Holden Group C VK Commodore 1984 Bathurst Winner

It was Peter Brock and the Holden Dealer Team that pioneered the development of the early VB Commodore under the supervision of team boss John Sheppard, It was fitting that it was Brock who would drive to victory in the last of the Group C endurance races.
1984 was to be the final year of spectacular Group C category, CAMS announced that the new FIA rules were to replace Australia’s home grown formula in January 1985. With the season half over and only the endurance races remaining, HRT rolled out two brand new Day-Glo orange and white VK Commodores. Arguably the best looking HDT ever! Peter Brock and Larry Perkins teamed up in the 05 Commodore and John Harvey and David Parsons in the 25 car. In a perfect lead up to Bathurst the 05 Big Banger of Brock and Perkins finished first at Sandown with Harvey and Parsons 3^rd in the 05 car..
The 1984 Group C class was the biggest ever seen at Bathurst, a massive 48 cars from seven different makers. The HDT’s pre-race publicity posters “The Last of The Big Bangers” which emphasised the passing of an era. Group C practice was largely uneventful. The Saturday morning shoot out for Hardies Heroes saw George Fury on pole and Peter Brock less than a fifth of a second behind him. Johnson and Grice took 3^rd and 4^th position
As the flag dropped on the 1984 Bathurst, to everyone’s amazement it was Fury who one the start and edged out Brock into Hells Corner. The Great Race was to be restated before even one lap was completed. It was Tom Walkenshaws stationary Jaguar with a blown clutch on the start that was collected by the Tesoriero Camaro which eventually blocked the track and caused the race to be restarted, 35 minutes later the flag fell again, this time it was all Brock, in one of his traditionally brilliant opening laps, opening out a significant gap on Johnson at the end of the first lap. Moffat and Masterton were both out and the lead had settled down to Brock, Johnson, Harvey, Grice and Fury. Johnson pitted on lap 34 and rejoined still in the drivers seat in fourth position. Two laps later Brock pitted on lap 36 to hand over to Larry Perkins. Perkins rejoined the race after a lightning pitstop still in the lead. Dick Johnson in the Green Ford was slowly closing the gap on Perkins and by lap 48 gained the lead.
The first sign of trouble for the HDT came on lap 52 when Parsons in the number 25 car came in to fix a broken gear lever. On lap 66 Johnson pitted the falcon to hand over to French, A jammed wheel added time to the stop and French finally rejoined the race in 2^nd place. Perkins soon after pitted to hand back the 05 car to Brock who rejoined 21 seconds in the lead.
On lap 102 with Johnson back in the seat he parked the Ford just out of the cutting with fuel problems. Brock was now two laps clear in front of the Cullen/Jones Commodore. Harvey handed over the second HRT car to Parsons with the instruction to drive the wheels of it to get it back to a major place. After carving seconds off his lap times and a poor pit stop from the Jones Commodore, Parsons was finally rewarded with being second behind Brock. The pit sign went out immediately to go for the old one two finish. Brock put on the brakes and crawled around the circuit waiting for Parsons to catch up. Finally down Conrod straight the two cars were racing together, the television and crowds recording every second to the famous one two finish. After 17 years of trying the Holden Dealer Team had finally finished first and second at Bathurst.
Brock went on to win the Surfers Paradise endurance round to claim three wins from three starts in the 05 car. Brock, HDT and Holden gave Group C a memorable send off. The all conquering day glow orange cars were not only built light and fast but looked awesome as well. They were a fitting tribute to the Commodore that ruled the track and excited the fans for more than a decade. The Big Banger is truly etched in Australian Motoring History.

Item includes certificate with individual production number.

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