Bob Jane

cavvy · 18 Dec 2004, 02:24 (Ref:1182310)

Bob Jane is 75 today - happy birthday Bob.
He's always been there in my memory that extends back to the late 50s - from an FJ, Maserati to the McLaren & the Monza supporting drivers like Brock & Perkins, John Harvey, Jim Richards and lots more, Calder & the Thunderdome, supported Elfin as an Aussie racing car manufacturer (he was the factorys biggest customer),internationally he embarassed the best Brits driving a factory Jag (took pole, set fastest lap) & took Harves to Fuji in the McLaren & Brock & Perkins to Le Mans, gave the AGP an international focus for Adelaide to win the AGP, was instrumental in bringing internationals like Ravaglia & Cecotto to Bathurst, & the DTM Mercs, thru to sponsoring Bathurst over the past couple of years.

As a driver he won 4 ATCC titles in the Jag & the mighty Camaro, a couple of Bathursts & numerous other tintop races, punted big banger sports cars, drove an Elfin in the AGP, the Repco Torana was before its time in Sports Sedan ranks & finished off in the Monza.

Onya Bob, your contribution to our sport is #1.

Steve Holmes · 18 Dec 2004, 02:59 (Ref:1182318)

Top post cavvy. Good call. Cheers

Just Do It! · 18 Dec 2004, 04:51 (Ref:1182341)

Happy Birthday Bob. I'll have a drink for you too.

Not a bad effort when you look at what one man, his dream, his vision, and his motivation has contributed to a single sport.

The sport needs a community of Bob Janes, and today of all days, may we all take a moment to think not only of his contribution, but also of his personal involvement in motorsport over many years.

Bob Jane - a champion driver, a champion supporter, a top bloke, and so unassuming to go with it all.
It is so great to see a man achieve all that he has, and even now, contribute back into the sport.

Hip, Hip.....

Aarrgh8 · 18 Dec 2004, 05:24 (Ref:1182345)

Happy Birthday, Bob Jane, from me too. My memories don't go back as far as cavvy's. My first memory of Bob Jane was Practice Day at Creek Corner, Warwick Farm, October '62. We'd been standing there for a long time (it always seemed a long time between anything at WF.) Off in the distance, we heard the announcer say that the Touring Cars were heading out for practice. A minute or so later I heard this whistling noise, and I craned my head out over the fence. Moving up and down over the undulations, Bob's white Mark II Jag came into view down Hume Straight. Lovely, sleek looking thing, with masking tape over the headlights. A rip-rip from the exhaust as he went back to second, a squeal from the discs as the nose buried down a bit, and he was gone. My mate and I headed to the pits after practice finished.Bob was there in his 'Autoland' tent with his wife, Bev, and the tall, distinguished looking John Sawyer. I had my autograph book ready, and nervously approached this hero I'd been reading about. He was friendly and chatty, but my pen wouldn't work. He had a few goes, then scribbled on his thigh to get the thing working. It started working, and left blue circles over his light blue Dunlop racing overalls. He had a good laugh, and I was brave enough to ask him about his time racing pushbikes. He was very forthcoming, and I've never forgotten.

In the over-forty years since, to me it's semmed that Bob has always been there. Well, he always has. A great supporter of Australian motor sport.

Harves · 18 Dec 2004, 06:56 (Ref:1182362)

Cheers uncle Bob, where would motorsport in this country be without you.

Good on you cavvy, another fine post.

pete55 · 18 Dec 2004, 08:59 (Ref:1182392)

Happy Birthday Bob. May you have many more. A great mentor to many.

marcus · 18 Dec 2004, 12:13 (Ref:1182482)

Happy Birthday Bob

Bob is one name not mentioned on the Ten tenths on this day in history project , simply because I have never found his date of birth (or actually never came across it)

so his date of birth would be 18th december 1929 right ?

if so im adding it right away

Aarrgh8 · 18 Dec 2004, 19:00 (Ref:1182691)

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcus

So his date of birth would be 18th December 1929, right?

Right, and while we're at it.. http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/com...5E2862,00.html

Aarrgh8 · 18 Dec 2004, 19:15 (Ref:1182701)

No good. Check out the Herald Sun site for an article on Birthday Bob.

rdmdog · 18 Dec 2004, 23:30 (Ref:1182865)

Happy Birthday Bob.

Harves · 19 Dec 2004, 00:27 (Ref:1182899)

This might work and it might not, so if it doesn't and your interested in some great shots of Bob's car with Harves Snr at the wheel just PM me.

Grimace · 19 Dec 2004, 05:20 (Ref:1182966)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!

a truly great contributor to motorsport in Australia,

may you have many years to come!

275 GTB-4 · 19 Dec 2004, 11:21 (Ref:1183091)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harves

This might work and it might not, so if it doesn't and your interested in some great shots of Bob's car with Harves Snr at the wheel just PM me.

Good offer...why not just post the best of them here....plenty of people here have a lot of respect for what both have done for Motorsport

Raglanparade · 19 Dec 2004, 13:48 (Ref:1183167)

Bob Jane has probably been one of the most influentual people in Australian Motorsport for the better part of half a century.

Congratulations on the big 75, and thank you for all your work in helping to make Austrailan motorsport what it is today.

cavvy · 20 Dec 2004, 01:25 (Ref:1183529)

How could have I forgotten the E-Types, especially the lightweight

johnh875 · 20 Dec 2004, 05:57 (Ref:1183604)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimace

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!

a truly great contributor to motorsport in Australia,

may you have many years to come!

Hear, hear! Best wishes Bob.

Harves · 20 Dec 2004, 08:16 (Ref:1183653)

If I could work it out I would upload them but......buggered if I know how.

thunder road · 21 Dec 2004, 03:50 (Ref:1184599)

Thunder Road; Message to Ten-Tenths members from Bob Jane, quote; I do really appreciate your consideration and kind birthday wishes, I am certainly planning many more, onbehalf of my family and myself, I extend to you all, a very happy and safe Christmas/New Year festive season; Bob Jane.

groupnxu1 · 21 Dec 2004, 04:38 (Ref:1184617)

Happy Birthday Bob,

Hey Harves have you got any photo's of John driving Bob's Group C XU-1 as i would love to get hold of a copy of them.

Cheers

Dylan

Harves · 21 Dec 2004, 09:11 (Ref:1184730)

Yes, I do but I can't work out how to upload them so send me your email address and Bob's your....

Senna05 · 21 Dec 2004, 09:21 (Ref:1184742)

Cousin?.........

racer69 · 21 Dec 2004, 10:57 (Ref:1184860)

I'm intrigued about this European foray with his Jaguar mentioned earlier in this thread.

ANyone have any info. on when, where, results, who was in the field etc..etc..

thunder road · 21 Dec 2004, 11:10 (Ref:1184869)

com'on cavy!!,where are the statistics, these are great stories when you get Bob 'fired-up',just remember in those days you 'dicked' around with the tyre pressures,then went out and did your best,no trick 18pipe rollcages,no computors,no real suspension 'tweeks',no real 'safe seats(these cars were destined for the 'used car lot' when finished racing), I'll think of some way to 'down load' some of Bob's Adventures in the UK

cavvy · 21 Dec 2004, 22:58 (Ref:1185450)

I'm miles from home base but I will plagiarise my reference book - hold fire for a day or so.

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