The Motorsport Brief | Brad Johnson - from AFL to Motorsport
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
34:37
LIVE
Welcome to the Motorsport Brief, trading the footy boots for a race suit.
A legend from the AFL joins us for this edition as his son pursues a career behind the wheel.
Good day everyone, Rusty here shortly to Brad Johnson who's with us in the garage studios,
how his son Jack chose motorsport and the vivid memory that Brad has of that exact moment.
How he balances guiding Jack along the path while also stepping back at times as parents
do to let them make their own mark. The business of sport and how his experience with sponsors
and the commercial side assists in an expensive game motor racing. Plus the IndyCar star helping
with little bits of sage advice along the way and how the family has come to truly love motorsport.
A quick plug for last week's episode two with Tabitha Ambrose, very similar subject matter in
many ways how her famous father Marcus has helped guide her career so far and the hands-on grasp
that she has of the administrative and business side of the sport. The day that Marcus brought
the NASCAR to school, that must have won, show and tell surely, testing a Trans Am or TA2 car,
her formula forward ambitions, back for another crack at the back of six hour and seeing her
dad's battle with cancer, what his approach taught her about life and how proud she was when Marcus
opened up about it at a charity event last October. Let's get to today's ep, I need to thank a colleague
Tim Hodges here too. You may remember that Hodgy helped us with James McFadden. He's been on the
show a few times, she'll enjoy those. Tim does a phenomenal job producing the very successful
AFL 360 show and facilitated this introduction. Brad Johnson is an AFL Hall of Famer, Bulldogs
Games record holder superb in his media roles these days as an expert for Fox footy and so on.
But as I discovered here, Brad is just a ripper bloke and a very proud family man too. Hope you
enjoy the conversation. Welcome. I would be lying if I didn't open the batting with this by saying
I'm nervous because over time I've dabbled in other sports but not greatly and motor racing has
kind of been my domain. But there is a nice synergy in that in how we're starting this conversation
because now you're playing in a bit of a different space. I'm nervous, I'm in your space Greg.
How are you finding that? I mean you've come from professional sport, you climb in this
pathway with your son which I think is just fantastic but it is a different domain mate.
It's completely different. It's been a big and exciting journey so far. We're still learning
along the way, still trying to navigate what is sometimes a complex world too. You know what I
started, obviously starting with the go-kart world and doing that for a number of years and then
stepping up into sort of Excel racing into Formula 4 racing and now where we are now. But it has a
genuine sort of pathway and once you're sort of in the footy pathway you get looked after by the
next level and the next level and you just keep navigating that and working through until you
reach that under 18 level and if you perform well in that then you're on the way to being
drafted into the AFL world but there's no draft system as such. So it took us a little while
to understand that you've got to work individually in some ways and be connected with the right
people that can help guide you more than anything in what steps to take as you progress. But it's
all on Jack and the young drivers that are out there to show that they've got a little bit of
will to want to succeed and if they do that then we're lucky that some good people are sort of
helping us take those next steps. You have formed some good connections. You've already opened up a
whole raft of things I want to dive into here mate. Firstly we are talking a day after the GT
round at Phillip Island which I know we were both at. It's fair to say a lot of people in the paddock
knew a little bit about him obviously from from excels from karting from Formula 4 as you talked
about. I know there's been penalties and stuff in GT4 but mate he did without pumping your tyres.
He did a cracking job and he's now I think made a lot of people start to realise A how
committed he is to this and B the potential that he had. I mean that regardless of the result
must make you feel pretty damn proud. He's done all the work and that's a good part
Rusty you know like at the end of the day we are trying to assist his development in the sport
but he's shown a full commitment to it and that's all we want as parents. He's fully
passionate about it. He trains really hard and he works hard on his craft so that for us is all we
sort of want. It's been a great passion because he's at the racetrack every second weekend and
he's with good people at the racetrack and he's following sort of his dream and it's about turning
that dream into a bit of a reality so it gets real now with the racing he's doing oh my goodness.
So that's why it was so good that you know he's jumped in with Zack Souter and Team Souter Motorsport
and they're based in Geelong. They're five minutes from our house which is even even better so
Jack spends a little bit of time with those guys in the garage. Any workshop is good too.
