Holden VK Commodore 1986 Bathurst 2nd Place

The 1986 Bathurst was a tough race for the HDT cars. Thursdays unofficial practice suggested that the cars was fast, but their fortunes were to change. Official practice session on friday saw Allan Moffat damage the sister HDT heavily. The HDT car 3 of John Harvey and Neal Lowe did not make the top ten shoot out with a time only good enough for 13th spot on the grid.

With the flag dropped to start the race, the big movers off the grid were the HDT cars. From 11th and 13th on the grid, they were running 2nd and 4th by lap three. But the 05 HDT car was to suffer from damage again, when Moffat split the oil cooler bouncing over the speed humps coming into the pits.

With Graeme Bailey in the lead at the wheel of the Chickadee Holden VK Commodore, Harvey was able to make up substantial time. Bailey drove the shortest allowable stint with a 30 lap spell, giving the car back to Allan Grice. With Grice leaving the pits Harvey was already on pit straight. When they reached the Cutting, Harvey gave Grice a shunt to the side of his car forcing the HDT into the lead. As Grice’s tyres came to temperature the battle was back on with the lead changing two more times before Harvey went into the pits for a driver change. Grice was never challenged for the lead again.

The HDT car 3 of Harvey and Lowe continued, finishing 2nd, 90 seconds behind the winner. With only the top three cars finishing on the lead lap.

Item includes certificate and production number plate, mounted to the chassis.