The all new VN Commodore
quickly re-established GM's position as no 1
in passenger car sales... |
1988 would see GM begin it’s climb back to pole
position in the Australian passenger car market. The
all new VN Commodore was described by the PR guys as
“designed to achieve the dramatic market impact
reserved only for the most historic and significant
Holden models”.
And so it proved. A major generational
change, the 'aero styled' VN returned Holden to the
full-sized family car fold. It won all three motor magazine
1988 Car of the Year awards and was also a sales winner
right from the start (the Executive model confidently
targeted at fleet buyers), taking Holden back to its
accustomed position on top of the Australian passenger
car market the following year.
1988 saw Lindy Chamberlain's sentence finally squashed
after years of legal debate - primarily due to the weakness
and unreliability of the forensic evidence given at
her trial. Most Australian's had become tired of the
story - one that had dominated the news headlines for
nearly 8 years. It would take until 1992 however for
Lindy (and now ex-husband Michael) to finally receive
compensation from the Northern Territory Government.
Formula One Championship: Ayrton Senna
(Brazil) / McLaren-Honda
1988 Bathurst Winner: Tony Longhurst & Tomas
Mezera / Sierra RS500
NRL Grand Final: Cantebury (24) def.
Balmain (12)
VFL/AFL Grand Final: Hawthorn (22.20.152) def.
Melbourne (6.20.56)
Melbourne Cup: Empire Rose (T.
A. Allan)
Wimbledon Women: Steffi Graf d. M.
Navratilova (5-7 6-2 6-1)
Wimbledon Men: Stefan Edberg d. B.
Becker (4-6 7-6 6-4 6-2)
The Movies:
- Rain Man
- Mississippi Burning
- A Fish Called Wanda
- Bull Durham
Academy Awards:
- Best Picture - Rain Man
- Best Actor - Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man)
- Best Actress - Jodie Foster (The Accused)
Gold Logie: Kylie Minogue (Neighbours,
Ten)
The Charts:
- Gloria - Laura Branigan
- Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
- Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
- Believe It Or Not - Joey Scarbury
- Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth
- Centerfold - J. Geils Band
- Hard To Say I'm Sorry - Chicago
- Key Largo - Bertie Higgins
- What About Me - Moving Pictures
- Rock The Casbah - The Clash
Farewells:
- Roy Orbison (Musician)
- Chet Baker (fabulous Jazz musician, accomplished
singer and trumpeter)
- Luis Alvarez (Physicist)
- Edgar Jean Faure (French lawyer and politician)
- Nora Astorga (Nicaraguan lawyer and UN deligate)
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