The Story of Sports Voice

 

My Dad and I.

At the tender age of 18 I was not too know that my future lay in the excitement of Motor Sport Commentary. My initial introduction to Karting started in Parramatta in 1965 when as a Motor Mechanic for Larke Hoskins BMC Dealers I arrived at work to be confronted by an apprentice with an unusual proposal. He had just purchased, or should I say indicated that he needed some assistance in purchasing a Go-Kart.

 Well! After that experience I had nothing more to do with Karting until I arrived in Brisbane after many years in the Firearms and Ammunition Business (plus a stint in the Army). It was 1982 and I was working with a mate in the second hand Earthmoving Equipment business, (I know! what has Earth Moving Equipment go to do with Karting), well, I went to pick up a video from a store in Inala and saw an advertisement for a second hand Swiss Hutless Kart with a Class Australia engine with heaps of bits and pieces as well. As you probably have guessed, I bought the kart and joined the Ipswich Kart Club when it had a track at Mt Crosby; I also joined the Toowoomba Kart Club and the Gold Coast Kart Club. I moved from Class Australia into International Heavy Class, and it was during this 6 or 7 years that I spent a large amount of money ( which was pointed out to me by my bank Manager at the time – quote “ Geoff, what ever your doing STOP – you have run out of money) At this stage I decided to become involved in the Management Committee of the Gold Coast Kart Club, finding out that it was a very clickie little group and I was defiantly on the outside of this group. One day I arrived at the Club and was watching the racing, remember that for 6 or 7 years I had been a competitor and did not take a great deal of interest in what was going on except when my race was on. I though that if I was someone who had come into watch and knew nothing about the sport I would be completely lost. It was in 1985 that I decided to go and purchase a microphone and the required leads etc and started race commentary. I was fortunate enough to be approached by Radio Station Sea FM and worked with this Organization over the first two years of the Indy Car Meetings at Surfers Paradise, commentating for the Formula E 250cc Super Karts. This in 1991/92. I didn’t do any commentary at the Gold Coast initially; I didn’t do any at Ipswich until the National Championships in 1992.

My Mum, Dad, and I.

After that I decided to call myself SPORTS VOICE and go out and aggressively sell my ability to the highest level, the C.A.M.S. newly formed C.I.K. Championship that was first run at Raleigh in N.S.W. in 1993. After my initial introduction in 1987 at the N.S.W. State Titles held at Raleigh, I contacted the owner of Raleigh Race Way - Chris Piggott and then went on to be the “Voice of Karting” throughout Australia for not only the C.I.K. Championship, but also the Oceania Championships held throughout Australia as well.

The C.I.K. and Oceania Events gave me the opportunity to travel over all States except W.A and the N.T. In 1995 I was fortunate enough to get a call for the C.A.M.S. National Titles held at Tamworth in N.S.W. I called the A.K.A. Nationals at Ipswich in 1995, and was also calling at Toowoomba, Ipswich and The Big Kart Track at Caloundra in that year as well.

In 1997 the Oceania Championships were held at Todd Road in Melbourne Sports Voice was there to bring all the excitement and action to the event. In 1999 the event moved to Eastern Creek in Sydney and I was fortunate enough to meet and work beside Gary Holt, and when Gary took over Wakefield Park in Goulburn, I was there to call a number of events there as well  (Including V8 Supercars) In 2000 the face of the International karting scene changed in Australia and I changed with it. With no further racing in these classes sports voice moved into N.S.W. and has enjoyed working with Lismore Kart Club for a number of Years.

Don’t ever call me one-eyed

I was present at Coffs Harbor for the first Over 40 event, this event has gone from strength to strength from 97 entries in 1997 to over 200 currently. Over the past three or four years I have been very busy, with a number of Clubs and with a keen interest in the Midgets and Rookie drivers, who will be the sport in the future. I look forward to continuing Commentary, I have a passion for the Sport, and SPORTSVOICE is available at a really reasonable rate for any form of racing. Do not hesitate to contact me if you feel that my many years of experience can be of assistance to you or to your Club. I hope that my story has given everyone the feeling for my passion and skill in the role of Commentary and Public speaking.