Twenty years ago this weekend, Larry Perkins and the late Gregg Hansford won the Tooheys 1000 event here at Mount Panorama. Now their sons are both here racing, Ryan Hansford in the V8 Ute Racing Series and Jack Perkins in a V8 Supercar.
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Jack is vying for the chance to repeat what his Dad did here 20 years ago, win the Bathurst 1000 racing with co-driver Scott McLaughlin. He is off to a good start after taking 3rd in the Dunlop Development Series.
“It’s good whenever you get the opportunity to stand on the Bathurst podium, it’s pretty cool, obviously I’d prefer to do it on the Sunday, but I’ll take it any day I can, this is a pretty special year, not only for my family but both the Hansford boys, because it’s 20 years since both our Dads won Bathurst in the last Australian Holden engine to ever conquer the mountain, so it’s pretty special. I’m good friends with the two boys and it’s pretty special to remember what our Dad’s did,” said Perkins.
Both Hansford sons have driven a V8 Ute before, Rhys back in 2008 and older Brother Ryan has been in the V8 Ute Series since 2011, where he took out the V8 Ute Rookie of the Year Award, dedicating it to his late Dad, Gregg.
The Brisbane based driver is coming off a race win at Sandown and would love to stand on the podium as his Dad did 20 years ago.
“A win would be awesome, the whole weekend has emotional significance, we have a good shot of winning this weekend, we’re sitting in third for the round at the moment so if we can pull of a win (on Sunday), who knows, I could be standing where my Dad did,” said Hansford.
“It’s cool that he (Gregg Hansford) won down here all those years ago, I wasn’t here but I remember watching as a kid. It’s good to get his bikes out and have some pics with them, it will definitely be some lasting memories,” explained Hansford.
Younger brother Rhys is really happy to be here supporting his brother this weekend and was sporting his Dad’s racing leathers earlier today.
“It’s great to be down here, especially for the 20 year anniversary. It’s nice to support Ryan as I don’t really get to watch him very often. I think he can be in the top 3 for sure and I’d be really happy for him if he did, it’s always something he’s wanted to achieve regardless if it’s in a V8 Ute, Supercar or Porsche .It’s a great achievement to stand on the podium at Bathurst,” said Rhys.
Larry Perkins and Gregg Hansford also put their Holden VP Commodore on Pole that year and their sons wore their winning “Tooheys Top Gun” Jackets when they met earlier today.
