The early years of the new generation Group C regulations emerged as incredibly political as Holden star Peter Brock fought to install big-valve heads on the Commodore, Allan Moffat was knocked back initially in entering the Mazda RX-7 and even BMW endured a tough time all as a result of CAMS.
Brock’s fight to compete with the big-valve heads lasted until 1982, but CAMS was scared of another Holden domination of the late-1970s when the A9X was the cream of the crop and left Ford in its wake.
The 1982 season proved a bitter one as Brock was disqualified and his points taken from three other events due to irregularities as CAMS made it tough for the Holden hero to compete. Although he may have been able to compete with the big-valve heads, a rule change prior to Round 2 at Calder Park ensured all Holdens were required to race at a new minimum weight based on the top of the range SL/E it was based on.
This left not only Brock’s Holden Dealer Team squad scrambling, but many privateers as well due to the requirement of all the luxury equipment needed o be fitted rather than lead ballast ensuring there were comical scenes of items such as radios, air conditioner units and such being taped to the rollcage or floor.
Despite this, Brock still won the 50-lap event, though the celebrations proved short as scrutineering discovered an irregularity with the inlet manifold not only in the HDT Commodore, but a few privateer entries as well.
This irregularity was highlighted as a metal finish treatment not complying to the rules.
A frustrated Brock was handed a three month suspension and there led a legal stoush as he took CAMS to the Victorian Supreme Court as he continued to race under appeal. In the end, the case was settled out of court as Brock forfeited his opportunity to win the 1982 title.
The end of the season welcomed the debut of the VH SS Commodore, which ensured no homologation pain and success came immediately at first Sandown, then Bathurst.
The season also marked a turning point as Moffat became a regular contender in the Mazda RX-7 he had fought so much to compete with during the first two years of the later Group C regulations.