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Jett Johnson is hoping he can channel among the success of his grandfather Dick Johnson’s iconic ‘Tru-Blu’ Ford XD Falcon when he returns to the Nationwide Trans Am Collection.
The third-generation racer will sport a scheme on his Ford Mustang paying homage to the Nineteen Eighties.
Though not an actual reproduction, the all-blue base is a nod to the automobile that made five-time Australian Touring Automobile Championship winner Dick well-known at Mount Panorama.
Stan Sport is the one place to look at the 2023 SpeedSeries. All of the motion streaming ad-free, dwell and on demand
It was in 1980 that Dick hit a rock at The Mountain driving the brilliant blue Falcon.
What adopted had been emotional scenes as Johnson supplied a teary interview.
Quickly sufficient, donations began flooding in and Edsel Ford, grandson of Henry Ford and then-general supervisor of Ford Australia, supplied to match every donation greenback for greenback.
Nealy $80,000 was raised – the equal of $375,000 these days – and Dick returned in 1981, famously successful the Nice Race and the Australian Touring Automobile Championship.
Now his grandson Jett is following his footsteps.
“We preferred the thought of a Tru-Blu-inspired XD and so we thought for the primary spherical we would run a little bit of a tribute livery to granddad and sticker it as much as look a bit just like the Tru-Blu automobile,” Jett informed Huge World of Sports activities.
“I really feel there’s a little bit little bit of strain to carry out, however on the similar time I’ve bought quite a lot of good individuals in my nook. I’ve simply bought to do the very best I can.”
Whereas Dick would not journey as a lot as he used to, he’s all the time glued to the tv when Jett races.
“He watches all of the races, he is actual hands-on on the workshop at any time when he comes by, he is all the time, each session we do,” mentioned Jett.
“Earlier than the rounds, he is serving to us out heaps and he simply loves it.”
The opening SpeedSeries occasion at Symmons Plains on February 24-26 will see two Johnsons in motion.
Jett’s father Steven, who was a daily Supercars driver of the late Nineteen Nineties and 2000s, will return to the Touring Automobile Masters discipline.
It makes life a little bit more durable for Jett, who often has his dad on the radio and dealing on his automobile.
“It will be troublesome as a result of we type of want as many individuals on the automobile this weekend as we will and he’s my engineer for the weekend too,” Jett defined.
“It is cool to have Dad racing as effectively. I like that Mustang he is racing in, a lovely automobile and it is quick as effectively.
“Hopefully if he runs your entire collection he can acquire championship as effectively.”
The Nationwide Trans Am Collection takes in three races at Symmons Plains with one on Saturday and two on Sunday.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE EVENT?
Race Tasmania takes place at Symmons Plains on February 24-26.
WHAT RACING CATEGORIES ARE ON TRACK?
The TCR Australia Collection headlines proceedings with help from Nationwide Trans Am Collection, Touring Automobile Masters, S5000, Hyundai Excels, and Tin Tops.
WHO ARE THE BIG NAMES RACING?
Within the TCR Australia Collection, champion and Bathurst 1000 podium finisher Tony D’Alberto (pictured above) returns in his Honda.
Will Brown is again in an Audi as is web sensation Jordan Cox who strikes out of an Alfa Romeo and right into a Peugeot.
In Trans Am, second-generation racer James Moffat headlines the invoice. Supercars full-timer Tim Slade makes a one-off cameo at Symmons Plains.
Two Super2 Collection stars will transfer throughout to Trans Am this season, particularly Jaylyn Robotham and Tyler Everingham.
In Touring Automobile Masters, 1995 ATCC champion John Bowe begins his final full-time season.
WHEN DOES THE RACING START?
Motion will get underway at Symmons Plains with qualifying and racing on Saturday and a full day of racing on Sunday.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE ACTION?
Stan Sport will carry all of the motion dwell and ad-free from 11:30am on Saturday and Sunday.
Free-to-air protection shall be carried on 9Gem from 2pm on Saturday solely.
WHO IS ON THE COMMENTARY TEAM?
Matt White will lead the Stan Sport commentary line-up with Bathurst 1000 podium finisher Fabian Coulthard and Australian Rally Championship winner Molly Taylor.
Acquainted faces Chris Stubbs, Richard Crail, Greg Rust, and Matt Naulty additionally return.
SATURDAY STAN SPORT SCHEDULE
11:50am – S5000 Australian Drivers Championship – Qualifying – 20 minutes
12:20pm – Touring Automobile Masters – Trophy Race – 20 minutes
12:50pm – Nationwide Trans Am Collection – Qualifying 1 – 10 minutes
1:05pm – Nationwide Trans Am Collection – Qualifying 2 – 10 minutes
1:20pm – TCR Australia Collection – Qualifying – half-hour
2:10pm – S5000 – Race 1 – 25 minutes
2:50pm – Touring Automobile Masters – Race 1 – 20 minutes
3:25pm – Nationwide Trans Am Collection – Race 1 – 25 minutes
4:10pm – TCR Australia Collection – Race 1 – half-hour
SUNDAY STAN SPORT SCHEDULE
11:45am – S5000 Australian Drivers Championship – Race 2 – 25 minutes
12:20pm – Touring Automobile Masters – Race 3 – 20 minutes
12:50pm – Nationwide Trans Am Collection – Race 2 – 25 minutes
1:30pm – TCR Australia Collection– Race 2 – half-hour
2:20pm – S5000 – Race 3 – 25 minutes
2:55pm – Touring Automobile Masters – Race 4 – 20 minutes
3:25pm – Nationwide Trans Am Collection – Race 3 – 25 minutes
4:10pm – TCR Australia Collection – Race 3 – half-hour
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