Procar Australia was a motorsport category management company which operated in Australia from 1994 to 2004.
128-472: Procar was founded in 1994 by Ross Palmer, a Brisbane based businessman and long time motor racing sponsor of childhood friend and multiple Australian Touring Car Champion and Bathurst 1000 winner Dick Johnson . It acted as the administrator for various championships and series for production based cars including: The company also organised several endurances races including: Procar Australia ceased operations in 2004 with Palmer citing financial issues as
256-904: A DOHC four-valve-per-cylinder motor, borrowed from the E80 series Corolla . This engine was also equipped with Denso electronic port fuel injection and T-VIS variable intake geometry, giving the engine a maximum power output of 112 hp (84 kW) in the US, 128 hp (95 kW) in the UK, 116 or 124 PS (85 or 91 kW; 114 or 122 hp) in Europe (with or without catalytic converter), 118 hp (88 kW) in Australia and 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) in Japan. Japanese models were later detuned to 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp). A five-speed manual transmission
384-642: A Lotus Esprit , won the Super Production Car Series. The 1995 season saw the Australian Super Production Car Series renamed to Australian GT Production Car Series . This also saw the addition of sedan-based sub-classes to embrace the middle-specification Bathurst 12 Hour cars, resulting in a three class structure. Jim Richards in a Porsche 993 won Class A with Ford Falcon driver Chris Sexton winning class B and Peugeot 405 driver Milton Leslight winning Class C. 1996 saw
512-848: A raid on the Queensland Government Printing Office , with the aim of confiscating copies of Hansard that covered debates in the Queensland Parliament where anti-conscription sentiments had been aired. Russian immigration took place in the years 1911–1914. Many were radicals and revolutionaries seeking asylum from tsarist political repression in the final chaotic years of the Russian Empire ; considerable numbers were Jews escaping state-inspired pogroms. They had fled Russia via Siberia and Northern China, most making their way to Harbin , in Manchuria , then taking passage from
640-522: A triumphal arch erected in Queen Street . In May that year, the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V ) laid the foundation stone of St John's Cathedral , one of the great cathedrals of Australia . The University of Queensland was founded in 1909 and first sited at Old Government House , which became vacated as the government planned for a larger residence. Fernberg House , built in 1865, became
768-484: A Ferrari F355 clip a back-marking Ford Falcon and was destroyed in a heavy crash. This became the impetus to separate the top class into its own series, the Australian Nations Cup Championship for the 2000 season. This would attract interest from supercar manufacturers and importers with a factory supported Lamborghini team fronted by Paul Stokell joining the group of established Porsche teams and
896-577: A Turrbal culture organisation claims that historical documents suggest that the Turrbal peoples were the only traditional owners of Brisbane when British settlers first arrived. Archaeological evidence suggests frequent habitation around the Brisbane River, and notably at the site now known as Musgrave Park . The rivers were integral to life and supplied an abundance of food included fish, shellfish, crab, and prawns . Good fishing places became campsites and
1024-490: A brick was thrown into the motel room and police took action to clear the road and consequently disproportionate violence was used against demonstrators. In the lead up to the 1980s Queensland fell subject to many forms of censorship. In 1977 things had escalated from prosecutions and book burnings, under the introduction of the Literature Board of Review, to a statewide ban on protests and street marches. In September 1977
1152-435: A challenge during testing, as the 222D also suffered from enormous turbo lag (as did most of the competitive Group B cars), but paired with the extremely short wheel base made driving at speed almost impossible. Toyota Team Europe owner Ove Anderson describes: "you never knew what it was going to do. With such a short wheelbase and such power in such a light car it could swap ends at any time, and without any warning". During
1280-578: A counterculture focused on the University of Queensland , street marches and Brisbane punk rock music. In 1971, the touring Springboks were to play against the Australian Rugby team. This was met with plans for protests due to the growing international and local opposition to apartheid in South Africa. However, before their arrival Bjelke-Petersen declared a state of emergency for a month, citing
1408-716: A couple of seasons where their grid was bolstered by the Australian Porsche Drivers Challenge (known today as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia ) the GT Championship is now growing. GT's (run to FIA GT3 rules) took over the grid of the revived Bathurst 12 Hour race in 2011, reviving memories of the Bathurst 24 Hour. Brisbane Brisbane ( / ˈ b r ɪ z b ən / BRIZ -bən , Turrbal : Meanjin )
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#17328631767481536-603: A cry for "bread or blood", rioted and attempted to ransack the Government store . The City Botanic Gardens were originally established in 1825 as a farm for the Moreton Bay penal settlement , and were planted by convicts in 1825 with food crops to feed the prison colony. In 1855, several acres was declared a Botanic Reserve under the Superintendent Walter Hill , a position he held until 1881. Some trees planted in
1664-631: A destination of interstate migration. Some of Brisbane's popular landmarks were lost to development in controversial circumstances, including the Bellevue Hotel in 1979 and Cloudland in 1982. Major public works included the Riverside Expressway , the Gateway Bridge , and later, the redevelopment of South Bank . Starting with the monumental Robin Gibson -designed Queensland Cultural Centre , with
1792-506: A mid-transverse engine placement. Toyota called the 1981 prototype SA-X . From its original design, the car evolved into a sports car, and further prototypes were tested both in Japan and in the US. Significant testing was performed on race circuits including Willow Springs , where former Formula One driver Dan Gurney tested the car. All three generations were in compliance with Japanese government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement. The MR2 appeared around
1920-557: A more refined automobile, as is the nature of any TOM'S outfitted vehicle. Whilst the T020 was a normally aspirated vehicle, TOM'S also produced equipment for turbocharged models — e.g. wastegates, boost controllers, air filters, a 3S-GTE version of their "TOM'S Barrel" exhaust system, and "T.E.C. II" Engine Control Units. Despite the fact that these products are no longer purchasable brand new, some of these modification parts may still be procured as second-hand items, and are highly sought after by
