23/11/2025
In Australia in the 1970s, Allan Moffat was Ford and Ford was Allan Moffat.
Against the might of Peter Brock and the Holden Dealer Team, âMoffâ was the main man for the Blue Oval. He became a household name not just because of his successes, the iconic cars and legendary victories, but because he worked harder than anyone else.
He didnât quite have the flair of a Brock, but he was a perfectionist and didnât shy away from showing up at the racetrack a few days early and punching out lap after lap in pursuit of perfection. Four or five full race distances before the actual race even began!
When Moff was in the zone, everything and everyone else came second.
When Ford decided to turn off the tap to motorsport in the late 1970s, the crafty means of funding their racing programs all but dried up. The Ford Dealer money was the last roll of the dice for Broadmeadows to keep Moff flying the blue flag against the Lions from Fishermanâs Bend. Not even the famous 1-2 formation finish at Bathurst in 1977 â with Moffat and Jacky Ickx in the lead car and Colin Bond and Alan Hamilton following in second â was enough.
It meant Moff had to look elsewhere to continue racing, and he inadvertently opened the door for me.
When I was racing Holdens in the 1970s â everyone starts at the bottom and works their way up â Iâll never forget being at Oran Park one year when Moff reigned supreme. He had this Coca-Cola hospitality tent that hosted big get-togethers after all the races.
I scored an invite, when in his trademark Canadian-accented voice he whispered to me, âson, if you keep going, maybe you could get somewhereâ. It was praise from Caesar.
By the time 1980 rolled around, and I hit a rock at Bathurst to launch my own career, Moff was already committed to Mazda and its rotary-engined RX7. The public support for me and my family that year ensured we were on track in 1981, and with Moff in his Mazda, overnight I became the Ford bloke here in Australia. It changed the trajectory of my life.
Moff captured his fourth and final Australian Touring Car Championship in his Mazda in 1983. He fought the governing body every step of the way to have a competitive car, and it was more sports car than touring car quite honestly, but it was quintessential Moff â tradecraft, hard work and relentless energy that led to success.
Allan George Moffat OBE won the last race he ever entered in his #39 (for the year of his birth) ANZ Ford Sierra in Fuji, Japan, of all places. He finished off in style, up against a world-class field of competitors on a track that was about as foreign to him as the language spoken. The bloke never shied away from a challenge and bet on himself for good reason every time.
He was up in the Seven Network commentary box while I finished up my stint driving. By 2011, though, Moffâs son James was driving for me and was teammates with my son Steven.
Moff often joined us at races for those years. Bit surreal being the two old blokes watching our sons race together in the same team. A very special way to bring it all back full circle.
The bravest thing he ever did though was speak publicly about his fight with Alzheimerâs and raise critical awareness for Dementia Australia for a fight that impacts many families.
Moff put his name and face to a cause that before him was too often stigmatised. In that capacity, he likely helped as many millions of Australians as he entertained and engrossed while wearing his helmet behind the wheel.
A true legend both on and off the racetrack.
Vale Allan George Moffat OBE, 1939-2025
In Australia in the 1970s, Allan Moffat was Ford and Ford was Allan Moffat.
