About Motorsport Retro

Motorsport Retro is an online publication celebrating classic motorsport. The site offers daily doses of vintage motorsport action. That means classic machines, events, design, riders and drivers of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Everything on the site is here because we love it. We are all infected by the motorsport disease and petrol runs in our blood. We love the sounds, the smell, the speed. We share a passion for those special motorsport moments, the glorious hand built machines and the gutsy riders and drivers that defined a special period in motorsport history.

I get lots of questions about this site: here are the answers to the most common ones.

The Motorsport Retro FAQ

Who are you and where are you based?

My name is Rich Fowler and I live in Sydney, Australia, with my wife and two children. I have lived in Australia all my life. I live near the beach, which is great if you like surfing, but I prefer motor racing.  It certainly makes for a long drive to the racetrack. You can contact me at rich@motorsportretro.com

What do you race?

I race anything on two or four wheels. I currently campaign a recently restored 1984 Kawasaki KX250 in Vintage Motorcross events. I ride a 1985 Honda TLR 200 twinshock in Trials and when I can, I pilot a rather special 1970 Porsche 911 in sprints, track days and the Targa Tasmania. I spend a lot of time in my garage tinkering on bikes with my mates. My collection includes a1983 Suzuki RM125, a 1998 Yamaha YZ400F, a 2008 Yamaha WR450, a Scorpa SY250 and my sons OSET 12.5 electric bike. I love to sample as much machinery as possible and through the site I hope to be able to try some other disciplines and share the experience on Motorsport Retro

What is your background?

My motorsport addiction began when I first rode a dirtbike at  four years old. I rode mini bikes and won a few state and national championships, finished school then kicked off a career in media. My first real job was at Autosport Magazine in the ad sales department. From there  I went on to work for Motor, Auto Action, Australian Motorcycle News. Along the way I  met guys like Henry Hope-Frost and Darryl Flack who now contribute to Motorsport Retro.

I quit the media business and sold my car to go Formula Ford racing at 22. Like most young drivers I dreamed of being a professional racer and being World Champion. The highlight of my career was winning the opening round of the 1996 Australian Formula Ford Championship and racing against guys like Mark Webber, Marcos Ambrose, Garth Tander, Jason Bright, Jason Bargwanna and Todd Kelly. Between them these guys have won six Grand Prix, three V8 Supercar Championships and four Bathurst 1000s.

By 1997 I had run our of money, desire and talent and my short racing career was over. I then found myself in the digital advertising business at the start of the internet boom in 1998. I worked with some very clever and inspirational people like advertising superstars Jason Scott and David Jones at places like Euro RSCG, NetX  and One Digital. My most recent stint in the ad game was as business director for Publicis Mojo (Publicis Digital) back in 2008. I was proud to work on some great campaigns during my time in digital advertising. Not much of it is still live these days, but I did learn a lot working for global brands like Dell, HP, Virgin, HSBC, Mother, Lion Nathan, Toyota, Hyundai and Wild Turkey to name a few.

Is Motorsport Retro your full-time job?

No, I publish the site in my spare time, in the evenings, and at weekends.  These days I’m sort of semi-retired and an enthusiastic Dad. I look after my kids a couple of day a week,  pick them up from kindy and hang out and go riding with them during their holidays. The rest of the time I deliver special projects like this one for Single Origin Roasters or this one for the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival. In 2011 I’ll be working hard on Motorsport Retro and aiming to deliver a couple of  projects for brands with motorsport heritage.

Read Rich’s stories here

Who are the other writers and contributors?

Henry Hope-Frost

If it moves and makes a noise, it gets my vote. That just about sums up my lifelong, all-encompassing passion for motorsport and its history. With a former BMC engineer and amateur racer/rally driver for a father it’s hardly a surprise. In fact, my great grandparents were regular visitors to Brooklands, so the seeds of my interest were sown long ago. School was a waste of time – as long as I could devour Autosport each week, I was happy. That the world’s oldest and best-known motorsporting weekly became my vocation – and remains so – is particularly poignant. Growing up in a house once occupied by original magazine benefactor and Connaught Grand Prix driver Dennis Poore seemed to help!

For the past 16 years I have been fortunate to contribute to many leading print and on-line media, and to join the television, radio and public address broadcast/commentary teams at international and national race and rally events around the world.

Read Henry’s stories here

Don Cox

Don Cox had his first taste of motorcycling as pillion on the family’s sole motorised transport, his father’s Velocette. In his early teens, he read everything he could find on bike and car racing in the local library, and has been an avid researcher ever since.

Inspired by the 1976 Australian TT at Laverton and Australian GP at Bathurst, he wrote his first motorcycle-racing story for his uni newspaper. A fellow student saw that and suggested he write for REVS Motorcycle News – and he did.

Don began race reporting in 1977, so he met key players including Valentino Rossi’s race engineer Jeremy Burgess when they were racing. In 1979, he made his version of the Grand Tour, taking in the Daytona 200, the Isle of Man TT and five GPs.