Yeah it's a really nice workshop. It's done a great job to run four cars now and to go well in
their first race meeting as a collective team was really exciting and to get you know Willie
Exton as Jack's co-driver. He's got good experience in in this car driving the McLarens
as well and New Zealand kids so it all sort of they worked hard to make that happen so it was
good for the two of them to get a really strong result in their in their first race together.
They still learn a lot. They made some errors and which they'll fix up as the year goes on but
ultimately it was just good to sort of sit back down on an iron and and now let Jack go and be
part of that sort of you know team environment which is pretty exciting. It's better than
green shoots mate. There's some really good stuff there. At what point maybe how old was he when
you perhaps realise that maybe he might pull on the footy boots or you know where did he get this
love for motor racing? How did that all kind of start? Well it was kind of funny we through footy
we got an opportunity at the F1 many many years ago. Jack was about five I think it was and he got
to go down the main straight in a Ferrari. A little motorised Ferrari just before the race
started. Excellent. So he's crossing the start finish line in his little Ferrari just before
the teams come out with a massive crowd. So as you could imagine he's thinking how good is this
you know the adrenaline and and that's where it all started very lasting impact clearly. Yeah big
time big time so it it started there and then like we he started playing footy under 9s under 10s
under 11s and and wasn't really into footy at all. He was just sort of there playing with playing
with some friends and and all that sort of stuff and we moved a couple of times from Williams down
to Torque and then back into Geelong so he's moving primary schools and and all that but
his passion was always and all he was watching was was racing and he asked me when he was about
nine if he could go kart and I'm like mate I've got no idea what you're talking about you know
can and I said come back and see me when you're 12 you know basically just pushed it to one side
the day he turned 12 we took we rocked up to a training session and he didn't get out of the
car and he looked at me and he goes I don't want to do this anymore. Really? Yeah I want to go
kart and I said okay and I was actually wrapped with that because he was playing and not really
enjoying it so it was good that he sort of had the confidence to sort of say that to to us as
parents and we export it we went to the Geelong go karting track and knocked on their door and found
out the lay of the land and and off we went. Excellent I have commented there when I was much
younger that's a lot that's a long time ago it's a long time ago. It's a good track the Geelong
karting track. It's wonderful that you have harnessed when kids are like that when they are
ultra passionate about something and and to you know as parents we only want them to
do their best to follow and that sounds cliche to follow your dreams right. If I can share
a little personal yarn with you my my little nephew he is he'll be 17 I think in in June
he's playing for GWS giants in the academy for them and but we don't know like I'm we're very
realistic yes just see see where it goes and what have you but he's in the right system he's in the
he lives and breathes it mate every time we see him he you know like I've told him today
I'm sitting down with you and he's like oh hell you know like so um the fact that you were able
to kind of do that with Jack as well like if he's clearly into it and I gather he isn't like you
have a little bit of a connection with Scotty McLaughlin and all sorts mate don't you yeah it's
like and that's been pretty cool as well along the way so Tim Hodges you know he's a massive
motorsport man and he's had he's had Scotty McLaughlin on AFL 360 a lot which has been
which has been great and Scotty's a bulldog lover as well which is even better so I got to
meet Scotty a long time ago um in regards to that and and he's been brilliant like when Jack was
younger he'd sort of flip him a video here and there and just as they keep going mate you know
and Jack and Jack and share some stuff with him on his carding so he's always been there just in
the background helping sort of you know motivate Jack to keep following his dreams so Scotty's been
amazing with that and look what he's achieved now going from the VR supercars to to India and
that's become our well that's certainly become my favorite of the categories in motorsport I
really enjoy watching that I love the racing it's pretty even and competitive and they they
have a fair taken crack and you know he had a big crash on the weekend Scotty as well you know so
it was good to see that he was able to get out of that and and get going again so so Scotty's
been good and then yeah we just meet sort of really good people along the way that the footy
racing connection is really strong really strong there's a lot of people that that are in footy
that know a lot of people in racing and and vice versa so that's been that's been pretty cool to
sort of open up sort of that part of our lives as well to meet some really cool people in the sport
that are honestly willing to give their time to help and and answer any questions that you might
have he wants to kind of do the now I guess but is there a want maybe to go and tick some
American stuff one day mate Scotty might be able to say hey chat to this person or go to that you
know whatever and well that's that's sort of what we're sort of trying to uncover now I suppose is
the next steps in in the sport and what that what that looks like you've always got to sort of stay
12 months in front of where you where you need to get to because you know you're constantly talking
