South Australia enjoys a remarkable history in Australian motorsport from hosting the first Formula 1 Grand Prix to the design and construction of Elfin Sports Cars to the Adelaide 500 for Supercars, but one wild beast is often overlooked.
K&A Engineering’s Veskanda C1 is a one of a kind GT entry built in South Australia to CAMS Group A Sports Car regulations.
Using a Chevrolet V8 and matched by an aerodynamic body, the Veksanda was driven by some legends of the sport, plus is still considered to be the fastest race car to come from Australia.
Inspired by the World Endurance Championship event held at Sandown in 1984, Adelaide-based competitor and professional photographer Bernie van Elsen decided to undertake the build of an Australian Group C contender.
The original plan was to take on the internationals in subsequent events in 1985 and 1986, but these were cancelled. This didn’t stop van Elsen and he engaged K&A Engineering’s Dale Konnecke, who held a link to the Elfin Sports Car team to construct such a design.
Joining the crew was experience ground effects innovator Harry Aust, who was tasked with making sure the design fitted the CAMS Group A, FIA Group C and IMSA GT Championship regulations.
K&A Engineering already had the runs on the board in Australian motorsport through John Briggs’ Chevrolet Monza rebuild and the blisteringly quick Alfa Romeo GTV of Tony Edmonson driven to a pair of Australian Sports Sedan Championships.
Using a Lola T400 Formula 5000 as a base and a Chevrolet V8, the new contender also featured an aluminium monocoque, while the pedal box was behind the front axle to ensure it met IMSA GTP regulations.
Named Veskanda standing for Van Elsen Special K AND A, its developed was entrusted to John Bowe in plans for a title at the Australian Sports Car Championship.
A testing crash setback to project, but Bowe debuted the Veskanda at Adelaide International Raceway, winning on its next appearance at Calder Park.
An engine change due to an opening of the regulations led to a Bowe domination in 1986. The double Gold Star winner clean-swept pole positions and wins for the season, plus set two outright lap records at Calder Park as well as Surfers Paradise International Raceway.
Further matters prevented Bowe from back-to-back titles in 1987, but he still secured the outright lap record at Amaroo Park, lasting until the circuit’s demise in 1998.
There was one last lap for Bowe in the Veskanda in the 1988 World Sportscar Championship round at Sandown.
A 6.0-litre Chevrolet V8 was installed for the event, but was outgunned by the likes of Tom Walkinshaw’s Jaguar team, the V8 Mercedes-Benz units in the Saubers and Porsche venerable 962.
Bowe was eighth in qualifying sharing the Veskanda with touring car teammate and boss Dick Johnson, but ran well to cross the line in the same position until being disqualified for exceeding the fuel allowance limit.
The Veskanda was abandoned for many years before the previously mentioned Briggs bought, restored and raced it, emerging again at Historic Sandown 2007.
Paul Stubber has since purchased the Veskanda and raced it overseas including at Le Mans.
The Veskanda continues to display Australia’s ingenuity and engineering know-how.