James Courtney | Part 1 - cut throat karting & losing a good mate

The vivid memories of driving the V10 Jaguar Formula One car at Monza and a frightening crash at Ascari that wasn’t his fault.How Michael Schumacher stopped to help, off the charts crash data and the injuries James suffered that would keep him out of the car for months.Taking a career detour and conquering Japan plus the little known Indycar option and a potential second chance at F1.Moving into Supercars and a moment at Darwin in 2005 that necessitated a switch to SBR when HRT had been the first option.Winning the title for DJR against a backdrop of financial hardship for the team at the time and how proud he is of the way his crew rallied to get it over the line.How a move into broadcasting almost happened before his recent stint at the Blanchard Racing team.Overcoming fears that date back to school to get his Real Estate Licence and selling one of the best homes on the Gold Coast that belonged to Tony Cochrane.Plus the potential driving career bookend with his good mate Charlie Schwerkolt.A big thanks to Martin Collins and the Taupo International Motorsport Park team for letting us record there and Supercars TV for giving us nearly two hours of JC’s time ahead of the first leg of the Kiwi double header.Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How sampling a kart at Lithgow started the journey and it clicked straight away.Borrowing chain oil from the late Jim Morton and how his generosity put JC on course for Europe.Living alone in Italy in his mid teens and the future F1 stars who tried to scare him at the Karting World Championships.Thinking he was at the end of the road until a chance catch-up with Neil Crompton opened the door to car racing.Alan Gow stumping up serious cash for a move into Formula Ford.Realizing the dangers of the game when a friend was killed in a crash at Oulton Park.The ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ moment with Marino Franchitti and why they didn’t tell his legendary brother Dario about it for years!Plus a candid conversation around ADHD and how James has learned to live with it.There are some fabulous takeaways for young racers in this 2-parter and we’re indebted to James for sharing Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s the title of a new book by respected writer Stewart Bell and he’s in the Garage studio to talk about it in a special bonus shortcast in our feed this week.Bell has been a regular in the Formula One paddock since the late 90’s covering it for print media, digital, social and television for Associated Press, Sky Sports UK, publications in Hong Kong, India, Top Gear, GQ & more.  Gunter Steiner wrote the foreword for the book and he reminds us that the ‘brutality’ can mean many things. It’s a game with huge public interest now so there is no hiding when it comes to failure or things going wrong….it means immense pressure in all facets of the business.  Sure for the drivers there’s huge physical forces that come from racing the fastest cars, there’s danger including reflections on the death of the great Ayrton Senna….not to mention the cutthroat politics, the grueling schedule as well as the demands on the team 24/7. While we can’t talk about every chapter in the book (that’s for you to enjoy) it does include quotes from everyone from Oscar Piastri to Alain Prost, and it leans heavily on Stewart’s impressive 20 year interview archive. The now-retired Daniel Ricciardo is a prominent feature. Bell was there during the anguish at McLaren and how he shaped Lando Norris' future (in a positive way).You can find more on Stewart here:https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/stewart-bellThe book is published by Penguin & you can find it in all the usual places:https://www.penguin.com.au/books/formula-one-the-worlds-most-brutal-sport-9781761357916Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was meant to be a shortcast but Rusty’s convo with AFL Hall of Famer Brad Johnson runs over 30 minutes and it’s a beauty! How the Bulldogs legend and his family have taken to motorsport as son Jack pursues a professional career behind the wheel. What it was like riding alongside his son in the Soutar Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 at Phillip Island. The impression Jack made at the opening round of the series and the work they have put into an expensive sport as a family. Are there learnings from Brad’s time as a professional athlete? The commitment, the discipline he showed on the way to becoming a Bulldog’s games record holder and how it might apply to Jack. The little bits of sage advice from an Indycar star. And walking that tight rope of helping to guide your son to avoid the pitfalls while giving them freedom to grow and learn.Plus the Johnson love for F1 and where Jack would like to end up racing.The next stop for Jack is at the Bend in South Australia in early May.  