James and Michael Mogford win 2024 Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship

Two Queensland brothers have won the side-by-side off road racing championship in their second year of competition, despite their vehicle breaking down halfway through a race. Meet Moggy’s Racing.

A Mackay businessman has traded his forklift for an off road buggy and won an Australian championship after a blisteringly successful season.

James Mogford, 37, a Mackay developer running a pool company, shed companies, and building company, has taken home the Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship in the side-by-side (SXS) vehicle class.

James said his love of motorsports started with go karts and off-road motorbikes, however as he got older he wanted to do something a bit safer and thought a vehicle with a roll cage “would be good”.

James Mogford runs Moggy’s Group which currently operates Transportable Shade Sheds, Moggy’s Developments, Ocean Reef Pools, Endurance Sheds and Termimesh Mackay. Photo: Rebecca Galton

Since starting off-road racing in 2022, Mr Mogford has raced all around the country in the Australian Off Road Championships coming in second place at the 2023 championship, his first year in the competition.

Joining him is brother and navigator Michael Mogford who enjoyed motorsports with his brother growing up.

“I said ‘let’s go chase the Aussie championship and see if we can win it as brothers’,” James said.

James said he and Michael learned off road racing together and have improved their style and professionalism racing as a duo.

“Being brothers there is some heated discussion,” James said.

The Mogford’s drove the same Can-Am Maverick X3 for the entire competition, even repairing it after a break down at Finke. Photo: Rebecca Galton

“The good thing about being brothers is you can look through that and know it’s just timing and pressure.”

The 2024 season started with the two winning the Pooncarie Desert Dash in NSW, but Moggy’s Racing team suffered a dire setback at the famous Finke Desert Race.

“We ... actually broke the car halfway,” Mr Mogford said.

An axle broke and oil began pouring out of the car, leaving the two stranded by the side of the road.

Undeterred, the two got to work on repairs and brought their buggy back from the dead “bush mechanic style” finishing the race in 17th place.

“We pretty much never gave up,” Mr Mogford said.

James and Michael Mogford took the top spot after only two years in the competition and are now aiming to potentially race in America in 2025. Photo: Rebecca Galton

After some repairs, regular mechanic style, the two won the Love Day race in South Australia and scored a third place at the Gold City Race in Charters Towers, before crossing the finish line in Kalgoorlie, WA with enough points to claim the championship.

“As soon as we crossed that finish line, we knew we had it,” Mr Mogford said.

“It’s fantastic.”

Mr Mogford thanked behind-the-scenes members of Moggy’s Racing including Perry Hunn in the pit crew, Rebecca Galton on media and sponsor Duragal

“It is really rewarding knowing that we went up against Australia’s best and came away with the win’” he said.

“We would not have gotten there without the help of our team and sponsors.”

The two are now preparing to host a sponsor day to bring in new supporters and potentially finance participation in an American off-road racing competition.

James’ company Transportable Shade Sheds also sponsors the team and is a naming rights sponsor of SXS Motorsport Australia Championship.