SYDNEY SEDAN STAR BRIAN CALLAGHAN, 79, DIES

By Dennis Newlyn

Sydney speedway lost one of its most likeable personalities with the passing of Brian Callaghan, 79.

Brian had suffered from heart and kidney problems for sometime.

Highlight of his career was victory in the 1975 and ’76 sedan 100-lap Marlboro Grand National events on pavement at Sydney’s Liverpool City Raceway.

He is best remembered for the years he raced a silver-painted supercharged Holden XU-1 Torana that became the giant killer of the sport – particularly against touring Americans. The Yanks’ high horsepower big block V8 Chevys were no match for the zippy little Holden Torana driven by the concrete pumping company proprietor from Smithfield western Sydney. The silver Galvanising Services Holden Torana was the car that made Brian Callaghan a star.

In later years he raced a Chevy Corvette after entering speedway in 1973.

Brian showed his motor sport versatility when he switched to road racing and ultimately competed in ten Bathurst 1000s, with a best result a sixth placing in 1988. On eight of those appearances he co-drove with another Liverpool sedan star Barry Graham.

Brian’s 1975 MGN victory was arguably the best drive of his career after he continually turned back the challenge of American Donnie Graham that raged for 65 laps as another American, Ed Wilbur, finished third.

He was so impressed with the 1975 and ’76 visits of American legend AJ Foyt, Brian, in 1976, purchased a Gary Gardner-built midget and competed only on the Liverpool pavement that season. There was a time when Callaghan and associate Jimmy Dixon ran Dical Racing Wheels as a service to the speedway and motor sport industry.

Never afraid to look for any business opportunity, Brian purchased an auto accessory shop in 1976 at Lakemba in Sydney’s western suburbs. In later years he even investigated running speedway at the Liverpool Showground when the ground’s lease became available.

Brian and wife Helen were married for over five decades, raised five children before becoming grand parents, and lived at Luddenham after originally residing at Bankstown near the airport.