This is why I have no time for Dick Johnson

[Redforever]

Yes Dick Johnson has 5 touring car championships and that is a tremendous achievement which any driver would and should be proud of.

However, there is back story to that success that is seldom discussed and thanks to the big C and the blue untouchables and their Leg End moderator such topics let alone discussion would be immediately locked and the author disciplined or banned.

But this isn't the big C (thank GOD), so let me give you some history about good old Dick Johnson.

Firstly Dick did own a servo at Daisy Hill in QLD and he started his racing career not in the blue oval's products but in Holdens.

In fact he scored his first points in the Australian Touring car championship at the wheel of a GTR Torana...

He was even in line at one stage for a drive with the legendary HDT.

He placed 5th at Bathurst in Bob Forbe's XU1 Torana in 1973 but alas, we lost him to Ford in 1976

Now Dick had some limited success with his change to Ford. Until some extremely shall we say 'inventive' work was done to homologate Ford's new XD Falcon for racing. The car that looked like it was designed with a ruler and a pencil.

Thanks to some, let's just call them oversights, the Falcon was homologated with CAMS based on the weight of the 6 cylinder taxi spec Falcon and not the significantly heavier 351 V8 falcon road car.

As a result the square edged Falcon had a significant advantage over its smaller engined and not significantly lighter Commodore counterpart.

We all know Johnson crashed his blue XD whilst leading at Bathurst on lap 18 after hitting a rock (that Brock and other drivers missed incidentally).

Now here is the part where in my view the Johnson legend starts to unravel. He goes on national TV back in the pits and starts to cry. Australians feel sorry for him and start donating money to help him rebuild his car. Edsell Ford II, local Ford boss at the time and despite Ford officially not being in local touring car racing agrees to match the Australian public's donations dollar for dollar.

Here's my issue with this. Firstly, if Johnson wasn't good enough for Ford to support in a proper factory capacity then why grand stand and offer to help him out only after he crashed out and Ford could see that there was publicity in helping Johnson.

Johnson goes on to build a new car and comes back next year and wins a shortened race, in what let's not forget is a dodgy homologation mistake.

Johnson's credibility and popularity builds as a result and more sponsors come on board and he has more success in a car that by 1984 is running 19 inch wide (that's 475mm for the metric kids) rear tires.

Soon he switches to the Sierra and big named sponsors like Shell come on board. Now Johnson has a big team and is reaping the rewards of success and money. Big house on the water and huge boat at his private doc.

So here's my question. Why didn't he pay back those hundreds or possibly thousands of people who handed over their hard earned when he was blubbering on TV so he could get back on his feet back in 1980?

Just a handful of years later Johnson is sitting on his big boat looking back at his waterfront house whilst battlers and working class fans gave him thousands in donations which were put towards HIS car that allowed HIM to begin that road to success.

Where's their money Dick?

Why didn't you offer to repay the battlers that helped you achieve that success?

If it happened today it would be on A Current Affair.

Instead Johnson is revered as a working class Queensland hero. When in fact the reality is that his success and hi team are built on the good will, good nature and hard work of ordinary Australians who never saw a cent of their money repaid.

And that is why I have no time for Dick Johnson...

[Bundy]

So here's my question. Why didn't he pay back those hundreds or possibly thousands of people who handed over their hard earned when he was blubbering on TV so he could get back on his feet back in 1980?

10 years ago you would have more of a chance but these days its like getting blood out of a stone...

I guess that is why Dick has stood by Ford even though they royally shafted him in 2009 was because he felt that he always owed them after they backed dollar for dollar the donations given to him by joe public...

[100%FORD]

GM/Holden!!!!!!!

Did DJ set up a charity for donations or was it just the good hearted Ford fans fans sending in money?

Im sure i heard or read somewhere that he sent letters to all the people thanking them for the donation, at the least he acknowledged them only a couple of years ago.

Its a pity Holden fans didnt do the same for MS and HRT.

[hypnotize]

I dont feel sorry for DJRs poor performances of late. He was willing to sacrifice the future and performance of his team just to keep his son in a job.

Because of that he lost a good financial partner, a top class driver, Burgess and their race winning speed. I hope Stevie feels privileged!!

