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Dick Johnson (Australian auto racing)
Encyclopedia
Dick Johnson is the owner of the V8 Supercar
team Dick Johnson Racing
and a former racing driver. As a driver, he was a five-time Australian Touring Car Champion
and a three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000
. As of 2008 Johnson has claimed over twenty awards and honors, including the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame
into which he was inducted in 2001.
in Brisbane, Australia and it was in this area of Coorparoo that he first started driving with his father as a young child. Cavendish Road State High School has named one of their school houses Johnson, in his honour. The house colour is blue.
, Johnson raced in his early days in a succession of Holden
s. Johnson's first race car was a Holden FJ
, his first race being at Lakeside International Raceway
in November 1964. In 1968 and 1969 he raced his Holden EH
and from there progressed to a Holden Torana
GTR for 1970, scoring his first Australian Touring Car Championship
points at Lakeside
in that year. The GTR was upgraded to XU-1 specifications in 1971. Johnson's first drive in the Hardie Ferodo 1000 was in Bob Forbes' XU-1 Torana in 1973 when they placed fifth, and in 1974 he purchased an ex-Holden Dealer Team
Torana which he campaigned until the switch to Ford in 1976.
In 1980, during the Bathurst 1000
, his car was destroyed after hitting a rock that had fallen (or been thrown) onto the track. The resulting public support—A$70,000 was donated to help rebuild the car—threw Johnson into the big time. The Ford motor company provided a new car shell and promised to match the donation dollar for dollar. His first primary sponsor to escalate him into the big arena was Ross Palmer, owner of Palmer Tube Mills of Brisbane, Australia, allowing him to return the next year to win both the Australian Touring Car Championship
(ATCC) and the Bathurst 1000 (with John French
). He won the ATCC again in 1982 (the Tru Blu XD Falcon
), 1984 (Greens Tuff XE Falcon), 1988 (Ford Sierra
RS500) and 1989 (Ford Sierra RS500). He also won Bathurst in 1989 (in a Ford Sierra with John Bowe
) and 1994 (in an EB Falcon, also with John Bowe). The names Tru Blu, and Greens Tuff were product names of Palmer Tube Mills. With much larger budgets required in the racing industry, Palmer helped negotiate for Shell to be primary sponsor.
Winston Cup, entering a total of seven races with a best start of 11th at Sears Point Raceway in his first race, and a best finish of 22nd at Pocono Raceway
.
Dick Johnson retired from racing at the end of the 1999 season. He remains in charge of the team, but his son Steven
has taken over driving Johnson's famous Number 17.
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
team Dick Johnson Racing
Dick Johnson Racing
Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000...
and a former racing driver. As a driver, he was a five-time Australian Touring Car Champion
Australian Touring Car Championship
The Australian Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series awarded the trophy and title of Australian Touring Car Champion.-History:The...
and a three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
. As of 2008 Johnson has claimed over twenty awards and honors, including the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame
V8 Supercar Hall of Fame
The V8 Supercar Hall of Fame was instituted in 1999 with the first running of the V8 Supercars Championship Series, initially known as the Shell Championship Series. It was established to recognise the efforts of past champions and prominent figures within the sport. The initial inductees were...
into which he was inducted in 2001.
Early life
As a teen Johnson attended Cavendish Road State High SchoolCavendish Road State High School
Cavendish Road State High School is a co-educational, state secondary school located in Holland Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Established in 1952, Cavendish Road State High School was the second state high school to be built in the suburbs of Brisbane...
in Brisbane, Australia and it was in this area of Coorparoo that he first started driving with his father as a young child. Cavendish Road State High School has named one of their school houses Johnson, in his honour. The house colour is blue.
Racing
Despite becoming synonymous with driving FordsFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Johnson raced in his early days in a succession of Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
s. Johnson's first race car was a Holden FJ
Holden FJ
The Holden FJ series is a range of motor vehicles which was produced in Australia by General Motors-Holden’s from 1953 to 1957. The FJ was the second model of an "all Australian car" manufactured by Holden and was based upon the established 48-215 series, commonly referred to as the “FX”...
, his first race being at Lakeside International Raceway
Lakeside International Raceway
Lakeside Park, formerly known as Lakeside International Raceway is a motor racing circuit located at Pine Rivers north of Brisbane and lies adjacent to Lake Kurwongbah....
in November 1964. In 1968 and 1969 he raced his Holden EH
Holden EH
The Holden EH is an automobile which was produced by General Motors-Holden's in Australia from 1963 to 1965.The EH was released in August 1963 replacing the Holden EJ series and was the first Holden to incorporate the new "Red" motor. This new "Red" motor featured 7 main bearings as opposed to 4...
and from there progressed to a Holden Torana
Holden Torana
The Holden Torana is a car which was produced by General Motors–Holden's , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors from 1967 to 1980. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "to fly". The first Torana appeared in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle that had its origins in the...