to people and and you know with with us as a family you know that that financial support is
is critical he's got some cool sponsors now and we certainly know that's got to increase over the
next sort of six to 12 months as well and that's just the reality of where we sit so we couldn't
be here without the without the support that is necessary and you see every car's lit up with
with sponsors everywhere and it's so important it really is for you know the the young the future
of the young drivers that are that are in the sport so the support we get is is really strong
and but we know that it's going to have to sort of increase it's expensive it's expensive it's
expensive yeah of course it is open your eyes a big time I didn't realize honestly go karting was
was expensive and then you sort of jump into X thousand formula Ford which are sort of equivalent
to go karting in a way from a from a cost perspective but but jumping up into into this
world is a completely different ballgame I started looking at this last sort of April May
just to get to the start line on on the weekend so it does take a it does take a lot it's a
full commitment from from the entire family but we all love it and you know I don't mind sort of
going out and playing my role for him at this stage and hopefully in the future he gets some
opportunities so the US is certainly something he wants to do this is this is where his passion
for endurance racing has always been he's number one got you so that's cool like he you know he
he loves v8s and he loves trans Ames and and watching everything around the world but ultimately
endurance racing has always been his main goal so now he's sort of just taken the first step into
it you know and and in two or three years time we'll see where that lands the many facets you
can bring to the table here from your your professional career firstly you've touched on
the the commercial side right so there are learnings for a young man but you know around
dealing with sponsors and and someone what's that process been like as you navigate that the pair
of you together yeah it's been it's been pretty cool to be honest like um he's getting more and
more confident in this in this space so it's it's he's obviously through I think the Formula Ford
team did it really well and I'm talking about you know Formula Ford Australia and that sort of
stuff they the exposure they provided for the young kids coming through was really cool like
that'd be interviewing interviewing them all the time and putting them in scenarios yeah and
exposing them to it which I thought was was really cool so that sort of has set up that side of
things like Stubbs he grabbed him on on the weekend and he was up to answer answer the questions well
he was on 360 during the week pumping up the the speed series and and the start of the racing
for the year and and that was that was a good part we're having a chat around because I got
caught when I was younger that you do some media and play poorly on the weekend and and the reflection
wasn't sort of great from a footy perspective the coaches would be all over you if you if you didn't
do that so you talk about that stuff yeah we talk about that stuff all the time yeah absolutely
because if you're going to put yourself out there which you have to in motorsport you have to talk
and you have to support your sponsors and you have to go to events and and do different things but
it can't affect you can't get ahead of yourself and it affect what you're doing on the weekend
because that's the most important aspect of of everything we can you know put the lights on over
here and you can go and talk here and and Hodgy had us on 360 and it was awesome and
it was great for everybody involved in the sport but ultimately you've got to perform
off the back of it and that's what he's starting to to really understand you've got to have that
calling card mate don't you you've got to be able to go okay if I'm going to go to America I've
achieved this in Australia or whatever it might be and then start the the discussions from there
do you have moments where like any parent I've got daughters that are 18 and 20 so I get the age
thing right we aren't always looked upon as the most tech savvy people etc etc absolutely right
so you navigate that thing of wanting to put your arm around them so that they will do their
their very best but ultimately they also have to walk their own path so this is sort of a
balancing act in all of that mate isn't it yeah they're they're and I'm really conscious of it
Don and I both are actually to be to be honest yeah like I'm sitting here talking to you today
about Jack and yeah um and we're comfortable doing it but we understand what lame we need to
sit in now as as parents and and but part of that too is also the fact that with the footy
connections and and with sort of my role of trying to generate some sponsorship for Jack to go forward
and I get involved completely in that as well because I can jump in with some of these sponsors
and and go to their events and and be a presence there because they all have footy and you know
they've all got they've all got those connections as well so that's sort of what the role Donna
and I sort of play in in that sort of things and and supporting and adding some value in some ways
to the sponsorship that comes through but ultimately it looks great on the car Jack performs in the car
that's what they want to see so we're conscious that we just play this little role here now
and it's up to Jack to to push it forward that's why the the team environment's really cool now for
him to sort of be exposed in it's not the individuals of us just rolling up with our car and and
putting it on the track it's serious and it's it's full on and the engineering's crazy and