[donk]

Jun 22, 2012 20:24:30 GMT 10 hypnotize said:

I dont feel sorry for DJRs poor performances of late. He was willing to sacrifice the future and performance of his team just to keep his son in a job.

Because of that he lost a good financial partner, a top class driver, Burgess and their race winning speed. I hope Stevie feels privileged!!

Got to agree with you there Hypno!

[Bundy]

Dick has always been a family man but when it comes to business out on the track he sadly can't separate the two and it's cost him arguably having a competitive team. But in saying that there is always hope with COTF around the corner and the chance of them building a decent car...Dick just needs to make the tough decision to remove his son which I am not entirely sure he is capable of

[crikey]

Good points Hypno and Bundy, Steve doesnt have to lose his job completely, He would be a great enduro driver, Plus he will become the MD of DJR, To me its good to point out that Dick needs to tell Steve to stand down full time, But its equally as important for Steve to do whats right for his and his son Jets future and that would be to step aside, And build the business back up, So jet gets an opportunity to get a drive later on.

Also going to a 4 car team is just a silly move IMO.

[Bundy]

Jun 23, 2012 8:56:26 GMT 10 crikey said:

Good points Hypno and Bundy, Steve doesnt have to lose his job completely, He would be a great enduro driver, Plus he will become the MD of DJR, To me its good to point out that Dick needs to tell Steve to stand down full time, But its equally as important for Steve to do whats right for his and his son Jets future and that would be to step aside, And build the business back up, So jet gets an opportunity to get a drive later on.

Also going to a 4 car team is just a silly move IMO.

Yep change would be good for Jnr too.

[Redforever]

Jun 22, 2012 8:47:32 GMT 10 100%FORD said:

GM/Holden!!!!!!!

Did DJ set up a charity for donations or was it just the good hearted Ford fans fans sending in money?

Im sure i heard or read somewhere that he sent letters to all the people thanking them for the donation, at the least he acknowledged them only a couple of years ago.

Its a pity Holden fans didnt do the same for MS and HRT.

Sorry mate. When did Skaife cry on national TV and take tens of thousands off sympathetic fans to build up his race team and turn himself into a millionaire on the back of working class Aussies and their generous hearts?

Johnson had a list of those thousands of people that donated to him over 30 years ago and waited until a couple of years ago to contact them and thank them. What a load of bull****.

You are kidding if you think the two men are anything alike. Johnson is at the same level as those American tele evangelists that take money off the old and week minded to build up their own business empires.

Johnson should be ashamed...

[100%FORD]

Jun 23, 2012 18:40:37 GMT 10 Redforever said:

Jun 22, 2012 8:47:32 GMT 10 100%FORD said:

GM/Holden!!!!!!!

Did DJ set up a charity for donations or was it just the good hearted Ford fans fans sending in money?

Im sure i heard or read somewhere that he sent letters to all the people thanking them for the donation, at the least he acknowledged them only a couple of years ago.

Its a pity Holden fans didnt do the same for MS and HRT.

Sorry mate. When did Skaife cry on national TV and take tens of thousands off sympathetic fans to build up his race team and turn himself into a millionaire on the back of working class Aussies and their generous hearts?

Johnson had a list of those thousands of people that donated to him over 30 years ago and waited until a couple of years ago to contact them and thank them. What a load of bull****.

You are kidding if you think the two men are anything alike. Johnson is at the same level as those American tele evangelists that take money off the old and week minded to build up their own business empires.

Johnson should be ashamed...

Mate you are a discrace, most Holden supporters would be imbarassed to associate or even back up some of your diluded rants

[Bundy]

Stay on topic and keep out the personal stuff 100% Ford. Thanks.

[100%FORD]

Okay, so do agree with the personal slander of an icon of our sport, who's achievments throughout all the aspects of the sport stand out above that of anyone else?

It wouldnt be hard to start threads of the same imature nature of leading identities from the other side of the fence, is this what you want of your forum?

[Bundy]

Jun 24, 2012 11:04:33 GMT 10 100%FORD said:

Okay, so do agree with the personal slander of an icon of our sport, who's achievments throughout all the aspects of the sport stand out above that of anyone else?

It wouldnt be hard to start threads of the same imature nature of leading identities from the other side of the fence, is this what you want of your forum?

