Keegan's Kustom

'Keegan's Kustom' was a wild early Holden drag racer, and in the late '60s it set new records as the fastest-ever Holden down the standing quarter-mile.

Story: James Cockington

Brian Keegan, a panel beater based in Orange, NSW, was one of Australia’s first drag racers. In the fifties he built Australia’s first rail, powered by a 272 ohv Ford with a Detroit Diesel blower. But it was his ‘Keegan’s Kustom’ that made him famous, claimed to be the fastest Humpy Holden in Australia in the late sixties period.

This was the first Holden sedan to break into the 14 second bracket, then the 13s and 12s, and by the time it featured in Hot Rodding Review it was expected to enter the 11s sometime soon. Its 1969 top speed of 127.7 was only bettered in the stock class by a couple of GTS 327 Monaros.

According to the stock rules it had to feature the original grey motor, although Keegan set it back in the chassis eight inches and added a Waggott head and cam, with three Weber 45mm carbies. Keegan fitted a 179 gearbox but only used first and second gears on a quarter mile run. Lightweight alloy and fiberglass panels were fitted and Keegan finished it off in a distinctive metalflake green. It was a masterpiece.

There was considerable interest in Humpy dragsters at the time. Ron Harrop was another serious contender in Harrop’s Howler.

Don't miss our feature on Brian Keegan in Issue #114.