The Claytons Walky

This is the Walkinshaw Commodore you have when you’re not having a Walkinshaw – to borrow a line from a long-ago ad campaign for a non-alcoholic alternative to spirits. In fact, this ‘Walky’ had both a dash of Claytons and a clash with Clayton.

Story: Steve Normoyle

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This is a Holden racecar which Holden would have preferred never existed. It was, effectively, the first Commodore VL Group A SV to hit the track, its debut at Amaroo Park in July 1988 predating the official 1988 Sandown 500 rollout of the brave-new-era post-Brock TWR-run Holden Special Vehicles factory team cars by almost two months. But this first ‘Walkinshaw’ to race was not a Group A touring car, but rather a Sports Sedan. And one which had started life as a Torana A9X!

This is the unusual tale of Bob Tindal’s Commodore VL Sports Sedan, now magnificently restored and resplendent in the trim in which it so infuriated the then-fledgling HSV, 30 years ago.

The post-Brock HSV Group A racing era was supposed to start with the debut of the new factory Group A Commodore VLs in the ’88 Sandown 500 –which was why the surprise appearance of a Sports Sedan version of the ‘Walkinshaw’ some two months earlier had the HSV chiefs so hot under the collar they even threatened Bob Tindal with legal action!

It’s owned today by John Alcorn, an entrant/sponsor in Sports Sedans and V8 Supercars for close to 20 years.