Race Commentators - Where are they now?

racer69 · 22 Jun 2008, 10:57 (Ref:2234581)

I was having a racing related conversation with someone and the topic got onto commentary, and in particular the various one's we've had over the years & the one's that popped up out of nowhere and then disappeared almost as fast.

We've got a "Where are they now" for cars and drivers, so why not one for commentators. I'll start with a few who seemed to have a limited lifespan on the TV, popping up from nowhere;

John Brady - Was he Noel's son? Did the pit reporting at Bathurst from 1988-1992, then nothing since.

Greg Hendrick - Did some Channel 7 commentary (including Bathurst) in 1990, but nothing since (in fairness this was a year when 7 seemed short of some commentary types, Wilko was in QLD & Crompton was doing more racing)

Tony Hill - appeared on some Amaroo broadcasts in the early 80s

Steve Robilliard - Well he's still on the ABC these days, but how did he score the commentary gig with Channel 7 back in 1984?

Colin Young - Did some stuff with Channel 7 in 1984 (Le Mans, Bathurst, Calder AGP), pit reported at Surfers in 1986, then nothing.

Others....

db120176 · 22 Jun 2008, 11:55 (Ref:2234623)

John Brady was for at least a time the media liaison for the NRL (may still be)

What about Mike Raymond? Where is he now?

Wrighty05 · 23 Jun 2008, 00:26 (Ref:2235282)

Colin Young was writing for The Age probably around 6-7 years ago.

Yeah there were some average ones in 1990.

TSR · 23 Jun 2008, 01:57 (Ref:2235329)

And don't forget Uncle Doug Mulray, he was priceless when he was helping CH7 from about 1988 on.

Average Punter · 23 Jun 2008, 10:59 (Ref:2235548)

Or John Smailes? Was doing some rally stuff for TEN last I heard.

Will Hagon? Pops up on ABC radio from time to time but seems keener on the bikes now. Is Toby Hagon from drive.com.au his son?

Or Lee "Crackers" Diffey. Back stateside?

Richard Hay?

Did John Alexander (as in tennis) do Bathurst one year? Or was that just a bad dream???

chavez · 23 Jun 2008, 12:20 (Ref:2235615)

Steve Titmus - Bathurst 1990 - used to do regional news for Channel 7

Mike Raymond is still around. Usually the ESPN commentators for the IRL send Mike a cheerio every couple of week.

Garry Wilkinson - shared commentary with Noonz on the Aussie Muscle car masters.

John Alexander was enjoying the Seven hospitality, but somehow found himself in the commentary box.

Pat Welsh - still shows up on Seven occasionally.

Peter McKay - still a motor writer.

Peter Wherret -wore the red blazer. Hindsight suggests a red dress may have been more appropriate.

John Shepherd -much under used by Seven.

John Davison - ex Sandown promoter.

Dennis Cometti - motor racings loss was footballs gain (???)

Peter Gee - no idea.

Drew Morphort - still around somewhere.

db120176 · 23 Jun 2008, 12:46 (Ref:2235638)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

Will Hagon? Pops up on ABC radio from time to time but seems keener on the bikes now. Is Toby Hagon from drive.com.au his son?

Wil Hagon can be heard on ABC Local radio from 10PM for one hour this Thursday (26/06) and every fortnight subsequent. Mainly new car info, some motorsport - definitely a MotoGP guy now (can't blame him, have largely become one myself). Toby is his son

stmookeyj033 · 23 Jun 2008, 13:16 (Ref:2235675)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavez

John Alexander was enjoying the Seven hospitality, but somehow found himself in the commentary box.

Pat Welsh - still shows up on Seven occasionally.

Peter Gee - no idea.

Drew Morphort - still around somewhere.

Pat Welsh does the Sport for 7 Brisbane from Monday-Friday.

Peter Gee reads ABC TV News in Tasmania

Drew Morphett calls AFL/Cricket/Netball/Women's Hoops on the ABC after getting the lemons sars from 7 following the Sydney olympics.

Unfortunately John Alexander was last seen yakkin with Jim Courier at the Oz Open tennis. He was there in a Bathurst 24 Hour as well.

Wrighty05 · 23 Jun 2008, 13:52 (Ref:2235722)

Think John Alexander did Bathurst in 1989.

racer69 · 23 Jun 2008, 16:19 (Ref:2235837)

What did Drew Morphett call for 7 at the Sydney Olympics?

Saw him (well, technically only heard him) on the Lawn Bowls a few months back.

Bob Vincent?

Kerry Luckins?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

Will Hagon? Pops up on ABC radio from time to time but seems keener on the bikes now. Is Toby Hagon from drive.com.au his son?

Will was always a bike man, they always seemed to come before the cars

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

Richard Hay?

