A FLEET of HQ Holdens racing at Bathurst will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the start of HQ production, albeit a year later than expected.
Originally planned for 2021 but cancelled due to COVID-19, HQ Racing will feature as a support category at the Bathurst 6 Hour in April on the Easter weekend.
A total of 50 cars are expected to line up for the HQ Holden Bathurst Triple Challenge, a 50 kilometre race around the Mount Panorama circuit as a celebration of the HQ Holden on Australian roads and racetracks in history.
The HQ Holden debuted in 1971 and featured a range of models including the Belmont, Kingswood, Premier and the famed Monaro.
One of the most popular Holdens of all time, 485,650 HQs were sold between 1971 and 1974 and it remains the biggest selling Holden of all time.
The HQ was a rarity in the Bathurst 1000, with most Holden teams favouring the smaller Torana as its touring car challenger.
A HQ competed in the ‘1000 twice – Ron Dickson and Bob Stevens drove a Muirs Motors (Ashfield) sponsored HQ Monaro GTS but failed to finish in 1973.
Dickson fared better in the 1974 Great Race in the same car, finishing 23rd (out of 60 cars that started the race) alongside Pat Crea with Darrell Lea Chocolate sponsorship.
HQ racing has been a popular racing category for over 30 years in virtually every Australian state and territory and has featured some very interesting names behind the wheel, including Australian cricketing legend David Boon.
