John started racing way, way back in the dark ages, (1984), and since then he has raced in just about every class that Australian racing has to offer. In 1995 he took the plunge and bought a very second hand 1992 model Honda RS 125cc Grand Prix bike, collected a hardy (and often drunken) band of followers and attempted a full season at national level. The '95 season was notable for the amount of time that the bike was in pieces and for the amount of time that John was in the medical centre with broken bones (12 in one season). Team Army Racing finished 14th in the Australian 125cc Title that year (I think they gave the team points for neatness and originality.)

The 1996 season was better. John was sitting in 9th place in the title chase when gravity again caught up with him and he had a huge highside while in 10th place at the Western Australian round of the title. His injuries included a fractured skull, a broken knee cap and a broken wrist. This was the end of John's Grand Prix racing forays. The money had dried up and he was sick of seeeing the inside of hospitals and other competitors calling him the Kamikazi Kid and screaming "BANZAI!!!" whenever the team entered the circuit.

The 1997 season was a non-event as John was recovering from his 1996 injuries. Gavin Porteous (4 time Aussie Sidecar Champ) convinced him to have a ride with Gav's former passenger Scott Deslandes at the last round of the Aussie Titles at Mallala Raceway in South Australia. They finished 10th. The end result was that now John was hooked on Sidecar Racing and couldn't wait to buy his own bike. The only thing that he could afford though was a cantankerous dinosaur, that first tasted racing way back in 1972. A heart transplant of a Kawasaki GPZ 1000RX was soon making this old girl lift up her skirts and run with the youngsters. The old girl has been nicknamed "The Devil's Shopping Trolley" as it always wants to go where it damn well pleases.

1998..... the saga continues. John convinces one of his soldiers, Private Dave Hille that he should quit wanting to live forever and give passengering a go. He does and the rest is as they say.... history. Dave has never been in any other form of motorsport and thinks that this is a great way to pick up women. Since then Team Army Racing (the Sidecar bit that is) has raced, crashed and blew its way up on a very steep learning curve. Already planning a "Don Quixote" type of effort on next year's Australian Championships, but hopefully with a newer machine.

Stay Tuned.