2048-638: A peninsula of the Brisbane River about 15 km (9 mi) from its mouth at Moreton Bay . Brisbane is located in the hilly floodplain of the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Island and the Taylor and D'Aguilar mountain ranges . It sprawls across several local government areas , most centrally the City of Brisbane . The demonym of Brisbane is Brisbanite . The Moreton Bay penal settlement
2176-464: A permit. You won't get one. That's government policy now." In response to this, protesters came up with the idea of Phantom Civil Liberties Marches where protesters would gather and march until the police and media arrived. They would then disperse, and gather together again until the media and police returned, repeating the process over and over again. The end of the Bjelke-Petersen era began with
2304-461: A popular mode of public transport until the network was closed in 1969, in part the result of the Paddington tram depot fire . Between 1968 and 1987, Queensland was governed by Bjelke-Petersen, whose government was characterised by social conservatism , police corruption , and the brutal suppression of protest and has been described as a police state . However, during this time Brisbane developed
2432-456: A private collector in 2017, one in white, with a 50mm lengthened wheelbase and a more production styled body located in Tokyo. Although the 222D was still a prototype, it made it very far into development before Group B was canceled. Of the rumored eleven built, eight were destroyed in testing, indicating Toyota was considering bringing the 222D to competition. However, the short wheelbase proved to be
2560-421: A redesign in 1989 (though North America did not receive them until early 1990 as 1991 models). The new car was larger, weighed 350 to 400 lb (159 to 181 kg) more than its predecessor due to having a more luxurious and spacious cabin, larger engine sizes, sturdier transaxle, and a more durable suspension setup. The overall design of the automobile received more rounded, streamlined styling, with some calling
2688-574: A run of 270 units, featured a special Midnight Blue paint, the MOMO -commissioned steering wheel and gear knob, Recaro "Milano" seats with matching door panels. The 1989 model also benefited from some of the last G-Limited model options, such as the LED rear spoiler brake light and more aerodynamic wing mirrors. Both "Super Edition" models had unique decals on the rear visor and side stripes. While Toyota's front-engine, rear-drive Celica rally cars proved dominant in
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#17328631767482816-476: A series for these cars which became the 1994 Australian Super Production Car Series . Palmer was behind the new series and he took over the existing Procar organisation. With the creation of TOCA Australia to run a new series for Super Touring cars in 1994, Procar, along with the Australian Porsche Cup and Commodore Cup was able to provide an instant group of support categories. Brad Jones , driving
2944-447: A substantial settlement of brick and stone buildings, complete with school and hospital. He formed additional outstations and made several important journeys of exploration. Logan became infamous for his extreme use of the cat o' nine tails on convicts. The maximum allowed limit of lashes was 50; however, Logan regularly applied sentences of 150 lashes. During this period raids on maize fields were conducted by local Aboriginal groups in
3072-410: A surprise appearance at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed , Toyota drove and displayed a black 222D. The race-ready car weighed around 750 kg (1,650 lb) and its transverse-mounted, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine (what appears to be a 503E race engine, though other prototypes may have used the 4T-GTE ) was reported to produce as much as 750 hp (559 kW). The MR2 went through
3200-537: A tent and often landed ashore, thus bestowing upon the future Brisbane City the distinction of being the only Australian capital city visited by its namesake. Chief Justice Forbes gave the new settlement the name of Edenglassie before it was named Brisbane . The penal settlement under the control of Captain Patrick Logan (Commandant from 1826 to 1830) flourished, with the numbers of convicts increasing dramatically from around 200 to over 1,000 men. He developed
3328-475: A time also produced a brake kit as well for the MR2, but this has been discontinued. Performance parts manufacturer JUN offered engine upgrades for the MR2's 3S-GTE engine which came in the form of stroker kits, which were co-developed with Cosworth , and also offered lightened flywheels, cam gears, and camshafts. The SW20 garnered generally favorable reviews during its production life, with various sources complimenting
3456-399: A variety of tuning parts for the MR2. The "T020" as it was called, was powered by a naturally aspirated 2.2L stroked 3S-GE that produced 175 kW (235 bhp) at 6,800 rpm, this was due to more aggressive "F3" cams, a stroker kit, better intake flow with the aid of the "TOM'S Hyper Induction Carbon" intake kit, and an upgraded exhaust system labeled the "TOM'S Barrel", a lightened flywheel
3584-505: A very poorly supported 1993 season . The front wheel drive format saw competitor numbers rebound as Mazda 626s and a large number of Nissan Pulsar teams fought along with a factory supported team of Volvo 850s . The success of the Bathurst 12 Hour which centred on cars built to the same rules, but much higher specification vehicles like the Mazda RX-7 and Porsche 968 saw a wish to create
3712-638: A wide-body TRD2000GT replica car. This was to pay homage to the TRD2000GT wins in the GT-C Japanese racing series, since the TRD2000GT racing series cars were based on the SW20 floor pan. The TRD2000GT body kit widened the MR2 by a total of 100 mm (4 in). Prior to MR2s being fitted with the TRD2000GT body kit, TRD had its customers select which additional engine, suspension, wheel, and interior upgrades they wanted. For this reason, no two TRD2000GT MR2s are alike. It
3840-598: Is a more accurate and appropriate Aboriginal name for Brisbane. Aboriginal groups claiming traditional ownership of the area include the Yagara , Turrbal and Quandamooka peoples. Brisbane is home to the land of a number of Aboriginal language groups, primarily the Yagara language group which includes the Turrbal language . The city is also known as Meanjin , a Turrbal word that originally referred to land on which parts of
3968-593: Is one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations and is Australia's most biodiverse and greenest city . South Bank and its extensive parklands is the most visited tourist landmark in Australia, with over 14 million visitors every year. Other major landmarks and precincts of the city include the Queensland Cultural Centre (including the Queensland Art Gallery , the Gallery of Modern Art ,
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4096-445: Is rumored that approximately 10 conversion kits were imported from TRD Japan into the US for conversions. In many respects, the extended body can be compared to that of a Porsche 911 Slantnose modification. The car's width is extended and body dimensions dramatically changing the car's overall visuals. Very little is known about these cars outside Japan. Apart from Toyota Racing Development, TOM'S also released official body kits and
