FORMER touring car privateer and speedway racer Brian Callaghan has passed away.
The long-time racing identity had a long battle with heart issues and passed away on Friday evening – he was 79.
Callaghan made 11 starts in the ‘Great Race at Bathurst between 1981 and 1991, initially in Group C Falcons before moving into a variety of Group A Commodores.
His best Bathurst 1000 finish of sixth came in 1988 at the wheel of his new Mobile Concrete Plumbing Commodore VL Group A SV. It was the first of the new fuel-injected Commodores to make it to the finish.
He and fellow speedway racer Barry Graham made a handy combination in the race. They paired up eight times in a row between 1983 and 1990.
Callaghan’s last start in the race came in 1993 sharing an Everlast Commodore with son Brian Jnr and Bill O’Brien.
Callaghan was a regular in the Amaroo Park-based AMSCAR Series and took a surprise pole position at the second round in 1989.
V8 Sleuth extends its sympathies to Callaghan’s family, friends and fans.
