Racing legend Bob Jane dead at 88
TRIBUTES are pouring in for Australian racing legend and tyre king Bob Jane, who has died aged 88 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
National
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AUSTRALIAN motorsport legend Bob Jane has died age 88 after a long battle with cancer, his family has confirmed.
Mr Jane had a glittering career as a champion race car driver but was best known as the founder of one of the country’s most iconic brands, tyre chain Bob Jane T-Marts.
His children Courtney, Charlotte and Robert this morning issued a statement confirming their father’s passing after a “brave fight” with prostate cancer.
“It is with great sadness that we would like to share the passing of our dad, Bob Jane (Robert Frederick Jane),” the siblings said.
“After a long and brave fight with prostate cancer, he passed away last evening at 88 years of age, Friday September 28, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.
“It was our privilege to have had him as our dad, whom we loved and cherished. We will miss him deeply and he will forever be in our hearts.
“Whilst dad was an Australian icon and champion of the community, most importantly he was our loving dad.
“As his family we ask for privacy during this devastating time.”
Jane was a four time winner of the Armstrong 500 — the race that later became the prestigious Bathurst 1000 — and a four-time Australian Touring Car Champion.
He was inducted into the V8 Supercars Hall of Fame in 2000.
Raised in Brunswick in inner city Melbourne, Jane began his racing career as a champion cyclist in the 1950s before turning to four wheels.
He founded Bob Jane Autoland, a company which distributed parts for Jaguar and Alfa Romeo and his love of cars and motorsport blossomed.
He started racing competitively and by 1960, was competing with some of Australia’s top sedan drivers.
Jane opened the first Bob Jane T-Marts store in Melbourne in 1965 and later established hundreds of outlets nationwide.
After Jane suffered a stroke in 2006, a bitter family feud erupted between him and Rodney, his son from his second marriage.
Jane accused Rodney taking advantage of him while he was sick and decimating his estimated $100 million fortune.
In 2011, he resigned as chairman, citing relationship difficulties with Rodney, and brought a multimillion dollar lawsuit against him. It was dismissed by a Supreme Court judge, leaving the relationship between father and son irrevocably damaged.
“It’s never satisfying fighting with your family,” Rodney Jane told media after his win. “It is what it is. You walk out of a case like this and there’s no sense of satisfaction, it’s just sadness.”
Bob Jane had been trying to recover $2.9 million he claimed he loaned to the Bob Jane Corporation and associated companies for the purchase of two Melbourne properties.
The issues in dispute were whether the first sum of $520,000 had been a gift or a loan to Rodney, and whether another $2.4 million had been repaid to Mr Jane by the Bob Jane Corporation.
Rodney Jane is the current CEO of Bob Jane T-Marts. His name was notably absent from the statement issued by his siblings after their father’s death.
Vale Bob Jane.A talented race driver in his day.Once owned Adelaide International Raceway.Led a whirlwind life that sadly came crashing down in recent years with family issues.What happens to the business name now? https://t.co/K48w3Wov01
— Frank Pangallo MLC (@FrankPangallo) September 29, 2018
Sad to hear of the passing of Bob Jane. A great racer and visionary promoter with that dash of stubbornness needed to get things done #ripbobjane
— Phil Branagan (@philbranagan) September 29, 2018
Saddened by news of Bob Jane's passing. Condolences to Laree, Courtney, Robert and Charlotte, Kim, Rodney and Jane family. My big boss for many years, a man I admired for his determination & entrepreneurial spirit. An Australian champion of motorsport & business. RIP Bob Jane. x pic.twitter.com/HycGK9palt
— Vanessa Benallack (@NessiBenallack) September 29, 2018
Originally published as Racing legend Bob Jane dead at 88