4224-588: Is rumored that at least one was built to produce up to 373 kW (500 bhp) whereas some others had few modifications to their engines. In order to ensure exclusivity, a high price tag was charged and total of just 35 factory car conversions were completed by Toyota Technocraft Ltd. Each official Technocraft-converted car was made using lightweight fiberglass components (front fenders, trunk lid extension, rear quarter panels, gas door, front and rear bumpers, 3-piece wing) and re-classified as completely new cars (with their own specially numbered TRD VIN plate riveted to
4352-458: Is the capital and largest city of the state of Queensland and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania , with a population over 2.7 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of South East Queensland , an urban agglomeration with a population of approximately 4 million which includes several other regional centres and cities. The central business district is situated within
4480-434: The 2032 Summer Olympics and 2032 Summer Paralympics . Toyota MR2 The Toyota MR2 is a line of two-seater, mid-engined , rear-wheel-drive sports cars , manufactured in Japan and marketed globally by Toyota from 1984 until 2007 over three generations: W10 (1984–1989), W20 (1989–1999) and W30 (1999–2007). It is Japan's first rear mid-engined production car. Conceived as a small, economical and sporty car,
4608-667: The Australian Production Car Championship and the Australian GT Production Car Series merged into a single five class Australian GT Production Car Championship . The top class was split with the European and Japanese sports car which now included exotica like Ferrari F355 split from the rally style cars such as the Subaru Impreza WRX . The overlap of the bottom class of GT Production and
4736-634: The Brisbane City Council . A significant year for Brisbane was 1930, with the completion of Brisbane City Hall , then the city's tallest building and the Shrine of Remembrance , in ANZAC Square , which has become Brisbane's main war memorial. These historic buildings, along with the Story Bridge which opened in 1940, are key landmarks that help define the architectural character of the city. Following
4864-715: The City Botanic Gardens , Victoria Park , Roma Street Parkland , New Farm Park , the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens , the Brisbane Riverwalk , Moreton Bay , Moreton Island and D'Aguilar National Park . Brisbane is named after the Brisbane River , which in turn was named after Sir Thomas Brisbane , the governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic bris , meaning ' to break or smash ' and
4992-617: The Corn Field Raids of 1827-1828 . These groups destroyed and plundered the maize fields in South Bank and Kangaroo Point , with the possible motive of extracting compensation from the settlers or warning them not to expand beyond their current area. Between 1824 and 1842, almost 2,400 men and 145 women were detained at the Moreton Bay convict settlement under the control of military commandants. However, non-convict European settlement of
5120-636: The Fitzgerald Inquiry of 1987 to 1989, a judicial inquiry presided over by Tony Fitzgerald investigating Queensland Police corruption . The inquiry resulted in the resignation of Premier Bjelke-Petersen, the calling of two by-elections, the jailing of three former ministers and the Police Commissioner Terry Lewis (who also lost his knighthood ). It also contributed to the end of the National Party of Australia 's 32-year run as
5248-584: The Gallery of Modern Art in 2006, and the Kurilpa Bridge in 2009, the world's largest hybrid tensegrity bridge. Brisbane also hosted major international events including the final Goodwill Games in 2001, the Rugby League World Cup final in 2008 and again in 2017, as well as the 2014 G20 Brisbane summit . Population growth has continued to be among the highest of the Australian capital cities in
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5376-503: The Old English word ban meaning ' bone ' . Popular nicknames for Brisbane Brissie , Brisvegas , "Brizzie" and the River City . Brisbane sits on indigenous land known also as Meanjin , the name used in the Turrbal language of one group of traditional owners . Meanjin means ' place shaped as a spike ' , referencing the shape of the Brisbane River along
5504-490: The Port of Brisbane , Australia's third-busiest airport and seaport. A diverse city with over 36% of its metropolitan population being foreign-born, Brisbane is frequently ranked highly in lists of the most liveable cities . Brisbane has hosted major events including the 1982 Commonwealth Games , World Expo 88 , the 2001 Goodwill Games , the 2014 G20 summit , and will host the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics . Brisbane
5632-551: The Queensland Government introduced a ban on all street protests, resulting in a statewide civil liberties campaign of defiance. This saw two thousand people arrested and fined, with another hundred being imprisoned, at a cost of almost five million dollars to the State Government. Bjelke-Petersen publicly announced on 4 September 1977 that "the day of the political street march is over ... Don't bother to apply for
5760-623: The Queensland Museum , the State Library of Queensland and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre ), Brisbane City Hall , the Story Bridge , Howard Smith Wharves , Queen's Wharf , St John's cathedral , and Mount Coot-tha Lookout . Much of Brisbane's inner-city neighbourhoods are also characterised by its historic Queenslander architecture . Brisbane is also known for its extensive parks and outdoor attractions including
5888-707: The Queensland Parliament built in 1867. The 1880s brought a period of economic prosperity and a major construction boom in Brisbane, that produced an impressive number of notable public and commercial buildings. John James Clark was appointed Queensland Government Architect in 1883, and continuing in Tiffin's design for public buildings, asserted the propriety of the Italian Renaissance, drawing upon typological elements and details from conservative High Renaissance sources. Building in this trace of intellectualism, Clark designed
6016-689: The Red Flag riots , were waged throughout Brisbane. The most notable incident occurred on 24 March 1919, when a crowd of about 8,000 ex-servicemen clashed violently with police who were preventing them from attacking the Russian Hall in Merivale Street, South Brisbane , which was known as the Battle of Merivale Street. Over 20 small municipalities and shires were amalgamated in 1925 to form the City of Brisbane, governed by
6144-695: The Treasury Building in 1886, and the Yungaba Immigration Centre in 1885. Other major works of the era include Customs House in 1889, and the Old Museum Building completed in 1891. Fort Lytton was constructed in 1882 at the mouth of the Brisbane river, to protect the city against foreign colonial powers such as Russia and France , and was the only moated fort ever built in Australia. The city's slum district of Frog's Hollow , named so for its location being low-lying and swampy,