You can find out more here https://www.speedseries.com.au/Special thanks to the Shannon’s Speed Series team and the Fox Sports AFL 360 show for allowing us to use a slice of a cool story as Jack took Brad for a hotlap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Granddaughter of a pioneer, daughter of a legend in Marcos Ambrose….how Tabitha is forging her own path. The racing bond with her Dad and why this relentless pursuit has to be fun, being the first in the family to pick up a trophy at Bathurst and how it all started. When Dad showed up at school in the US with a very cool car, racing in Formula Ford and why it’s so important at this stage of her journey and the secret Trans Am test. Plus the incredible inner strength she witnessed in her Dad’s serious but very private cancer battle and perhaps why it’s made her respect him even more. Tabitha is a switched on racer who is fiercely determined to carve her own career in motorsport and is immersing herself in every aspect of the business. The easy listening convo comes easily between these two. You’ll be impressed with the commitment and confidence for someone whose teenage year are barely in the rear view mirror. Enjoy! Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That first ride on a 500cc Grand Prix bike - Kevin Magee remembers it in visceral detail.Racing in Japan and the mark he made there on the way to what we now know as MotoGP.Racing for Kenny Robert’s Yamaha including a podium in Portugal. Finally adding his name to that prestigious list of Grand Prix winners on a memorable day in Spain. A frightening cool down lap crash in the late 80’s and the media mistakenly reporting his death at Laguna Seca! He would come back to win races in Superbikes but how tough it was to deal with the premature end of his GP career.And the remarkable story of helping a blind rider break a world record.This conversation leaves you in no doubt of Magee’s talent but like so many in this brutal sport the tradjectory can change suddenly. Hold on for an incredible ride. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re joined by former Fox Motorsport bike racing expert Kevin Magee for this fascinating two-parter.Growing up in country Victoria and showing fearless talent on a bike to learning what made machines really fire and how to get the best out of them. Early racing opportunities and juggling his passion with work including the story of finishing one job at lunch and starting another that afternoon!You’ll be blown away by the detail of his memory around some aspects of his racing career and the bikes he competed on. Getting his circuit racing break and just how good he was straight away.Little wonder ‘Magoo’ became known as the ‘Horsham Hurricane’ as climbed the ladder taking aim at the Swan Series, the 6-hour and ultimately racing on the world stage.  Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sportscar superstar and former F1 driver had a busy GP week in Oz including a function with Rusty at Lindsay Fox’s classic car museum in Melbourne. Recorded with the assistance of the Audi’s F1 team’s partner BP the pair spoke on stage about all sorts of things. Reuniting with the ‘Croc’ car and getting to drive the Race of a Thousand Years winner around some iconic parts of Victoria. What his work as the Director of Audi’s Driver Development Program entails. How long they have had Freddie Slater (who you can find in our library at last month’s New Zealand Grand Prix) in their sights for. The serious talent they are supporting in F1 Academy and a special memory he has of the great Ayrton Senna. As well as insights on the magnitude of Audi’s F1 project and the quiet determination to conquer the very pinnacle of the sport just like they did in World Rally in the 80’s, in Sportscar Racing and more.\ It’s like you’re in the crowd at the function with a cool treat, surrounded by some amazing cars and listening in on an engaging chat with a legend. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve built a Feature library that is mainly 1-on-1 convos but we’re breaking the mould with this one….and it was so worth it. Rusty shoots the breeze with ‘Bieber’ and ‘Camo’ who are reveling in the step forward that BRT has taken in Supercars this year. How motor racing started for each of them? The race cars in the Cameron family garage and has Aaron had a steer of them? DJ’ing and why it’s an escape for Jimmy and is there any correlations to his day job.There’s a heart warming family story Aaron shares too that is truly inspiring. What it was like at Garry Roger’s Motorsport for both of them and the hard yards they did in that period of their careers. Enjoy being part of this ripper round table chat and get to know this likeable pair a little better. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The grounded approach the team is taking that comes right from the top. How the relentless off-season work at BRT has filled them with confidence and a determination by the drivers to repay the faith as they say. Jimmy is making the most of his new surroundings and we look back on his Bathurst 2025 podium with the benefit of a bit of time to process it. A turning point for Aaron at Adelaide last year and how he rose to the occasion. Plus the wave of new supporters (all in BRT merch) that love the underdog story. And ‘Flying High’….Sky Diving indoors. Are either of them ready for a cameo in the next Point Break movie? This convo flies by. It’s like the three of them are at a BBQ and you’re within earshot. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.