1990 Year In Review

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Holden rejoined the big car field with a long wheelbase saloon. The new model available in Statesman and up-market Caprice versions - was fitted with the fuel-injected 5-litre V8 and the first independent rear suspension fitted to a locally designed-andbuilt mass-produced car. The Caprice cabin wasfinished with blackbean wood strips on the doorsand instrument panel and the stereo featured awhopping 14 speakers – still remarkable by today’s standards.

As well as IRS, the 1990 Statesman sported a wider front track. To help fill the lack of a sports minded car in the Generals lineup, the decision was made to import the Opel Calibra coupe. Described as the world's most aerodynamic production car, it was powered by a state-of-the-art multi-valve 2-litre engine. 1990 would also see the Holden Ute return to a big media fanfare. Derived from the Commodore VN passenger car range, the Ute re-introduced a bench front seat and column change automatic transmission to increase versatility. At first only a V6 engine was offered, but a V8 version later joined the range. In a move designed to re-capture the youth market till now neglected since the demise of the Sandman, the up-market “S” utility was sold alongside the basic 'ute'. The 1990 “Group A” Commodore was launched after joint development by GMH , Holden Motor Sport and Holden Special Vehicles.

Built to homologate the VN Commodore for Group A touring car racing, it featured the first six-speed gearbox fitted to an Australian car, not to mention the thumping 210 kW V8 engine. Independent performance tests showed it capable of 0 - 100 km/h in 6.26 seconds, and able to complete the standing 400 metres in under 14.5 seconds.

The year would finish for the General on a high note, with the five millionth Holden rolling down the production line, highlighting that more than twice as many Holden cars have been built in Australia as any other model.

In the AFL Grand Final, Collingwood would eventually run out winners over a hapless Essendon, ending a premiership drought spanning 32 years. Many thought Collingwood had broken with tradition by actually winning a Grand Final, however it would take another 12 years for the club re-visit those halcyon days of the 70's and 80's - this time their nemeses would be an Interstate team, the Brisbane Lions.

Formula One Championship:

Ayrton Senna (Brazil) / McLaren-Honda

1990 Bathurst Winner:

Allan Grice & Win Percy / VL Commodore

NRL Grand Final:

Canberra (18) def. Penrith (14)

VFL/AFL Grand Final:

Collingwood (13.11.89) def. Essendon (5.11.41)

Melbourne Cup:

Kingston Rule (D. Beadman)

Wimbledon Women:

Martina Navratilova d. Z. Garrison (6-4 6-1)

Wimbledon Men:

Stefan Edberg d. B. Becker (6-2 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-4)

The Movies:

  • Dances with Wolves
  • GoodFellas
  • Henry and June
  • Reversal of Fortune

Academy Awards:

  • Best Picture - Dances with Wolves
  • Best Actor - Jeremy Irons (Reversal Of Fortune)
  • Best Actress - Kathy Bates (Misery)

Gold Logie:

Craig McLachlan (Neighbours, Ten)

The Charts:

  1. U Can't Touch This - M. C. Hammer
  2. Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
  3. How Am I Supposed To Live - Michael Bolton
  4. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
  5. Lambada - Kaoma
  6. Love Will Lead You Back - Taylor Dane
  7. Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O'Connor
  8. I Touch Myself - Divinyls
  9. Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul
  10. It Must Have Been Love - Roxette

Farewells:

  • B.F. Skinner (Modern Psychologist)
  • Jim Henson (Creator of the Muppets)
  • Greta Garbo (Screen Legend)
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan (Texas Blues Genius)
  • Sammy Davis, Jr. (Singer and member of the "Rat Pack")
  • Le Duc Tho (North Vietnamese Leader and founder of the Indochinese Communist Party)
  • José Napoleón Duarte (President of El Salvador)
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