Only two cars have ever won the Repco Bathurst 1000, one is the Holden Dealer Team VH Commodore, which won in 1982 and 1983, while the other is universally known as the ‘Golden Child’.
‘Golden Child’ is a VX Commodore built by the Holden Racing Team during its total dominance of the V8 Supercar Championship where it won five championships in a row and six out of seven from 1996-2002.
Built in 2001, the ‘Golden Child’ was spawned during the height of ‘HRT mania’, with many comparing the Clayton-based operation and its sustained success to the equally as dominant Ferrari Formula 1 team in the sport’s top tier.
Debuting at the Queensland 500 later that year ‘Golden Child’ finished fourth before taking the glory at the Mountain in the hands of Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst.
Skaife completed the season in ‘Golden Child’ to secure his fourth Australia Touring Car Championship.
Continuing in Skaife’s hand for 2002, the ‘Golden Child’ won the first five rounds of the V8 Supercars Championship enroute to a record equalling fifth ATCC title and another Bathurst win.
This was significant as Skaife was partnered by mentor Jim Richards, 10 years after the pair last took victory in 1992 driving the Gibson Motorsport Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R in its last hurrah at the Mountain.
After completing its run of success, V8 Supercars changed its regulations to Project Blueprint to tie in with the introduction of the new VY Commodore and BA Falcon into competition. The new regulations encompassed control componentry, but despite these changes ‘Golden Child’ won in Adelaide before it was replaced by a brand new build later during the season.
Its racing career didn’t end there as Golden Child became a spare car and was bought into action for 2004 Gold Coast following Jason Plato’s collision with John Cleland at Bathurst, which prevented Peter Brock from getting behind the wheel in what was to be his final drive in the race.
Dispensation was given to Skaife to race ‘Golden Child’ on the streets of Surfers Paradise due to it running to an older specification where it achieved pole, but spun during the race.
This is where its career ended as a new VY was built up for Skaife to finish out the season.
Currently for sale, ‘Golden Child’ is in VY specification in its livery from the Adelaide 500.