Mr Versatile

Many muscle car fans best remember John Harvey for his drives with HDT in the 1970s and ‘80s. However, his stint with Holden’s factory team was just one of many phases of a diverse career that started in speedway, spanned three decades, almost killed him and involved racing more than 50 different cars! On the 25th anniversary of his first and only Bathurst 1000 win, AMC reflects on the colourful career of one of Australian motor sport’s greatest all-rounders.

Story: Luke West

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IF YOU CAN DRIVE, YOU CAN DRIVE

Readers brought up on Bathurst and touring car racing in the 1970s and 1980s inevitably consider the late John Harvey a capable driver who played the role of Peter Brock’s loyal lieutenant at the Holden Dealer Team. Even crusty, more weathered observers associate Harvey first and foremost with winning the controversial 1983 Bathurst 1000, with Brock and Larry Perkins commandeering his No.25 HDT Marlboro machine.

Harvey himself was comfortable with being considered in that light – AMC less so. When we spoke to him in 2008, it was the 25th anniversary of Harvey’s career-defining moment on The Mountain. Perhaps October 2, 1983, should more accurately be described as the most significant moment of Harvey’s touring car career – the third phase of his incredible half-century of competition.

Season ’08 was also the 50th anniversary of Harvey’s first motor sport title - the 1958 NSW Speedcar crown, scored in his first full season of racing.