Dick Johnson, Steven Johnson, Jett Johnson: Family affair at Historic Leyburn Sprints
Aussie sporting icon Dick Johnson, his son and grandson attended the premier racing event and while they were in town they shared with the Warwick Daily News their most memorable racing memories, plus some hot tips for future stars.
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Aussie sporting legend Dick Johnson and his race driver son Steven got trackside at Leyburn Sprints this weekend, sharing with the Daily News their most memorable racing moments and why the Sprints is one of their favourite events.
With five Australian Touring Car Championship wins and three Bathurst 1000 wins notched under his belt, Dick is no stranger to the spotlight.
The iconic Australian race car driver attended Saturday’s Historic Leyburn Sprints where he was honoured as a Leyburn Legend for his commitment to the sport.
The title is an honour he said he cherishes.
“It’s the respect you get from these people over the years, they’ve been a big part of my career, I owe an awful lot to them,” he said.
As he faces the back-end of his illustrious career in motorsports, Dick now watches from the sidelines as both his son and grandson compete in the sport.
While Dick loves seeing the next generation take to the track, he admits that he now knows how his parents felt when he first started racing.
“The older you get the more cautious and protective you become and you never think they can do the things that you used to do, but they do it better,” he said.
Dick told the Daily News his favourite race win was the 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship at Lakeside, followed by the Bathurst 1000 win that same year.
It wasn’t just the wins that made these races special for Dick but the fact that just one year earlier he was in second place at the Bathurst 1000 when his car spun off track after hitting a rock, costing him the win.
“Coming back that next year and to win was so cool,” he said.
His 1983 Bathurst accident where he hit a tree and was forced to build his car overnight is his most memorable crash and one he says likely could of cost him his life.
“I can remember heading toward a couple of trees and I was just glad they were there. Hitting a tree is not fun but it was better than the prospect of being spit off the back of the mountain,” he said.
Dick’s son Steven Johnson is also a famous race car driver and said it was “really cool” to come out to events like the Leyburn Sprints.
“For us it’s very social and we see a lot of people, fans and people get around us and they don’t usually have that opportunity at other race events,” he said.
Steven said he was proud of his son Jett, who followed in both his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps and raced on Saturday at Leyburn.
“He is not fussed what he drives, it doesn’t matter if he drives a go-kart he just really enjoys driving and the atmosphere, and I’m really thankful for that,” he said.
Steven said his best advice for up-and-coming racers is to persevere no matter how many challenges or obstacles you face.
“Don’t take anything for granted, it doesn’t matter who you are if you work really hard at it you’ll get there,” he said.
“Kids these days get disheartened easily and give up, but they just need to keep sticking with it.”
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