6272-486: The "Turbo" emblem (US) on the rear trunk, 'TWIN CAM 16 TURBO' decal above the side intake (Japanese market), a fiberglass engine lid with raised vents, fog lights, and an added interior center storage compartment located between the two seats. All SW20 MR2s came with a staggered wheel setup, with wider wheels and tires in the rear than in the front. Mechanical differences on the Turbo models include: The US market MR2 Turbo model
6400-559: The 1/4 mile in 13.1 seconds, beating out more expensive and higher powered automobiles such as the Honda NSX, Toyota Supra RZ, and even the Ferrari 348 TB . Best Motoring, a popular Japanese automobile TV show, featured an episode that had them battle a factory stock Rev 5 GT-S Turbo versus other Japanese market contemporaries on the Tsukuba Circuit , with the MR2 winning the circuit race. In
6528-412: The 911 (993) GT2 for increased downforce at high speeds, and a reworked suspension set up with Öhlins equipment. Japanese tuner Border Racing, made available several parts as well, consisting mostly of parts that improved the car's suspension geometry, namely roll-center adapters, extended tie rods, etc., though they have also produced intercooler kits for the car and several interior pieces. AP Racing at
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#17328631767486656-405: The African Group B rallies of the 1980s, they were at a disadvantage on the twistier European stages. Thus, Toyota Team Europe started a rally project in 1985, codenamed "222D" based on the MR2, for competition in Group S and potentially Group B. Though somewhat similar on the outside, it is clear that the prototype had very little in common with the production car although the two appear to share
6784-563: The Brisbane region commenced in 1838 and the population grew strongly thereafter, with free settlers soon far outstripping the convict population. German missionaries settled at Zions Hill, Nundah as early as 1837, five years before Brisbane was officially declared a free settlement. The band consisted of ministers Christopher Eipper (1813–1894), Carl Wilhelm Schmidt , and lay missionaries Haussmann, Johann Gottried Wagner, Niquet, Hartenstein, Zillman, Franz, Rode, Doege and Schneider. They were allocated 260 hectares and set about establishing
6912-404: The Duke of York's clan in Victoria Park in 1846 and 1849 by British soldiers of the 11th Regiment , however the clan had been wrongfully targeted as the attacks on Brisbane had not been committed by the Turrbal themselves but other tribes farther north. In 1855, Dundalli , a prominent leader during the conflict, was captured and executed by hanging at the present site of the GPO . In 1862,
7040-476: The GT Production car championship split again as the higher performance muscle cars and Japanese turbo cars split off forming the Australian GT Performance Car Championship . The remaining teams revived the Australian Production Car Championship title and the series became much like its pre-Procar early 1990s roots with large sedans racing against smaller sports cars. With Procar now running its own meetings costs had jumped but interest had declined and Palmer folded
7168-425: The Gardens were among the first of their species to be planted in Australia, including the jacaranda and poinciana . Charles Tiffin was appointed as Queensland Government Architect in 1859, and pursued an intellectual policy in the design of public buildings based on Italianate and Renaissance revivalism , with such buildings as Government House , the Department of Primary Industries Building in 1866, and
7296-402: The MR2 SW20 a "baby Ferrari" or "poor man's Ferrari" due to design cues similar to the Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS or Ferrari 348 . Like the AW11 before it, Toyota spent countless hours fine-tuning the handling capabilities of the SW20, seeking advice from professional race car drivers, including Dan Gurney of Formula One, NASCAR, and Le Mans fame. When the AW11 was still in production and before
7424-670: The MR2 community. TOM'S still keeps a T020 part list on their website, and there are still T020 part catalogues in circulation between enthusiasts to this day, albeit second-hand. Between 1996 and 1999, Toyota TechnoCraft (TTC) produced 88 or 91 SW20 MR2 Spider convertible conversions. These cars featured a retractable cloth softtop roof and exclusive wingless trunk and engine lids. Most Spiders had automatic transmissions, naturally aspirated engines, and Lucerne Silver paint with blue side mouldings and black and blue accented cloth seats. The Toyota name and logo were not applied to these cars due to concerns about roof leaks. During its production,
7552-459: The MR2 number eight on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s . In 1988 and 1989 Toyota produced two final production runs of fully optioned "Super Edition" MR2s, based upon the supercharged Japanese market model, and only sold in Japan. The 1988 'Super Edition' was a run of 300 units, had white/gold two-tone paint, bronze glass, unique half-leather and half-cloth seats, along with a MOMO -commissioned steering wheel and gear knob. The 1989 model,
7680-410: The MR2 uses simple but effective design elements, including an inline-four engine , transversely mounted in front of the rear axle, four-wheel disc brakes , and fully independent coilover suspension – MacPherson strut fronts and Chapman strut rears. The name MR2 stands for either " m id-ship r un-about 2 -seater" or " m id-engine, r ear-wheel-drive, 2 -seater". In French-speaking markets,
7808-432: The MR2 was prone to "snap-oversteer" . As a counterpoint to the snap-oversteer phenomenon of the MR2, other journalists point out that most mid-engine and rear-engine sports and super cars exhibit similar behaviour, and that a change to the driver's response to oversteer is really the solution. In any car, braking shifts the weight forward, and acceleration to the rear. When drivers enter a corner with too much speed, and lift
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#17328631767487936-491: The MR2 won the Car of the Year Japan . As Toyota engineered the MR2 to accommodate a 2-liter engine, its primary features included its light body (as low as 950 kg (2,094 lb) in Japan and 1,066 kg (2,350 lb) in the US), strong handling, and low-power small-displacement engine. The car is often referred to as the AW11, referring to the chassis code of the most common 1.6-liter, A-engined versions. The MR2's suspension and handling were designed by Toyota with
8064-438: The Pineapple rebellion. During World War II, Brisbane became central to the Allied campaign, since it was the northernmost city with adequate communications facilities. From July 1942 to September 1944, AMP Building (now called MacArthur Central ) was used as the headquarters for South West Pacific Area under General MacArthur. MacArthur had previously rejected use of the University of Queensland complex as his headquarters, as
