29/05/2026
Lucky number 7.
Name:
Dave Thwaites
Age:
30+........ Experience....
How Long have you/When did you start racing:
Back in 83ish had a few starts in go kart racing. Raced a VG Valiant street stock in a 150 lapper at the Whyalla Speedway in 86.
What got you into racing: My dad would draw sports cars for me a s a kid. He could whip up a Ferrari drawing and that sparked my interest in cars and art. Back then my brother and I had been into building model kits, mainly military and aircraft. One night dad took us out looking for a new kit to build. After a little while looking and nothing really capturing the imagination, big bro said “Hey what about this? It was a Revell 1/25th scale Funny Car. That was back in ’73 and from then I was fascinated with drag racing, paint design and the art that surrounded drag racing, hot rodding, street machines and then car culture itself. I absorbed the magazines, movies, TV shows and anything about it.
Favorite Class/Discipline and Why:
Nitro Funny Cars of the 70s and 80s are my first love. The cars, graphics and imagery have been burnt into my memory. Great times with my dad and big bro attending events and the dreams that went with that. Later on, creating art for some of the sports legends that I grew up reading about both here in Australia and the US.
Best memory involving motorsport:
Plenty over the years, crewing on a top ten NHRA Nitro Funny Car, crewing with Andrew and Graham Cowin, racing the 150 lapper in a car that my big bro and I slapped together and I’m surprisingly chuffed to have help establish a top fuel dragster team (if you know you know) HOWEVER, my absolute ALL TIME highlight would be watching my lad, Cooper, take Daniels Excel out for a few sessions at Mallala Motorsport Park back in early May. Hard to put that moment into words.
Why Motor Events and the Rare Cancers Fundraising:
I honestly was not aware that the series existed up until Daniel mentioned he was having a go last year. I’m forever grateful to him for the opportunity to have a steer. The organization general atmosphere of the event encourages opportunity. Cancer just plain sucks.
Advice to someone wanting to try/Get into enduro racing:
Get involved at a level that fits your comfort zone. Take the time to visit local tracks, talk to drivers, car owners, do research on the class you’d like to have a crack at. Get the skills needed, mechanics course, welding, design and perhaps think about some public speaking opportunities to build confidence when talking with potential sponsors and media (depending on your ambitions). Remember also, someone needs to finance your dreams, not only the car but travel, tools and equipment, Somethings I never did so the above observations come from the “I wish I had list” If you have the opportunity, take it.