you know he's got Ludo Laquire as his engineer which which blows our mind you know what I mean but
it's but that's why now that's that's on them it's it's we don't make comment about that side of
things anymore we just sit back watch it on the tv watch the timing screens and then he just does
his thing from from this point forward which is which is great for us we just get nervous go upstairs
and our heart rate is mama is mama okay about that was 151 on the weekend as they were they were
going down the rolling start down to the straight and she's looking at me going 151 I refuse to
put the watch on right but I'm pacing so I know I'm nervous and then once they get through and get
going you're okay because generally the start's the most intense part as we know and then they
find their spot they start to battle with who they're who they're around and everyone's usually
pretty cool in those those scenarios you've been in elite sport on you know the very best of days
and no doubt some of the some very tough days right so what what are the things that you can
perhaps when you go through the difficult moments what other things you can help him with well we're
kind of live stuff in that way but but I'm dad you know I mean so I can say stuff to Jack and he's
like but you could say the same thing to him Rusty because you're his coach and all of a sudden
it hits him you know perfectly so that's that's really important as well so we
we don't get too deep to be honest with it yeah I've lived a lot of stuff where there's been a
lot of disappointment a lot of highs and and trying to stay pretty level with our emotions
with that side of things in sport but you can't sometimes you're involved in it and the emotions
are high and they're low and you know it you bring it home yeah and then you then you're all good
two days later and so we've well Donna's lived all that with me um not so much sort of Jack because
he was only five or six when I retired so yeah relaying those experiences that was like dad that's
in the 90s and 2000s you know they've been like things are different yeah I find that on YouTube
doing different now so that's why um that's why I'm wrapped that um he's had good coaching on the
way from Ben Barguana so that's been really really cool and he's set Jack up nicely um and Jason's
sort of been in the background as well helping along the way so that's been good to get him to
now where he's just got you know the leadership of Ludo who'll tell him straight and it's good you
know positive and what areas you know the boys need to continue to improve in as the year goes on
what's the takeaway from the weekend for him like he's he's obviously quite committed to this
forget the results just what he brought to the table how does he feel about the season opener
oh really yeah really positive really positive I think the you know they did they did a test the
week before which helped you know in a really big way because it was a wet test and then they had
the dry day on the second day of testing so that worked out quite well for for the team so they were
able to you know in qualifying which was in the wet they were able to do quite well first up but
it's more just he knows he's still got a lot of work to do and and building into understanding
the car he's only been in it a few times so he loves it and he loves that the setup of it and he
loves you know what will brings to the table as well so I think the combination of the two of
you know just going to evolve as the year goes on but first up they were they were wrapped
where where everything sat how well the team worked together and it puts them in a good
spot to have a positive year how good is he I didn't need to be nervous at the beginning did I we
will have more in a moment with Brad Johnson right here in the garage this edition of the
motorsport brief continues to explore a bit of a recent theme on generational athletes carrying
a famous surname and the weight that tends to go with that and how the learnings from a mum or
dad who've been professional sports people might help navigate things as they make their own way
today it's Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson. Brad recently came to appreciate just what his son Jack
is capable of with the ride of his life in the pseudo motorsport McLaren Artura that Jack races
quite impressively with young Kiwi William Exton in the monochrome Australia GT4 championship
this is courtesy of the Shannon speed series and you may have seen it on AFL 360 on Fox2
Is that the first time you've done something like that with him what was that all like
at that level it was it it was I was really nervous for it because you know I taught him
as a learner I did most of the hours you know 160 hours we did I think it was and and he was okay
in that scenario I was I was never really when he was learning you know at the start you're really
nervous and you sort of but within a couple of drives you sort of you know I was able to sit back
in the seat and just sort of help guide and and all that sort of stuff so that was that was fine
but nothing at this speed and he took out a pit lane and I'm like surely you got to warm these
these tyres up you know seriously it was more the flying lap and you go through turn one two two
and then they go we're talking to the pilot here which is great which is awesome right so you head
over the top we can see the water and you got through turn one okay and and through two and then
three to four which is then fours the hair the hair it's Millicorner Jack Millicorner so
he hits that he's going to over 200 and he just puts the brakes on and the whole car just went
basically through my chest and I it honestly it rattled me a bit I was sort of I started swearing
I started swearing and and we got through the the rest of the lap and I couldn't get out of the car
