Larry Perkins Exit

[Kingair]

AutoAction #1512, carried a great article on Larry Perkins and his career from his open wheeler exploits in F5000 and F1, to sports car racing in Europe through to his ATCC/V8 career.

Not a bad effort for a kid off a farm in western Victoria.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Kingair

AutoAction #1512, carried a great article on Larry Perkins and his career from his open wheeler exploits in F5000 and F1, to sports car racing in Europe through to his ATCC/V8 career.

Not a bad effort for a kid off a farm in western Victoria.

You mean the Cowangie Kid???

[gtcapri]

I missed that piece on Larry. Pity, because I have a lot of respect for what he achieved.

[eduardo1]

He is definitely one of our most accomplished racers. A well-researched and written article would definitely be a compelling read.

[sizzle]

I was wondering why Channel 7 haven't made a bit more fuss about as he was one of the instigators of the current format of v8 supercars.
I would have thought some recognition would have been in order.

[eduardo1]

Originally Posted by sizzle

I was wondering why Channel 7 haven't made a bit more fuss about as he was one of the instigators of the current format of v8 supercars.
I would have thought some recognition would have been in order.

Larry's involvement was very behind the scenes and subtle - hard to present in an entertaining visual way on TV.

Plus - he was one of many that were involved in a similar way.

[Henry]

Allan Moffat, in Bill Woods' Legends Of Speed, made especial mention of Larry's contribution to the origins of the 5 litre touring car format. While it's fairly certain that Larry's influence was wielded behind the scenes, there's no doubt in Moff's mind that LP was instrumental

Moffat had much earlier done his bit to foster LP's racing career. The tale goes that LP was needing an engine, and was lamenting this to the top professional driver of the day, at his Coca-Cola enclosure. Apparently Moffat wrote a cheque on the spot.

LP was not only one of Harry Firth's star apprentices, but almost single-handedly put together his OS campaign - his tie-in with Ron Tauranac was fortuitous, and handed the RT1 and Perkins the inaugural European F3 championship in 1975.

By all accounts, LP, his brother, and a mate or two, achieved a lot more than they had any right to, including fronting several F1 races with the Boro.

When he came home again, he put together some great cars for The Captain, but his solar car adventure in 1980, in the shadow of Hans Tholstrup - LP engineered and built the thing, and did most of the driving by all accounts.

1984, and Brock's Le Mans campaign, was a homecoming of sorts, with LP garnering much of the Euro publicity surrounding the venture. 1988's trip to Le Mans with TWR was another highlight - LP dragged the car up to 4th, driving much of the night/early morning running, in the rain...

His highest-profile local successes were of course, his three wins on The Hill with Castrol Team Perkins. And they were both well-driven and beautifully engineered.

They don't make Supercar drivers like that anymore....

[Reload]

Originally Posted by Henry

Allan Moffat, in Bill Woods' Legends Of Speed, made especial mention of Larry's contribution to the origins of the 5 litre touring car format. While it's fairly certain that Larry's influence was wielded behind the scenes, there's no doubt in Moff's mind that LP was instrumental

Moffat had much earlier done his bit to foster LP's racing career. The tale goes that LP was needing an engine, and was lamenting this to the top professional driver of the day, at his Coca-Cola enclosure. Apparently Moffat wrote a cheque on the spot.

LP was not only one of Harry Firth's star apprentices, but almost single-handedly put together his OS campaign - his tie-in with Ron Tauranac was fortuitous, and handed the RT1 and Perkins the inaugural European F3 championship in 1975.

By all accounts, LP, his brother, and a mate or two, achieved a lot more than they had any right to, including fronting several F1 races with the Boro.

When he came home again, he put together some great cars for The Captain, but his solar car adventure in 1980, in the shadow of Hans Tholstrup - LP engineered and built the thing, and did most of the driving by all accounts.

1984, and Brock's Le Mans campaign, was a homecoming of sorts, with LP garnering much of the Euro publicity surrounding the venture. 1988's trip to Le Mans with TWR was another highlight - LP dragged the car up to 4th, driving much of the night/early morning running, in the rain...

His highest-profile local successes were of course, his three wins on The Hill with Castrol Team Perkins. And they were both well-driven and beautifully engineered.

They don't make Supercar drivers like that anymore....

Good stuff Henry.

[St00ge]

Originally Posted by Henry

Allan Moffat, in Bill Woods' Legends Of Speed, made especial mention of Larry's contribution to the origins of the 5 litre touring car format. While it's fairly certain that Larry's influence was wielded behind the scenes, there's no doubt in Moff's mind that LP was instrumental

Moffat had much earlier done his bit to foster LP's racing career. The tale goes that LP was needing an engine, and was lamenting this to the top professional driver of the day, at his Coca-Cola enclosure. Apparently Moffat wrote a cheque on the spot.

LP was not only one of Harry Firth's star apprentices, but almost single-handedly put together his OS campaign - his tie-in with Ron Tauranac was fortuitous, and handed the RT1 and Perkins the inaugural European F3 championship in 1975.

By all accounts, LP, his brother, and a mate or two, achieved a lot more than they had any right to, including fronting several F1 races with the Boro.

