Craig Lowndes joins us fresh from the Vailo Adelaide 500 launch with the incredible news that Sprintcar Racing will be part of this year's event offering. This includes Supercross, Stadium Super Trucks, and performances by Crowded House and Cold Chisel in celebration of their 50th anniversary! We'll also have a debrief on his Triple 8 wildcard test this week, along with insider details on his preparation for one of the biggest off-road events of the season: Finke. Joining us as well is Toby Bellbowen from Sprintcar Hub. He'll discuss the temporary Sprintcar track, the immense effort involved i ..read more

The two-time Australian Rally Champion who grew up in a sporting family and thrives on competition! Rob Herridge's early life around the family farm in Western Australia served as his apprenticeship for what he now calls himself—a "pretend-gineer." Though he may lack a formal qualification, the resourcefulness and precision he learned were perfect skills for motorsport preparation. Herridge was a late bloomer to rallying but not to speed sports. You'll hear about how he blocked pain through sheer determination to beat a record in barefoot waterskiing before channeling that thirst for success i ..read more

Rob’s been a commentator over the years (can you tell?), and he loves a good story, so we're only just shifting into second gear in this chat! Discover how Herridge jumped into rallying on a whim, convinced he was world champion material on the very first transport stage! Learn about the Datsun 1600 that started it all, his near switch to Mitsubishi, and the ultimate move to Subaru, sparking a partnership that’s lasted for decades. We recorded this episode in the workshop, surrounded by cars Rob has worked on and won in. The attachment to some of them is understandable, especially when you hea ..read more

Building Maximum Motorsport into a ‘go-to’ race and rally car preparation business with a Subaru focus. The emergence of his son Dean as a driver and how the pair form a Yin and Yang partnership at Maximum, which is now an authorized Subie Motorsport Parts Dealer. Creating gravel notes for legends like Colin McRae and Ari Vatanen in New Zealand and nearly destroying the pace notes in a photocopier! Winning an Australian title without a handbrake! Who needs a handbrake in rallying anyway? It’s just extra weight. How Safari competition in cleverly modified Forester and XV models has quenched his ..read more

This week's special bonus episode features former racer turned expert commentator Townsend Bell, who joins us to analyse the 2024 field as the build-up to the Greatest Spectacle in Motor Racing continues. We discuss some observations from the month of May, including former Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin's pole position with a record-breaking run. We also consider the chances of Aussie Will Power drinking the winner’s milk again. Don't miss our shortcast in the Garage library with Will, which we dropped recently. We cover other drivers from this part of the world, such as 2008 winner Scott ..read more

She didn't want to come on, but she delivered in spades! We are proud to have tracked down and twisted the arm of the former Channel 10 Motorsport team member and intrepid ‘RPM’ reporter for a ‘where are they now’ feature episode. Alison was at Ten as the network amassed a portfolio of categories that made it the ‘Home of Motorsport’. It was a golden era with everything from World Rally Championship, to Indycar, MotoGP and more.  Before then, she worked with the late Doug Mulray on Listnr’s broadcast station Triple M. Doug was the King of Sydney radio then and was a popular member of Chan ..read more

We continue this gripping ride with former RPM and Rally reporter Alison Drower during a period in the late 90’s and mid 2000’s when Channel Ten became Australian TV’s undisputed 'Home of Motorsport'.   From magic moments making tele at the track, in the forest and with an access all areas pass that took fans on a back stage tour.  We have some fun with how she made Neil Crompton blush and burst out laughing when they covered Targa Tasmania. Plus, what Alison’s doing now, how Motorsport still plays a big part in her life as her son Zach Bates chases the dream of racing full-time ..read more

This is one for all Motorsport lovers.  Top Gear Australia is BACK! Ahead of its May 17 return on Paramount Plus, we chat with acclaimed actor and Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia who’s been given the keys to the rebooted Aussie version along with footy larrikin Beau Ryan and Blair (Moog) Joscelyne from Mighty Car Mods, who you can find in the Rusty’s Garage library. JPL joins Rusty to take us through what we can expect, including close calls, the countries, and his role in such a famous franchise. Plus, a dive into the LaPaglia family connection to cars and how JLP really fell ..read more

"Yeah baby!" Do you remember Rob’s classic F1 radio conversations with Felipe Massa? Well, we’ve tracked him down in the UK for a feature episode, and it's a ripper. From growing up in the north, impressing at University and getting a break in motorsport on the engineering side that would see Smedley spend the better part of his life in the Formula 1 paddock with memorable stints at Ferrari and Williams.  Rob’s delves deep into his vast time in pitlane, which also included time shaping some legendary cars in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at the height of the incredible arms ..read more

The ex-Formula 1 engineer who added personality behind the pit wall, making race radios a highlight of the broadcast, and his colourful commentary remains a hit on platforms like TikTok and YouTube to this day. In the second instalment of our series, we delve into his dynamic collaboration with Felipe Massa, recounting events from the harrowing crash in Hungary in 2009, which led to pivotal changes in helmet safety, to the intense 2008 championship finale that narrowly eluded them and has recently resurfaced in the media. A special mention goes to Rob's nephew, Ted from Western Australia, who ..read more