Chevrolet Z28 Camaro 1980 Bathurst Pole Position * 18776

For the 1980 Bathurst 1000, Bartlett, in his Nine Network Racing Team Australia Chevrolet Z28 Camaro, scorched around the track in qualifying to achieve pole position for the race in a lap time of 2:20.972.

It was the first time that the 5.7L V8 Chevrolet Camaro had sat on pole for the race.  The Camaro was also the first non-Holden or Ford to compete in Hardie’s Heroes since its inception in 1978.  During qualifying Kevin Bartlett’s Camaro was recorded at 170mph (274kmh) on Conrod Straight, a then record for the Group C touring car at Bathurst.

Bartlett and emerging star Dick Johnson, had set equal fastest times during qualifying, though Bartlett set his time before Johnson and was credited with provisional pole.

The 1980 Bathurst 1000 race ended up being most famous for Ford privateer Dick Johnson crashing heavily into the wall just after the Cutting on lap 17 after clipping a large rock on the track when presented with no other options as a slow-moving tow truck carrying a dead-car blocked the other side of the track.  Kevin Bartlett and co-driver Bob Forbes finished the race in 11th position, completing 152 laps, 11 laps behind Peter Brock and Jim Richards who won a third consecutive Bathurst 1000 in their Holden VC Commodore.

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