were told this particular Mitsubishi 3000GT was stolen from a shipping yard in Adelaide after the race.

Never to be seen again. 

Notice how there was no tape or security holding the spectators back. This area was approaching the speed derestriction zone. Safety both for the driver and spectators was of little concern at this point.

Car 77: Porsche 928 S4

1991

Driver: Greg Wren

At this very early stage in the race, you can see how the spectators are moving forward to get a better picture. In the pics to follow you will see how the spectators created a bottle neck. On a three lane highway, the spectators had taken up one lane on each side, and were starting to encroach on the middle lane, causing the Cannballers to slow to around 40km's an hour to get past. This made even an instamatic camera photos look good.

Car 37: Toyota MR2 Turbo

1991

Driver: Darryl Leong

Car 200: Toyota GT4

1994

Driver: Inada Daisiro

Car 16: Holden Commodore VN Group A

1990

Driver: Dennis Smith

Official Pace Car: Nissan 300ZX - 1993

Car 86: Holden Commodore Ute VR

1994

Driver: Greg Dick

The police have turned up to keep the crowds back.... however the police just became part of the crowd.

Car 66: BMW 850i V12

1991

Driver: Jim Gialouris

Car 130: Ford Falcon EBGT

1993

Driver: Larry Walsh

Car 44: Ford Falcon EB GT

1992

Driver: Danny Brosnan

Car 100: Lotus Esprit Turbo

1988

Driver: Jack Koetsier

Car 109: Ford Falcon GT HO XY (Shaker)

1970

Driven by: Murray Alcock

Navigator: Noel Kennedy

Car 89: Mercedes 560 SEL

1988

Driver: Ted Celi

Car 41: Holden Commodore Group A

1991

Driver: Thomas Malouf

Car 36: Porsche 928S

1984

Driver: Angelo Sklavos

Car 69: Ford Mustang (ASC McL)

1987

Driver: Bruno Goryan

Car 63: Ford Mercury Cougar

1969

Driver: Kenneth Hooper

Car 164: 1967 Ford Mercury Cougar big block 460 bored to 482

Driver: Allen Marshall

Navigator: Lane Marshall

Everyone wants to get in on the action 🙂

Even Alan...

Car 111: Audi V8 Quattro

1992

Driver: Ken Pheeney

Car 120: Mitsubishi Lancer GSR

1993

Driver: Harry Maschke

Car 247: "The Chickadee" BMW 750IL

1990

Driver: Graham Fill

Car 82: Jaguar E Type

1971

Driver: Kilgariff

Car 240: XB GT Ford Falcon

1976

Driver: Stuart Johnston

Car 152: Jaguar XJS

1977

Driver: Butch Hollier

Car 123: Nissan Navara Ute

1994

Driver: Lyons

Car 55 : Datsun 260Z

1975

Driver: Warwick Kerr

Car 95: Ford Mustang Fastback

1971

Driver: Wayne Keeping

Car 116: Mitsubishi 3000 GT

1992

Driver: Charles Freriechs

Car 92: Holden Statesman VN

1993

Driver: Steve Brown

Car 233: Ford Falcon EB XR6

1993

Driver: Jeffery Church

Car 222: Porsche 944 Turbo

1990

Driver: Frank Purdey

Car 103: Corvette Stingray

1970

Driver: Alf Gange

Car 250: Chevrolet Corvette

1984

Driver: Denis Carroll

Car (42) 50A: Mazda RX7

1992

Driver: McLeod

The "Eye in the Sky"

You can see how effective that tape was at holding back the crowd. Notice how the highway was still in use by local traffic as the race cars were leaving Darwin on the same road!