When he came home again, he put together some great cars for The Captain, but his solar car adventure in 1980, in the shadow of Hans Tholstrup - LP engineered and built the thing, and did most of the driving by all accounts.

1984, and Brock's Le Mans campaign, was a homecoming of sorts, with LP garnering much of the Euro publicity surrounding the venture. 1988's trip to Le Mans with TWR was another highlight - LP dragged the car up to 4th, driving much of the night/early morning running, in the rain...

His highest-profile local successes were of course, his three wins on The Hill with Castrol Team Perkins. And they were both well-driven and beautifully engineered.

They don't make Supercar drivers like that anymore....

Great little read, cheers

[prn 31]

Originally Posted by Henry

LP was not only one of Harry Firth's star apprentices, but almost single-handedly put together his OS campaign - his tie-in with Ron Tauranac was fortuitous, and handed the RT1 and Perkins the inaugural European F3 championship in 1975.

I don't think that is quite correct. Firth didn't single-handedly put together his OS campaign. Larry received a lot of assistance (both monetary and sponsorship) from David McKay (of Scuderia Veloce fame) and Gary Campbell (of Provincial Motors.) Larry's initial trip to Europe in 1972 was funded by his TAA Driver to Europe prize that he deferred from the previous year, when he won the title.

[Darcia1]

A great engineer and driver ... perkins enginerring also built all of the formula Holden engines for Birrana and Gibson motorsport ...

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Henry

Allan Moffat, in Bill Woods' Legends Of Speed, made especial mention of Larry's contribution to the origins of the 5 litre touring car format. While it's fairly certain that Larry's influence was wielded behind the scenes, there's no doubt in Moff's mind that LP was instrumental

Moffat had much earlier done his bit to foster LP's racing career. The tale goes that LP was needing an engine, and was lamenting this to the top professional driver of the day, at his Coca-Cola enclosure. Apparently Moffat wrote a cheque on the spot.

LP was not only one of Harry Firth's star apprentices, but almost single-handedly put together his OS campaign - his tie-in with Ron Tauranac was fortuitous, and handed the RT1 and Perkins the inaugural European F3 championship in 1975.

By all accounts, LP, his brother, and a mate or two, achieved a lot more than they had any right to, including fronting several F1 races with the Boro.

When he came home again, he put together some great cars for The Captain, but his solar car adventure in 1980, in the shadow of Hans Tholstrup - LP engineered and built the thing, and did most of the driving by all accounts.

1984, and Brock's Le Mans campaign, was a homecoming of sorts, with LP garnering much of the Euro publicity surrounding the venture. 1988's trip to Le Mans with TWR was another highlight - LP dragged the car up to 4th, driving much of the night/early morning running, in the rain...

His highest-profile local successes were of course, his three wins on The Hill with Castrol Team Perkins. And they were both well-driven and beautifully engineered.

They don't make Supercar drivers like that anymore....

They most certainly dont Henry, fantastic post

[Trev Campbell]

Does Larry still own the rights to the name 'Australian Touring Car Championship' ?? Or did he sell it to V8Supercars ???

[pigs fly]

Originally Posted by Henry

Allan Moffat, in Bill Woods' Legends Of Speed, made especial mention of Larry's contribution to the origins of the 5 litre touring car format. While it's fairly certain that Larry's influence was wielded behind the scenes, there's no doubt in Moff's mind that LP was instrumental

Moffat had much earlier done his bit to foster LP's racing career. The tale goes that LP was needing an engine, and was lamenting this to the top professional driver of the day, at his Coca-Cola enclosure. Apparently Moffat wrote a cheque on the spot.

LP was not only one of Harry Firth's star apprentices, but almost single-handedly put together his OS campaign - his tie-in with Ron Tauranac was fortuitous, and handed the RT1 and Perkins the inaugural European F3 championship in 1975.

By all accounts, LP, his brother, and a mate or two, achieved a lot more than they had any right to, including fronting several F1 races with the Boro.

When he came home again, he put together some great cars for The Captain, but his solar car adventure in 1980, in the shadow of Hans Tholstrup - LP engineered and built the thing, and did most of the driving by all accounts.

1984, and Brock's Le Mans campaign, was a homecoming of sorts, with LP garnering much of the Euro publicity surrounding the venture. 1988's trip to Le Mans with TWR was another highlight - LP dragged the car up to 4th, driving much of the night/early morning running, in the rain...

His highest-profile local successes were of course, his three wins on The Hill with Castrol Team Perkins. And they were both well-driven and beautifully engineered.

They don't make Supercar drivers like that anymore....

YOU said all there is to about LP A TRUE LEDGEND OFTHE V8's

[db120176]

I'd much rather hear Larry, nasal drawl and all, on the V8 coverage rather than Mark Skaife. Oh well....

[Kingair]

When did Larry start up his engineering business, while being Brock's co-driver or after Brocky discovered the polariser?

[rik]

Originally Posted by Kingair

When did Larry start up his engineering business, while being Brock's co-driver or after Brocky discovered the polariser?

After the polariser... which was the reason he left HDT.

[Alfie72]

Larry Perkins -

Who in the words of Alan Docking is a man who one cannot "root, shoot or electrocute!"