Norm Beechey
Encyclopedia
Norm Beechey was an Australian race car driver, given the nickname "Stormin Norman". To some, he was the closest thing Holden
had to a star racing driver, before Peter Brock
. Beechey competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship
from 1963 to 1972 winning the title in 1965
driving a Ford Mustang
and in 1970
at the wheel of a Holden Monaro
. Along the way, he won seven round wins, and one pole position. His championship win in 1970 was the first victory by a Holden driver in the Australian Touring Car Championship.
Beechey began racing at the age of 22 in a Ford Customline V8
. He came to prominence only a year later when he won the Olympic Touring Car Race at Albert Park
, a support event at the Australian Grand Prix
meeting which was held in conjunction with the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. As the expense of running this and two subsequent Customline V8s proved too prohibitive he reverted to a Holden 48-215
in 1959. After becoming part of David McKay’s Scuderia Veloce team he again returned to V8s, developing a Chevrolet Impala
with which he won the New South Wales
Touring Car Championship at Catalina Park
. He progressed to a Ford Galaxie
owned by Len Lukey and was then instrumental in forming the Neptune Racing Team in 1964. He raced a Holden EH S4
as part of that team alongside Jim McKeown’s Lotus Cortina
and Peter Manton’s Morris Cooper S
. He subsequently developed and raced a series of V8 powered Touring Cars with which he contested the Australian Touring Car Championship and other events. The first Ford Mustang
to race in Australia was followed by a Chevrolet Chevy II Nova
, a Chevrolet Camaro, a Holden Monaro GTS 327
and a Holden Monaro GTS 350
.
Beechey retired from racing at the end of the 1972 season. He was inducted into the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame
in 2000.
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
had to a star racing driver, before Peter Brock
Peter Brock
Peter Geoffrey Brock, AM otherwise known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain" or simply as "Brocky" was one of Australia's best-known and most successful motor racing drivers. Brock was most often associated with Holden for almost 40 years, although he raced vehicles of other...
. Beechey competed in the 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...
from 1963 to 1972 winning the title in 1965
1965 Australian Touring Car Championship
The 1965 Australian Touring Car Championship was the first Australian Touring Car Championship to be contested under Group C regulations. The championship was contested over a single race staged at Sandown International Raceway. The championship was won by Norm Beechey driving a Ford Mustang, the...
driving a Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
and in 1970
1970 Australian Touring Car Championship
The 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars...
at the wheel of a Holden Monaro
Holden Monaro
The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...
. Along the way, he won seven round wins, and one pole position. His championship win in 1970 was the first victory by a Holden driver in the Australian Touring Car Championship.
Beechey began racing at the age of 22 in a Ford Customline V8
Ford Customline
Ford's mid-range trim from 1952 through 1956 was called Customline. The Customline was more expensive than the Mainline but less expensive than the Crestline or, later, the Fairlane.See also:* 1952–1954 Ford Customline* 1955–1956 Ford Customline...
. He came to prominence only a year later when he won the Olympic Touring Car Race at Albert Park
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit is a street circuit around Albert Park Lake, only a few kilometres south of central Melbourne. It is used annually as a racetrack for the Australian Grand Prix and associated support races.-Design:...
, a support event at the Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
meeting which was held in conjunction with the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. As the expense of running this and two subsequent Customline V8s proved too prohibitive he reverted to a Holden 48-215
Holden 48-215
The Holden 48-215, also known unofficially as the Holden FX is a mid-size, six-cylinder sedan which was produced by the Australian automaker, General Motors–Holden's Ltd between November 1948 and October 1953....
in 1959. After becoming part of David McKay’s Scuderia Veloce team he again returned to V8s, developing a Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
with which he won the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Touring Car Championship at Catalina Park
Catalina Park
Catalina Park is a disused motor racing venue, located at Katoomba,in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It was the official Dog Off Leash area for Katoomba and is recognised as an Aboriginal Place due to the long association of the local Gundungarra and Darug tribes to the...