Last i heard he was racing a TVR in GT racing in Europe a few years back.

His father Neville still does some commentary, he was part of Eurosports commentary team at Le Mans last week

PVDA · 23 Jun 2008, 22:32 (Ref:2236185)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavez

Garry Wilkinson - shared commentary with Noonz on the Aussie Muscle car masters.

Still reading the News on Sky News (Foxtel) and did his best work on Sky the day of Peter Brock's fatal crash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavez

Peter McKay - still a motor writer.

and upseting VE$A on a regular basis I believe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavez

John Davison - ex Sandown promoter.

Jon lost the Sandown contract last year and is currently supporting his son James racing in the USA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavez

Dennis Cometti - motor racings loss was footballs gain

Does AFL on Ch7 as well as the Saturday match on 3AW with Rex Hunt (now there s a combination ! ! ! ! ! ! )

MickAU · 23 Jun 2008, 23:41 (Ref:2236220)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

Or John Smailes? Was doing some rally stuff for TEN last I heard.

Or Lee "Crackers" Diffey. Back stateside?

Smailes aside from the rally stuff runs a big PR firm in Sydney, has Toyota as a client, the Sydney Motor Show and the LPG lobby too (from memory).

Crackers is in USA.

RotorFan · 23 Jun 2008, 23:46 (Ref:2236222)

What about Peter Windsor? TEN like to call him their "very own". Whats his story?

Jeremy Shaw was doing the Eurosport commentary for the Le Mans 24 Hour too this year (I haven't finished watching it yet!), what about his relationship with TEN?

Diffey was doing commentary for the ALMS on American TV last year. He's just as bad at sports cars as V8s

racer69 · 24 Jun 2008, 03:41 (Ref:2236292)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RotorFan

What about Peter Windsor? TEN like to call him their "very own". Whats his story?

TEN like to call him 'their very own' but all he really does is file a quick report at the GPs for them. When it comes to the actual race he is a commentator (pits i believe) for SpeedTV in the US, and in between races is a journalist (did columns in F1 Racing, back when i was silly enough to have a subscription)

BlueMax · 24 Jun 2008, 05:48 (Ref:2236312)

Kerry Luckins?

Now there is a name from a long time a go. I wonder what ever happened to him.

Razor · 24 Jun 2008, 07:43 (Ref:2236361)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Average Punter

Or Lee "Crackers" Diffey. Back stateside?

The Diff is back in the USA doing a stint with Speed TV and I think he sometimes does commentry with Ten for the American golfing rounds.

stmookeyj033 · 24 Jun 2008, 12:56 (Ref:2236531)

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer69

What did Drew Morphett call for 7 at the Sydney Olympics?

Did the diving, and head him doing a Handball match involving Australia one night.

chavez · 25 Jun 2008, 06:54 (Ref:2236989)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

The Diff is back in the USA doing a stint with Speed TV and I think he sometimes does commentry with Ten for the American golfing rounds.

He can still be heard in Australia calling the Grand Am Series on ESPN.

Chatters · 26 Jun 2008, 09:59 (Ref:2237861)

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer69

TEN like to call him 'their very own' but all he really does is file a quick report at the GPs for them. When it comes to the actual race he is a commentator (pits i believe) for SpeedTV in the US, and in between races is a journalist (did columns in F1 Racing, back when i was silly enough to have a subscription)

Still does columns for F1 Racing (albeit Lewismania columns). Also is the voice behind the questions at the F1 post race conferences (if it ever gets shown here).

david5 · 26 Jun 2008, 16:01 (Ref:2238123)

What about the American, Chris Econamacki (spelling) did Bathurst in the late 70s ?

Cheers David

Wrighty05 · 27 Jun 2008, 00:20 (Ref:2238420)

Chris Economaki is 87 years young and still kicking.

TSR · 27 Jun 2008, 00:39 (Ref:2238429)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrighty05

Chris Economaki is 87 years young and still kicking.

I will never forget the way he said OH THERE HAS BEING SOME CARNARGE HERE AT BAATH-HUURST in 1981 when doing a pit report on Bob Morris's XD Falcons pit stop

Wrighty05 · 28 Jun 2008, 17:21 (Ref:2239340)

It was 1980. When Mofat took over from Moris in the first example of cross entry

gts300 · 29 Jun 2008, 01:04 (Ref:2239492)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavez

Steve Titmus - Bathurst 1990 - used to do regional news for Channel 7

Can't say that I can remember him at Bathurst, but anything is possible.

Used to do the News is the right term, was shown the door in 2002.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/tra.../220702_s4.htm

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...6/ai_n17676839

gkmarshall · 30 Jun 2008, 07:17 (Ref:2240213)

Didn't David Tapp call some races a few years back

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