Graham Parsons started his motor racing career in 1964, racing a Ford Cortina GT.

It was one of only three cars he raced in his 13-year career – all with the number 25 – chosen by Graham, because he was 25 years-old when he bought his first racecar.

Graham had some success with his Cortina, establishing a new record for the under 1.5 litre touring car class at the famous Penguin Hillclimb and winning a Tasmanian touring car division two championship, in what would have been the equivalent of today’s under two litre improved production sedan class.

He won many races on his home circuit at Symmons Plains, a number of them in wet conditions, despite not owning a set of wet weather tyres.

Somehow Graham was always able to find someone who would lend him a second hand set of tyres – such was the respect in which he was held by his fellow competitors.

Graham also loved racing at the Longford Grand Prix Circuit before its demise, where he also met with some success.

After racing his Cortina for eight years, he upgraded to a Holden Torana GTR XU-1, which he campaigned for two years with mixed success.

Although he didn’t finish the 1973 Symmons Plains round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the outing lit a fire for Graham, who now had a taste of racing the best in the country.

The following year he came of age in the national series, finishing fourth at the Symmons Plains round, won by Peter Brock in a similar car.

In 1975, Graham made the big step of purchasing a brand new Holden Torana SLR5000 L34, with the aim of competing in the Australian Touring Car Championship.

At the time, it was a significant investment and Graham borrowed money from his life insurance to purchase the car.

It proved a good choice and at the opening round of the 1976 championship at Symmons Plains, Graham looked set for a home track victory, leading for 23 laps of 40, before fading brakes forced him to ease back, eventually finishing seventh.

Peter Brock wanted to lease Graham’s car for the next round, but Graham refused.

Graham was able to hold his own against the best in the country - against the likes of Colin Bond, Alan Grice, Allan Moffat, John Harvey, and Peter Brock - with a number of top 10 finishes at mainland circuits, including Sandown, Calder, and Winton.

Finishing every race was important to Graham and at one round of the championship at Calder when the gear knob came off in his hand, he continued to drive, finishing the race with a massive hole in his glove and a severely blistered and bloodied hand.

Graham was never blessed with a factory or sponsor-backed budget and was often competing with standard parts and little or no development, compared to some of the more noted drivers.

While he may not have won as many races as he would have liked, Graham was always determined, and raced hard – sometimes too hard – delighting and entertaining those watching.

In 1977, he finally hung up his helmet, handing the keys of the L34 to his up and coming son, David.

Profile by Martin Agatyn