He co-authored Australian Motorcycle Heroes 1949-89 with Will Hagon and wrote The Aussies And 2NZ Blokes in 1997.

A third book, Circus Life: Australian Motorcycle Racers In Europe In The 1950s, is in production.

Read Don’s stories here

Andy Hallbery

Born in London, Andy went to his first Grand Prix in 1974 aged seven. That was at Brands Hatch. Using the twinkle in his eye, he persuaded his parents that the next three summer holidays should evolve around Grands Prix. So it was that age eight he went to Zolder, age nine Zandvoort, and age 10 Hockenheim. It’s fairly clear that the bug had already bitten. After leaving school, he spent two brilliant summers travelling Europe with friends and camping at as many Grands Prix as possible.

There had to come a point where money needed to be earned rather than spent, and on his final day of college doing reprographics, design and journalism (which was spent largely reading Autosport), a job as editorial assistant was advertised in the magazine. He got the job, and six years later, became editor. There’s nothing like being paid to do a hobby.

Since then he has edited the Official Grand Prix programmes for Formula 1, books for West McLaren, magazines for Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, Toyota and countless other F1 and touring car special projects, as well as being editor of Autosport and ITV-F1 websites.

In 2001, he move to California to edit America’s premier motorpsort title, RACER, and was also editor of the CART Champ Car website. Finally, after 22 wonderful years with Haymarket, he went freelance, eventually moving back to the UK, most recently as editor and contributor to the Official FIA World Touring Car Championship and Intercontinental Rally Challenge Yearbooks, as well as some exciting new book projects – and of course has a wealth of stories ready for Motorsport Retro!

Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images.

Eric Johnson

A veteran of the Los Angeles ad wars a youngster, in 1998 Eric ultimately left the storyboards and copywriting behind to help start the motocross magazine Racer X Illustrated with visionary Davey Coombs. In the next years, they would grow Racer X before Johnson left to perform project work in motor racing and action sports. Now, he serves as the Global Communications Director of Monster Energy while maintaining the role of Senior Contributor with his comrades at Racer X. Johnson lives in Laguna Niguel, California with wife Julie and daughters Natasha (10) and Eleanor (6).

Read Eric’s stories here

Graham Dalley

I’ve been taking photographs since I was 8 years old, the first time I combined motor racing was back in 1983 when I hitch hiked to Brands Hatch for the Formula One Grand Prix of Europe, this was my ‘field of dreams’ moment, I realised this was where I wanted to be.

I made my first foray trackside in 1994 after taking a portfolio to the offices of Autosport, where they must have liked something, as I received media passes for the 1994 Formula Ford Festival. I’ve been going trackside since then and have photographed more or less every racing series you can think of from Formula Ford to F1, Touring cars to trucks and super karts to Super Bikes.

My favourite venues are Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Goodwood, each of which present a different challenge photographically. Influences on my style of work include Rainer W Schlegelmilch the Master F1 Photographer. I also greatly admire the work of Bernard Asset, Pascal Rondeau, Jeff Bloxham, Darren Heath and Bernard Cahier.

Read Graham’s stories here

Nick Garton

Nick Garton has been a PR, journalist, author, photographer, broadcaster, team manager and championship manager through 20 years in motor sport – often simultaneously.  He has covered touring cars, F1 and World Rally Championship for national newspapers and magazines in the UK, France, Italy, Finland, Russia, USA, Australia, Japan and Middle East and written two best-selling books on the sport.

His greatest claim to fame is the rapturous applause given by more than 20,000 people on the 1996 RAC Rally – when the marshals mistook him for Stig Blomqvist and sent his car over the ramp in third place.

His favourite places to be are Maranello, Monza and the Cote d’Azur – unless it’s sunny at Goodwood. Don’t ask him what his favourite cars are unless you’ve a week to spare, but his biggest heroes are former BMC and Ford team manager Stuart Turner, Sir Stirling Moss and Jean Alesi.

Read Nick’s stories here

Art Michalik

Art started his career at On Track and Sports Car Graphics magazine before moving to the dark side (marketing). Art continued to work within the automotive industry and now writes about classic motorsports in his free time.

Read Art’s stories here

Paul Laguette

Paul is a passionate graphic designer/Illustrator with 25 plus years of working experience in the automotive, motorcycle and motorsport industries. There isn’t a major motorsport arena that Paul hasn’t worked with, from F1, IndyCar, ChampCar, American Le Mans Series to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge­ and MotoGP . His graphic designs, logos and illustrative works have been published in major automotive magazines, motorsports books and racing programs worldwide. His accomplishments include designing the current Watkins Glen logo, Daytona 500 logos, the American Le Mans Series logo and the SCCA Pro Racing logo. Paul’s technical illustrations have also graced the pages of RACER Magazine, the Official Formula One year books, Indy 500 and the Red Bull US MotoGP race programs. See Paul’s fabulous work here

Read Pauls stories here

James Meale

Like so many enthusiasts, my Father introduced me to motorsport. Dad and several close friends were motorsport officials, so my love affair began on the safer side of the Armco. This was 1970’s Sydney; my earliest memories are of Warwick Farm, Oran Park, Amaroo Park and Bathurst. Growing up with access to restricted areas, course car rides and after event barbecues with all the heroes of the day was an absolute privilege. A towering pile of Dad’s Racing Car News magazines and Alan Jones success broadened my fascination and passion for the sport – F1 in particular.

