Ex-Callaghan VL Walkinshaw at Sydney Retro Racefest 2016

By: Oscar Hammond, Photography by: AN1 Images

Date: 06.06.2016

ex-Callaghan VL Walkinshaw. Photo: www.an1images.com

Classic Callaghan Walkinshaw set to place well under Champion John Douglas at Sydney Retro Racefest this Queens Birthday weekend

The Heritage Touring Cars series will once again bring back the great ex-Brian Callaghan VL Walkinshaw at the Sydney Retro Racefest this Queens Birthday weekend.

Driven by 2014 Group C champion John Douglas, this one of a kind ‘Walky’ was meticulously put together by privateer family, the Callaghans.

Due to the love for Peter Brock's classic HDT and its radical look, the Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) Group A SS VL Walkinshaw has continually polarised public opinion. Despite , however it became the backbone of the Group A series.

Since 1988, the Walky has been championed by a magnificent example of the model, the privateer built, Callaghan bright yellow Walkinshaw Commodore.

Under the Callaghan banner, the sparky Walkinshaw placed highly in many circuits, such as the ’88 Bathurst Tooheys 1000 where it was the only finishing Holden, placing 6^th overall.

Driven by Brian Callaghan and Barry Graham, the Walky enjoyed many successes throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s.

The following year at Bathurst, Callaghan and Graham finished 11^th overall and 4^th home of the 18 VL Walkinshaws starters.

The Callaghans raced their car until Bathurst 1993, when it ended its illustrious career in a crash with Dick Johnson’s EB Falcon at Reid Park.

Following this, the Callaghans stripped the body and repaired the car which was later nursed back into winning form by another Walkinshaw champion, David Holc.

Using all the original parts, David performed a mechanical restoration. After which, the car was put up for sale and ex-RX7 pilot John Douglas snatched it up in hope of a Group A placement.

"In 2015 having conquered Group C, a change to Group A was on the agenda," said Douglas.

John Douglas recalls his love affair with the classic car;

"Our first race in Group A was at Phillip Island just a few weeks ago, and I drove the car for the first time in qualifying on the Friday. We placed the car 18th, and by the end of the weekend had improved to third place in Group A. A great Result!"

"I am hopeful of maintaining a presence on the race tracks of Australia until I am not able to get into or out of the best viewing seat of any spectator area in the land!"

See the ex-Callaghan Walkinshaw and other iconic touring cars at this weekend's Sydney Retro Racefest at Sydney Motorsport Park. Visit the website for more info.

Images thanks to AN1 Images - www.an1images.com

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