Allan Moffat Ford Allan Moffat Ford
Image: Ford

The Homebush 500 is suddenly just around the corner. Were you surprised at the success of the inaugural race last year?

“I was there. It certainly had a spectacular take-off. I think it’ll grow and grow. However, there’s another sporting body talking about doing some modifications to the Olympic precinct for an enlarged track and field-focussed area; maybe it won’t be compatible for racing having the circuit being imposed on, but in any case, last year’s event was very successful considering the short period of time the organisers had to make it a success. All the people involved who got Homebush off the ground needed to be patted on the back.”The V8s will launch their 2011 season at Eastern Creek next year with a fan Open Day. Are you a fan of the much-maligned circuit?

“I have to speak with a forked tongue here, as a director of the Australian Racing Drivers Club, which I have been for over a dozen years – so yes and no. It’s not going to hurt to have a ‘Homebush’ and an ‘Eastern Creek’. The Creek is the home of the ARDC; there’s a huge financial investment in it and as such, plans for upgrades to grandstands, etc are in place. Eastern Creek isn’t going to die; it’s going to live in harmonious association with Homebush for a long time. If anything untoward ever did happen with the Homebush event, the people of Sydney should be happy to know there’s an ARDC trying to nurture, maintain and improve Eastern Creek for the next 50 years.”

Your son, James, is a V8 Supercar pilot these days, and Andrew has competed professionally in past years. What’s been your best racing advice to them?

“Very succinctly, not to get their ambitions mixed up with their abilities; if you’re feeling nervous about going through a corner, it’s for a reason – the car isn’t giving you the confidence you need. Also, never start trying to do 110 per cent behind the wheel when you only have a ‘90 per cent’ car.”

You must’ve noticed some howling errors from regular road-users in your time?

“We do have one problem in Australia – the vast distances we have to travel to get from city to city. The authorities, in good faith, have restricted the speed limit to 100-110, and travelling at 110 over a long drive from say, Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane, is very tiring when attempting it in one hike. The potential to fall asleep is so high, and the ramifications of that are frightening.”

– James Smith