Torque ABC TV series from 1973-1980

2018-06-20T12:00:00+10:00

Torque was an Australian television series that ran on the ABC from March 1974 to 1980.

The show featured road tests of cars, information about automotive products and the Australian automotive industry, and was hosted by motoring journalist and ex-racing driver Peter Wherrett.

In 1973 Wherrett was approached by an ABC producer to present the pilot, and the series went on to become a massive success.

Wherret wrote a book about the programme, also titled Torque. The 128-page book was published in 1977 so is well out of print now, but copies regularly come up for sale on eBay. The ISBN is 0725403837.

Series and episode list:

Series 1
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Series 2
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Series 3
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Series 4
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Series 5
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Series 6
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Series 7 (1979)
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Series 8 (1980)

E1 - Holden Commodore VC, BMW 528i, fuel economy products tested (www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDnE5exFcAs)
E2 - Ford Falcon XD, roof racks and caravans, Bolwell Ikara (www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRDC87Oizw)
E3 - Chrysler Valiant, Chrysler Sigma, Borg-Warner transmissions/interview, transmission driving tips (www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl02SxA8AMo)
E4 - Toyota Corona, tyres, Datsun 200B (www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_N5BmKOgpY)
E5 - Porsche 924 Turbo, Volkswagen Golf petrol, diesel, LPG (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Qt7GbS-cQ)
E6 - International Scout Traveltop, Jeep Renegade CJ7, Toyota Hilux 4WD, Subaru 4WD (www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Oe9tNIu5A&t=9s)
E7 - Jaguar XJ6 III, Suzuki Hatch, public transport, electric buses (www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZdTJ2oUQS4&t=9s)
E8 - Motorsport, Datsun 280ZX, Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 1.5 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NGO0CTDAjU&t=9s)
E9 - Avoiding car accidents part 1 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4WyuiO4HsA&t=13s)
E10 - Avoiding car accidents part 2 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=idhKElh8n6I&t=9s)

Update: The ABC has now started uploading episodes of Torque to Youtube. Their playlist currently consists of selected episodes from 1974 to 1980.

Thunder Races TV Series

2018-06-16T12:00:00+10:00

Thunder Races was a UK TV Series hosted by Adrian Simpson where three teams built a car for a particular challenge over the space of a few days then competed against each other in a race.

Series 1

Made for Discovery in 2002.

S1E1 25ft Jump
Nine contestants have 24 hours to convert their beloved bangers into off-road racers and tackle a five-mile all-terrain course.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMMsyC13q6E

S1E2 Crabbers
Three teams have 24 hours to convert beloved bangers into a double-engined hybrid and tackle a five-mile all-terrain course.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMMsyC13q6E

S1E3 Massive Tiny
Three teams give their tiny cars powerful engines and try to race the dinky vehicles round a five-mile all-terrain course.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDXvoMNr3pA

S1E4 Speed
The teams transform old domestic runabouts using Formula One concepts, before testing them on a four-lap circuit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JOpWZihhgU

S1E5 Sixty Degrees
Three teams convert mainstream cars into vehicles capable of tackling a five-mile course at a 60-degree angle.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEOAcwxr6RU

S1E6 See-Saw
Three teams modify beloved bangers into off-road racers and drive them over see-saws on a challenging five-mile course.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKNQCusAzN0

S1E7 Long Stretch
Nine contestants construct 25ft limousines from 25-year-old cars before racing them in reverse.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcbVdvuc7xQ

S1E8 Double Torque
The three teams race against the clock to convert two cars into double-torque monster motors, before putting them to the test.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=75MmbQaa47U

S1E9 All terrain
Three teams have 48 hours to convert their beloved bangers into off-road racers, and tackle a five-mile all-terrain course.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=muZqc3Y7LDY

S1E10 All Winners Final
Adrian Simpson's two favourite teams must make a complete working car out of two motorbikes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKVK31hWamE

Season 2

Premiered on June 5, 2009.

S2E1 Upside Down Car
Cars are turned over and fitted with additional wheels to compete in a race in the opener of this series.

S2E2 Spider Cars
A car race in which looks are as important as engineering know-how.

S2E3 Reverse Wheelie
Minis are modified to become off-road racers capable of popping wheelies front end first and in reverse.

S2E4 Submersible
Three teams compete to construct submersible off-road vehicles.

S2E5 360 Degree Cars

S2E6 Ball & Socket
The Ball and Socket Challenge has teams chopping cars in half and reconnecting them with articulated ball-and-socket joints.

S2E7 Dune Racer
The teams transform old junkers into topflight racers.

S2E8 White Van Man
Three teams convert ordinary vans into monster trucks.

S2E9 16 Wheeler

S2E10 Amphi Car

Future episodes

I really liked the show's concept. I would love to see a new series. I think it could be improved by using race tracks more suited to the vehicles, as all of the episodes used the a mostly dirt and off-road track which is fine for rally cars but didn't suit all of the challenges.

Some examples of challenges I would like to see are:

* Take a front-wheel-drive front mounted engine and turn it into a real-wheel-drive mid-engined racer, and compete on a paved track.

* A drag racing challenge on a 1/8 or 1/4 mile track.

johna's automotive blog

Torque ABC TV series from 1973-1980

Thunder Races TV Series