HDT STORY In the Beginning
The Holden Dealer Team made its racing debut at Bathurst 1969 under the directorship of Harry Firth.
Harry Firth, who had previously been working for Ford, and has been credited within a large part of the design and success of such motor vehicles as Cortina GT500, Falcon XR GT and XT GT. After leaving Ford in 1969 Harry Firth began working for rival company, General Motors Holden. He developed the Holden Monaro HT in a three car team and debuted at Bathurst in 1969. Harry selected the following drivers for the team debut; Car No.1 was Colin Bond & Tony Roberts. Car No. 2 was Des West and making his Bathurst debut a young Peter Brock. In Car No.3 was Peter Macrow and Henk Woelders . The newly formed Holden Dealer Team took out first, third and sixth position that weekend at Bathurst, and the legend had began.
Harry Firth, recognised the potential in the young Peter Brock, and groomed him for what was eventually the lead drive. He didn't make it easy for him though, he was usually given the lesser prepared car and the rougher tyres. He taught Peter Brock where exactly he should be placed at particular points around the track to be setting lead times. And he never let Brock off the hook, he drove him harder than less talented drivers, because he knew Brock had the talent to become an extremely successful driver. He was right; Peter Brock became the most successful Australian race car driver not just of his time, but in Australian motor racing history.
The Holden Dealer Team went on to many years of racing success, and after Harry Firth left the team, John Sheppard took over as Team Manager. The success continued and they became the first team to ever win three "back to back" Bathurst 1000 races. By December 1979, Peter Brock had purchased the Holden Dealer Team and become Team Manager. In February, the following year, he started the company HDT Special Vehicles.