which was hilarious right because I've got no flexibility so I'm on the ground but it honestly
took me about 45 minutes to post that just from my chest to to calm down because I didn't expect
to feel that but that inertia that yeah yeah yeah yeah so that was that was cool but I got out of
that um an unbelievable experience to because I'm never going to play footy with Jack so I was just
jumping his environment yes was was really cool um and to and to do that but then my appreciation
for all the drivers was just went to a whole new level like I've done hot laps before and you get
an appreciation I jumped in with Chaz at sand down it was the most amazing experience of my
life as well just top of down in on road and you didn't even really put the brakes on he just
touched that next thing we're at the bottom of the bottom of down in on road and it's like well
things like that that um I've had the luxury of being able to experience it being pretty cool
but this was this was different different again that's great mate and a wonderful thing to be
able to sit beside your son as he doesn't make cool Chaz champion of the the sport and you you
automatically think you know we'll be great at the craft a lot calmer in that scenario because Chaz
hadn't been through a lot more but here you are I mean was there a little moment for dad going
far out here is my 20 year old and look at what yep he is doing yeah there was there was definitely
that um I was pretty pumped afterwards I want Donna to go and experience is she not okay for that
probably not okay maybe in the future we need but uh but yeah so that was um that was a great
great experience and I've never been around Phillip Island before so you know I'd walk the track that
was about it you know I walked the outside of the track yeah but to actually get on the track
experience that was was next level that's good they tell me how we and I work here at Listener
together and he's a legend he's a legend he's the one who tipped me into this podcasting thing eight
years ago guru you got to do one of these car racing months yeah that's him that is him okay mate
no problem um he tells me you've become quite a f1 fan along the way too is this true well how we
know I um and Erica his wife gets involved a little bit with Howie he's always telling me that
um you know we're pretty passionate about it now which is which is really cool and
our whole conversations are motorsport conversations yeah always yeah so that that works um that
works really well because we're the barbecue yeah yeah yeah yeah I was talking to the barbecue
he's the best he is he's the chillest guy that he's just a legend right and we all love
the Howie and we've become sort of pretty close over probably the last few years in regards working
more together and and all that when he's in Australia that is because he travels he travels a
lot with cricket and he's always overseas but he's his family's passion for motorsport is
is quite big as well so we've got a great connection there and we have a lot of fun
talking about it the F1 world's pretty cool but we also as I said love to talk whether it's NASCAR
or the IndyCar or I was into Formula E there for a little bit as well like it's just all over
over the place but I um we just we just love it because it's it's literally on our TV
you know all the time so regardless of what's on where we're usually watching it
you have a surname to be to be proud of mate the things that you've achieved in sport are
incredible from Jack's perspective is that both blessing but also spotlight mate that immediately
comes with it and I would imagine you've been mindful of that as he as he walks his own road
big time yeah absolutely it is it's um it's small steps and we understand there's bits that we
like in the build up to this we did and we did it and he handled it really well so you sort of
go okay you're ready to sort of continue things on as it as it goes on but start of the season's
always up and about you know what I mean and you're promoting stuff and you're trying to help the
series which we which we were doing and then obviously trying to help you know the sponsors
as well and give them some really cool exposure which is which is important which we've got the
luxury that we we can do through Fox Sports and it was great that Fox Sports and KO were
showcasing part of it which is even better so um so that worked really well but things
will probably quieten down now for for a little bit um he'll just put his head down he wants to
put his head down and work and and get going so the the full promotion of stuff has been awesome
now that now that he's into into racing it's more now just put your head down and go and
that stuff will sort of just you know take care of itself what's that sort of period like from
school kid to now you know absolute focus and pursuit as he as he ventures into sort of early
adult life mate and the growth that you've perhaps seen in him in that regard what's it been like
it's been pretty cool to to watch you know what I mean like he he's the main is the racetrack because
that's where he can talk motorsport you know what I mean like at when he was at school there wasn't
too many that were really into into it he's got one close mate who loves sort of the engineering
side of things so they're always talking about you know different things about the car and all
that so that's that's really cool um but outside of that it's more just at the racetrack you know
one of his best mates is is Jay Murray who also works runs a GT4 car as well with his dad so
so they've been huge um huge helps as well along the way because they've experienced the world and
they've they've looked after Jackson Evans for for quite some time and so they've been able to help
us sort of navigate things as as well and and Jack and Jay are pretty close so it's cool that
