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HDT has always done things in its own stylish way via a giant presence and heavyweight performances. That approach has carried through to the long-awaited 50th Anniversary HDT Archive Collection which has now landed on our desk with a giant thud.

It’s fair to say we’ve never seen anything quite like it. It’s the publishing version of one of HDT Special Vehicle’s more in-your-face vehicles from the 1980s. It even has real badges in the lid!

This 10kg coffee table-size collection certainly delivers on HDT SV owner Peter Champion’s promise to create the ultimate collector’s item for HDT enthusiasts. It’s massive! Mostly because this boxed behemoth comprises the aforementioned sturdy 350-page 33 x 33cm hardcover book featuring countless rare photographs. Then there is a document holder full of what the publisher describes as

lift-out memorabilia. The latter comprises once-con dential internal paperwork, vehicle brochures and individually printed personal letters from past employees and identities including Peter LewisWilliams, Peter Janson, Joe Felice, John Crennan, Colin Bond, Ian Tate, Larry Perkins, Graeme (Mort) Brown, Craig Fletcher, Greg Chambers and David Whitehead. AMC was particularly taken by the Energy Polariser tment instructions.

All of the items combined capture HDT’s history dating back to the earliest Monaro and rallycross days, through to the legendary days of Peter Brock and HDT Special Vehicles, both the eighties Commodores and late model tribute versions.

For more information and to order, visit www.hdt.com. au/collection

The famous bridge that spans Pit Straight has been removed to undergo a refurbishment. Bathurst Regional Council oversaw the tricky process of removing the bridge by crane from the circuit so it can undergo a revamp. The 16-tonne bridge came from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and was installed in the 2004 redevelopment. The refurbished bridge was scheduled to be installed in July ahead of the big race over October 10-13.