During my 20 year career in advertising I have been fortunate to work with and meet many motorsport identities – particularly two heroes of mine, Sir Jack Brabham and Norm Beechey. I have been personally responsible for the creative behind motorsport branding and advertising, marketing material, team merchandise and race car livery design for many high profile Australian teams, categories and events.

I love the sport in all its forms and all eras, but no matter what the category, my most pure, hard core infatuation for motorsport begins in 1966 and ends in 1986 – Motorsport Retro territory!

Read James’s stories here

Derek Hanbidge

‘The year 1967, my first motorcycle, my first camera and it all fitted in nicely with Hailwood vs Ago in the Senior TT, after all that first bike was a Honda just like Mike’s! More motorcycles, a passion for the Castrol 6 Hour series, truly it was all happening, Laverton, Lakeside, Oran and Amaroo Park, Surfers International, anywhere there was a major meeting, I was there.

Taking a sabbatical from photography, I pursued a long term career in CAD Drafting and Electrical Design. A mandatory visit to the Isle of Man Centenary TT of 2007 was the catalyst to rejuvenate my passion for motor sport photography and my Electrical background dovetailed in nicely with the emergence of ZEV Racing, TTXGP, TTZero and KERS. Entering 2011, the camera is a lot smarter, the TT is a must visit annually and I regularly report and photograph WSBK and MotoGP events at Phillip Island. A recent visit to the Goodwood Revival has witnessed a ‘change of focus’, attendance at the inaugural Victorian Concourse d’Elegance, Tasman Revival and visits to Motor Museums around the world has cranked the interest dramatically in Historic Racing, be they two, three or four wheeled machines.

You can see more of my photography here

John Shingleton

I’m now retired and live in Terrigal, NSW, Australia. I saw my first motor race at the Crystal Palace Circuit (UK)  in 1956. Since then have been lucky enough to have seen races all over the world and I have been a taking photos at the track since 1958 . I worked for 40 years in the motor industry in the UK and Australia with Jaguar, Peugeot, Land Rover and Harley-Davidson. I have competed in a Mini Cooper and various Porsches in numerous events including the Targa Tasmania. I love Le Mans and I am a Porsche enthusiast . I like  travel, France, historic racing, Le Mans, Porsches, my wonderful Canon G9, Leicas, cats, our fabulous house and the Airbus A380. I dislike V8 Supercars, NASCAR , modern Formula 1 ,Bernie Ecclestone and people with extremist views both left and right.

You can see more of my photography on my website called the Rolling Road here

Read John’s stories here

Ray Fowler

When I was a school kid in the late ‘40s growing up in the little town of Narrabri, New South Wales, I saved up to buy the English ‘Motor’ and ‘Autocar’ magazines. I even spent 5 GBPs (that was a lot of money then!) to buy a membership in the BRM Supporters’ Club. When I came to Sydney to study, I went to every motor race event I could. This always meant going by public transport and walking to the track, and sometimes sleeping in strange places. I went to Parramatta Park, and saw Stan Jones and the Maybach, and then Jack Brabham in the Cooper Bristol at Gnoo Blas near Orange. I ventured to Warwick Farm to watch Stirling Moss and Piers Courage, and saw races at Mt Druitt and Bathurst. In those days, there were lots of home-made specials mixing it with the classic cars of Europe. Later, my motorsport embraced whatever my sons were doing. We did the small-bore bikes and then Formula Ford. In the ‘90s, the first Porsche arrived and I have since had two others. The current 911 is a supercharged 3.0 litre. I’ve been the Editor of the Porsche Club NSW’s magazine Porsche Power for 12 years, and I have always had a passion for the history of this great sport.

Read Ray’s stories here

Mel Turbutt

It was being given the Corgi model of the Shark Nosed Ferrari F1 car for my fifth birthday that sparked my interest in motorsport. I was an ardent Autosport reader before I left school and I was still able to get my fix, even when serving abroad in the Royal Air Force.

By the time I left the RAF to join the fire service, I had passed the driving test and was a regular spectator. In 1982 I drove a race car for the first time courtesy of the Jim Russell racing school at Silverstone. It was another ten years before I had the funds to buy an Alfa Sud with which to compete in sprints and hillclimbs. A single seater Jedi followed before I entering the classic class in a 1964 Mini. In 1998 I won the Paul Matty Sportscars Classic Hillclimb Championship.

Retirement from the fire service in 2008 gave me time to indulge in my three differing hobbies, motorsport (only watching these days unfortunately), music and garden railways. My greatest driver heroes were Jim Clark, Ronnie Peterson and Gilles Villeneuve, but Nigel Roebuck must also be ranked in that group as the man who inspired me to have a go at writing.

Read Mel’s stories here

Darryl Flack