Max effort

Top level motor racing does not happen without sponsorship. And a lot of top level Torana racing action in the 1970s would not have happened without the enthusiasm and generosity of one man, Max Aubert. Max passed away a few years ago, aged 92, but the ebullient Holden dealer left a lasting impression, both on the drivers who raced with him and also on the sport itself.

Story: Steve Normoyle

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Back in the day, car dealers were the lifeblood of our touring car racing and the Bathurst classic. It was especially so in the Series Production era, and with obvious reason. After all, the cars being raced were off-the-showroom-floor models. In some years, the majority of the entire Bathurst field were dealer-sponsored entries.

For aspiring drivers, it wasn’t difficult to put together a Series Production racing programme. The costs of racing back then weren’t all that steep, and if you were able to do a deal with a dealership for a gratis car and some support, or even only just support, you were half way there.

It was attractive to the dealers, too – for most of them it was affordable, and there was kudos in being able to bask in the reflected glory of race track success for their car, and not to mention the general sense of excitement it generated around the dealership business.