I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love cars. The smell of the petrol. Bright glossy paint. The roar of V8 engines. For an Aussie boy, this was growing up in the 70s.
Call me a revhead. I won’t disagree. The memory of rising early on Bathurst Sunday was where it all began. I’d sit there in my pajamas determined not to miss a minute. There was no time for getting dressed or having breakfast. The race was on.
The blue oval emblem was seared on my heart. Moffat and Johnson were my heroes. For 161 laps, these legends were guaranteed my undying support. Rain, hail or shine; the boys drove for me. And I supported every win, every loss – although my spirit flagged at the sight of blue smoke trailing from the rear of a chugging Falcon.
The competition was ferocious between both drivers and fans of the Big Two. Pick a side. Ford or Holden. The old adage, “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” rang true, as these factory race-cars were available for the general public to buy.
But the undisputed King of the Mountain, record holder of the most wins, is Peter Brock—Peter Perfect. (colloquially known as Brocky) His exceptional skill behind the wheel and ability to steer the metal beast through dip, curve and bend has earnt him this title.
Brocky’s legendary win in 1979 was a Bathurst memorable moment. He’d led the race all day in his red, white and black A9X Torana. He’d literally cruised it in. But in true Brocky style, he smashed out the last lap to create a record time and win by six laps.
Another memorable moment was the 1977 Moffat Ford Dealers team 1-2 win. Despite Moffat’s car being nursed to the finish line due to mechanical issues, teammate, Colin Bond, followed in second place to ensure the team a double victory.
One memorable moment that I’d rather forget, happened in 1980. Dick was a sure winner this day. By lap sixteen he’d gained a commanding lead, and the car was running perfectly. Having mortgaged his home to have another chance to win, the pressure was on.
Dick’s tru-blu XD Falcon had just exited the cutting and as it mounted the crest it hit a football size rock which cannoned the car into the concrete wall. His race was done.
How the rock came to be on the track is a bit of a mystery. It was originally thought the rock had been deliberately thrown onto the track. Then there was talk that a marshal had accidentally dislodged the rock. And then there was another story going round that a couple of young blokes, a bit the worse for wear(drunk), accidently dislodged it.
Although it was a tragic day, the Australian public and Ford rallied and raised $78,000, to help Dick rebuild his car and life.
Bathurst has undergone many changes over the years. The cars are all purpose-built race cars, rather than the factory-built cars of my youth. Sadly, there are no longer any local car manufacturers involved. But Bathurst will always hold a special place in a revheads heart, and as I sit with the grandkids on race day, hotdogs in hand, and supporter t-shirts on – I know the love of the Great Race will continue.
