10 Most influential Australians in Motorsport

[xbcool]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

The thread title reads 'influential australians' which eludes to people who have made huge impacts on their given sport.

And an unhonourable mention to the guy who wrote the 'Supercar scare' article.

I think his name was Evan Green (sorry if I'm wrong)

[sprjenkins]

What about Wayne Gardiner boys, he did more for Australian Motorcycling than pretty much anyone. Sure Doohan won five but Gardiner was the first Australian World Champion and got a hell of a lot of young kids into the sport. Stoner, Vermulen, McCoy all now racing MotoGP

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by ZA-289

Bob Jane.

Definatly influential, But not in a good way!

Solely responsible for the demise of drag racing in Adelaide.

Keep your ears to the ground, but Calder is having a $9.5 miliion upgrade which includes bring the track up to spec for ANDRA, I hear some money is going to flow Adelaide's way as well.

[Trevor 57]

You are spot on xbcool

By the way if this is about notable Australians, there are a couple who shouldn't be on the list, not taking away from their contribution which is considerable, but:

Jim Richards, Possum Bourne - are/were both New Zealanders

[PHATXR8]

Larry Perkins is right up there for me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Perkins

[Craig]

Graeme Cowin

He's a Drag Racer to you roundy roundy guys....LOL.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by sprjenkins

What about Wayne Gardiner boys, he did more for Australian Motorcycling than pretty much anyone. Sure Doohan won five but Gardiner was the first Australian World Champion and got a hell of a lot of young kids into the sport. Stoner, Vermulen, McCoy all now racing MotoGP

Gardner only won because Mick broke his leg, he was miles in front of WG before it.

[SBR_1]

I just know how some people could decide who was the best.So yes iv gone for skaife ill say it.But you really do have to admit he has done alot for the current motor sporting game.Along with alot of others.Will be very interesting who comes out on top though.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by Craig@ACE

Graeme Cowin

He's a Drag Racer to you roundy roundy guys....LOL.

Spot-on Graeme Cowin 1st 4 sec pass in Australia he Victor Bray have put in plenty for the the sport..

To pick someone off the list Mick Doohan, there isn't to many people that reach the NO;1 status in there sport once..... Mick did this 5 times World Champ.

[schnoods]

Geoghegan would be my number 1 for sure. For the efforts he put in and not having the huge backing like alot of the other drivers and achieving respectable results.

And he was a Mopar man!

[lavenlaar]

Originally Posted by SBR_1

Will be very interesting who comes out on top though.

Think we all know who will come out on top ;)
But was alot more interest in the other spots ... Geoghegan .. brabham etc

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Craig@ACE

Graeme Cowin

He's a Drag Racer to you roundy roundy guys....LOL.

Or Jim Read?... 16 times Aust. National Drag Champ! (wasn't he the 1st into the 4.5's in oz?)


And another HUGELY influential guy would have to be Phil Irving, who was not only responsible for The Vincent HRD, but also designed the Repco Brabham.
CAMS annual "Outstanding achievement" award is also named after him.

[4Vman]

If we're going to delve into the wider areas of motorsport then what about Chad Reed? Stephan Gall? Max Dumsey? Brooke Tatnell?
There are influential people in all forms of motorsport, its hard to compare them versus other forms, each was important to their own sport, regardless of its national profile or popularity.

[ebxr8240]

The speedway bike guys...The Aussies ALWAYS do well in Europe, winning most titles but never seem to get a mention in their home country...

[Racecraft]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

The speedway bike guys...The Aussies ALWAYS do well in Europe, winning most titles but never seem to get a mention in their home country...

Thats why Jason Crump got a start in my list.. 2004 and 06 WC and always there abouts..

[xbgs351]

Out of interest does anybody even know who Ron Tauranac is? Garrie Cooper, Brian Shead?

[bathurst77]

Allan Moffat is Australian.
He has lived here about 40 years and got his citizenship about 10 years ago.

