A Holden Commodore that two of the most famous Australian motorsport names drove will be on display at the Repco Trackside Store at Mount Panorama, Bathurst this weekend.
The Holden Dealer Team Commodore is a very important part of Holden’s history as the first winner for the marque in the Group A era. Legend Peter Brock gave the VK a win on its Australian debut in proper Group A specification at Sandown Raceway.
This HDT VK Commodore will make a rare public appearance from its owner’s garage in the Repco Trackside Store located within the Harris Park precinct at the base of Mount Panorama at this weekend’s 60th anniversary Repco Bathurst 1000.
The Australian governing body of motorsport, CAMS elected to adopt the international Group A touring car regulations for the 1985 season, with this particular VK the first to leave the HDT workshop in this guise.
Debuting across the ditch at the inaugural Wellington 500 as the UDC Finance entry shared by Brock and then-HDT Team Manager Larry Perkins in January 1985. Finishing fourth, HDT missed the opening round of the Australian Touring Car Championship at Winton and returned for Sandown where Brock secured a maiden local victory for the Commodore.
Shared by Brock, Perkins, John Harvey and David Parsons throughout the season, this chassis then became the ‘T-car’ for Bathurst where Allan Moffat drove it in a feature for the Seven Network’s broadcast.
Of course, Moffat joined the HDT for Bathurst in 1986 where this particular VK Commodore was raced by touring car veteran Graham Moore and Belgian ace Michel Delcourt. The duo finished seventh, securing ‘Rookie of the Year’ honours for Delcourt.
Moore and Delcourt backed up their result in 1987 to finish eighth a year later in the World Touring Car Championship edition of the race.
Now the VK Commodore is in 1986 specification in matching HDT warpaint though it never raced in this guise as part of the factory squad.
All fans can get a close look at this awesome piece of Holden motorsport history in the Repco Trackside Store situated at Harris Park. Make sure to also check out the wide range of merchandise and camping gear inside the Repco Trackside Store.