Tasmanians love their cars. Per capita, they’ve got more of ’em than any other state in Australia. Even so, you’d figure a Tassie-based car show that focuses only on one make – and one body style within that make – might have limited appeal. Not so when it’s the Hardtop Anniversary, celebrating the mighty Aussie XA-XB-XC Falcon coupe!

First published in the July 2025 issue of Street Machine

Held every two years since 2007, the Hardtop Anniversary has previously taken place in Echuca, Victoria, as well as the hallowed ground of Mount Panorama, Bathurst. This year, it was Tassie’s turn, with Falcon coupe enthusiasts coming from all over the country for a three-day celebration of 100 years of Ford Australia and 50 years of the iconic Falcon hardtop, with driving events, plenty of cruising and a show ’n’ shine on offer.

Mounting the 2025 event was a mammoth logistical challenge for the Tasmanian members of the Ford Coupe Club of Australia, with work beginning way back in 2021. Organisers had hoped to attract a modest number of entrants, but they apparently underestimated the sheer passion of hardtop owners, as that target was quickly exceeded, with a record 186 entrants signing up.

The party began on the Thursday night, when a huge contingent of mainland entrants gathered at Geelong to board the Spirit of Tasmania. The steep ramps onto the boat disagreed with the low stance of some of the hardtops, which led to a solid delay in departure time, but that just meant the only hitch of the weekend was out of the way nice and early, with smooth sailing thereafter.

On Friday morning, entrants who’d arrived earlier and those already Tassie-based got the weekend underway at event sponsors Autobarn in Devonport, with the store opening early to offer specials for anyone needing last-minute supplies.

Then it was off to nearby Port Sorell to take in the private collection of Chas Kelly, including a stash of exotics like a Jim Clark-driven Lotus 39, a Ferrari F40 and a 2015 Ford GT in a glass-fronted showroom. Beyond the showroom, a 1000m2 barn was filled with classic Fords, Holdens, old fire engines, a motorcycle collection and speedway cars amongst unique pieces of motor racing memorabilia from Australia and abroad.

Once the Spirit of Tasmania finally arrived in Devonport, entrants took on a cruise of a different kind, travelling 260km to the welcome reception at Wrest Point in Hobart, with a lunch break on the way at the Great Lakes Hotel in the Central Highlands. The route took in the first of many stretches of winding mountain passes and sweeping countryside vistas made famous by the Targa Tasmania events.

On arrival in Hobart, participants checked in at the Targa Wrest Point complex, where a whole level of the multi-storey carpark, along with security, had been reserved for the safe keeping of the hardtop collection.

Then it was time for the first major event of the weekend: the Shannons Show ’n’ Shine on the lawns of Parliament House, alongside Hobart’s world-famous Salamanca Market. This ensured a steady stream of spectators strolling by to enjoy the spectacle of $20 million worth of Ford hardtops soaking up the sun.

Special guests for the day included past and present Ford racing royalty, including Cam Waters, Jim Keogh, Murray Carter and John Goss, who were all available to take photos, sign autographs and share stories of their careers. Ever the showman, Goss stepped up to the microphone to enthral the crowd with tales of his early racing days in Tasmania, his most memorable moments on the track, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his illustrious career.

The day was rounded out with a dinner at Willie Smith’s in the Huon Valley, where Barry Oliver and Simon Brookhouse took centre stage. Simon interviewed Barry on his racing career, which included eight Targa Tasmania victories as co-driver for Jim Richards. Then it was Barry’s turn to quiz Simon, who offered insights into the inner workings of Tickford Racing and modern-day Supercars. Cam Waters then gave the fans the perspective of someone in the driver’s seat of current motorsport competition.

Day Two saw entrants choose between challenging themselves on Baskerville Raceway or taking a cruise through Richmond and the Coal River Valley. The cruise called by the vineyard of 16-time Targa Tasmania competitor Ian Roberts, who pilots a genuine XC Cobra, before convening at Baskerville for lunch, joined by those who’d opted for the driving events.

The on-track action included high-speed laps, a hillclimb sprint race, and some roll racing sprints along Baskerville’s back straight. The most memorable runs of the day were the impromptu series of ‘parade’ laps, which featured John Goss driving organiser Jon Chandler’s Goss Special; Jim Keogh in David Sherriff’s XB GT; Cam Waters in Vince Neville’s XB GT; and Murray and Carol Carter chaperoned in Randall Faulkner’s XB.

As the cars rolled onto the track, one thing was instantly clear: Goss had no intention of simply coasting along. Wearing a borrowed, freshly signed open-face helmet, he unleashed the raw power of his 500hp machine, setting a blistering pace that almost saw him lap the police car and left the crowd buzzing. His verdict? “Ready to race tomorrow!”

With activities complete at Baskerville, an afternoon cruise took in the Huon Valley before a gala dinner back at Wrest Point Casino. Here, the award winners were announced and the celebration really fired up.

Taking centre stage were three exceptional vehicles, each representing a defining chapter in Ford Australia’s storied past. Tony Fraser’s flawless 1975 Landau stood alongside Jon Chandler’s striking 1975 Goss Special, flanked by a brand-new 2025 Mustang supplied by Tilford. Together, these machines celebrated two major milestones – 50 years of the Falcon hardtop, and the centenary of Ford Australia.

John Goss and Jim Keogh shared stories of racing hardtops in what many still consider to be the glory days of Australian motorsport, while Cam Waters discussed the build of his own XB Falcon and engaged in some light-hearted banter with Tickford Racing CEO Simon Brookhouse about his next racing contract.

