Rusty's Garage

The 1980 Formula One World Champion is about to clock up a special birthday so we’re bringing back his Feature Ep to celebrate the milestone.

AJ will be 80 on November the 2nd. We originally spoke with him back in 2022 in the lead up to the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.  

For a time Rusty shared the F1 desk and set at Channel 10 with the great man for the network’s live GP coverage and many of you will fondly remember him alongside the late great Daryl Eastlake at 9 before that. 

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Team 18’s Lee Holdsworth and Isle of Mann TT legend Cam Donald join us for this ep. 

Cam is part of Channel Ten’s Australian Grand Prix on-air team this weekend as Moto bids farewell to the Island.

First up Lee beams in to debrief a brutal finish to the Bathurst 1000 in incredible detail. 

Lethal is measured and showed great leadership as the crew struggled to come to terms with going so close only to lose the Great Race when they cruelly ran out of fuel.

The importance of unity...

With thanks to Oscar and the team at McLaren Rusty continues something of a Singapore tradition of catching up on the eve of the event.

Some reflections of last week’s crazy GP in Malaysia and his decision to pit at a critical moment to change tyres. Even with all the data in this game now drivers making a call like that from the cockpit shows their brilliance.

Coping with heat and humidity for back-to-back weekends and how compressed it is for drivers and teams on a Sprint round like this one.

Rusty is joined by Craig ‘Junior’ Lowndes, former HRT team boss Jeff ‘Hog’ Grech & loyal Brock Lieutenant Graeme ‘Mort’ Brown for this special edition.

A group of colleagues and co-workers who became close friends share their stories of the King of the Mountain. Being in awe of him….what those first meetings were like and the impact he had.

The cars….the co-drivers…..the unforgettable races.

Mentoring Lowndes and the learnings CL carries with him to this day as he prepares for his 33rd start chasing win number 8.

How Brock mellowed in the final years...

His vivid memories of a frightening crash at Lakeside in a Sierra and how he’s since brought that car back to life.

What it was like working with the late greats - Peter Brock and Allan Moffat.

Recollections of passing an “electrical apprenticeship” during the Bathurst 1000.

The joy of racing with his son George and winning some significant races.

Keeping an eye on future talent like Blake Tracey, Rylan Gray (and more) and helping them on the pathway.

Forging ties with Multimatic and becomi...

Growing up in the Apple Isle and being wowed by some absolute heroes of the day at the legendary Longford track.

Borrowing money from his Mum and channeling it into a race car.

Getting into the car business and working in Sydney’s epicenter then on Parramatta Road…the lessons it taught him for the future. 

Chasing the open wheeler dream and going to England only to be told he probably didn’t have enough dough and he should turn around and go back to Australia!

Changing tack to win some big rac...

We’re at Sydney Motorsport Park for this one to chat with the founder of SRO Motorsport Group Stephane Ratel.

The story of how it all started & the incredible footprint they now have around the world.

Why he says they’ve “built the house, now they want to furnish it”.

His impressions of the great work being done in Australia as the headline act of the Shannon’s Speed Series.

Plus the global growth of GT4, the signing of former F1 Race Director Michael Masi and much more.

We sat in a co...

Rusty headed to Wellington for this one for the announcement that Race of Champions is coming back down under for two shows in January 2027.

It’s the first time since the inception of ROC that the event will be staged in New Zealand.

The boss, Fredrik Johnsson, who founded ROC back in 1988 with rally legend Michele Mouton, talks to us about signing F1 stars Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas….why it didn’t take much arm twisting!

Plus the other names he’s chasing and the convos he’s having to ensure its a blockbus...

This ep was recorded on Father’s Day 2026 & TM is in great form as we launch into part 2 of a collection of his business & motorsport memories.

Going with his gut on a big freight or transport deal with the Kelly’s.

How time ‘wounds all heals’, that’s not a typo, I let Terry explain.

A shortlived Bathurst win for Paul in the 90’s and watching on as his son finally climbed that Mountain with Chaz Mostert & Ford in 2014.

Why Sprintca...

Leaving school at a young age but always being industrious and with an eye for opportunity.

Becoming a member of the Gippsland Car Club and helping to build the Morwell Hill Climb.

Earning enough to buy a rare beauty - a Zephsca (pictured).

Racing the Sandown 500 in an HD Holden and convincing the local dealer that it would help them sell cars.

Riding shotgun with his son Paul well before ‘The Dude’ won Bathurst and what that GC Speedway expe...

From swimming to singing and ultimately ending up managing the internationally respected Race Driver Training complex on the Gold Coast.