8192-519: The Procar operation in 2004. The four categories each went their own way. GT Performance dropped the GT prefix becoming the Australian Performance Car Championship . Production Cars, now run by the Production Car Association of Australia continues to this day as the Australian Production Car Championship and is one of the leading categories of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships . The Performance Car series suffered declining numbers and ran its last series in 2007. Their competitors merged in
8320-404: The Production Car Championship in 2008. V8 Utes dropped the Brutes moniker continued to develop its niche strongly and is now a mainstay of the V8 Supercar support program. Nations Cup all but collapsed. A new series was created for them, without the controversial Holden Monaros, based on international GT3 regulations and reviving one of CAMS oldest titles, the Australian GT Championship . After
8448-407: The SW20 enjoyed a myriad of tuning parts from Japanese tuners such as HKS, Blitz, Phoenix Power, etc. While some companies only offered aesthetic modifications for the SW20, others such as Phoenix Power offered modifications such as a tuned ECU, longblock modifications, and a trunk-mounted intercooler combined with a T04R Turbocharger. The Phoenix Power MR2 also featured a large rear wing reminiscent of
8576-438: The SW20 still has a large enough following to be labeled as a very challenging car to push to its limits, with some labeling it as "the most dangerous car that you can buy". Such a label may be true as MR2s are relatively cheaper than most automobiles with an MR platform ( Honda NSX , Ferrari F355 , Lotus Elise ) and that it is readily available to most people. Early in the 1990s, the SW20 enjoyed considerable success throughout
8704-425: The SW20 was officially shown to the public, several rumors were spreading stating that Toyota was building yet another mid-engine sports car, one that would have a 3.0-liter V6 engine that could directly compete with the 348, though this specific rumor was later shot down under the pretense that such a car would belong under the Lexus branding. Differences between the normally aspirated and turbocharged models include
8832-402: The T020 to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 4.9 seconds, in turn further made the SW20 chassis a much more capable track machine. A sportier look was given to the vehicle as well through engine scoops, side skirts, a Ferrari 348 -esque rear light grille, forged wheels, revised bumper designs, and a larger rear spoiler. Though undeniably still an MR2, the T020 was in all essence
8960-421: The US market), Toyota introduced a supercharged engine for the MR2. Based on the same block and head, the 4A-GZE was equipped with a small Roots-type supercharger and a Denso intercooler . T-VIS was eliminated and the compression ratio was lowered to 8:1. It produced 145 hp (147 PS; 108 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 186 N⋅m; 137 lb⋅ft (19 kg⋅m) of torque at 4,400 rpm and accelerated
9088-418: The Woolstore precinct as well as the development of South Bank Parklands . Brisbane was impacted by major floods in January 2011 and February 2022 . The Brisbane River did not reach the same height as the previous 1974 flood on either occasion, but caused extensive disruption and damage to infrastructure. The Queensland Cultural Centre was also expanded, with the completion of the State Library and
9216-399: The area that Brisbane CBD now straddles. A contemporary Turrbal organisation has also suggested it means ' the place of the blue water lilies ' . Local Elder Gaja Kerry Charlton posits that Meanjin is based on a European understanding of ' spike ' , and that the phonetically similar Yagara name Magandjin — after the native tulipwood trees ( magan ) at Gardens Point —
9344-528: The bay, which he named after James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton , misspelled as "Moreton". Matthew Flinders initially explored the Moreton Bay area on behalf of the British authorities. On 17 July 1799, Flinders landed at present-day Woody Point , which he named Red Cliff Point after the red-coloured cliffs visible from the bay. In 1823 the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane, gave instructions for
9472-415: The body to indicate their authenticity and rarity). The Toyota Technocraft Ltd. TRD2000GT had a 60 mm (2.4 in) wider front and rear track (due to the addition of wider wheels and tires). Virtually every car converted also had other TRD parts fitted too, including extensive changes to both the suspension and engine. Most cars left the factory making more power due to TRD bolt-ons, some cars even left
9600-504: The capital. Old Government House was constructed in 1862 to house Sir George Bowen's family, including his wife, the noblewoman Diamantina, Lady Bowen di Roma . During the tenure of Lord Lamington , Old Government House was the likely site of the origin of Lamingtons . During the War of Southern Queensland , Indigenous attacks occurred across the city, committing robberies and terrorising unarmed residents. Reprisal raids took place against
9728-419: The car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.5 to 7.0 seconds. The supercharger was belt-driven but actuated by an electromagnetic clutch, so that it would not be driven except when needed, increasing fuel economy. Curb weight increased to as much as 2,494 lb (1,131 kg) for supercharged models, due to the weight of the supercharger equipment and a new, stronger transmission. A fuel selector switch
9856-454: The city are built, or as Magandjin , a Yagara word referring to the tulipwood tree . Aboriginal Australians have lived in coastal South East Queensland for at least 22,000 years, with an estimated population between 6,000 and 10,000 individuals before European settlement in the 1820s. Aboriginal groups claiming traditional ownership of the area include the Yagara , Turrbal and Quandamooka peoples. A website representing
9984-501: The city which helped shake this stigma. In 1955, Wickham Terrace was the site of a terrorist incident involving shootings and bombs, by the German immigrant Karl Kast . Despite steady growth, Brisbane's development was punctuated by infrastructure problems. The state government under Joh Bjelke-Petersen began a major program of change and urban renewal, beginning with the central business district and inner suburbs. Trams in Brisbane were
10112-658: The creation of Prancing Horse Racing , a Ferrari-based team which at its peak was running By this point the Australian Super Touring Championship was in decline and the Procar family of categories were now all-but the lead act. With the big GT Sportscars separated into their own class the GT Production Car series continued with the Mitsubishi Lancers, Subaru Imprezas, Mazda RX-7s and HSV GTS cars now
10240-433: The current city heart: Barambin or York's Hollow camp (today's Victoria Park ) and Woolloon-cappem ( Woolloongabba / South Brisbane ), also known as Kurilpa . These camping grounds continued to function well into colonial times, and were the basis of European settlement in parts of Brisbane. In 1770, British navigator James Cook sailed through South Passage between the main offshore islands leading to