The night concluded with an auction in support of Variety Tasmania, Variety NSW, and the Rob Fairs Foundation, which saw a mammoth $35,000 raised. And no wonder, with prizes like a dinner for 10 with the Tickford Racing CEO, chief mechanic and drivers up for grabs, or two hot-lap experiences with Cam Waters himself.

The final day of the Hardtop Anniversary saw entrants cruise via the east coast to Symmons Plains Raceway near Launceston for cruise laps and photo opportunities, before continuing to Launnie itself for visits to the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania and the ACL Bearing Company, whose products would no doubt be found in more than a few of the entrants’ cars.

With enthusiastic attendees and excellent organisation, the 2025 Hardtop Anniversary may well have been the best one yet, with organisers Jon Chandler, Chris Kolodziej, Vince Neville, John Hoskins and Peter Musumeci setting a very high bar for future instalments to live up to. The event drew an incredible variety of hardtops from every state and territory in the country, from the original single-owner six-cylinder XA of David and Helen Crozer to the excess of Justin Schembri’s NVRDUN Landau and the insanely detailed, 13-year labour of love that is Lyndon Schenk’s self-built WYNMEUP XA, which won the Shannons Award and Best Modified/Custom (see more below).

What stood out the most was the respect and camaraderie among everyone involved. No one car or owner demanded more attention than any other, and when anyone suffered mechanical misfortune, there was no shortage of parts, tools, a helping hand or advice on offer to help them get mobile again.

If you have a Falcon hardtop project on the go and are looking for that little bit of motivation to get your build over the line, the Hardtop Anniversary is definitely it. You have two years. We’ll see you there!

WYNNER’S CIRCLE

Taking out the Shannons Award and Best Modified/Custom, Lyndon Schenk’s WYNMEUP XA is reaching the end of a 13-year build that has seen Lyndon singlehandedly take a rusty shell that most wouldn’t have even considered and turn it into one of the standout hardtops of the show.

The bodywork featuring several custom touches, and the attention-grabbing paintwork and mechanicals are all Lyndon’s own work, with the only help coming from a trimmer who helped with the seats and the headlining.

The blower only went on a week before the Hardtop Anniversary kicked off, making the weekend very much a test-and-tune event so Lyndon could iron out the finer details of the package.

RESULTS
Best XA – Alan Ollie
Best XB – Andrew MacKinnon
Best XC – Barry Williams
Best Cobra – Matt Ampt
Best John Goss Special – Simon Eberhardt
Best Landau – Verity McDonald
Best Modified/Custom – Lyndon Schenk
Shannons Award – Lyndon Schenk
Motorsport Award – David Sherriff
Furthest Travelled – Gordon Jabour (NT)
Hard Luck Award – Carl Wagner

HIGHLIGHTS:

John Goss gave fans something to remember when he slipped behind the wheel of Jon Chandler’s Goss Special and showed he’s still got the skills that twice took him to the top of the Bathurst podium.

Track sessions were popular amongst the entrants, with Baskerville offering both single-vehicle segments on the uphill run and the chance for roll racing down the back straight.

Our intrepid reporter for the Hardtop Anniversary was Taswegian bloke and Ford nut Steve Jurskis, who recently bought his Landau back from the guy he sold it to 18 years ago! Steve just managed to get the car back on the road in time to tag along as a spectator.

Kate Hoskins and Mike Finlen’s trip to Tassie saw the WA-based pair make their 11th crossing of the Nullarbor Plain in Kate’s XA GT. The trip wasn’t without its trials, with fuel issues on the way there and gearbox gremlins on the homeward run. Good thing Kate’s been a member of the RAC for 30 years!

The Tasmanian Police brought out one of their Highway Patrol cars to give hardtop owners the thrill of the chase, and there were plenty of volunteers keen to get a passenger’s perspective.

Andrew Guin’s XA couldn’t help but grab you by the eyeballs, resplendent in a customised version of Mazda’s Soul Red paint. Andrew’s put his own spin on things, too, shaving the drip rails, sharpening the crease along the hip line and deleting the rear side indicators.

Having travelled all the way from the Northern Territory, Gordon Jabour had to peel into pit lane after throwing a fan belt during the sprints. Clearly a fan of his toys, Gordon has another XA coupe in the build, as well as a matching-numbers XA GT sedan, a 40th-anniversary GT, and a Ranger Raptor that’s been the recipient of a Coyote.

There were plenty of green and blue John Goss Specials at the event. Geoff McMahon’s example sports a roll-call of owners who attended the Hardtop Anniversary in Bathurst in 2017 and now the 2025 Tassie event.

Gary Smith’s XA is about as black as you can get, which only highlights how well he’s been able to get the coupe’s swoopy curves spot-on. Starting out as an XA Fairmont, it’s now set up for the drag strip with a 406 stroker, CHI heads, a Top Loader, and 3.5 gears in the rear.

Justin Schembri’s NVRDUN Landau runs a 393 stroker, which would be more than enough for most, but this one also gulps 15psi of boost and rides on airbag suspension. As the number plates suggest, it’s been in the build for 18 years, and Justin’s still tweaking it.

Queensland’s Robert King has owned this XA since 1978, before he could even drive, and this Tassie trip marked the first time he’s travelled outside his home state. Over the years, Robert has painted the coupe himself, fitted the sunroof, and swapped out the six-cylinder/column-shift driveline for a 351/Top Loader combo.

Vince Neville is one of the organisers of the event, and his cool XB looks about as unassuming as a bright yellow muscle car can manage – until you spot the grille badge that reveals it’s sporting a 427-stroked Cleveland. Built around an Arrow block and topped with CHI heads, it’s the sort of combo diehard Clevo fans have wet dreams about.