The opportunities she saw as Paul Morris championed the brand and now working with all sorts of manufacturers right round Australia.

School runs with a young Broc Feeney and Nash Morris and using her love of elite sport and PT qualifications to improve the fitness of some of Supercars biggest names.

Learning to waterski with Anton De Pasquale, coping with knock-backs and why Carina is a firm believer that “success leaves clues”.

W...

Code Sports’ Matt Hickey is back on the pod ahead of Round 13.
What are Kimi Antonelli’s chances of winning at home, or will the Tifosi get a Ferrari fairytale?
Lando Norris is in hot form as McLaren aims to turn up the heat on the Scuderia in the chase for second in the Constructors’ Championship.
Has Liam Lawson done enough to keep his place on the F1 grid next year? Rusty reckons he has.
Is Aston finally on the improve, plus the silly season that, so far, isn’t that silly.
Some Oscar Piastri...

Rusty is in rally mode for this one catching up with an Aussie Off-Road legend and a Kiwi WRC star.

Fresh from Rally Tasmania a week ago Toby headed over the ditch to contest round 4 of the New Zealand Rally Championship.

How much he’s enjoying playing in both series and some insights on the different cars he’s driving.

You can find out more about the growing GR Yaris Rally Cup in New Zealand here: https://www.facebook.com/GRYarisRallyCupNZ?

The decision, around the time of the pandemic, to buy a team, why he was ready and relished the new challenge.

Working with the Kelly’s and Ford as they set out to build a leading outfit in the ultra competitive Supercars pit lane and why he believes they are not there yet.

Reflections on his drivers Kai Allen and what makes him so good.

Negotiating speed humps with the brilliant Matt Payne and why their direct relationship is still tight.

A long form feature interview like this is something new for the Penrite Racing team owner & we’re delighted he’s joined us in the Garage studio.

Building golf courses in the early days including one for the Sultan of Brunei.

A window into his success mindset - stopping to savour the 2025 Bathurst 1000 win isn’t something he did for too long, it’s the same in business.

Going back to Uni while juggling a young family and diving in to what would quietly become a huge business covering modular construction, equipment hire, property...

The Australian Speedway great amassed 10 national Sprintcar titles during his decorated career.
Recorded in 2019 many fans may not realise that ‘Rushy’ is in our library.

This relaxed and candid convo remains a personal and professional highlight of Rusty’s career having captured Garry’s autograph as a young fan, something Greg has kept to this day.We also talk Speedcars, racing in the US, a frightening crash in the States and a little known chapter in single seaters that briefly took him to the UK with a loose plan to eventually get to Formula 1. Garry recently...

Originally from Adelaide but beaming in from his base in LA now Miguel talks about how a childhood love of sport, admiration for athletes and early collecting habits that started him on this journey.

The teenage trip to America that opened his eyes to the memorabilia business while hoping to meet and watch the legendary Michael Jordan play.

Being trusted by Muhammad Ali for a decade and the surreal moment with him on Mick Doohan’s boat ‘My Way’ on Sydney Harbour during the 2000 Olympic Games.

Working with ‘Mighty Mick’ and getting some of his fir...

How he frames the highs and lows (with the benefit of time now) at DJR.

The standard SVG and Scott McLaughlin lifted the sport too just as he was hitting his straps in Supercars.

Mentoring and paying it forward by working with the likes of Broc Feeney in his early days and more.

Regularly spending time at Team 18 HQ and hanging out with the crew (even when they’re not racing) for things like padel and cycling.

And the working bond he’s forged with engineer Andrew “Donner...

Starting karts later than others but catching up real fast!

Learning from people like Michael Ritter in Formula Ford and finding his way onto Larko’s (Mark Larkham) radar.

Heading to Europe to race Formula Renault in 2014 and scoring 7 wins, plus another 2 in the non-championship Nurburgring races, on the way to the title.

Some memories of racing at legendary places including Spa, Assen, Zolder and Zandvoort.

Changing tack and coming back to Australia to try his hand at Super 2 and how a key day with Paul Morris at...

Discussing his revolutionary online platform that harnesses clever tech to help event organisers as well as participants and ultimately fans.
Tom is a familiar face in the Australian Rally Championship. We talk about that passionate pursuit, some of the success he’s enjoyed there and how he saw opportunity within the sport.
The learnings from another industry, applying it Motorsport and how it can work in a variety of disciplines.
Plus taking it beyond Aussie shores and applying it to other codes all while still pulling the helmet on to enjoy the purity of what got hi...

