Our second issue is now available to buy in the V8 Sleuth Superstore or at newsagents around Australia.<\/p>\n
One of the feature stories focuses on the history of Garry Rogers<\/a> Motorsport\u2019s infamous X-bar car, chassis GRM VY06.<\/p>\n The unique car, which took the \u2018Larry\u2019 bar theory and doubled down, led a busy life with GRM from its debut in mid-2003 through to it being superseded by VE Commodores for 2007.<\/p>\n Part of our research took us into GRM\u2019s internal records, which showed that VY06 was used during a team test day at Winton in late May 2006.<\/p>\n Its regular pilot Lee Holdsworth<\/a> was listed as driving that day, but so too was \u2018Skippy\u2019.<\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t reported in any of the dedicated motorsport media at the time, leading us to think it was a short, sharp blast of a few laps while Holdsworth was taking a break.<\/p>\n However, we haven\u2019t been able to corroborate whether or not the 1987 Bathurst 1000 winner\u2019s track time actually happened.<\/p>\n How it may have came about is also a mystery \u2013 albeit one we think we have a bead on.<\/p>\n Parsons was one of a range of legends that competed in a unique, two drivers-per-car V8 Ute Legends Challenge that Easter at the Bathurst International Motor Festival, sharing a Ford with Marcus Zukanovic.<\/p>\n Sharing a Commodore that weekend in the same event with James Brock was none other than GRM owner Garry Rogers.<\/p>\n Perhaps the two got chatting and Rogers offered Parsons a chance to have a taste of one of the team\u2019s Valvoline Commodores a month later?<\/p>\n Sadly Rogers himself is no longer around to confirm, we haven\u2019t been able to contact Parsons, and GRM staff who were there \u2013 including Holdsworth \u2013 don\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n If you have any info, let us know via our Contact Form HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n The X-bar car feature is one of several in the latest bumper issue of V8 Sleuth Magazine.<\/p>\n The cover story for Issue 2 looks at the restoration of car that Larry Perkins<\/a> and Gregg Hansford drove to victory in the 1993 Bathurst 1000.<\/p>\n It was a true labour of love by Jack Perkins<\/a> who, with the help of his dad, other ex-Perkins Engineering staff, industry friends and helpful fans on social media, put chassis PE 017 back to its original VP Commodore trim as it was on raceday in 1993.<\/p>\n Perkins dug into his files to share with us some spectacular photos from during the restoration, along all the inside info on how it was done.<\/p>\n Elsewhere in Issue 2, we pay homage to the late Allan Moffat<\/a> by looking at the greatest decade of his career, tell the remarkable story of the rescue of the first NASCAR stock car brought to Australia by Bob Jane<\/a>, and look at AVESCO\u2019s original plan to hold a year-long 37-race championship in 1997 that paid points to the enduros, F1 and Indycar support races, and featured multiple events overseas.<\/p>\n Click HERE<\/a> to purchase V8 Sleuth Magazine Issue 2.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/v8-sleuth-magazine-issue-2_1024x1024.jpg\"\/)
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Parsons (back row, third from left) and Rogers (front row, right) both took part in the V8 Ute Legends Challenge a few weeks prior to the recorded test. Pic: an1images.com \/ Dirk Klynsmith<\/p>\n