Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame hero John Sidney has died, aged 81, just two months after his induction into the sport’s pinnacle organisation for recognition of its high achievers.
John accepted his Hall of Fame induction at the 2025 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix . He was acknowledged for his great contribution to Speedway and NASCAR, and for his assistance to emerging Australian driving and engineering talent.
John Sidney Racing won six NASCAR championships from 1993 to 2000, the 1991 Australian Sprintcar Championship, three World Sprintcar titles from 1990 to 1993, and two Grand Annual Sprintcar Classics in 1992 and 1994. Most were achieved in partnership with his two star drivers Max Dumesny and Barry Graham.
“He was my mentor from the day he spotted me in 1983,” six-time national champion and fellow Hall of Famer Max Dumesny said.
“It was tough love, you knew exactly where you stood with him. His contribution as a builder of great racing engines and racing cars was exceptional.”
Sidney was a pioneer of NASCAR racing at Bob Jane’s ambitious Calder Thunderdome.
“He introduced pit stop strategy to Australia,” Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame chair John Smailes said.
“Undercut and overcut, and refuelling under safety car conditions were all foreign concepts until John used them wisely and won.”
John stepped back from his race engineering business in 2024 and was thought to be recovering from a long illness when advanced cancer was discovered only days before his passing.
“He was mighty proud of joining the Hall of Fame,” Max Dumesny said.
“After the ceremony we went to his favourite restaurant in Toorak to celebrate and discuss his achievements. He was very humble.”
The Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame offers its condolences to John’s family and friends, particularly to Megan Evans who supported him.