Question he poses is legitimate about whether or not DJ owes the original donators to his plea for funds to refund their money but the background to how he got there is his own account and interpretation. I personally don't see anything wrong with what he has said in light of this.

[Redforever]

My intent was not to slander Johnson but to offer an alternative view to the sicafantic Ford faithful who can't see past the legend to realise that there is an alternative point of view.

Worship Johnson all you want Ford fans, but prove my points wrong if you don't agree with me. In other words, play the ball not the man...

[100%FORD]

I was of the opinion that fans donated willingly but by the comments here DJ pleaded fans to send in donations, which way was it?

If he was a wife beating adulterer, then he would have something to be ashamed about............

Peter Brock as the op says, incidentlly missed the rock wouldnt this bring the actual characture/sportmanship of the man into question considering the amount of time from when he missed the rock that also involved him having a lengthy pit stop and he didnt try to warn anyone of a large rock on the track, this is if the op recolection of the event is correct!!!!!!!!!!

[Redforever]

Your attempted slander of Brock based on comments made in an unauthorised biography has nothing to do with this topic. Also your recollection of that 1980 race also appears a little cloudy.

Brock ran over the rock AFTER Johnson had already hit it and crashed out. In fact the rock had already been reported to race control and a truck had been sent out on the track to retrieve it. Johnson was caught by surpirse by the sudden appearance of the truck even though white flags were being waved at the time. Johnson admitted that the truck caught him by surprise and he deliberately crashed into the rock and bank to avoid the truck.

So the simple facts are that Johnson wasn't paying attention, did not aknowldge the white flag which indicates a slow vehicle ahead and he arrived at full race speed and had nowhere to go but either into the truck or into the wall. The fact is that whilst the rock has made for a great story and like I said got Johnson the sympathy and money he needed to build his empire. In all reality the whole rock story is a fairytale. Johnson would have crashed into the concrete barrier regardless of any rock as he was travelling too fast when he arrived behind the slow moving truck.

Don't take my word for it. Here is a link to Johnson saying as much in his own words.

Oh and you're welcome.....

www.couriermail.com.au/sport/dick-johnson-reveals-truth-behind-the-rock-incident-at-bathurst/story-e6frep5o-1225917280050

[100%FORD]

Jun 25, 2012 11:27:33 GMT 10 Redforever said:

Your attempted slander of Brock based on comments made in an unauthorised biography has nothing to do with this topic. Also your recollection of that 1980 race also appears a little cloudy.

Brock ran over the rock AFTER Johnson had already hit it and crashed out. In fact the rock had already been reported to race control and a truck had been sent out on the track to retrieve it. Johnson was caught by surpirse by the sudden appearance of the truck even though white flags were being waved at the time. Johnson admitted that the truck caught him by surprise and he deliberately crashed into the rock and bank to avoid the truck.

So the simple facts are that Johnson wasn't paying attention, did not aknowldge the white flag which indicates a slow vehicle ahead and he arrived at full race speed and had nowhere to go but either into the truck or into the wall. The fact is that whilst the rock has made for a great story and like I said got Johnson the sympathy and money he needed to build his empire. In all reality the whole rock story is a fairytale. Johnson would have crashed into the concrete barrier regardless of any rock as he was travelling too fast when he arrived behind the slow moving truck.

Don't take my word for it. Here is a link to Johnson saying as much in his own words.

Oh and you're welcome.....

www.couriermail.com.au/sport/dick-johnson-reveals-truth-behind-the-rock-incident-at-bathurst/story-e6frep5o-1225917280050

I was just pointing out that there is several other things in life that a person should really be ashamed about and i didnt mention any names.

In your op you state PB missed the rock and now youve changed your mind and he has hit the rock!!!!!!!!

Actually DJ said he had an option off driving into the truck or the rock that was located on the racing line on a blind part of the track far from out of control or if at race speed has no bearing, the truck was on the track after retrieving a car and was well passed the rock.

BTW his interview starts at 6.02 and theres no tear on TV until the commentator tells him that the switchboards have lit up with Aussies wanting to donate money to get him back on the track

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnnKmBiYBGw

[Redforever]

Jun 25, 2012 12:27:03 GMT 10 100%FORD said:

Jun 25, 2012 11:27:33 GMT 10 Redforever said:

Your attempted slander of Brock based on comments made in an unauthorised biography has nothing to do with this topic. Also your recollection of that 1980 race also appears a little cloudy.

