Sam Shahin | Part 1 - growing up a refugee before a fresh start in Australia
About this episode
Sam Shaheen shares his inspiring journey from a refugee background to becoming a major figure in South Australia's motorsport scene. He discusses the vision and challenges behind creating The Bend Motorsport Park on former Mitsubishi proving grounds, highlighting his persistence, extensive research, and global learning to build a world-class facility. The episode also touches on the Shaheen family's business empire, their motorsport involvement, and the upcoming MotoGP street race in Adelaide, marking a new era for Australian motorcycle racing.
You’ll know Sam & the Shahin name from the incredible complex they’ve created in South Australia - The Bend Motorsport Park.
This is an incredible story of a family leaving its war torn homeland for what they hoped would be a better life down under.
An ad for a service station & how it leapt out at Sam’s father - the beginning of a dynasty in this space built on the back of hard work, vision & drive.
How Sam left a promising career in medicine to work in the family business & the lengths he went to ‘tool up’ for the role.
Where the idea for The Bend came from, the process to get it over the line, and the journey of discovery that took him right round the world to understand the best way to build it.
From the moment Sam candidly begins speaking you’ll be drawn into this conversation and he kindly shares details of his life and how it lead to Motorsport (in his 40’s) that aren’t widely known.
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MotoGP World Championship
"a man who played a key role in helping the state of South Australia secure a round of the MotoGP World Championship. Huge news that broke here just last week."
MotoGP is a top motorcycle racing competition where the fastest bikes race on special tracks. It's like the Formula 1 of motorcycle racing.
MotoGP World Championship is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the FIM. It features the fastest and most advanced prototype motorcycles and is considered the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.
OTR
"and a chain of OTRs on the run servers"
OTR is a popular group of gas stations and shops in South Australia where people can buy fuel and snacks.
OTR is a chain of service stations and convenience stores primarily located in South Australia. They are known for fuel retailing and associated convenience services.
GT Racing
"I've dealt with Sam and his brother Yasser who've competed for years in Porsche Carrera Cup and GT Racing respectively"
GT Racing is a type of car racing where fast sports cars race on tracks, showing off their speed and handling.
GT Racing refers to Grand Touring car racing, a motorsport category featuring high-performance sports cars and grand tourers competing on road courses. It includes various classes and championships worldwide.
Porsche Carrera
"...d his brother Yasser who've competed for years in Porsche Carrera Cup and GT Racing respectively and our listeners..."
The Porsche Carrera RS is a special sports car made for racing and fast driving. It's lighter and more powerful than regular cars, which helps it go faster on race tracks. People who love racing often talk about it because it's very good at what it does.
The Porsche Carrera RS is a high-performance variant of the Porsche 911, renowned for its lightweight construction and track-focused engineering. It holds a significant place in motorsport history, especially in racing series like the Porsche Carrera Cup, making it a favorite among enthusiasts and professional racers alike.
The Bend Motorsport Park
"and our listeners here on Rusty's Garage will of course know the incredible motorsport complex created about an hour from the Adelaide CBD, the Bend Motorsport Park."
The Bend Motorsport Park is a big place near Adelaide where people race cars on different types of tracks and even have a hotel there.
The Bend Motorsport Park is a major motorsport complex near Adelaide, Australia, featuring multiple race tracks, rally courses, a drag strip, and a hotel. It hosts various motorsport events and is a key venue in Australian racing.
rally courses
"There's rally courses and now a world class American spec drag racing facility."
Rally courses are special tracks that can be on dirt or mixed surfaces where cars race one at a time to see who is fastest.
Rally courses are off-road or mixed-surface tracks designed for rally racing, where drivers race against the clock on varied terrain. These courses test driver skill and vehicle durability in challenging conditions.
American spec drag racing facility
"There's rally courses and now a world class American spec drag racing facility."
An American spec drag racing facility is a straight track where cars race in a straight line to see who is fastest, built to American rules.
An American spec drag racing facility is a drag strip built to the standards used in the United States for straight-line acceleration races, typically a quarter-mile or eighth-mile long, hosting drag racing events.
Mitsubishi Motors
"I do some media training for Mitsubishi Motors HQ just down the road here in Adelaide from time to time."
Mitsubishi Motors is a company that makes cars. They have factories and places to test cars in different countries, including Australia.
Mitsubishi Motors is a Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing a range of vehicles including SUVs, sedans, and electric cars. They have had manufacturing and testing facilities worldwide, including in Australia.
proving ground
"Am I right in saying the bend? That was the old proving ground for them. How did it come about that you would take this vision and make it a reality in that area?"
A proving ground is a special place where car companies test their cars to make sure they work well and are safe before selling them.
A proving ground is a dedicated testing facility where automakers evaluate vehicle performance, durability, and safety under controlled conditions. These facilities often include various test tracks and specialized equipment.
car manufacturing in Australia
"Yes, well, I mean, I grew up in Adelaide and the era through the 80s and 90s when car manufacturing was alive and thriving in Australia. And, you know, we had the Holden plant and Mitsubishi had a quite an extensive manufacturing plant here at Tonsley."
Making cars in Australia used to be a big business in the 80s and 90s, with big factories where cars were built. Now, there are fewer of these factories.
Car manufacturing in Australia was a significant industry during the 1980s and 1990s, with major plants operated by companies like Holden and Mitsubishi. However, the industry has largely declined since then.
racetrack
"And I'd been the notion of building a racetrack at the time was always in the back of my mind. I'd been to several racetracks around Australia."
