By Natasha Fujimoto
TO the enthusiast, the deep, throaty rumble of the Touring Car Masters is more than just a sound. It is a visceral pulse of power and nostalgia, echoing an era when muscle car royalty ruled the racetrack. As Ford Mustangs, Holden Toranas, Chevrolet Camaros and Chrysler Valiants charge wheel-to-wheel, the air fills with a glorious cacophony of firing cylinders, crackling exhausts, and the unmistakable scent and sound of vintage carburetion. Raw, guttural and unequivocally powerful, it is a spectacle that stirs the senses and captures the enduring spirit of classic touring car racing.
Few understand that appeal better than Martin Riseley of Heywoods Shepparton Motor Panel. Well versed in all things mechanical and automotive, Martin reignited his passion for motorsport last year when, after a lengthy hiatus from racing Formula V, he climbed behind the wheel of his 1964 Ford Mustang coupe to compete in the Touring Car Masters Pro Sport class.
The #29 Mustang is far more than a nostalgic throwback for Martin. Powered by a 302ci Windsor V8 producing around 600 rear-wheel horsepower and revving to 8,000rpm, the car can approach 300km/h down Bathurst’s famed Conrod Straight. While it retains the unmistakable look and character of a classic V8 touring car, modern engineering and technology allow it to perform at speeds its original designers could scarcely have imagined.
Now in his second season of Touring Car Masters competition, Martin has enjoyed a string of strong performances, including a Pro Sport round victory at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Raceway. Heading into the season finale at Bathurst, he sat fifth in the championship standings on 354 points, just two points behind fourth-placed Rod Cannon, with everything still to race for.
For Martin, the attraction of Touring Car Masters lies in its unique blend of heritage and performance.
“The cars still have that sound, character and feel, but modern TCM machinery is quicker than the original cars thanks to today’s technology and engineering,” he said. “That mix of nostalgia and performance is a big part of what makes the category so compelling.”
The Bathurst TCM Grand Finale, held from October 8 to 11, featured a massive 34-car field and a fierce Trans-Tasman rivalry, with a contingent of competitors from New Zealand crossing the Tasman to challenge their Australian counterparts.
Martin enjoyed a consistent and trouble-free weekend at Mount Panorama, steering clear of the multi-car incidents that plagued several competitors throughout the meeting. In the Trophy Race, he finished 22nd outright and fifth in the Pro Sport class, completing seven laps in 22:36.924 and setting his quickest lap of the weekend with a 2:32.306. He followed that with a 26th-place finish in Race 1, crossing the line after six laps in 20:52.657, while also recording his best time of 2:27 on Lap 7 of the final race.
While the results did not yield a podium finish, bringing the #29 Heywoods Shepparton Motor Panel Ford Mustang Coupe home in one piece on Australia’s most demanding circuit was an achievement in itself. The solid Bathurst performance capped another competitive season for Martin, who proudly represented both his Shepparton-based business and the wider Goulburn Valley on one of Australian motorsport’s biggest stages.