Brock ran over the rock AFTER Johnson had already hit it and crashed out. In fact the rock had already been reported to race control and a truck had been sent out on the track to retrieve it. Johnson was caught by surpirse by the sudden appearance of the truck even though white flags were being waved at the time. Johnson admitted that the truck caught him by surprise and he deliberately crashed into the rock and bank to avoid the truck.

So the simple facts are that Johnson wasn't paying attention, did not aknowldge the white flag which indicates a slow vehicle ahead and he arrived at full race speed and had nowhere to go but either into the truck or into the wall. The fact is that whilst the rock has made for a great story and like I said got Johnson the sympathy and money he needed to build his empire. In all reality the whole rock story is a fairytale. Johnson would have crashed into the concrete barrier regardless of any rock as he was travelling too fast when he arrived behind the slow moving truck.

Don't take my word for it. Here is a link to Johnson saying as much in his own words.

Oh and you're welcome.....

www.couriermail.com.au/sport/dick-johnson-reveals-truth-behind-the-rock-incident-at-bathurst/story-e6frep5o-1225917280050

I was just pointing out that there is several other things in life that a person should really be ashamed about and i didnt mention any names.

In your op you state PB missed the rock and now youve changed your mind and he has hit the rock!!!!!!!!

Actually DJ said he had an option off driving into the truck or the rock that was located on the racing line on a blind part of the track far from out of control or if at race speed has no bearing, the truck was on the track after retrieving a car and was well passed the rock.

BTW his interview starts at 6.02 and theres no tear on TV until the commentator tells him that the switchboards have lit up with Aussies wanting to donate money to get him back on the track

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnnKmBiYBGw

Brock ran over the rock and it put a small dent in the Commodore's drop tank. By 'missed' I mean he didn't claim that it hit is car and all but destroyed it.

Well your story differs from that of Johnson's own account. Maybe you need to go back and read what he said again.

Johnson claimed that coming out of the cutting on a blind crest he saw a white flag indicating a slower vehicle ahead - which was in fact a truck which had been dispatched to pick up the rock.

The next is a direct quote from Johnson himself: "There wasn't enough room and I wasn't going to go into the back of the truck so I ended up hitting the rock and the bank,"

So Johnson admits to seeing the white flag and presumably as he held a CAMS racing license he knew what a waived white flag meant. But he still managed to crash. Behind him was the entire field who not only avoided the truck but Johnson's crashed XD sitting across the middle of the track. So either the rest of the field was just plain lucky or they saw the flags and slowed down when Johnson decided to ignore them and press on. Ultimately having nowhere to go but over a rock and into the wall.

The other explanation may have been that having just lapped Brock coming up Mountian straight after the HDT car had been forced in for an early pitstop for repairs after coming together with a Gemini. Johnson may have been trying to prove his superiority over Brock by ignoring the waving white flags and pressing on at race speed despite the danger of ignoring the officials. The rest is history and Johnson's career was built on this farcical event and the good nature of countless hard working Australians who gave him their hard earned money based on this fairy tale....

And ofcourse Johnson didn't start crying until he found out he was going to get thousands of dollars in tax free money. It would bring a tear to my eye too..

[100%FORD]

[/quote]Brock ran over the rock and it put a small dent in the Commodore's drop tank. By 'missed' I mean he didn't claim that it hit is car and all but destroyed it.

Well your story differs from that of Johnson's own account. Maybe you need to go back and read what he said again.

Johnson claimed that coming out of the cutting on a blind crest he saw a white flag indicating a slower vehicle ahead - which was in fact a truck which had been dispatched to pick up the rock.

The next is a direct quote from Johnson himself: "There wasn't enough room and I wasn't going to go into the back of the truck so I ended up hitting the rock and the bank,"

So Johnson admits to seeing the white flag and presumably as he held a CAMS racing license he knew what a waived white flag meant. But he still managed to crash. Behind him was the entire field who not only avoided the truck but Johnson's crashed XD sitting across the middle of the track. So either the rest of the field was just plain lucky or they saw the flags and slowed down when Johnson decided to ignore them and press on. Ultimately having nowhere to go but over a rock and into the wall.

