Kenny Habul has officially taken over HDT Special Vehicles, the iconic brand built by Peter Brock from 1980 to 1987, purchasing it from Peter Champion. The news was first reported by Speedcafe on Friday, and Champion himself confirmed it on social media over the weekend.
"For those who have heard the rumours floating around, it is now official," Champion wrote. "After nearly 20 years of owning HDT Special Vehicles – the brand that was made famous by Peter Brock from 1980 till 1987 – I felt it was time for me to move on and sell it to someone that is just as passionate as myself and that person is Kenny Habul."
Habul is no stranger to the paddock. An Australian who has made it big in the US solar energy sector, he has won the Bathurst 12 Hour twice and many other races around the world. He is also known as a collector of Brock race cars, and his collection has now grown with the purchase of Champion's remaining HDT road cars.
Champion's decision to let go of HDT was not without emotion. He admitted it was tough to part with his collection of Brock-built HDT Commodores, which he had been gathering since the early 90s. "That has been one of the toughest decisions I've made in a long time. The truck turned up [Sunday] and picked up five of those cars and that my friends was a tough day," he said. However, Habul's thoughtfulness—getting out of bed early hours in the morning from the other side of the world to check on Champion—convinced him that Habul was the right person.
HDT's history is full of twists. The brand hit the skids when Holden cut ties in 1987 amid Brock's insistence on fitting vehicles with a crystal-filled box dubbed the Energy Polarizer. After Brock's death, Champion revived the brand as an aftermarket parts and merchandising company. Now, under Habul, HDT will move to Bathurst, the city synonymous with Brock's legend.
Habul owns property in Bathurst and plans to relocate HDT to the regional New South Wales city. He has a personal connection to Brock: in his youth, he spent time with the "King of the Mountain" and his partner Bev in Melbourne. This move seems to ensure that Brock's legacy will live on in the place that matters most.
The launch of HDT's new era is scheduled for the Monday following the Bathurst 1000. Champion will remain involved as an ambassador and will attend the event. "It's business as usual for the brand," he stated. Meanwhile, Brock's legacy will be celebrated throughout the Bathurst 1000 event, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of his death.
For Australian motorsport fans, this acquisition is more than a business deal. It's about keeping the flame of an icon alive. And Habul, with his racing pedigree and love for Brock's history, seems ready to carry the torch.
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