{"id":351186,"date":"2025-12-16T06:56:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T06:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/351186\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T06:56:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T06:56:18","slug":"supercars-news-many-versions-of-allan-moffat-remembered-at-state-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/351186\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercars news: \u2018Many versions\u2019 of Allan Moffat remembered at state service"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2018Many
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMark Larkham hosted the service. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n

The Canadian-born Moffat was the subject of a state service at the Melbourne Town Hall having established himself as an Australian sporting legend who transcended motorsport.<\/p>\n

Three famous cars flanked the stage \u2013 his beloved 1969 Coca-Cola Mustang, the 1977 Bathurst-winning Falcon and the 1987 World Touring Car Championship race-winning Rothmans Commodore.<\/p>\n

Racer turned Supercars broadcaster Mark Larkham hosted the service, detailing the legend\u2019s rise from amateur racer to four-time Bathurst-winning Ford hero.<\/p>\n

Larkham underlined Moffat\u2019s reputation as a hard working and intensively dedicated driver who raised the professional standard in Australian motorsport.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just did more than everyone and he dragged the whole game with him,\u201d he said. \u201cTo this day he can take a lot of credit for what the game has become.\u201d<\/p>\n

Larkham also noted Moffat\u2019s pole position, podium and race win strike rates outrank all other stars in Australian Touring Car\/Supercars Championship history.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Allan Moffat in 1976. Image: Glenis Lindley \/ Speedcafe Archive<\/p>\n

Neil Crompton spoke via video message while in the United States, struggling to hold back emotion when describing an interaction the year after Moffat\u2019s 2019 diagnosis with Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt John Harvey\u2019s funeral, he was still bright and happy,\u201d said Crompton. \u201cHe recognised me and told me that he loved me. And it\u2019s mutual. He was a special person in my life, somebody that I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

Long-time friend Andrew Wilson changed the mood with somewhat of a roast, describing Moffat as a \u201cterrible driver\u201d on the roads and an all-round \u201cratbag\u201d.<\/p>\n

Former Moffat PR and friend Phillip Christensen, driver Charlie O\u2019Brien and journalist Mark Fogarty also shared stories of their experiences with the icon.<\/p>\n

Fogarty delved into the complexity of Moffat\u2019s character, having experienced the \u201cbrusk, almost rude\u201d man at the track during the height of his career and the cheeky, dry-witted charm away from it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a riddle, wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma,\u201d said Fogarty, quoting a famous phrase from Winston Churchill. \u201cYou sometimes didn\u2019t know what you were going to get.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fogarty also leaned into the running joke of Allan having a fun-loving twin brother Arthur \u2013 a story born out of there being no other explanation for his changes in character.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Allan Moffat Mustang was brought to the service from its Sunshine Coast home with the Bowden family. Image:<\/p>\n

Son Andrew Moffat gave the deepest insights into the man behind the legend, including the philosophies passed on to himself and James.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had high standards and expectations, and was always full of advice,\u201d said Andrew. \u201cWith Allan, whether you were his child, friend or a stranger, you always knew where you stood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Life philosophies revolved around the importance of preparation, reputation, willpower, mindset, creating your own opportunities and making the most of them.<\/p>\n

James became a professional driver in his own right, while Andrew also dabbled in racing before focusing on a career as a school teacher and now principal.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe never wanted James or me to race, but was very supportive,\u201d Andrew said. \u201cHis advice on racing was clear, you need to be more obsessed than everyone else if you want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An image of Moffat at his workshop shared during the service. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n

Andrew recalled memories of his father\u2019s workshop at Malvern Road, Toorak, which Moffat kept into the mid-2010s \u2013 long after his race team had ceased operations.<\/p>\n

He described the place as a time capsule, with Moffat the \u201coldest of the old school\u201d who refused to use a computer, despite sponsorship from Apple!<\/p>\n

There were also anecdotes about Moffat\u2019s love of language, both sophisticated and otherwise, a well-known weakness for ice cream and cakes, and even a secret affinity for Abba.<\/p>\n

Moffat was also remembered as a creature of habit, having lived for some 65 years within the same two-block radius that also included his famous workshop.<\/p>\n

There was reference to two lesser-known favourite Moffat cars too \u2013 a 1982 Mazda 323 wagon that served as the race team runabout, and later a Gulf War Hummer he restored and drove on the street.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Moffat with his Hummer. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n

Andrew was one of several to thank those who looked after the legend during the difficult recent years as dementia took hold.<\/p>\n

Fellow racers Larry Perkins and Fred Gibson were among them, as well as friend and carer, Phil Grant.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a magnificent life,\u201d concluded Andrew of his father, who died on November 22, aged 86.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did it all himself. He lived like no one else. He was going to be the best, and he was going to do it his way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were many versions of Allan Moffat, but to me, it was just my dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve barely scratched the surface on a unique and wonderful life. So many people have so many memories. Please keep them alive.\u201d<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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