Show Day

The day the public got a chance to meet the drivers, navigators and pit crew of each team.
21 May 1994

Held at the Darwin Wharf, this day was perhaps the best day of it all, you got to meet the drivers, and ask questions. How long have you the car? What did the rebuild cost? How confident are you that the car will finish the race? The day where you got to walk right up to the cars, and admire the beauty of each and every one of them.

The atmosphere was carnival like, everyone was buzzing with anticipation of the next day. The big race. At the time we hadn't noticed that the race organisers were call the race an 'event' or a 'run'. After the race the organisers were quick to point this out.

Although all the cars seemed to be on the wharf when we arrived, not every driver , navigator or pit crew were there standing next to their beautiful machines; however, only a few were missing. Most drivers seemed only too keen to have a chat about why they were there, and where they had come from.

We also had the bright idea to take a Texta/Chemi pen and a poster, with the intention of getting each driver and or navigator we spoke to, to sign our poster. A lot of drivers were quietly chuffed that they had been asked for a signature. To the best of our knowledge, this poster and one other belonging to a friend were the only posters with signatures from the day, and you couldn't buy posters at the Darwin Wharf to copy the idea.

We have since had this framed with Anti Glare glass. We had to move it into storage as the sun had started to get to the reds. Only evident when we purchased a fresh "new old stock" poster on line and compared the two.

Like we said... The atmosphere was buzzing.

What you have to remember is that this sort of humour wasn't found on cars back in 1994. At the Cannonball Run, this was the only car with any humour on it.

Car 24: Toyota MR2

Car 34: Ferrari 308 GTS.

This car was owned by Terry Finocchiaro. A local favourite as the Ferrari was locally owned. This particular Ferrari didn't last very long. Not saying that the prancing horse isn't arguably the best sports car ever made, it's just that this particular Ferrari didn't go more than a few hundred kilometres before the engine blew, the car caught fire, and it was extinguished by local police and a BMW entrant....

People were allowed right up to the cars, with most of the owners close by to answer any questions.

Car 110: Dodge Viper V10

1993

Driver: Rob Mulholland

Navigator: Brett O'Brien

Entry 112: the Lamborghini Espanda V12

1974

Driver: Duregon

True Cannonball Run tradition here. "Smokey & the Bandit" is written at the top of the windscreen. This car was had to do a Cannonball Run, legal or otherwise.

Entry 182: Pontiac Trans AM

1979

Driver: Isarasena

We were up from Perth Western Australia for the event, and during the entire time we were getting ready to go to Darwin to see this event, no one from Perth had even heard of the Cannonball Run happening, let alone a car dealer actually putting in a car that was from Perth.

Entry 235: Lexus LS400

1992

Driver: Armstrong

Entry 244: Mazda RX7

1992

Driver: McDowall

The universal symbol of perfection

Car 184: Porsche 911

The eventual winners.

Navigator: Andrew Kelly

Driver: Ron Conrad

Notice the sponsorship name in the background. Ansett Airlines. Founded in 1936, sponsored the Cannonball Run in 1994, ceased trading in 2001, put into liquidation 2002. Very sad day for Australia when they closed up.

The colour on this Chevrolet Corvette is a metallic dark green. These pictures don't really do the colour justice.

Car 96: Porshe 928GT is in the background

1991

Driver: Jordan

Car 75: Chevrolet Impala

1966

Driver: Miller

Car 114: Porsche 911 3.6 Litre Turbo

1993

Driver: O'Neil

Car 132: Bufori

Driver / Navigator 1: Gerry Khouri

Driver / Navigator 2: Tunki Mudzaffer

Having recently been contacted by the Bufori motor company we spoke with a Mr Felix Haller who told us the Bufori was driven and navigated by both drivers.

Interesting bit of trivia. "Tunki" is a royal title in Malaysia. (You have to have some royalty in a Cannonball Run)

The company started in 1986 in Sydney, Australia by Gerry and his brothers. Gerry still runs the company today. To think that these sexy looking cars have more than just a minor Australian connection is amazing. They look fantastic, with lovely lines.

Check out the milestones page of www.bufori.com for a quick Bufori history lesson. See just how far they have come over the years.

As Bufori says a "Statement of Pride".

Yes it would be if you had one of these in your garage.

We are proud of the Australian connection. By the way, we have already put our hand up should one of these beauties need to be delivered anywhere in Australia on Indonesia. 🙂

The exact spec for the above car can be found at www.bufori.com

Car 58: Porsche 911 Carrera.

1990

Driver: Trude

Car 52: Chevrolet Corvette Calloway

1984

Driven by K Bromfield & McTaggart

Car 83: Subaru Liberty RS Turbo

1991

Driver: Long

Car 117: Porsche 911

1992

Driver: Hans Voss

This was a locally built entry specifically made for the race like they did in the states. It had a big block chev in it which made it capable of speeds nearing 300Km's an hour. The officials made the local boys modify the rear wing as it was "Not in the spirit of the run" ... Pffft... What about the safety aspect guys... this car is capable of 300k's an hour.... Do you think it might need a little something to keep the car on the ground?

Car 129: Chev 1500 Pick Up

1989

Driver: Tony Broso.

This monster had a very slightly detuned sprint car engine dropped in under the bonnet specifically for the race. The beast is rumored to have dyno'd in at between 600 & 700 Horses at the trough ... If you heard this thing gallop past, you would have heard more than 600 horses on the move.