Graeme Bailey
Encyclopedia
Graeme Alfred Bailey was an Australian racing driver, best known as co-winner of the 1986 Bathurst 1000.
Bailey's career emerged in the late 1970s, becoming a front runner in two-litre touring car racing in Toyota Celica
s, usually driving the car raced the year prior by factory supported Toyota racer Peter Williamson. In 1980
Bailey won the two litre class at the Bathurst 1000
and finished 12th outright.
By 1983 small capacity class touring cars were falling out of favour, and at Bathurst the two litre class was merged into the three litre class. Bailey spent the next few years out of racing himself, although he did co-drive with Peter McLeod
in the 1983 Australian Endurance Championship
in McLeod's Mazda RX-7
.
With the advent of Group A
in Australia for the 1985 season, Bailey considered competing in the open class. In 1986 he sold the Celica and acquired a Holden VK Commodore
for the 1986 season. Teaming up with Allan Grice
in a Les Small built Commodore, he took it to Europe to race in the 1986 European Touring Car Championship
. Budgetary problems saw the team return to Australia earlier than they had hoped, but with renewed confidence. At the Bathurst 1000 that year Grice and Bailey dominated the race, finally giving Grice a long deserved Bathurst victory.
Bailey's career wound down at that point, choosing to concentrate on the successful family business, Chickadee Foods, of which he was Managing Director. Bailey's son briefly raced in Sports Sedans
in the mid-2000s, racing a Chevrolet
powered Nissan 300ZX
.
Toyota Celica
The Toyota Celica name has been applied to a series of coupes made by the Japanese company Toyota. The name is ultimately derived from the Latin word coelica meaning "heavenly" or "celestial"....
s, usually driving the car raced the year prior by factory supported Toyota racer Peter Williamson. In 1980
1980 Hardie-Ferodo 1000
The 1980 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 21st running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 5 October 1980 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia...
Bailey won the two litre class at the Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
and finished 12th outright.
By 1983 small capacity class touring cars were falling out of favour, and at Bathurst the two litre class was merged into the three litre class. Bailey spent the next few years out of racing himself, although he did co-drive with Peter McLeod
Peter McLeod
Peter Gerard McLeod , was an Australian racing driver, best known as co-winner of the 1987 James Hardie 1000 at Bathurst and for driving the distinctive yellow and black Slick 50 Mazda RX-7 Group C touring car during the early to mid 1980's.-Group C Touring Cars:McLeod began his racing career in...
in the 1983 Australian Endurance Championship
Australian Endurance Championship
The Australian Endurance Championship was first contested in 1981, as a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for car manufacturers. Replacing the Australian Championship of Makes , it was decided over a series of endurance races for touring cars complying with CAMS Group C regulations.In the...
in McLeod's Mazda RX-7
Mazda RX-7
Series 1 is commonly referred to as the "SA22C" from the first alphanumerics of the vehicle identification number. This series of RX-7 had exposed steel bumpers and a high-mounted indentation-located license plate, called by Werner Buhrer of Road & Track magazine a "Baroque depression."In 1980...
.
With the advent of Group A
Group A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
in Australia for the 1985 season, Bailey considered competing in the open class. In 1986 he sold the Celica and acquired a Holden VK Commodore
Holden VK Commodore
The Holden VK Commodore was introduced in 1984 and replaced the VH. It was the first Commodore to have plastic bumpers and introduced rear quarter windows for a six-window design as opposed to the four-window design on previous Commodore models...
for the 1986 season. Teaming up with Allan Grice
Allan Grice
Allan Maxwell Grice OAM , known to motor-racing fans as Gricey, is an Australian former racing driver and politician, most famous for twice winning the prestigious Bathurst 1000 , and as a privateer driver of a Holden in the Australian Touring Car Championship.Grice also had a successful second...
in a Les Small built Commodore, he took it to Europe to race in the 1986 European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
. Budgetary problems saw the team return to Australia earlier than they had hoped, but with renewed confidence. At the Bathurst 1000 that year Grice and Bailey dominated the race, finally giving Grice a long deserved Bathurst victory.
Bailey's career wound down at that point, choosing to concentrate on the successful family business, Chickadee Foods, of which he was Managing Director. Bailey's son briefly raced in Sports Sedans
Australian Sports Sedan Championship
The Australian Sports Sedan Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars complying with Australian Sports Sedan regulations...
in the mid-2000s, racing a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
powered Nissan 300ZX
Nissan 300ZX
The Z31 chassis designation was first introduced in 1983 as a 1984 Nissan/Datsun 300ZX in the US only. The 300ZX, as its predecessors, was known as a Nissan in other parts of the world. This continued in the US until 1985 model year when Nissan standardized their brand name worldwide and dropped...
.
Career results
| Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 1980 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1980 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 21st running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. Peter Brock won his third and final ATCC title, driving a Holden VB Commodore for the Holden Dealer Team.-Teams and drivers:... |
Australian Touring Car Championship Australian Touring Car Championship The Australian Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series awarded the trophy and title of Australian Touring Car Champion.-History:The... |
24th | Toyota Celica | Chickadee Chicken |
| 1981 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 22nd running of the Australian Touring Car Championship, began at Symmons Plains Raceway and ended at Lakeside International Raceway after 8... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 9th | Toyota Celica | Chickadee Chicken |
| 1982 1982 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1982 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars. It began on 18 February 1982 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 16 May at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 28th | Toyota Celica | Chickadee Chicken |