Di's Story

My dad was a fitter in the QLD Railway all his working life, so I grew up around someone that made EVERYTHING! My mum was the same, sewing, cooking, gardening and helping Dad and vice versa. He fixed cars, he could weld, made furniture, painting, brickwork etc., you name it – he had a go at doing it and if he didn’t know how, he’d find someone to help him learn. That’s the way it was back then. 

As the eldest child, I can remember helping dad work on his FJ Holden with my first plastic tool set. I grew up passing the tools to Dad as did my two younger brothers. We would hear dad call out, “can you come and hold this” or “can you pass me that”. 

I used to love pumping the brakes as dad bled the brakes, steering the car in the back yard as Dad and others pushed. This happened regularly for 10 years when Dad was racing Speedway. Saturday nights were great fun. After all the preparation on the cars, there were 3 in our neighbourhood, all on very low budgets, we could go watch those cars “go round and round”. The senses would go wild! The smells, the noise, the dirt, the damage, the rollovers, the passes, the repairs, the rivals, the stories, the friendships...

We also watched Bathurst with great interest every year. If there was other sport on, it was a rush to get home to catch up. We were never allowed to sit ALL day in front of the TV but once older I could. :) Mum worked for a car dealership and workshop for years. They sold Volvo, Subaru, Daihatsu and used cars. Here began my love for Subarus and I wanted to be a mechanic.

I loved checking the new cars in the showroom and walking through the workshop after hours. I wanted to learn more but it was rare to find female mechanics. I remember questioning my strength and my dad was protective of females in a male dominated workplace. I think he was more concerned by what I might hear haha, I don’t know.

I learnt to drive in my parents 69 Torana (red with a white roof I think) but I definitely remember the rusty holes in the floor, which we called the air conditioning. It was Dad’s run around car for work. I was so keen to drive, and received 100% on my written test and passed my practical first go. I was so nervous sitting beside the Police Officer! My first car was a white 74 Galant, 2nd car a white 74 Gemini, 3rd car a pale yellow 85 Charade. More about the first two later…

I envied my male friends with nice cars especially V8s, my uncle owned a “Violet Crumble” GT Falcon and I always wanted my own, preferably a Monaro or Torana.

Years later in the late 80’s to early 90’s, I got the bug again. I requested and received an application for entry level female racing. I also considered speedway but funding and support are crucial so I let it slide. On special occasions, I loved the recreation go karts and so did the rest of the family. Fast forward to 49 years of age and the bucket list was always in the back of my mind.

I was always encouraging my kids to develop their driving skills, now that they also have their licenses. We all attended Mt Cotton Defensive Driving, which I’ll speak about in another post.

I asked my son if he’d be keen for the V8 Experience at Queensland Raceway as a birthday present, silly question haha. 

Since then, I’ve attended Rallycross Sprints, Street Sprints at QLD Raceways and Lakeside, I’m a CAMS Member, Ipswich West Moreton Auto Club Member, iRacing Member, completed a half day Rallyschool course and have volunteered with the 2018 Dare to Be Different program.

I continue to love and follow all types of Motorsport!

If you’re interested in learning more about me or how I can help you, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love to meet likeminded people within and outside of the industry.