The other explanation may have been that having just lapped Brock coming up Mountian straight after the HDT car had been forced in for an early pitstop for repairs after coming together with a Gemini. Johnson may have been trying to prove his superiority over Brock by ignoring the waving white flags and pressing on at race speed despite the danger of ignoring the officials. The rest is history and Johnson's career was built on this farcical event and the good nature of countless hard working Australians who gave him their hard earned money based on this fairy tale....

And ofcourse Johnson didn't start crying until he found out he was going to get thousands of dollars in tax free money. It would bring a tear to my eye too..[/quote]


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If you watch the footage PB race looked to be over before he hit the rock that you said "Brock missed incidentally" that now you have changed your mind and say ended his race aswell.

Actually DJ doesnt say the truck was dispatched to pick up the rock(that was added by the reporter), the video of the incident shows the truck with a car on the back well past the rock and moving along the track at the time of the accident,at 3.46 of the actual race footage
Yes DJ had an option of running up the back of the moving truck or hitting the rock, after hitting the rock that shattered his rims i suppose that might have had something to do with him loosing control and hitting the bank.

The words that come out of the mans mouth directly listen from 5.50

Yes the white flag was out cautioning of a slow vehicle after DJ hit the rock which drove him into the wall, shows yellow flags being waved meaning to slow down.

It was something that some people seem to lack, its called emotions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Redforever]

Jun 25, 2012 18:32:06 GMT 10 100%FORD said:

Brock ran over the rock and it put a small dent in the Commodore's drop tank. By 'missed' I mean he didn't claim that it hit is car and all but destroyed it.

Well your story differs from that of Johnson's own account. Maybe you need to go back and read what he said again.

Johnson claimed that coming out of the cutting on a blind crest he saw a white flag indicating a slower vehicle ahead - which was in fact a truck which had been dispatched to pick up the rock.

The next is a direct quote from Johnson himself: "There wasn't enough room and I wasn't going to go into the back of the truck so I ended up hitting the rock and the bank,"

So Johnson admits to seeing the white flag and presumably as he held a CAMS racing license he knew what a waived white flag meant. But he still managed to crash. Behind him was the entire field who not only avoided the truck but Johnson's crashed XD sitting across the middle of the track. So either the rest of the field was just plain lucky or they saw the flags and slowed down when Johnson decided to ignore them and press on. Ultimately having nowhere to go but over a rock and into the wall.

The other explanation may have been that having just lapped Brock coming up Mountian straight after the HDT car had been forced in for an early pitstop for repairs after coming together with a Gemini. Johnson may have been trying to prove his superiority over Brock by ignoring the waving white flags and pressing on at race speed despite the danger of ignoring the officials. The rest is history and Johnson's career was built on this farcical event and the good nature of countless hard working Australians who gave him their hard earned money based on this fairy tale....

And ofcourse Johnson didn't start crying until he found out he was going to get thousands of dollars in tax free money. It would bring a tear to my eye too..[/quote]


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If you watch the footage PB race looked to be over before he hit the rock that you said "Brock missed incidentally" that now you have changed your mind and say ended his race aswell.

Actually DJ doesnt say the truck was dispatched to pick up the rock(that was added by the reporter), the video of the incident shows the truck with a car on the back well past the rock and moving along the track at the time of the accident,at 3.46 of the actual race footage
Yes DJ had an option of running up the back of the moving truck or hitting the rock, after hitting the rock that shattered his rims i suppose that might have had something to do with him loosing control and hitting the bank.

The words that come out of the mans mouth directly listen from 5.50

Yes the white flag was out cautioning of a slow vehicle after DJ hit the rock which drove him into the wall, shows yellow flags being waved meaning to slow down.

It was something that some people seem to lack, its called emotions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/quote]

Brock was involved in an incident with a Gemini laps before and had just come out of the pits and Johnson lapped him going up mountain straight. I never said the rock ended Brock's race. He won it!

Your the one using an old YouTube clip to defend your view. I'm quoting directly from an interview with Johnson.

I don't need to draw my own conclusions, Dick makes it very clear what happened. If the journos recount of the background story was wrong, I can't find anything where he has had to retract his comments or where Johnson has called the article untrue.

The facts remain though that Johnson took hard working Aussies cash on the back of a fairy tale about a rock and a blubbering Queensland service station owner....