Kaditcha
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Motorsport |
| Founder | Barry Lock |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Racing cars (open wheel, sports cars) |
Kaditcha was an Australian car manufacturer established by Queensland engineer Barry Lock, focusing on crafting vehicles for open wheel and sports car racing disciplines such as Formula 5000, Formula Pacific, and Australian Formula 2.
Sports cars
Kaditcha achieved significant success during the mid-1980s, particularly in the Australian Sports Car Championship. In 1982, Chris Clearihan clinched the championship behind the wheel of a Chevrolet-powered Kaditcha, with the marque capturing the top three rankings that season. The following year, Clearihan secured third place, while Peter Hopwood claimed the title driving a later iteration of the Kaditcha-Chevrolet, which was based on a Lola T400 Formula 5000 chassis. In 1984, Hopwood transitioned to compete in the Australian Drivers' Championship, and Clearihan finished as runner-up in the Sports Car Championship using the previous year's victorious vehicle.
The most distinguished Kaditcha model is the one that developed into the Romano WE84. Initially introduced as the Kaditcha K583 in 1983, it underwent redesign by Wayne Eckersley, a former mechanic for Williams and Tyrrell Formula One teams. Bap Romano piloted this car to dominate the 1984 Australian Sports Car Championship, making it Australia’s first Group A Sports Car featuring a closed cockpit and ground effect aerodynamics akin to those found on internationally competing Porsche 956s. Romano consistently secured pole positions and fastest laps throughout nearly all races, winning every round except one, which he missed due to a crash.
The majority of Kaditcha sports cars were equipped with 5.0L Chevrolet V8 engines; however, Jeff Harris’s SR781 model utilized a Mazda 13B rotary engine. The K583/WE84 originally ran with a 3.0L Cosworth DFV V8 designed for Formula One but was later upgraded to a 3.9L Cosworth DFL variant for endurance racing at Sandown in 1984. After sustaining severe damage in a crash at Amaroo Park in 1986 that ended its initial racing tenure, Barry Lock rebuilt the car, fitting it with a 3.5L Cosworth DFZ V8 engine.
Following several years in storage after the accident, Romano and Lock restored the WE84. Although it continues to carry its championship designation, the vehicle prominently features the original Kaditcha badge on its nose as a tribute to its heritage.
Open wheelers
Kaditcha manufactured open wheel race cars tailored for Formula Pacific and Formula 2 competitions. At the 1981 Australian Grand Prix held at Calder Park, Peter Larner qualified his 1.6L Ford Cosworth-powered Kaditcha in 16th place, just 1.5 seconds off pole position set by Roberto Moreno driving a Ralt RT4. Larner completed the race in 11th position, three laps behind the leader. In the 1983 Australian Grand Prix, Ian Bland also competed with a Kaditcha, qualifying 20th and finishing last after falling 23 laps behind Moreno due to mechanical difficulties.
Sydney-based driver Tom Brickley leased a Cosworth BDG-powered Formula Pacific Kaditcha FA82A for the 1984 Australian Grand Prix at Calder Park Raceway, qualifying 22nd out of 25 entrants. Following contact with winner Moreno on lap 75, Brickley acquired the vehicle, converted it to meet Australian Formula 2 specifications, and went on to win the unofficial Australian Formula 2 Championship in 2000 (noting that official recognition ceased in 1988).
Additionally, a Kaditcha powered by a Cosworth BDG engine secured victory in the 1990 Australian Hillclimb Championship with Ivan Tighe behind the wheel.
Barry Lock
Prior to establishing Kaditcha, Barry Lock built a reputation as a skilled engineer working with the McLaren Can-Am outfit. Subsequently, he played a significant role in the development of both the Giocattolo initiative and the Infiniti sports racing vehicle.