A racetrack is a special road or course made for car races. Drivers race their cars around it to see who is fastest.
A racetrack is a specially designed circuit or course where motor racing events take place. It can vary in length and complexity, and is used for competitive racing, testing, and driver training.
Malala
"I'd been to Malala, of course, he many, many times and had many, many a conversation with the late Clem Smith, legendary Clem Smith, who had single-handedly held up motorsport in South Australia for almost 40 years."
Malala is a race track in South Australia where people race cars and have motorsport events.
Malala is a motorsport circuit located in South Australia, known for hosting various racing events and being a central hub for the local motorsport community.
Winton
"But as a participant, not as with an eye of a developer or trying to learn not only how a Sydney Motorsport Park or a Phillip Island or a Sanddown or a Winton or one Roo race."
Winton is a race track in Australia where different car races happen, from local to national events.
Winton Motor Raceway is a motor racing circuit located in Victoria, Australia, known for hosting various motorsport events including club racing and national championships.
Sydney Motorsport Park
"But as a participant, not as with an eye of a developer or trying to learn not only how a Sydney Motorsport Park or a Phillip Island or a Sanddown or a Winton or one Roo race."
Sydney Motorsport Park is a race track in Australia where cars and motorcycles race. It's a popular place for motorsport events.
Sydney Motorsport Park is a well-known motor racing circuit located in Eastern Creek, New South Wales, Australia. It hosts various motorsport events including car and motorcycle racing.
Sandown
"But as a participant, not as with an eye of a developer or trying to learn not only how a Sydney Motorsport Park or a Phillip Island or a Sanddown or a Winton or one Roo race."
Sandown is a race track in Australia where cars race, including long-distance and touring car races.
Sandown Raceway is a motor racing circuit located in Melbourne, Australia, hosting various motorsport events such as touring car races and endurance races.
Mark Webber
"Mick Dorn and Mark Webber were absolute legends. They still are legends, of course."
Mark Webber is a famous race car driver from Australia who competed in top-level car races like Formula 1. Many people know him because he was very good at racing.
Mark Webber is a retired Australian professional racing driver known for his career in Formula 1 and endurance racing. He is regarded as one of Australia's most successful and popular racing drivers.
Ford Excursion
"...re even much more known overseas. One particular excursion still till today, just so... It's vivid in your ..."
The Ford Excursion is a very big car that can carry lots of people and stuff. It's strong and can pull heavy trailers, which is why some people like it for big trips or work. Because it's so big, you don't see it as much in other countries.
The Ford Excursion is a large SUV produced in the early 2000s, known for its massive size and powerful engine options. It was designed to offer substantial towing capacity and passenger space, making it popular for heavy-duty use, though its size made it less common outside North America.
A1 Ring
"And I said, I would love to go to A1. I'd love to go to Red Bull Ring."
The A1 Ring is a race track in Austria where fast cars race in competitions like Formula 1.
The A1 Ring was the name of a former Formula 1 race track in Austria, now known as the Red Bull Ring. It is famous for hosting F1 races and other motorsport events.
Red Bull Ring
"I'd love to go to Red Bull Ring. There are a lot of elements that I've seen observed on television that I would love to understand."
The Red Bull Ring is a famous race track in Austria where many important car races happen.
The Red Bull Ring is a well-known racing circuit in Austria, hosting Formula 1 and other major motorsport events. It was formerly called the A1 Ring before being renamed.
DTM
"It was a DTM weekend, a big, big, big race weekend."
DTM is a type of car race in Germany where special race cars that look like regular cars compete on race tracks.
DTM stands for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, a popular German touring car racing series featuring highly modified production cars competing on various European circuits.
Ford Falcon
"Got in a, we had a, he'd bought a car, a Ford Falcon. We packed into the car and came to Adelaide."
The Ford Falcon is a big car made by Ford. People often used it for families or work because it was strong and reliable.
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car that was produced by Ford in various markets, including Australia, where it was especially popular. It is known for its robust design and was commonly used as a family car or work vehicle.
self-serve service stations
""This is the days before self-serve, service stations and, and where there were real workshops that, you know," , "
Self-serve service stations are places where you fill your car with gas by yourself instead of having someone do it for you. This became popular because it saves time and money.
Self-serve service stations allow customers to pump their own fuel without assistance from staff, a practice that became common in many countries starting in the late 20th century. Before this, full-service stations had attendants who would pump fuel, check oil, and perform minor maintenance.
Cobra
"So I remember a gentleman walking out of the car and says, fill her up, Cobra. And I, and I, and I looked at him and I literally ran in for Bob. I said, Bob, Bob, Bob. He said, fill her up, Cobra. What's Cobra? He goes, that's Cobra's good."
The Cobra is a famous fast car from America. It has a strong engine and is very light, which makes it go really fast. People love it because it was made a long time ago and raced a lot.
The Shelby Cobra is a classic American sports car known for its powerful V8 engine and lightweight design. It was originally produced in the 1960s and is highly regarded for its performance and racing heritage.
street race
"...that MotoGP street race in South Australia..."
A street race is a race that happens on regular city streets instead of special race tracks, where they close the roads just for the event.
A street race is a motorsport event held on temporarily closed public roads rather than dedicated race tracks. These races often require significant planning and safety measures due to the urban environment.
Phillip Island
"...that it will go from Phillip Island to the streets of Adelaide in 2027."
Phillip Island is a famous race track in Australia where many important motorcycle races happen.
Phillip Island is a well-known motorsport circuit in Victoria, Australia, famous for hosting the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and other major racing events.
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