25 replies to this topic

[RallyRed]

I recall that was a real weapon back in the day...always featured in the drag mags

[SA EH]

Awesome!
From what I've been hearing there's a few of the old timers coming back to life in either a copied version or revamped original, I know of three on the go.
The old becomes new again.

[gad05]

Great to see classic cars being rescued .

Great pics Edan.

[Heath]

Holy moly! Does it still have the original Holden 6 and TorqueFlite with it?

[greens nice]

It had a toploader in it at the end of its racing life heath.

This is awesome news!
Will it be returned to what it was back in the day and put back on the strip?
Does Ron still have the original running gear to put back in it?

[wot179]

Cool.
Was that in the late John Browns posession?

[rodomo]

I thought it was your joint when I saw the manifolds?

[mr5000]

This gem is on display at the Trafalgar holden museum very happy to have had a look at it last time I was there such an impressive car even by today’s standards

[v6 torana]

Great sounding red six in the Howler!!!!

 

[yel327]

Ron’s development in this car and similar head work on his HR is what got him the work from GMH to do the XU1 and L34 heads. His HR Premier used to smoke XR GT Falcons easily, and it was basically a standard 186S 4speed apart from the head and dyno tuned to suit.

[caterham2]

Back when "I were a boy" it used to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when this thing ran at Calder. Took on the might of the "Big O" Larry Ormsbys HO Falcon which was also an evil sounding thing back in those days. Ron turned up one meeting with recently fitted, but untested mechanical fuel injection ( McGee?) fitted. We all expected great things from our hero but the poor old Howler just spluttered and farted it's way down the strip in the mid 16,s I recall, much to the dismay of "all the Generals Men". Dignity and honour were restored when the injection system was rapidly torn off and the triple Weber setup bolted back on and the Howl restored much to the joy of all concerned and the dismay of the V8 Falcons.. A real weapon in it's day, said to have 340 hp I believe from its 6 cylinder motor.

[Steve TPF]

Great sounding red six in the Howler!!!!

 

 

 

BRUTAL! 

[Dr Terry]

Ron’s development in this car and similar head work on his HR is what got him the work from GMH to do the XU1 and L34 heads. His HR Premier used to smoke XR GT Falcons easily, and it was basically a standard 186S 4speed apart from the head and dyno tuned to suit.

Are you getting Ron Harrop confused with Dyno Dave Bennet ?

 

Dr Terry

Back when "I were a boy" it used to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when this thing ran at Calder. Took on the might of the "Big O" Larry Ormsbys HO Falcon which was also an evil sounding thing back in those days. Ron turned up one meeting with recently fitted, but untested mechanical fuel injection ( McGee?) fitted. We all expected great things from our hero but the poor old Howler just spluttered and farted it's way down the strip in the mid 16,s I recall, much to the dismay of "all the Generals Men". Dignity and honour were restored when the injection system was rapidly torn off and the triple Weber setup bolted back on and the Howl restored much to the joy of all concerned and the dismay of the V8 Falcons.. A real weapon in it's day, said to have 340 hp I believe from its 6 cylinder motor.

I seem to remember it was at its best with 2" SUs.

 

Dr Terry

[yel327]

Yes Terry I am and I did! What did Dave used to run prior to the HR?

[Dr Terry]

Yes Terry I am and I did! What did Dave used to run prior to the HR?

I'm not too sure. Both Dave & Ron raced at Calder more than Castlereagh & I don't know any of Dave Bennett's history pre-HR.

 

I do know that before the Howler, Ron Harrop ran an EH. When he wanted to go faster he just got an old FJ (because it was lighter) & transferred the EH running gear. I saw it run with a 3-sp manual, a Top Loader & a Torqueflite. Very impressive for an N/A 6-cyl Red motor Holden in the early 70s.

 

I don't know if this is true, but I understand he purchased the used FJ of his father-in-law who was car dealer, a guy by the name of Norm Beechey !!

 

Dr Terry

[u1 71]

Head Mod modified the Head for the Howler

[caterham2]

Can,t say I ever saw it with 2'' SU carbs on it, BUT I run 2'' SU on my 202 XU1 and I reckon it goes quite nicely

[Dr Terry]

Can,t say I ever saw it with 2'' SU carbs on it, BUT I run 2'' SU on my 202 XU1 and I reckon it goes quite nicely

Have a look at the above video at the 26 sec mark. They look suspiciously like big SUs to me.

 

Dr Terry

[yel327]

I'm not too sure. Both Dave & Ron raced at Calder more than Castlereagh & I don't know any of Dave Bennett's history pre-HR.

I do know that before the Howler, Ron Harrop ran an EH. When he wanted to go faster he just got an old FJ (because it was lighter) & transferred the EH running gear. I saw it run with a 3-sp manual, a Top Loader & a Torqueflite. Very impressive for an N/A 6-cyl Red motor Holden in the early 70s.

I don't know if this is true, but I understand he purchased the used FJ of his father-in-law who was car dealer, a guy by the name of Norm Beechey !!

Dr Terry

Not sure how I made that mixup, must be old age!

I remember the story about the heavy EH.

Dave gave up on racing 6cyl Holdens as soon as GMH released the GTS327. He quickly realised I guess that the V8 was easier to go faster in. He set a lot of records in that HK.

[Heath]

Head Mod modified the Head for the Howler

 

Yes. John Bennett did that with Ron. Awesome story.

 

Very similar to the Larry Perkins deal with the Holden V8 later. 

[micklx]

 Howler.png   226.17K   16 downloads

 

I saw the Howler at the Museum at Trafalger recently. Also in the engine room was an Irving modified Holden 6.

 

[claysummers]

Wonder if thst setup would fit in my FB. Academic/rhetorical question really, but one can dream.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[rodomo]

Howler.png
 
I saw the Howler at the Museum at Trafalger recently. Also in the engine room was an Irving modified Holden 6.

Gidday!