10368-537: The death of King George V in 1936, Albert square was widened to include the area which had been Albert Street, and renamed King George Square in honour of the King. An equestrian statue of the king and two Bronze Lion sculptures were unveiled in 1938. In 1939, armed farmers marched on the Queensland Parliament and stormed the building in an attempt to take hostage the Queensland Government led by Labor Premier William Forgan Smith , in an event that became known as
10496-453: The development of a new northern penal settlement , and an exploration party commanded by John Oxley further explored Moreton Bay in November 1823. Oxley explored the Brisbane River as far as Goodna , 20 km (12 mi) upstream from the present-day central business district of Brisbane. He also named the river after the governor of the time. Oxley also recommended Red Cliff Point for
10624-599: The distinctive bends in the river at St Lucia could have aided enemy bombers. Also used as a headquarters by the American troops during World War II was the T & G Building . About one million US troops passed through Australia during the war, as the primary co-ordination point for the South West Pacific. Wartime Brisbane was defined by the racial segregation of African American servicemen, prohibition and sly grog , crime, and jazz ballrooms . In 1942, Brisbane
10752-452: The early 2000s. SARD (Sigma Advanced Research Development) built a heavily modified and lengthened version of the SW20 for GT racing called the SARD MC8-R. It used a heavily modified MR2 frontal chassis with a custom rear chassis made to fit a twin-turbo version of the 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V8 producing 600 bhp (447 kW). This is the first car which only used the frontal chassis of
10880-520: The end of 1840, Robert Dixon had begun work on the first plan of Brisbane Town, in anticipation of future development. The Roman Catholic church erected the Pugin Chapel in 1850, to the design by the gothic revivalist Augustus Pugin . Letters patent dated 6 June 1859, proclaimed by Sir George Ferguson Bowen on 10 December 1859, separated Queensland from New South Wales, whereupon Bowen became Queensland's first governor, with Brisbane chosen as
11008-463: The factory boasting up to 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp) and less than 1100 kg (2425 lb) for a very impressive power-to-weight ratio. While TRD Japan only offered a small number of kits with all body parts required for third-party conversion, Toyota Technocraft Ltd. offered complete car conversions. Apart from the cars listed on the TRD2000GT register it is unknown how many original Toyota Technocraft Ltd. cars still exist today, but it
11136-405: The first stage the Queensland Art Gallery completed in 1982, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in 1985, and the Queensland Museum in 1986. Brisbane hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games and World Expo 88 . These events were accompanied by a scale of public expenditure, construction, and development not previously seen in the state of Queensland. Brisbane's population growth far exceeded
11264-629: The first sugarcane plantation in Queensland was established near Brisbane by Captain Louis Hope and John Buhôt . In 1864, the Great Fire of Brisbane burned through the central parts of the city, destroying much of Queen Street. The 1860s were a period of economic and political turmoil leading to high unemployment, in 1866 hundreds of impoverished workers convened a meeting at the Treasury Hotel , with
11392-781: The first two decades of the 21st century, and major infrastructure including the Howard Smith Wharves , Roma Street Parklands , Queens Wharf , the Brisbane Riverwalk , the Queen's Wharf casino and resort precinct, the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, the Clem Jones , Airport Link , and Legacy Way road tunnels, and the Airport , Springfield , Redcliffe Peninsula and Cross River Rail railway lines have been completed or are under construction. Brisbane will host
11520-461: The focus of group activities. The district was defined by open woodlands with rainforest in some pockets or bends of the Brisbane River. Being a resource-rich area and a natural avenue for seasonal movement, Meanjin and the surrounding areas acted as a way station for groups travelling to ceremonies and spectacles. The region had several large (200–600 person) seasonal camps, the biggest and most important located along waterways north and south of
11648-479: The governing political party in Queensland. In 1973, the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub in the city's entertainment district , was firebombed that resulted in 15 deaths, in what is one of Australia's worst mass killings . The 1974 Brisbane flood was a major disaster which temporarily crippled the city, and saw a substantial landslip at Corinda . During this era, Brisbane grew and modernised, rapidly becoming
11776-525: The help of Lotus engineer Roger Becker. Toyota's cooperation with Lotus during the prototype phase can be seen in the AW11, and it owes much to Lotus's sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s. Toyota's active suspension technology, called TEMS , was not installed. With five structural bulkheads, the MR2 was quite heavy for a two-seater of its size. Toyota employed the naturally aspirated 4A-GE 1,587 cc (1.6 L; 96.8 cu in) inline-four engine ,
11904-516: The importance of the tour. This did not stop the protest however with violent clashes between protestors and police erupting when several hundred demonstrators assembled outside a Brisbane motel on Thursday, 22 July 1971, where the Springbok team was staying. A second protest saw a large number of demonstrators assembled once more outside the Tower Mill Motel and after 15 minutes of peaceful protest,
12032-415: The likelihood that this would occur, though many drivers would lament the change and claim that it "neutered" the sharp edge the MR2 was known for. Toyota claimed that the changes were made "for drivers whose reflexes were not those of Formula One drivers". In 1998, Toyota Racing Development offered an official kit body conversion and tuning program for MR2 owners to transform their existing SW20 MR2 into
12160-703: The mission, which became known as the German Station. Later in the 1860s many German immigrants from the Uckermark region in Prussia as well as from other German regions settled in the areas of Bethania , Beenleigh and the Darling Downs . These immigrants were selected and assisted through immigration programs established by Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang and Johann Christian Heussler and were offered free passage, good wages, and selections of land. Scottish immigrants from
12288-515: The most notable being that rear suspension components are not interchangeable between the MK1a and MK1b cars. Original introduction The changes in MY 1986 and MY 1987 occurred in parts. Instead of a drastic change in MY 1987 models for the above MK1b upgrades, some MK1a parts continued on in early MY 1987 cars while some MK1b parts came on MY 1986 cars as options. An example is that some MY 1987 cars still retained
