Rusty's Garage

The vivid memories of driving the V10 Jaguar Formula One car at Monza and a frightening crash at Ascari that wasn’t his fault.
How Michael Schumacher stopped to help, off the charts crash data and the injuries James suffered that would keep him out of the car for months.
Taking a career detour and conquering Japan plus the little known Indycar option and a potential second chance at F1.
Moving into Supercars and a moment at Darwin in 2005 that necessitated a switch to SBR when HRT had been the first option.
Winning the title for DJR against a backdrop of financial hardship for the team at the time and how proud he is of the way his crew rallied to get it over the line.
How a move into broadcasting almost happened before his recent stint at the Blanchard Racing team.
Overcoming fears that date back to school to get his Real Estate Licence and selling one of the best homes on the Gold Coast that belonged to Tony Cochrane.
Plus the potential driving career bookend with his good mate Charlie Schwerkolt.
A big thanks to Martin Collins and the Taupo International Motorsport Park team for letting us record there and Supercars TV for giving us nearly two hours of JC’s time ahead of the first leg of the Kiwi double header.
Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's Garage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How sampling a kart at Lithgow started the journey and it clicked straight away.
Borrowing chain oil from the late Jim Morton and how his generosity put JC on course for Europe.
Living alone in Italy in his mid teens and the future F1 stars who tried to scare him at the Karting World Championships.
Thinking he was at the end of the road until a chance catch-up with Neil Crompton opened the door to car racing.
Alan Gow stumping up serious cash for a move into Formula Ford.
Realizing the dangers of the game when a friend was killed in a crash at Oulton Park.
The ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ moment with Marino Franchitti and why they didn’t tell his legendary brother Dario about it for years!
Plus a candid conversation around ADHD and how James has learned to live with it.
There are some fabulous takeaways for young racers in this 2-parter and we’re indebted to James for sharing
Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's Garage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s the title of a new book by respected writer Stewart Bell and he’s in the Garage studio to talk about it in a special bonus shortcast in our feed this week.
Bell has been a regular in the Formula One paddock since the late 90’s covering it for print media, digital, social and television for Associated Press, Sky Sports UK, publications in Hong Kong, India, Top Gear, GQ & more.
Gunter Steiner wrote the foreword for the book and he reminds us that the ‘brutality’ can mean many things. It’s a game with huge public interest now so there is no hiding when it comes to failure or things going wrong….it means immense pressure in all facets of the business.
Sure for the drivers there’s huge physical forces that come from racing the fastest cars, there’s danger including reflections on the death of the great Ayrton Senna….not to mention the cutthroat politics, the grueling schedule as well as the demands on the team 24/7.
While we can’t talk about every chapter in the book (that’s for you to enjoy) it does include quotes from everyone from Oscar Piastri to Alain Prost, and it leans heavily on Stewart’s impressive 20 year interview archive.
The now-retired Daniel Ricciardo is a prominent feature. Bell was there during the anguish at McLaren and how he shaped Lando Norris' future (in a positive way).

You can find more on Stewart here:
https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/stewart-bell
The book is published by Penguin & you can find it in all the usual places:
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/formula-one-the-worlds-most-brutal-sport-9781761357916
Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's Garage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Granddaughter of a pioneer, daughter of a legend in Marcos Ambrose….how Tabitha is forging her own path.

The racing bond with her Dad and why this relentless pursuit has to be fun, being the first in the family to pick up a trophy at Bathurst and how it all started.

When Dad showed up at school in the US with a very cool car, racing in Formula Ford and why it’s so important at this stage of her journey and the secret Trans Am test.

Plus the incredible inner strength she witnessed in her Dad’s serious but very private cancer battle and perhaps why it’s made her respect him even more.

Tabitha is a switched on racer who is fiercely determined to carve her own career in motorsport and is immersing herself in every aspect of the business.

The easy listening convo comes easily between these two. You’ll be impressed with the commitment and confidence for someone whose teenage year are barely in the rear view mirror. Enjoy!

Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's Garage
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.