they're sort of racing with each other at this particular point yeah a couple to finish here
because this has been a fabulous chat mate thank you you can already tell he he's sort of I wouldn't
say walking tall that's the wrong wrong description for it but he is feeling comfortable in this space
I think you know he knows where he wants to be and and what he wants to do you help um you and and
Donna with this understanding the business right because sport is a business yeah it is it is a full
business and trying to ensure that he navigates you know any potential pitfalls in in that regard
but do you find yourself gradually unwinding things and letting him go does that does that make sense
yeah you described that so well Rusty and I think there's we're probably not the only parents in
that sort of spot understanding that it that is the business you see the big businesses of the
massive trucks that are there and that sort of stuff and then there's the business of you know
the the drive is getting out onto the onto the track and and what's required in in that space so
that's a that's a really good way of describing it so yes we are now in that position where we're
reversing a little bit which is really cool and that's the way we want to definitely operate and
to be so we'll support Jack and we'll be there if he needs us but ultimately he's now in a really
cool space with a great team that will help him grow this year and we can just basically focus on
that business side of things so if sponsors want to come to the race then we're there for him you
know but we'll we'll take care of all that and have a laugh with them and enjoy a coffee and
and a couple of beers and Jack can just focus on what what he needs to do as you wonder right when
you're at the track and you know heart rates at 150 and the race is about to start and stuff
what was it like in your grey matter because when you ran out at the absolute peak of your
powers with the game that you played you are brutal unforgiving athlete but this is also your
son doing this so in the same breath you want him to capture a bit of that that you know made you
succeed because that's an inequality that you need an inner drive that you need you want a bit of
from him but in the same breath too you're also kind of your mindful parent too so what's that
what's that like because if things don't work out right do you get a bit miffed and think oh
mate really you either got that wrong or you needed to dig deeper or or whatever and then
how do you navigate and encourage that in the same I think when I look back and think about
those scenarios of walking out onto the marvel or the g or whatever it was around around the country
you you always fall back to your prepared like your preparations cool like as nervous as you are
but it's sort of once once you got up there and you hit the ground it's sort of just all
disappeared in a way and you get in a zone that you don't even hear the crowd rusty so really
that's and that you played your best footy when you did not hear any of that whatsoever you're
just so focused on your role the team's role you know what's happening around you that that all
just sort of disappears from your mind completely so I think that's where you know as young drivers
whether it's jack or anyone else you see them getting into that into that zone so you're sort
of up and about they're nervous you can see the natural nerves happening which nerves are a great
thing I mean just switched on and ready to go so I love you know young athletes that have that
little bit of nervous or you know edginess about them to start because you can tell that they're
getting into the zone of being switched on and then once they put their helmets on you can tell
that you you do you you do your good luck before that because they're in the zone ready ready to
ready to rock and roll and you can see that a little bit in not only jack but the other drivers
that are in sort of that we've that we've met they all get into that sort of you know really strong
zone and space because they have to they're driving at 250k an hour and they've got a million things
going on around them they've got voices in their ear from the garage it's it's full on what they have
to have to experience so so that zone I think is is is really critical I love that mate I love
that parallel that you've just drawn there and that I mean that's a little takeaway for other
young potential racists here preparation is key to being able to get to that point where you can
yeah it is and always go basically and be confident absolutely like they had a good weekend because
of the preparation that was that was put into it so it's it's not rocket science it's just you know
having the ability to put the put the work in whether that's physically mentally on a sim
with the personal trainer they know they've ticked every box to be in the best space you know
all we worry about at the track is just you know recovery in some ways you know what I mean so
it's you drive you come off your sweat you just don't go and you got to you know go and recover
and and relax and hydrate and get all these things ready to go again so the next morning when you
wake up you've got to fully commit again so you've got to be in the right physical space to be able
I think that's changed a lot in in motorsport that we've noticed over time most how we've
adapted and appreciated that stuff that you're talking about that's been a part of our life
forever as a as an AFL athlete but ultimately it's now crept into motor racing and a lot of
teams especially in the v8 paddock have their own sort of strength conditioning fitness exactly
nutritionalists that are looking after the drivers to make sure that they're in the
in the right space to perform because they've got to drive for a long time final one for you
