A Date with Destiny: The Day I Drove a Bathurst Legend… and Almost Wrote the Wrong Headlines
It was a morning that was wet, cold, and far too early, a combination that almost made me famous for all the wrong reasons. Eastern Creek Raceway—now known as Sydney Motorsport Park—lay before me, a dark, brooding ribbon of tarmac slick with a thin film of water as a persistent, misty rain leaked from the grey skies above.
My heart pounded as I sat nestled in a hard race seat, my hands tightly clutching a thin-rimmed, black steering wheel. Fog was already beginning to fill the visor of a race helmet borrowed from my editor, a constant reminder of the nervous excitement coursing through me. But the true source of my awe was the machine I was sitting in—a truly irreplaceable icon of Australian motorsport.
This was the #76 Holden Dealer Team (HDT) Torana A9X, a car that had battled on the hallowed grounds of Mount Panorama in the 1978 and 1979 Bathurst 1000. I could barely contain my excitement. I was about to drive a car that had sat directly across from its legendary sister car, the #05 of Peter Brock—a vehicle synonymous with one of the most dominant performances in Australian racing history.
The Legacy of the A9X and Peter Brock’s Dominance
The Torana A9X is a legend in its own right, but the HDT A9X represents the absolute pinnacle. These cars are the holy grail for Australian rev-heads. Peter Brock cemented its status by winning the Bathurst 1000 twice in an A9X. His 1979 victory remains the stuff of legend, winning by a staggering six laps. To put that into perspective, a lap at Bathurst is just over six kilometres long. This wasn’t just a win; it was a demolition, capped off by Brock setting the fastest time on his final lap around the mountain, a performance often hailed as the greatest in the history of The Great Race.
The #76 car I was in had its own dramatic history. In 1978, race driver Charlie O’Brien famously crashed it into the wall at Bathurst. But by the time I got my hands on it, it was being raced in the Muscle Car Masters by the late, great Jason Richards. As someone whose first car was a V8 Holden Commodore, the privilege, honour, and sheer responsibility of driving this genuine piece of history were both salivating and utterly daunting. Jase needed it back in one piece. If I “binned” it, I would forever be known as “The One Who Crashed The A9X.” The weight of that thought was immense, especially considering this very car later sold for close to $1 million.
Raw Power and Daunting Conditions
The responsibility felt even more enormous layered on by the treacherous conditions. It was wet, the track was slick, and I was sitting on archaic slick tyres, connected to the road by a 2.60-to-one Detroit Locker differential. Here I was, a young journalist accustomed to the electronic safety nets, smart differentials, and advanced tyre technology of modern cars, about to be let loose in an ancient, priceless warhorse.
And raw it was. The A9X was pure, unadulterated muscle. It ran a massive 780cfm Holley carburettor, and the hatchback body was specifically chosen by HDT to accommodate wider rear racing tyres. The interior was a time capsule. While it still had carpet and a dashboard, it was dominated by classic white-on-black racing dials. The race seat was bolstered but offered less grip than the plush seats of a modern HSV road car. A long, conventional chromed shift lever was capped by an oddly white cue ball knob, which looked out of place in the dark, sinister cabin.
The passenger seat was a stock road-car item, flat and wide, behind a glove box lid signed by two legends: Harry Firth—the former Holden race boss who discovered a young Brock—and the #76 car’s former custodian, 1983 Bathurst winner John Harvey. Compared to the digital interfaces of today’s cars, the A9X was steampunk; it was industrial, heavy, and built from steel, representing an era where power was raw and fire-breathing.
The Moment of Truth: Fire and Fear
“Holy shit!” I thought as I turned the ignition key (yes, a simple key, not a starter button), and the 5.0-litre Holden V8 rumbled to life. The sound was thunderous, a visceral complement to the reality of the situation. My mind was now fully aware: this was real.
“You know the circuit, right?” asked the team boss before I trundled out. I had never driven Eastern Creek. “Yes, of course,” I replied. Nothing was going to steal this moment from me.
The three pedals were heavy. I pushed in the clutch, slotted the gearstick into first, and prepared to move forward. But I didn’t. I stalled it, just like a 16-year-old on their first driving lesson. The blokes in the garage erupted in chuckles. Bastards.
On the second attempt, I got it moving. Now, the real challenge began: to not look like an idiot by driving too slowly, or worse, by driving too fast and binning it. I tip-toed around the wet, fast, and undulating circuit, my confidence growing by a minuscule amount with each corner. This was tempered by the constant threat of wheelspin in second, third, and even fourth gear along the main straight. This beast required Brock-level heroics, a skill set that was distinctly missing from my DNA.
The unassisted steering was heavy, requiring a large steering wheel for leverage. The power, officially around 400 horsepower (300kW), was more than the wet track and I could handle, despite the car’s race-tuned chassis. Yet, after a handful of laps, man and machine began to bond. And then, on my final run, I almost made myself famous.
The Heart-Stopping Moment
Venturing down the still-damp main straight, I negotiated the long left-hander leading up to Turn 2. Then it happened. I think I dropped a wheel onto the white, shiny kerbing paint on the outside of the track. In a flash, the car snapped. I was heading backwards, still carrying significant pace, my mind screaming a single command: “stop the car.” I stood on the brake, shoved the clutch in, and silence fell. My mind raced. What did I do? Did I hit anything?