It’s not that long since we spoke to the great man on the pod!

Back in July 1980, he was part of a 500cc Grand Prix-winning team in Belgium with a young Randy Mamola. It was Randy’s first premier-class victory and the first of many for JB.

Graziano Rossi was in that same race. Years later, JB would become crew chief for his son, Valentino, who became one of the sport’s all-time greats, a rider synonymous with the number 46.

Recorded in 2018, less than an hour from Adelaide (which will call the Austra...

Twisting Brad Jones arm to race an Audi in the Australian Super Touring Championship but falling in love with the rival BMW.

Taking on a motorsport tyre distributorship for Michelin and BF Goodrich and expanding the footprint into New Zealand and Asia.Bringing a Toyota Racing Series car to Australia in the hopes of broadening the successful Kiwi series to our side of the pond.And giving Neal Bates and Simon Evan’s the keys to the TRS car at Oran Park.Plus the BMW he tracked down and his plans (maybe) to take it to some ra...

There are so many stories in our sport…not just those that take home the silverware.
Trevor Sheumack has been a bit of a constant for decades in various forms of Motorsport but his story isn’t limited to just Australia. 

His likeable nature and co-do approach to things saw him land roles with teams in Europe off the back of engineering his own cars at home. Learning valuable business lessons (outside of Motorsport) in his early 20’s that are still relevant now to being spellbound by rally cars in country NSW as a kid.
Hitchhik...

Rusty is joined by Code Sport’s Matt Hickey for a GP convo that could have been fueled by a Schnitty and some Apfelstrudel!
George Russell is back in the winner’s circle for the first time since Australia. Was he lucky to keep that pole lap?
Toto Wolff’s quote of the week and how Kimi Antonelli drove with real speed and smarts on the way to the podium.
Max Verstappen keeps making the difference and RedBull is pushing to keep him but with the summer break looming will a contractual escape clause be triggered?
Wha...

From last minute driver call ups to team manager take outs this is a snapshot of story lines at the end of another sensational Supercars weekend in the Northern Territory.

How Mark Winterbottom suddenly ended up racing at Hidden Valley while his Tickford stablemate Thomas Randle recovered from a brutal Saturday.

What went wrong for Walkinshaw TWG’s Chaz Mostert almost within sight of the finish - a candid chat with their CEO Bruce Stewart who reckons he needs to work on his poker face.

Penrite Racing’s Stephen Grove joins us for the...

The serious health scare as a youngster and how it made him determined to realise his dreams.

Mortgaging the family home and vital funding coming through while he was on track.

Reality TV wins and putting the suit on for a critical meet with Matt Stone.

Surrounding himself with good people to win Super 2 in a car that was stickered from top to toe.

Timing and the commitment needed to graduate to the big league of Supercars.

Plus the frustrations of having what it takes but not being able...

Why didn’t we do this sooner! Rusty catches up with Bathurst and former Super 2 champion Todd Hazelwood for a gripping convo.

His Dad’s Desert Racing and why “Rusty” traded the bike to Hill Climb a special family car.

Todd begins his own racing journey on dirt and is immediately hooked.

Moving to bitumen and coming up against a young Cam Waters and Anton de Pasquale.

Making ends meat….that’s not a typo….how Todd and the family began Sausage Sizzle fundraising to keep the dream alive.

Formula Ford l...

Max Papis is a racing legend through sheer determination and his early grasp of forming lasting commercial relationships, made it to F1. By his own admission his time there was brief. And why it almost marked the end of his career as a professional racer.

Plus, the early days growing in the north of Italy, racing karts against lots of great names and the special momento he kept from his friend Ayrton Senna.

This is an epic chat with some good life and racing lessons from a one of the most driven and passionate competitors...

We recorded this one with the final podium of the weekend underway for the Speed Series round at Queensland Raceway and pack down starting.

Ryder Quinn is only in his early 20’s but is now part of the BMW M racing academy.

He has the trademark Quinn family work ethic away from the track but has been round the sport since before he could walk.

Ryder’s late start in the sport, how it came about and the huge learning curve he’s been on since then.

A special helmet he made for...

Conquering the Castrol 6 hour and success in the legendary Swann Series. Making his mark internationally at events like the famous Suzuka 8 hour.

Doing double duty - the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and the Bathurst 1000 - in the same season!
Nearly rolling a Corolla and how it became a national marketing campaign.

Going from Yamaha to Kawasaki and reflections on that move now with the benefit of time.
Quitting out of frustration in Japan but not before proving a point.