the parallel isn't just the the love that we see in footy sometimes for motor racing and and vice
versa I reckon I've been at maybe a grand final with with scapey and when I see his eyes when he's
watching the game and like he sees as into it as he is you know that'd be so good man exactly at the
height of his at the height of his motor racing have there been parallels or have there been
things along the way where you've gone oh wow that's that surprises me that's the kind of thing we
experienced in in AFL or maybe stuff that is totally different in our in our domain oh there's
there's so there's so many rusty in in in so many ways the the parallels I think are really similar
now and we just sort of you know discussed just to touch to that a little bit I still think there's
look there's there's certain there's certain pathways that I think that could really open up in
the motorsport world that would help okay and and I think there's some sort of footy stuff
from pathway perspectives that could really help you know to be sort of maybe start to navigate
in over the next few years in the motorsport world especially in the in the karting world where
young drivers are trying to sort of work out what's next for them beyond karting are they going to go
to open wheelers or do they want to be a v8 supercar driver do they want to be part of the gt world
or or tin tops what what what are they actually what's going to be their focus when they're when
they're young so that's something that I think it would be really really cool for the young
drivers would help the parents as well to help shape you know the the direction of these young
guys where they want to go which is really cool how we would say look at you go guru open wheelers
tin tops that is the best way that is so true but this is this has been a joy for me seriously
thank you I um I had no need to to be nervous and I knew that about you I knew that about you
I wish I could drive mate I genuinely wish I could drive it is um I had the the joy of being in
victory lane there on sunday when he came in and I loved that I loved that and he's clearly
away with all the ride ingredients and it's just fabulous to see that you guys are
doing what any parent would do and that is to help their son or daughter on the pathway but in the
in the same moment letting them walk their own road mate congratulations on everything you've
achieved in your own career and I love the fact that you're playing in motorsport now so good on
your great stuff awesome rusty thanks for having me on mate it's been great great athlete fantastic
human being and he is fabulous in the media as you can tell there going through what so many
parents go through as well irrespective of how well known the johnson's are or how that
might help start a conversation or open the door a little at the end of the day it's up
to young jack and I can tell you that he really impressed at round one at philip island probably
fair to say that some were like well let's see how he goes or who is he now they're acutely aware
of jack johnson and his ability and potential round two of that series is at the bend in south
australia in early may i'll put the speed series website in the app description there love to see
you track side if you're from south australia or nearby for lovers of two-wheel racing don't
forget the recent feature app with kevin mcgee too an almost photographic memory for technical
detail during his riding career that took him all the way to what we now know as moto gp what those
awesome 500 cc machines were like back then and how in later life he helped a vision impaired or
blind rider break a world record on lake gedner there's two parts and it's a relatively recent
addition to our feed as well you won't have to scroll too far back hope you had a great easter
everybody bye for now
About this episode
Brad Johnson—AFL Hall of Famer and Fox Footy personality—talks about his son Jack’s rapid rise from karting to Formula 4 and now into GT4/GT racing with Team Souter Motorsport. The conversation covers the emotional shift from watching footy to understanding motorsport’s technical and commercial realities: sponsorship, media duties, team environments, and the constant cost pressure. Brad shares how Jack’s passion began after an F1 experience at age five, plus the nerves and “zone” mindset that elite athletes share. IndyCar star Scotty McLaughlin and other racing connections also feature, along with advice on balancing guidance and letting a young driver own their path.
Original notes
It was meant to be a shortcast but Rusty’s convo with AFL Hall of Famer Brad Johnson runs over 30 minutes and it’s a beauty! How the Bulldogs legend and his family have taken to motorsport as son Jack pursues a professional career behind the wheel. What it was like riding alongside his son in the Soutar Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 at Phillip Island. The impression Jack made at the opening round of the series and the work they have put into an expensive sport as a family. Are there learnings from Brad’s time as a professional athlete? The commitment, the discipline he showed on the way to becoming a Bulldog’s games record holder and how it might apply to Jack. The little bits of sage advice from an Indycar star. And walking that tight rope of helping to guide your son to avoid the pitfalls while giving them freedom to grow and learn.
Plus the Johnson love for F1 and where Jack would like to end up racing.
The next stop for Jack is at the Bend in South Australia in early May. You can find out more here https://www.speedseries.com.au/
Special thanks to the Shannon’s Speed Series team and the Fox Sports AFL 360 show for allowing us to use a slice of a cool story as Jack took Brad for a hotlap.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rusty's Garage
LiSTNR
0:00
34:37