That makes him as Australian as anyone.
In fact maybe more so, because unlike many people who were born here he made deliberate decision to become australian.
(speaking as an overseas born australian citizen myself)

[bathurst77]

My list... (in not order)

1 J Brabham
2 F Gardiner
3 A Moffat
4 P Brock
5 B Jane
6 C Bond
7 L Perkins
8 H Firth
9 R Taurenac
10 G Cooper (or whoever was behind the Repco and Cooper racing engines)

[BA GT-HO]

Sir Jack, built his own car then went and won the World Championship in it!

Good topic.

[melbzetec]

It illustrates there are a lot of "younger" guys on the Forum.

Some of those older names (apart from Jack Brabham) possibly mean nothing to many forum members, yet there influence on Australian Motorsport is enormous...much more than some of today's "popular" drivers, or people who won a lot of races

I'm thinking of names like Firth, Gibson, Schuppan

[lavenlaar]

Garrie Cooper was behind the Elfin Cars

[XAGSV8]

This is my list in no order.

Peter Brock - 9 Bathurst wins and known by everybody.
Norm Beechey - No particular reason, just liked his Monaro.
Bob Jane - First man to win Bathurst.
Dick Johnson - Privateer who kicked *** in the 80's.
Harry Firth - The cubic inchs comment.
Allan Moffat - 1977 Bathurst win that put shame on Holden. :
Craig Lowndes - Big hit straight out of the box.
Marcus Ambrose - Turning Fords fortunes around.
John Goss - No particular reason. Just liked his car (XA).
Mark Skaife - Not a fan but credit where it is due.

[xbgs351]

Originally Posted by BA GT-HO

Sir Jack, built his own car then went and won the World Championship in it!

Good topic.

That is a bit simplistic. Heard of Motor Racing Developments Ltd? Know what the 'T' stands for in 'BT Brabham'?

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Gardner only won because Mick broke his leg, he was miles in front of WG before it.

wayne garnder won the title in 1987. the year mick broke his leg was 1992 when wayne rainey won the title.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

wayne garnder won the title in 1987. the year mick broke his leg was 1992 when wayne rainey won the title.

Yes, my mistake, Mick was 65 points in the lead when he broke his leg in 92".

[gtxb67]

jack brabham no. 1
in no particular order
paul hawkins
bob jane
norm beechey
frank matich
allan moffat
peter brock
peter janson
gregg hansford
wayne gardner

i am only listing drivers/riders from f1, touring cars, world motor cycling
jack and paul were the pioneers for aust. in f1
bob, norm and frank were before my time but seem to have made racing more popular
moff and brock made racing more acceptable to the masses
moff and peter janson were at the top of getting more sponsors involved
gregg and wayne helped to start the wave of aust. motor cycling champions

obviously just my opinion and some of my theories will be flawed, but but i feel they all made a difference

[DJR MAN]

#1 - Dick Johnson.
(the rest in no particular order)
Allan Moffat
Marcos Ambrose
Wayne Gardner(motor bike years only)
Doohan
Howard Mardsen
Harry Firth
Loundes
Jack Brabham
Brocky
(especially for those above that successfully represented Australia on the international circuit overseas on the track)

And honestly its damn hard to limit it to 10.
Gregg Hansford
J.Bowe
Fred Gibson
Stormin' Norman
Sentimantal fav is ol' Murry Carter always flew the ford flag.
Big Pete (mustang and Super Falcon)

[gtxb67]

i just lucked it at 10 - did not realise how many i put
harry firth, ian and leo geoghan could easily go in

[gngtho]

Well i voted, but there is two men who no one has mentioned, some of you may think it doesent take tallent to do this but i think it does and put you and your car building skills to the test.

And he brought some excitement to SA thats GARY MYERS and CRISS CHRISTOU, burnout champs......................

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by gngtho

Well i voted, but there is two men who no one has mentioned, some of you may think it doesent take tallent to do this but i think it does and put you and your car building skills to the test.

And he brought some excitement to SA thats GARY MYERS and CRISS CHRISTOU, burnout champs......................

Sorry gngtho, they are fantastic cars, but that is not serious motorsport, it is glorified hooning - nothing more. And I worked where the Springnats are held for years. The judging is exceptionally open to interpretation.