And how he quietly helped introduce Mick Doohan to some w...

Thanks to all of our loyal listeners who messaged and asked for this one. It’s an overdue chat with a bike racing legend who was just as skillful in Touring Cars.

The unexpected medical benefits of heading west as a youngster and how early experiences with dirt bikes made a powerful impact.

His vivid recollections of the late Gregg Hansford at Waneroo and how he was spellbound by his riding.

The advice from a rival who convinced Dowson’s incredibly supportive parents that he had the right stuff but a mov...

The next two weeks are some of the best on the annual Motorsport calendar with the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 hours of Le Mans.

For this episode of the Brief we have gone right back to season 1 (2018) to bring you a slice of an episode you may not have heard before - Tim Schenken.

Tim is one of only a handful of Aussie’s to race Formula 1 at Monaco and he went on to race sportscars for Ferrari. Working with an emerging Ron Dennis and memories of Bernie Ecclestone, a then relatively new player in...

When the going gets tough….the tough get going as they say!

Finding support from the Day Family in New Zealand and the secret to its longevity.

Spreading his wings to compete abroad and doing double duties between Formula 3 and racing a Lamborghini in Asia.

Stepping up to GT3’s and making it to the big stage against the likes of Valentino Rossi and more.

Why Pro-Am racing is about bringing so much more than just driving talent and how he’s enjoying the chance to share the knowledge now.

SIM...

Growing up at the bottom of the world and the strong Leitch racing genes.

Being round his Dad Barry’s internationally respected Motorsport restoration business and how that ‘hands on’ learning helps to this day.

Getting creative to find the budget to go racing and heading off with props in his backpack after school.

Working at Highlands Motorsport Park and for Scott O’Donnell (now part owner for Walkinshaw TWG Racing) in the early years.

The respect for his brother Damon’s talent and Brendon’s little known cooking skills.

What it w...

Code Sport’s Matt Hickey makes his first appearance on the pod for the year as F1 gets ready to rock Montreal.
Can anyone stop the Kimi Antonelli juggernaut? And how will his Mercedes teammate George Russell respond when he thought it was going to be his year?
The Oscar Piastri/RedBull rumor and the likelihood Max Verstappen will pull up stumps on Formula One given how much he’s enjoying GT racing now.
Could Sir Lewis Hamilton call time on his F1 career at the British Grand Prix.
And the new regs. With time & cont...

Morphing from racer to coach and why his personality was perfect for the role.

The constant thirst for information on how to be a better athlete which gave his academy international acclaim.

Branching out and tackling desert enduros as well as memories of Finke in a milestone year for the race.

A podium in the Castrol 6-hour - a late circuit racing bloom.

Childhood memories of the Sydney Showground Speedway a making the move into Midgets (Speedcars).

A 4-wheel title win and a Sprintcar crash which took its toll.<...

Glory days with his brother Dean on the family property in Sydney’s south roaring around on home made dirt karts and fold up bikes.

How a trip to see legends like Roger De Coster at Oran Park in the early 1970’s left a lasting impression.

Why his Dad wasn’t keen to begin with and where he gets his trademark commitment and determination.

The much loved officials (who were part of the fabric of the sport) that quietly turned a blind eye to allow him to compete in his teens.

And th...

One of the all time greats of Motorsport from the Tasman region is finally on the pod.
Ken Smith has been racing since 1958 and he’s still going!
The family’s love for another kind of horsepower and how Kenny would sometimes hold up the motor racing schedule to check how his horse went.
Competing against (and socializing after) with some absolute legends of the 60’s and early 70’s….Graham Hill, Bruce McLaren, Jimmy Clark, Jack Brabham and many more.
His gravitation to single seater racing and winning the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix for the first...

Awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1987 for services to Motorsport Ken Smith wasn’t about to let that be a book end to his career. There was still so much more he wanted to do.
His eye for talent and the significant help he gave in the background to sure up the future of some modern day stars.
Working with Indycar great Scott Dixon, World Sportscar and Le Mans 24 hour winner Brendon Hartley, 4-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy (in his early days) as well as Shane van...

Rally QLD winner Harry Bates and rookie Jackson Long join us for this edition of the shortcast fresh from the opening round of the EROAD Australian Championship.
Long is part of the expanded two car Pedder’s squad and despite a scary diff issue late on Sunday he really impressed!

How Jackson is adjusting his pace notes with the help of his codriver (his Dad) because of the faster speeds of his new ride, the R5 spec Skoda Fabia.
And the SIM time that’s helped him adapt so quickly.  It’s way better than th...