![2002 Bathurst Winner | Holden VX Commodore | Mark Skaife / Jim Richards Mens T-Shirt [Size: S] Personalised:No [MULTICOLOUR]](/assets/full/w_SB002_A_M_S_N.webp?20260910140128)
The Golden Child Survives The Plastic Bag Threat
The 2002 Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 was never supposed to be in doubt. HRT's VX Commodore - chassis 045, "The Golden Child" - had already won Bathurst the year before with Tony Longhurst. It was built to win again. What nobody counted on was rubbish flying around the mountain.
Late in the race, plastic bags from pit waste blew onto the circuit in high winds. The #1 Commodore's radiator intake ingested one - the engine temperature spiked, alarms screamed, and for a terrifying stretch, it seemed the back-to-back bid was over. Mark Skaife drove the car with surgical precision, pushing to get by Steven Richards' sister Walkinshaw Commodore so he could get as much clean air through the mostly blocked intake.
When the flag fell after 161 laps and 6 hours, 58 minutes, the winning car was limping but intact. The Golden Child had delivered again. Skaife's fourth Bathurst crown (and second consecutive) cemented his legacy as the era's dominant force. Richards joined the handful of drivers with multiple wins across different manufacturers. And HRT chassis 045 became one of only two individual Commodores to win multiple Great Races - the other being chassis 043, the "Lap of the Gods" car that won in 2003 and 2008.
Co-driver Jim Richards, then 55 years old, took his seventh Bathurst win - an age record that stood for decades. He remembered the crowd's hostile 1992 reception after his win in a Nissan Skyline; ten years later, he told reporters the fans were "a lovely bunch of people." The irony wasn't lost on those who'd seen the 1992 podium pandemonium. Meanwhile, Craig Lowndes and Neil Crompton fell victim to the same plastic bag chaos earlier in the day - their race ended when their car succumbed to the debris.
A record 57,180 spectators on Sunday witnessed the drama unfold. The 2002 race would be remembered not just for the win, but for the fragility of endurance racing - where plastic bags could eliminate champions while letting others survive.
Printed in Australia on premium fabric, this officially licensed HRT tribute tee features race-accurate graphics from the #1 HRT VX Commodore. Add your name or number plate to make it uniquely yours.
Why serious fans choose STOMPSHOP:
- Official Licensed Graphics — Genuine Holden / HRT merchandise
- Race-Accurate Design — Faithful to the 2002 #1 HRT VX Commodore livery
- Made in Australia — Premium prints supporting local manufacturing
- Premium Fabric — High-quality textile with a superior hand-feel and long-lasting vibrancy
- Personalisation Ready — Add your name or choice of number plate
Perfect for HRT loyalists or Skaife devotees. Order your 2002 Bathurst Winner VX Commodore t-shirt today.
|
TEES 100% cotton • 180gsm shoulder to shoulder tape • better comfort and durability minimised shrinkage • pre-shrunk fabric |
|
HOODIES 80% cotton • 20% polyester anti-pill fleece • 290 GSM unisex • pullover hood • kangaroo pocket pre-shrunk • minimised shrinkage |
SWEAT SHOP FREE • ECO FRIENDLY • PROUDLY PRINTED IN MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
Your shirt will leave our Melbourne based location in 5-7 business days with Australia Post signature required on delivery.
All Artwork by James Bailey Stomp Impressions © 2026
2002 Bathurst Winner | Holden VX Commodore | Mark Skaife / Jim Richards Mens T-Shirt [Size: S] Personalised:No [MULTICOLOUR]
The Golden Child Survives The Plastic Bag Threat
The 2002 Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 was never supposed to be in doubt. HRT's VX Commodore - chassis 045, "The Golden Child" - had already won Bathurst the year before with Tony Longhurst. It was built to win again. What nobody counted on was rubbish flying around the mountain.
Late in the race, plastic bags from pit waste blew onto the circuit in high winds. The #1 Commodore's radiator intake ingested one - the engine temperature spiked, alarms screamed, and for a terrifying stretch, it seemed the back-to-back bid was over. Mark Skaife drove the car with surgical precision, pushing to get by Steven Richards' sister Walkinshaw Commodore so he could get as much clean air through the mostly blocked intake.
When the flag fell after 161 laps and 6 hours, 58 minutes, the winning car was limping but intact. The Golden Child had delivered again. Skaife's fourth Bathurst crown (and second consecutive) cemented his legacy as the era's dominant force. Richards joined the handful of drivers with multiple wins across different manufacturers. And HRT chassis 045 became one of only two individual Commodores to win multiple Great Races - the other being chassis 043, the "Lap of the Gods" car that won in 2003 and 2008.
Co-driver Jim Richards, then 55 years old, took his seventh Bathurst win - an age record that stood for decades. He remembered the crowd's hostile 1992 reception after his win in a Nissan Skyline; ten years later, he told reporters the fans were "a lovely bunch of people." The irony wasn't lost on those who'd seen the 1992 podium pandemonium. Meanwhile, Craig Lowndes and Neil Crompton fell victim to the same plastic bag chaos earlier in the day - their race ended when their car succumbed to the debris.
A record 57,180 spectators on Sunday witnessed the drama unfold. The 2002 race would be remembered not just for the win, but for the fragility of endurance racing - where plastic bags could eliminate champions while letting others survive.
Printed in Australia on premium fabric, this officially licensed HRT tribute tee features race-accurate graphics from the #1 HRT VX Commodore. Add your name or number plate to make it uniquely yours.
Why serious fans choose STOMPSHOP:
- Official Licensed Graphics — Genuine Holden / HRT merchandise
- Race-Accurate Design — Faithful to the 2002 #1 HRT VX Commodore livery
- Made in Australia — Premium prints supporting local manufacturing
- Premium Fabric — High-quality textile with a superior hand-feel and long-lasting vibrancy
- Personalisation Ready — Add your name or choice of number plate
Perfect for HRT loyalists or Skaife devotees. Order your 2002 Bathurst Winner VX Commodore t-shirt today.
|
TEES 100% cotton • 180gsm shoulder to shoulder tape • better comfort and durability minimised shrinkage • pre-shrunk fabric |
|
HOODIES 80% cotton • 20% polyester anti-pill fleece • 290 GSM unisex • pullover hood • kangaroo pocket pre-shrunk • minimised shrinkage |
SWEAT SHOP FREE • ECO FRIENDLY • PROUDLY PRINTED IN MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
Your shirt will leave our Melbourne based location in 5-7 business days with Australia Post signature required on delivery.
All Artwork by James Bailey Stomp Impressions © 2026