GTR for 1970, scoring his first Australian Touring Car Championship
Australian Touring Car Championship
The Australian Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series awarded the trophy and title of Australian Touring Car Champion.-History:The...
points at Lakeside
Lakeside International Raceway
Lakeside Park, formerly known as Lakeside International Raceway is a motor racing circuit located at Pine Rivers north of Brisbane and lies adjacent to Lake Kurwongbah....
in that year. The GTR was upgraded to XU-1 specifications in 1971. Johnson's first drive in the Hardie Ferodo 1000 was in Bob Forbes' XU-1 Torana in 1973 when they placed fifth, and in 1974 he purchased an ex-Holden Dealer Team
Holden Dealer Team
The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...
Torana which he campaigned until the switch to Ford in 1976.
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
, his car was destroyed after hitting a rock that had fallen (or been thrown) onto the track. The resulting public support—A$70,000 was donated to help rebuild the car—threw Johnson into the big time. The Ford motor company provided a new car shell and promised to match the donation dollar for dollar. His first primary sponsor to escalate him into the big arena was Ross Palmer, owner of Palmer Tube Mills of Brisbane, Australia, allowing him to return the next year to win both the Australian Touring Car Championship
Australian Touring Car Championship
The Australian Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series awarded the trophy and title of Australian Touring Car Champion.-History:The...
(ATCC) and the Bathurst 1000 (with John French
John French (racing driver)
John French is a retired Australian racing driver.French had a long career throughout the 60s and 70s and the early 80s. He won the 1962 Australian GT Championship driving a Centaur-Waggott and in 1969 French paired with Allan Moffat to win the Sandown Three Hour race in a Ford Falcon GTHO...
). He won the ATCC again in 1982 (the Tru Blu XD Falcon
Ford Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
), 1984 (Greens Tuff XE Falcon), 1988 (Ford Sierra
Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a large family car that was built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément. The code used during development was "Project Toni"....
RS500) and 1989 (Ford Sierra RS500). He also won Bathurst in 1989 (in a Ford Sierra with John Bowe
John Bowe (racing driver)
John Bowe is an Australian racing driver, presently racing a 1969 Ford Mustang in the historic series, Touring Car Masters....
) and 1994 (in an EB Falcon, also with John Bowe). The names Tru Blu, and Greens Tuff were product names of Palmer Tube Mills. With much larger budgets required in the racing industry, Palmer helped negotiate for Shell to be primary sponsor.
NASCAR
In 1989 and 1990, prompted by Palmer Tube Mills who assisted him in receiving multiple sources of sponsorship, Johnson made a brief foray into the NascarNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup, entering a total of seven races with a best start of 11th at Sears Point Raceway in his first race, and a best finish of 22nd at Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
.
Dick Johnson retired from racing at the end of the 1999 season. He remains in charge of the team, but his son Steven
Steven Johnson (motor racing)
Steven Johnson is an Australian V8 Supercar racing driver. He is the son of former racer and now team-owner Dick Johnson. He has competed full-time for Dick Johnson Racing since 2000...
has taken over driving Johnson's famous Number 17.
Career results
| Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1970 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars... |
Australian Touring Car Championship Australian Touring Car Championship The Australian Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series awarded the trophy and title of Australian Touring Car Champion.-History:The... |
16th | Holden LC Torana GTR | |
| 1971 1971 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1971 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 13th | Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 1972 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title open to Group C Improved Production Touring Cars and Group E Series Production Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 13th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship, began at Symmons... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 7th | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 1973 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 14th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began at Symmons Plains on 5 March 1973 and ended at Warwick Farm after eight rounds. The series was won by Allan Moffat in a Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III.-Teams and drivers:The following... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 42nd | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 1974 1974 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1974 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 15th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began at Symmons Plains on 4 March 1974 and ended at Adelaide International Raceway on 9 June after eight rounds. The series was won by Peter Brock in a Holden Torana LJ XU1 and Holden... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 13th | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 1975 1975 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1975 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 16th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Lakeside International Raceway after seven rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 23rd | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 1976 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was a series of motor races for Touring cars conforming to the Australia Group C touring car regulations. It was the 17th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began at Symmons Plains Raceway on 29 February and ended at Phillip Island... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 28th | Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 1977 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing championship open to Group C Touring Cars. It was the 18th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and it began at Symmons Plains Raceway on 7 March and ended at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 20... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 22nd | Ford XB Falcon GT Ford XB Falcon The Ford XB Falcon is a car which was produced by Ford Australia between 1973 and 1976 and was built exclusively in Australia. It bore minor cosmetic differences to the preceding model, the XA, aimed at giving the car a more muscular stance... |
Bryan Byrt Ford Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000... |
| 1978 1978 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1978 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 19th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Adelaide International Raceway after eight rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 10th | Ford Falcon XC GS500 Ford XC Falcon The Ford XC Falcon is a car which was produced by Ford Australia between 1976 and 1979. It was a facelift of the XB Falcon, itself an upgrade of the XA Falcon which had entered production in 1972... |
Bryan Byrt Ford |
| 1979 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 20th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Adelaide International Raceway after eight rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 29th | Ford XC Falcon Cobra Ford Falcon Cobra The Cobra was a limited edition of the Ford Falcon released by Ford Australia in 1978. It was based on the XC Hardtop .-History:In 1978, Ford Australia unveiled plans for an all-new Falcon, dubbed the XD, that would be released in 1979... |
Bryan Byrt Ford |
| 1981 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 22nd running of the Australian Touring Car Championship, began at Symmons Plains Raceway and ended at Lakeside International Raceway after 8... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Ford XD Falcon Ford XD Falcon The Ford XD Falcon is a car that was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1979 and 1982.The XD series was introduced on 28 March 1979 and was initially offered in five models:* Falcon GL * Fairmont... |
Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000... |
