Jones pays tribute to late Holden PR guru

Brad Jones has paid tribute to the late Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton, saying he was "ahead of his time”.

Pemberton, a former long-time Holden and Peter Brock public relations guru, recently passed away from a long-term illness.

He was inducted into the Supercars Media Hall of Fame earlier this year.

His decorated PR career spanned more than 30 years, beginning with Brock and the ’05’ campaign in 1976.

Jones was involved with Pemberton via Brock and the Holden Racing Team.

The now team owner raced for HRT as a co-driver between 1990 and 1994.

Pemberton with Brock Pic: AN1 Images

“Plastic had a very good handle on PR,” Jones told Supercars.com.

“My relationship with ‘Plastic' tied into my relationship with Brock and Holden.

“I loved sitting down listening to Plastic and John Harvey telling stories when I was at HRT.

“I think back now and I start to giggle at those stories.

“Plastic was ahead of his time, and it's a poorer place through his loss.”

Notably, Pemberton skippered the idea of racing a Holden ute at the Bathurst 12 Hour.

A poster of the Jones Akubra ute

Jones raced a Holden VP Ute SS with the legendary Allan Grice and John Spencer, and finished 26th overall.

For Jones, it was just one of several ‘Plastic’ ideas that still hold dear to this day.

“Plastic was involved, boots and all,” he said.

“I drove the Akubra ute, which was one of his ideas.

“In the years at HRT and Holden, I had a lot to do with Plastic.

“I’m very sad for his loss. My thoughts go out to his family."