12416-435: The name MR2. Toyota introduced the first-generation MR2 in 1984, designating it the model code " W10 ". When fitted with the 1.5-liter 3A engine, it was known as the "AW10". Likewise, the 1.6-liter 4A version is identified by the "AW11" code. In Japan, the MR2 was marketed exclusively via Toyota's Toyota Auto Store and Toyota Vista Store , both rebranded in 1998 as Netz Toyota Store . At its introduction in 1984,
12544-418: The national average in the last two decades of the 20th century, with a high level of interstate migration from Victoria and New South Wales. In the late 1980s Brisbane's inner-city areas were struggling with economic stagnation, urban decay and crime which resulted in an exodus of residents and business to the suburban fringe, in the early 1990s the city undertook an extensive and successful urban renewal of
12672-521: The new colony, reporting that ships could land at any tide and easily get close to the shore. The convict settlement party landed in Redcliffe on 13 September 1824 formally establishing the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement that would become Brisbane. The party was under the command of Lieutenant Henry Miller and consisted of 14 soldiers (some with wives and children) and 29 convicts. However,
12800-415: The old "flat" front bumper despite having MK1b upgrades everywhere else on the car. Some early MY 1987 7-rib engines came with the earlier blue top valve cover. This was also noticed in the rear sway bar removal for the MY 1986. Some MY 1986 cars have a rear sway bar, while the mounting tabs on the strut housing were either there for both sides, only one side, or none at all depending on when Toyota ran out of
12928-518: The older rear struts with mounting tabs as production used up parts. American car magazines Road & Track and Car and Driver both chose the MR2 on their "ten best" car lists. The Australian Wheels magazine chose the 1988 MR2 as its favourite sports car. The MR2 was Motor Trend ' s Import Car of the Year for 1985. The MR2 was also on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1986 and 1987. In 2004, Sports Car International ranked
13056-584: The point in 2002 where the defunct Bathurst 12 Hour was revived as a 24-hour race, evoking similar European events the Spa and Nurburgring 24 Hours races. While popular the Bathurst 24 Hour races were hugely expensive to run. While some European and Asian teams travelled to the race, there was not enough interest to sustain the costs and just the two races were held, both dominated by Holden Monaros adapted with seven-litre Chevrolet engines specifically for this race by V8 Supercar team Garry Rogers Motorsport . 2003 saw
13184-543: The port of Dalian to Townsville or Brisbane, the first Australian ports of call. Following the First World War , conflict arose between returned servicemen of the First Australian Imperial Force and socialists along with other elements of society that the ex-servicemen considered to be disloyal toward Australia. Over the course of 1918–1919, a series of violent demonstrations and attacks known as
13312-512: The rankings of personal bests, a Rev 2 GT-S was able to clock 1:08.00 at Tsukuba Circuit. The second-generation MR2 underwent a variety of changes during its 10 years of production, grouped in four different periods: Introduction of the new generation. Revision 5 : 1998–1999 Model (Introduced Nov-1997): Changes to the suspension geometry, tire sizes and power steering in January 1992 (MY 1993) were made in response to journalist reports that
13440-474: The rear trunk and body mouldings behind both doors. This model was never offered outside of the Japanese and North American markets, although some cars were privately imported to other countries. MK1a and MK1b are unofficial designations, but are frequently used by owners and vendors to distinguish between early production vehicles and later face-lifted models. While there are considerable differences detailed below,
13568-448: The reason for the company's withdrawal from the sport. Procar was the name of the organisational body running the Australian Production Car Championship prior to Palmer's involvement and had steered the category from the escalating costs of a series concentrating on Japanese sports cars like Toyota Supras and Mazda RX-7s into running sedans in the early 1990s, until finally transitioning to just front-wheel drive sedans in 1994 after
13696-518: The same factory AW11 floor pan. Little else is known about the project as it never competed. With Group B cancelled in 1986, the proposed Group S regulations suffered the same fate, and the remaining prototypes were reduced to museum pieces and private collections. Supposedly eleven prototypes were made, of which eight were destroyed during testing, leaving only three known examples: Two in black, one stored at Toyota Gazoo's facility in Cologne and one sold to
13824-733: The same time as the Honda CR-X and the Nissan EXA from Japan, the Pontiac Fiero and Ford EXP from North America, and about a decade after the VW Scirocco and Fiat X1/9 from Europe made their debut. Toyota debuted its SV-3 concept car in October 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show , gathering press and audience publicity. The car was scheduled for a Japanese launch in the second quarter of 1984 under
13952-399: The same year, with the city receiving more than a year's rainfall during February 1893, leaving much of the city's population homeless. In 1896, the Brisbane river saw its worst maritime disaster with the capsize of the ferry Pearl , between the 80–100 people on board there were only 40 survivors. When the colonies federated in 1901, celebrations were held in Brisbane to mark the event, with
14080-496: The settlers abandoned this site after a year and moved to an area on the Brisbane River now known as North Quay, 28 km (17 mi) south, which offered a more reliable water-supply. The newly selected Brisbane region was plagued by mosquitoes at the time. After visiting the Redcliffe settlement, Sir Thomas Brisbane then travelled 45 km (28 mi) up the Brisbane River in December 1824. Governor Brisbane stayed overnight in
14208-466: The ship Fortitude arrived in Brisbane in 1849, enticed by Lang on the promise of free land grants. Denied land, the immigrants set up camp in York's Hollow waterholes in the vicinity of today's Victoria Park , Herston , Queensland. A number of the immigrants moved in and settled the suburb, naming it Fortitude Valley after the ship on which they arrived. Free settlers entered the area from 1835, and by
14336-671: The state separated from New South Wales . By the late 19th century, the city had grown into a major port and centre of immigration. During World War II , the Allied command in the South West Pacific was based in the city, along with the headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur of the United States Army. Brisbane is a global centre for research and innovation and is a transportation hub, being served by large rail , bus and ferry networks, as well as Brisbane Airport and
