John Harvey

[Amaroo Park]

When the Bloody hell did John Harvey become a legend of Australian Motor Sport. I read in Auto Fiction that they had a tesamonial dinner for him in Melbourne. Sure he won Bathurst on the back of Perkins and Brock and finished second in 1976 with Bondy but other than that not much else.

He was the man who wrote that Rise And Fall of Peter Brock with Bill Tuckey. True it may be but it really had no place out in the open, Harvey really abused a confidence and friendship with that.

I don't know Holden apologize to Slug about Bathurst in 1976 and 1983, But I bet they haven't apologized to Bondy about 1976. This really should have been his HSV retierment dinner not a Testamonial

[William Dale Jr]

I always wondered where he got the nickname 'Slug'. Where did that come from?

[racer69]

Going by V8Superstars, it seems anyone who has ever raced a Touring Car is a legend

I reckon Harvey and Phil Brock would most likely have won the 1983 JH 1000 regardless. The Grice/Bond STP Roadways Commodore and the Benson-Brown/Rogers Soundwaves Commodore were up with the #25 Holden in the early laps, but both fell back, and the Moffat Mazda was nowhere. Infact in what seemed like a quality field that year, all the competition seemed to fall apart, even the lead car broke down. Also, didn't Grice and Bond drive half the race with bugger all brakes?

Other than that, i pretty much agree. Not sure how he got the nickname though.

[Amaroo Park]

Originally posted by racer69
and the Moffat Mazda was nowhere. Also, didn't Grice and Bond drive half the race with bugger all brakes?

Up until the last stop Moffat was right in there running second with a chance until the drivers door would not open and cost them a heap of time. Harvey was slower than Perkins and Brock and Phil was heaps slower so there is no way they would have won.

[Flaggie]

He did have an Open Wheeler career as well. Won a Gold Star, I believe. Also drove Sports Cars and I believe even had a dabble at Rallying. Is still doing work for CAMS as an advisor at OLT's and does a lot of work for historic racing. He's a lot more deserving of being called a legend of Australian Motorsport than some of the others being trotted out were.

[racer69]

I agree.

On '83, i'm not sure on exact lap times or Phil Brock's times, but after Hardies Heroes the car was fifth on the grid, and running with the lead pack in the early laps (apart from Brock). As for Moffat, he only qualified 14th, and while he was running near the front, i'm not sure he had the car speed to win. Mind, i am only doing this on what i have read and the 75-85 review tape, so i could be wrong. (probably am )

[Amaroo Park]

Originally posted by racer69
I agree.

On '83, i'm not sure on exact lap times or Phil Brock's times, but after Hardies Heroes the car was fifth on the grid, and running with the lead pack in the early laps (apart from Brock). As for Moffat, he only qualified 14th, and while he was running near the front, i'm not sure he had the car speed to win. Mind, i am only doing this on what i have read and the 75-85 review tape, so i could be wrong. (probably am )

Yeah but Harveys best time in Qualifying and Hardies Heros was a 2.18.3 some 3.2 seconds slower than Brock best lap,

[mickj]

Johnny Harvey raced speedway in NSW and raced for Ron Phillips in the 60's in single seaters and Bob Janes McLaren sports car and had a reasonable run in V8's. I think the Slug title came from P Brock in that JH came from Sydney and compared to other parts of Australia Sydney was slow,eg: Slugs=Slow. I stand corrected on this.
As for being a legend?

[whitemouse]

Johnny Harvey was far from slow,raced a wide range of cars with great talent and no fear. It was a real pleasure and experience to watch Johnny Harvey race the 13 car around the dirt at the Sydney Showground.

His driving of the Mackay Holden and Offenhausers will never be forgotten by speedway fans, the mini,openwheelers and touring cars. A driver with a very special gift.

Lets just remember Johnny Harvey for the talent he was, he gave plenty to motor racing and will always hold a special place in the history of motor racing in Australia.

[Amaroo Park]

Originally posted by whitemouse
Johnny Harvey was far from slow,raced a wide range of cars with great talent and no fear. It was a real pleasure and experience to watch Johnny Harvey race the 13 car around the dirt at the Sydney Showground.

His driving of the Mackay Holden and Offenhausers will never be forgotten by speedway fans, the mini,openwheelers and touring cars. A driver with a very special gift.

Lets just remember Johnny Harvey for the talent he was, he gave plenty to motor racing and will always hold a special place in the history of motor racing in Australia.

Harvey was ok but he was nothing special, Thats just my opinion. There are a lot more people in Australian Motorsport more deserving of a Testamonial than John Harvey.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Old speedway fans go on and on about how incredibly good he was, just awesome. Yet in circuit racing he was usually an also ran, in first rate equipment. What does this say then?

Does it tell us that speedway is a much lower form of the sport, where their best is well below our best or does it simply say that the two sports are so different that success in one isn't a good form guide for the other, kind of like hockey and fishing perhaps?

[2guns]

Spedway,yes a little different to road racing,one disciline should not be compared to another. Whats wrong with us all why can!t we just appreciate the ability and the acheivements of old and current competitors who lets face have more ability in their little toe than all of us so called experts who continue to bluster and bufalo our opinions .

Its a bit like comparing Lowndes and Skaife with Bob Tattersall the greatest midget speedcar driver ever to race in Australia and Steve Kinser , you just can!t what you can do is appreciate their skill .