| 1982 1982 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1982 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars. It began on 18 February 1982 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 16 May at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Ford XD Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1983 1983 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1983 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Touring Cars. The title, which was the 24th Australian Touring Car Championship, was contested over a series which began on 6 February 1983 at Calder Park Raceway and ended on 19 June at... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 6th | Ford XE Falcon Ford XE Falcon The Ford XE Falcon is a car which was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1982 and 1984. Introduced on 11 March 1982, the XE was a revised version of the XD Falcon, which it replaced... |
Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1984 1984 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1984 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 25th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship, and was the last year of Group C regulations. The following year would see the introduction of the international Group A regulations... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Ford XE Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1985 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Touring Cars. It was the 26th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the first to be contested using regulations based on the FIA's International Group A regulations... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 2nd | Ford Mustang | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1985 1985 Australian Endurance Championship The 1985 Australian Endurance Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Touring Cars complying with an Australian version of FIA Group A Touring Car regulations... |
Australian Endurance Championship | 8th | Ford Mustang | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1986 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 27th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 2 March 1986 at Amaroo Park and ended on 13 July at Oran Park Raceway after ten rounds.... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 6th | Ford Mustang | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1987 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship was a motor racing competition which was open to Touring Cars complying with regulations as defined by CAMS and based on FIA Group A rules. The championship, which was the 28th Australian Touring Car Championship, began on 1 March 1987 at Calder Park... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 6th | Ford Sierra RS Cosworth Ford Sierra RS Cosworth The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was a high-performance version of the Ford Sierra. It was the result of a Ford Motorsport project with the purpose of producing an outright winner for Group A racing in Europe.- Development :... |
Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1988 1988 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1988 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group 3A Touring Cars. It was the 29th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. Promoted as the “1988 Shell Ultra Australian Touring Car Championship”, it began on 6 March at Calder Park... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Ford Sierra RS500 | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1989 1989 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1989 Shell Ultra Australian Touring Car Championship was the 30th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 5 March 1989 at Amaroo Park and ended on 9 July at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 1st | Ford Sierra RS500 | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1990 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1990 Shell Ultra Australian Touring Car Championship was the 31st running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 25 February 1990 at Amaroo Park and ended on 15 July at Oran Park Raceway after 8 rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 4th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1991 1991 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1991 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship was the 32nd running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 24 February 1991 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 11 August at Oran Park Raceway after nine rounds... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 8th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1992 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 33rd running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group 3A Touring Cars, commonly known as Group A cars... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 8th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1993 1993 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1993 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 34th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 28 February 1993 at Amaroo Park and ended on 8 August at Oran Park Raceway after nine rounds.... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 5th | Ford EB Falcon Ford EB Falcon The Ford EB Falcon is a car which was produced by the Ford Motor Company in Australia between 1991 and 1993.Visually the 1991 EB remained nearly identical to its predecessor. The most noticeable change was the transfer of the Ford emblem from the tip of the bonnet to the grille... |
Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1994 1994 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1994 Australian Touring Car Championship was the 35th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 27 February 1994 at Amaroo Park and ended on 24 July at Oran Park Raceway after 10 rounds.-Teams and drivers:... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 8th | Ford EB Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1995 1995 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1995 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship was the 36th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and was run for cars eligible to CAMS Group 3A touring car specifications. It began on 5 February 1995 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 6 August at Oran Park Raceway after 10... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 7th | Ford EF Falcon Ford EF Falcon The Ford EF Falcon is a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1994 and 1996. A total of 192,100 EF models were produced prior to replacement of the EF by the Ford EL Falcon in 1996.-Introduction and changes:... |
Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1996 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of 5.0 Litre Touring Cars complying with Australian Group 3A regulations. The championship, which was the 37th Australian Touring Car Championship, was promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 10th | Ford EF Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1997 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1997 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship was the 38th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and was run for cars eligible to V8 Supercar specifications... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 7th | Ford EL Falcon Ford EL Falcon The Ford EL Falcon is a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1996 and 1998. The EL Falcon served as the final chapter of the fifth generation "E-series" architecture, which began with the EA of 1988. Ford discontinued the car in 1998, and replaced it... |
Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1998 1998 Australian Touring Car Championship The 1998 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship was the 39th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and was run for cars eligible to V8 Supercar specifications. It began on 1 February 1998 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 2 August at Oran Park Raceway after 10 rounds.-Teams and... |
Australian Touring Car Championship | 10th | Ford EL Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 1999 | V8 Supercar Championship Series V8 Supercar V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations... |
10th | Ford AU Falcon Ford AU Falcon The Ford AU Falcon and Fairmont are the first of the sixth generation series of the Ford Falcon, a full-size car produced by Ford Australia... |
Dick Johnson Racing |