14464-417: The styling, power, and responsive handling. Car and Driver noted the revised SW20's braking capabilities to be superb, stating that 70 mph to standstill could be done in 157 feet, rivaling that of the Honda NSX. Former Top Gear host and racing driver Tiff Needell commends the SW20's handling having said that it "encourages you to drive with enthusiasm" in a review back in 1990. He does note however, that
14592-449: The sudden transition from understeer to oversteer may be startling for some people. The car is infamously known for its "snap-oversteer" phenomenon. This notoriety comes from numerous instances where individuals crash their SW20s either on or off the race track due to inexperience with a mid-ship platform, as MR layouts handle very differently in comparison to the more common FF or even FR layouts. Even in its revised state from January 1992,
14720-503: The temporary residence in 1910, and later made the permanent government house. In 1912, Tramway employees were stood down for wearing union badges which sparked Australia's first general strike , the 1912 Brisbane General Strike , which became known as Black Friday, for the savagery of the police baton charges on crowds of trade unionists and their supporters. In 1917, during World War I , the Commonwealth Government conducted
14848-414: The throttle mid-corner, the weight transfers forward causing the rear tires to lose traction (called lift-off oversteer), which can result in a spin. When improper steering inputs were made attempting to correct this non-power-on oversteer, the rear of the MR2 would swing one way, then wildly (and quickly) the other—thus the term "snap" oversteer. Toyota elected to change the MR2 suspension and tires to reduce
14976-595: The top class of Production cars were merged, although the Citroens and Peugeots of the old Class C did not return to race against the Pulsars and 626s. Cameron McConville won a very hard-fought championship in the top class in his Porsche against Richards and Peter Fitzgerald with the component classes being won by John Bourke (Subaru Impreza), Sexton (Ford Falcon), Chris Kousparis (Mazda 626) and Pavicevic (Suzuki Swift). This class structure continued for four years. Over time there
15104-691: The top class. Additionally 2000 saw the establishment of the V8 BRutes Series for utility mini-trucks based on the V8 versions of the Holden Ute and Ford Falcon Ute . The V8 BRute Utes were instantly popular and created a whole new genre of race fans, particularly with its aggressive panel-rubbing drivers. By 2001 the Procar categories were now racing on the V8 Supercar support programs as Super Touring continued to collapse. The Nations Cup series continued to grow to
15232-516: The vehicle was renamed Toyota MR because the abbreviation "MR2" sounds like the profanity "merde" when spoken in French. The MR2 derived from a 1976 Toyota design project with the goal of a car which would be enjoyable to drive, yet still provide good fuel economy – not necessarily a sports car. Design work began in 1979 when Akio Yoshida from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate alternatives for engine placement and drive method, finalizing
15360-639: The world. Several teams fielded the MR2 in the Swiss Touring Car Championship, as well as in the South-East Asian Supercar Championship, with much success. The chassis was also used for a time during the mid 90s in the Fuji Freshman Series in Japan in which the SW20 succeeded the earlier AE86 chassis. As of 2022 , both the SW20 and ZZW30 chassis are used in 750 Motor Club's MR2 Championship in the UK which started in
15488-498: Was able to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 6.1 seconds and finish the 1/4 mile in 14.7 seconds. The Revision 1 Turbo SW20 can pull 0.89g at the skidpad, with later revisions averaging 0.90g – 0.94. Revision 2 cars were fitted with Yokohama A022s; coincidentally, the Honda NSX also uses a special variant of the A022. A Japanese market Rev 3 GT-S Turbo was able to run
15616-454: Was also added in some markets, to allow the car to run on regular unleaded fuel if required. In addition to the new engine, the MR2 SC was also equipped with stiffer springs, and received special "tear-drop" aluminum wheels. The engine cover had two raised vents (only one of which was functional) that visually distinguished it from the naturally aspirated models. It was also labeled "SUPER CHARGER" on
15744-416: Was also equipped to help the engine rev easier. The T020 also featured a more race-oriented suspension/chassis set up via camber kits, upgraded tie-rods, strut bars, roll center adjusters, stiffer springs, race shock absorbers, and sports brake pads. These modifications lowered the vehicle's center of gravity for increased agility and stability while cornering, and combined with the engine modifications enabling
15872-422: Was an increasing emphasis on the top class as more exotic cars, like Dodge Viper , Maserati Ghibli , Lotus Elise and Chevrolet Corvette arrived along with professional drivers like Richards, John Bowe , Neil Crompton and Paul Stokell . A sixth class was introduced for small sports cars like Toyota MR2 and Mazda MX-5 . An accident at the 1999 Poolrite GTP Bathurst Showroom Showdown race saw Wayne Park in
16000-578: Was both the red light district of colonial Brisbane and its Chinatown , and was the site of prostitution , sly grog , and opium dens . In 1888, Frog's Hollow was the site of anti-Chinese riots, where more than 2000 people attacked Chinese homes and businesses. In 1893 Brisbane was affected by the Black February flood , when the Brisbane River burst its banks on three occasions in February and again in June in
16128-463: Was founded in 1824 at Redcliffe as a place for secondary offenders from the Sydney colony , and soon moved to North Quay in 1825 on the banks of the Brisbane River, so named for British army general and Governor of New South Wales Sir Thomas Brisbane . German Lutherans established the first free settlement of Zion Hill at Nundah in 1838, and in 1859 Brisbane was chosen as Queensland's capital when
16256-572: Was standard, with a four-speed automatic available as an option. Road tests delivered 0–60 mph (97 km/h) times in the mid- to high-8 second range and 1 ⁄ 4 mile (402 m) times in the mid- to high-16 second range, significantly faster than the four-cylinder Pontiac Fiero or Fiat X1/9 . In the home market, the AW10 base model was offered, which used the more economical 1,452 cc (1.5 L; 88.6 cu in) 3A-U engine rated at 61 kW (82 hp). In 1986 (1988 for
16384-509: Was the site of a violent clash between visiting US military personnel and Australian servicemen and civilians, which resulted in one death and hundreds of injuries. This incident became known colloquially as the Battle of Brisbane . Post-war Brisbane had developed a big country town stigma, an image the city's politicians and marketers were very keen to remove. In the late 1950s, an anonymous poet known as The Brisbane Bard generated much attention to
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