This year, 26 district sporting legends are being inducted to the hall of fame, honour roll and junior honour roll categories in the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame. The News is featuring stories on each of the inductees in the lead-up to the induction ceremony on August 6. Today, News sports reporter Rodney Woods speaks to Bryan Thomson, who is being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
If you were listing names of motorsport fame in the Goulburn Valley, Bryan Thomson's name was often at the top of the list.
That was because Thomson was the first Shepparton race driver to compete overseas and he drove against the leaders in Australian motorsport.
He competed in all the major races and won the Australian Sports Sedan GT Championship in 1985.
He finished third in the James Hardie 12-hour event at Bathurst in 1991 and the Sandown 250 in 1975.
He also competed in the Australian Endurance Championships, Australian Sports Car Championships and Australian Touring Car Championships as well as Formula One.
While he raced in many classes with many vehicles, there was one car that stood out.
“The Molina Monza was sensational,” Thomson said.
“It was the Batmobile of the time.
“It was a stunning car, a classic car and nothing we have had since was as sexy as the Molina Monza.”
While he made a name for himself in the four-wheel driver caper, which he started in 1959, Thomson started his motorsport career with motorcycles.
“Youngsters have cars today, but in our day cars were beyond the average youngster, so we all graduated from push bikes to motorbikes,” he said.
“As was the period, my parents and most parents were very anti-motorcycling.
“I started on a 1938 Ariel Sidevalve and then I bought, renovated and sold 21 motorcycles before I was 21.
“When I look back on it now, that started me off in my motor industry career.”
When asked about his first two-wheel race, Thomson recalled it like it was yesterday.
“The Halsalls, who were the motorcycle dealers, they used to run mud scrambles (grass track racing) as they were called back in our day around Raftery Rd and the riverbanks and I started with that in 1953,” he said.
While the Bathurst track is the pinnacle of motor racing, Thomson said Calder Park Motorsport Complex held a special place in his heart.
“Bathurst is the biggest challenge,” he said.
“Up the hill and across the top and through the S-bends.
“Every race driver in the world talks about Bathurst.
“You only went to Bathurst — you didn't go to win, you went just to be in it.
“But Calder was close to my heart.
“It was a track with very big crowds and a small circuit and Winton was our home track.
“Calder was big time in our era because you got to race with the national drivers instead of just the country drivers.”
One of the many highlights of Thomson's career was competing in the Australian Touring Car Championships, although, as Thomson explains, it nearly broke the bank.
“I had two years in the Australian Touring Car Championships with the first Camaro,” he said.
“We weren't factory sponsored and, so, we had to pay everything out of our own pocket and I didn't have the budget to compete at that level.
“The car was successful — it was the right car at the right time.
“I think we had eight wins with the Camaro and we were against (Allan) Moffat and (Bob) Jane and all the factory supported drivers, but that almost broke the bank.
“We decided we couldn't keep up that sort of expenditure.”
While he was known for his circuit track work, Thomson also raced in a number of rally events, including Targa Tasmania, but he explains he would prefer track events out of the two.
“Targa Tasmania is another challenge,” he said.
“I like to go around a circuit four or five times and have a look at it first before we have a real go.
“But in rallying you do everything by the seat of your pants.
“Those world rally drivers are another breed.”
When asked about being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Thomson said it was great to be recognised for his contributions to the sport.