LP Shuts His Doors

LARRY PERKINS has today confirmed the final details of the sale of his twoRacing Entitlement Contracts (RECs) to Kelly Racing and the closure of hislongstanding Moorabbin, Victoria, workshop that was the home to PerkinsEngineering since 1993.

It marks the end of an era for an icon of the sport.

After leaving the Holden Dealer Team in 1984 - following his third Bathurst1000 win with Peter Brock - Perkins established his own team that great into apowerhouse operation in what would become V8 Supercars.

Under the iconic Castrol Perkins brand, Larry and Russell Ingall (pictured here in 1998 with John Bowe and Perkins close behind) won the Bathurst 1000 three times in his own team (1993, 1995 and 1997) amongst a host of additional successes in the ATCC / V8 Supercars Championship.

Perkins introduced long-time sponsor Jack Daniel's to the sport and after retiring as a driver, ran his team for several season with the likes of Ingall, Steve Richards, Paul Dumbrell, Shane Price and son Jack behind the wheel.

After ending full-time operations several seasons ago he leased his RECs to the fledgling Kelly Racing outfit and continued to do so until mid last year, when Perkins announced he had agreed to terms to sell both to the Kelly family.

In a prepared statement released today, Perkins confirmed that thesale had been finalised and he was now out of the racing Business  though he will continue to watch. Kelly Racing will now own all four RECs they compete under, as they morph from a Holden team into Nissan Motorsport in 2013. 

Perkins and son Jack are also currently in the final stages of shutting downthe outfit's Moorabbin Airport base.

“After 43 years of racing and 26 years of Perkins Engineering, it is withtremendous satisfaction and pride that I can now announce that I have sold mytwo V8 Supercars Racing Entitlements Contract’s to Kelly Racing,” Perkins wrotein the statement.

“I started the business with my wife, Raelene, in 1985. We started with onefull time employee, no racecars, no engines and no money or sponsors. Over timewe built a steady, successful race team, with complete emphasis on soundengineering and competitive machinery, which allowed us to build up a verystrong customer base.

“From 1985 to 2012, Perkins Engineering built 49 V8 Supercars, 198 RaceEngines, won three Bathursts, three Sandown/Queensland 500s, over 20 race wins,and three pole positions, plus we supplied and maintained the engines forseven-consecutive Formula Holden (Brabham) Gold Star Titles.

“Over those years, the business grew respect and recognition in theAustralian motor racing industry, and at times employed in excess of 50 people.We were also extremely proud to represent the many sponsors and supporters thatchose to be with our team. Our thanks extend to Holden and Castrol for over 20years of support and of course thanks to our last sponsor, and an industryfirst; Jack Daniel’s.

“I also enjoyed tremendous on-track success with many drivers andco-drivers, including the late Denny Hulme, Peter Brock and Gregg Hansford, andalso to current drivers Russell Ingall, Steven Richards and Todd Kelly, to namea few.

“None of this success would have been possible without the huge efforts,loyalty, commitment and dedication of the people that were Perkins Engineering,and not to specifically mention; Barry Abbettmeyer, Shaun Hockey and my PA KimMenzies would be a disservice to them.

“I fought many battles on the track, in the boardroom and in the Stewardsroom, however I can proudly say that I feel I contributed my part to the hugesuccess of V8 Supercars.

“Finally I would like to acknowledge and thank the new generation of racers– Kelly Racing.

“They have a vision and the passion to succeed whilst setting up one ofAustralia’s finest race teams, and they have been great business partners todate. I congratulate them on their successes, and of course I wish them all thevery best with their future endeavours, with Nissan, in V8 Supercars.

“The next chapter for me will bring some much-earned family time withRaelene, my daughter Nichola and her two children, and Jack. I’ll also enjoyexploring more of Australia in my new ‘Unimog’s’ and perhaps a few tripsoverseas.

“Motor Racing was my life and is still a passion and I’ll continue to watchJack, V8s and Formula 1 with great interest.”

Jack Perkins - recently re confirmed as an endurance driver with FujitsuRacing / Garry Rogers Motorsport for a second season - has announced he willset up an Ebay store, selling several items of Perkins memorabiliain the coming weeks. The store opens tonight and can be found here. (External site)