. He progressed to a Ford Galaxie
Ford Galaxie
The Ford Galaxie was a full-size car built in the United States by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1959 through 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford’s full-size range from 1959 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race...
owned by Len Lukey and was then instrumental in forming the Neptune Racing Team in 1964. He raced a Holden EH S4
Holden EH
The Holden EH is an automobile which was produced by General Motors-Holden's in Australia from 1963 to 1965.The EH was released in August 1963 replacing the Holden EJ series and was the first Holden to incorporate the new "Red" motor. This new "Red" motor featured 7 main bearings as opposed to 4...
as part of that team alongside Jim McKeown’s Lotus Cortina
Lotus Cortina
The Lotus-Cortina is a high-performance car, which was produced in the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1970 by the Ford in collaboration with Lotus Cars. The original version, which was based on the Ford Cortina Mark 1, was promoted by Ford as the "Consul Cortina developed by Lotus", with "Consul"...
and Peter Manton’s Morris Cooper S
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
. He subsequently developed and raced a series of V8 powered Touring Cars with which he contested the Australian Touring Car Championship and other events. The first Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang (first generation)
The first-generation Ford Mustang is the original pony car, manufactured by Ford Motor Company from 1964 until 1973.It was initially introduced as a hardtop and convertible with the fastback version put on sale the following year...
to race in Australia was followed by a Chevrolet Chevy II Nova
Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
, a Chevrolet Camaro, a Holden Monaro GTS 327
Holden Monaro
The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...
and a Holden Monaro GTS 350
Holden Monaro
The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...
.
Beechey retired from racing at the end of the 1972 season. He was inducted into the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame
V8 Supercar Hall of Fame
The V8 Supercar Hall of Fame was instituted in 1999 with the first running of the V8 Supercars Championship Series, initially known as the Shell Championship Series. It was established to recognise the efforts of past champions and prominent figures within the sport. The initial inductees were...
in 2000.
Career results
| Season | Title | Position | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 1964 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1964 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Appendix J Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars. The championship was contested over a single race staged at the Lakeside circuit in Queensland, Australia on 26 July 1964... |
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... |
2nd | Holden EH Special S4 Holden EH The Holden EH is an automobile which was produced by General Motors-Holden's in Australia from 1963 to 1965.The EH was released in August 1963 replacing the Holden EJ series and was the first Holden to incorporate the new "Red" motor. This new "Red" motor featured 7 main bearings as opposed to 4... |
Neptune Racing Team |
| 1965 1965 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1965 Australian Touring Car Championship was the first Australian Touring Car Championship to be contested under Group C regulations. The championship was contested over a single race staged at Sandown International Raceway. The championship was won by Norm Beechey driving a Ford Mustang, the... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Ford Mustang Ford Mustang (first generation) The first-generation Ford Mustang is the original pony car, manufactured by Ford Motor Company from 1964 until 1973.It was initially introduced as a hardtop and convertible with the fastback version put on sale the following year... |
Neptune Racing Team |
| 1966 1966 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1966 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Group C Improved Production Touring Cars. The championship was contested over a single 75 mile race staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit near Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia on Easter Monday, 11... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 2nd | Chevrolet Chevy II Nova Chevrolet Nova The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the... |
Neptune Racing Team |
| 1969 1969 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1969 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 10th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the first to run over a series of races instead of a single race... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Holden HK Monaro GTS327 | Norm Beechey |
| 1970 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Holden HT Monaro GTS350 | Norm Beechey Shell Race Team |
| 1971 1971 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1971 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 5th | Holden HT Monaro GTS350 | Shell Racing |
| 1972 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title open to Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 13th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship, began at Symmons... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 13th | Holden HT Monaro GTS350 | Shell Racing |
External links
- Norm Beechey racing images Retrieved from Autopics on 12 September 2008
- 1970 ATCC film clips featuring Norm Beechey Retrieved from Australian Screen on 12 September 2008