Miraculously, not a smudge, not a dent. Just a rapidly beating heart and a smirk of relief spreading across my face. I had just gotten away with it. My first thought? “Damn, I hope the photographer got that!” Sadly, they had not.
I ventured back to the pits, knowing I had pushed the envelope just enough to say I had a real go, but, most importantly, I was able to return this legendary car to Jason Richards intact. I have never, before or since, driven a car in circumstances so daunting. It seemed more forgivable to trash a multi-million dollar hypercar than to bin a Bathurst-winning HDT A9X. But you say yes to these opportunities because they never, ever come again.
That unforgettable day was born from an odd combination. Lexus, wanting to showcase its IS F Safety Car, built the event around the concept of both cars featuring 5.0-litre V8s. It’s a poignant memory now, as the Bathurst 1000 continues this weekend without a Holden in sight after General Motors retired the brand in 2020. Yet, the race rolls on, building new legends, even if none may ever become as iconic as Peter Brock and the #76 HDT A9X.
The 2025 Bathurst 1000: Your Complete Guide to The Great Race
When is the 2025 Bathurst 1000? The Full Schedule
- Thursday, October 9:
- Support races commence from 6:25 AM
- First Supercars Practice: 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM (1 hour)
- Co-Driver Only Practice: 3:50 PM – 4:20 PM (30 minutes)
- Friday, October 10:
- Supercars Qualifying: 3:10 PM – 3:50 PM (40 minutes)
- Saturday, October 11:
- Top 10 Shootout: 4:05 PM – 5:05 PM (1 hour)
- Sunday, October 12:
- The Bathurst 1000 Race Start: 10:45 AM
What Time Does the Bathurst 1000 Start Across Australia?
| State / Territory | Local Start Time | Time Zone |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania | 10:45 AM | AEDT |
| Queensland | 9:45 AM | AEST |
| South Australia | 10:15 AM | ACDT |
| Northern Territory | 9:15 AM | ACST |
| Western Australia | 7:45 AM | AWST |
How to Watch the 2025 Bathurst 1000
- Live Streaming: Kayo Sports (full coverage)
- Pay TV: Foxtel (Fox Sports channels)
- Free-to-Air: Channel Seven (live from Friday)
Bathurst 1000 Weather Forecast: Will Rain Cause Carnage?
- Sunday (Race Day): Mostly sunny, Max 22°C
- Saturday: Sunny, perfect for the Shootout
- Friday: Mostly sunny, 10% chance of rain
- Thursday: Showers, 95% chance of rain
The Mountain Itself: Understanding Mount Panorama
The Bathurst 1000 is held at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit — a 6.213-kilometre public road course with a 174-metre elevation change. It’s divided into:
- The Mountain Section: Tight, technical corners testing driver skill.
- Conrod Straight: The fastest section, exceeding 300 km/h.
Reigning Champions and Recent History
The defending champions are Brodie Kostecki and David Hazlewood, who piloted their Chevrolet Camaro to victory in 2024 — completing the race in under six hours for the first time.
Speed and Records
- Qualifying Lap Record: 2:03.3736 — Chaz Mostert (Holden, 2021)
- Top Speed Record: 300.5 km/h — Shane van Gisbergen (Chevrolet, 2023)
- Race Lap Record: 2:04.7602 — Chaz Mostert (Ford, 2019)
2025 Championship Contenders and Driver Pairings
| Driver (Team) | Championship Position | Co-Driver | Co-Driver Bathurst Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broc Feeney (Red Bull Ampol Racing – Chevrolet) | 1st | Jamie Whincup | 4 |
| Matthew Payne (Penrite Racing – Ford) | 2nd | Garth Tander | 4 |
| Will Brown (Red Bull Ampol Racing – Chevrolet) | 3rd | Scott Pye | 0 |
| Cam Waters (Monster Castrol Racing – Ford) | 4th | Mark Winterbottom | 1 |
Broc Feeney is the man to beat in 2025, with 12 wins and 14 poles this season. Partnered with Jamie Whincup, he’s the favourite for glory. Rivals Matthew Payne and Will Brown will aim to dethrone him.
As engines fire up and the grid forms this Sunday, a new chapter of the Bathurst 1000 will be written. Whether it’s dominance or an underdog triumph, the mountain is ready to create another legend.
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Md Imran Rahimi is the founder and main author of TechScopeHub.in. He is passionate about technology, gadgets, and automobiles, and loves to share simple yet valuable insights with readers. With a focus on honest reviews and clear comparisons, Imran’s goal is to make technology easy and useful for everyone.”
Md Imran Rahimi, TechScopeHub.in के संस्थापक और मुख्य लेखक हैं। उन्हें टेक्नोलॉजी, गैजेट्स और ऑटोमोबाइल्स का गहरा शौक है और वे अपनी सरल लेकिन उपयोगी जानकारी पाठकों के साथ साझा करना पसंद करते हैं। ईमानदार रिव्यू और स्पष्ट तुलना पर ध्यान देते हुए, इमरान का उद्देश्य है कि हर किसी के लिए टेक्नोलॉजी आसान और उपयोगी बने।”