7 June 2006
Caltex Racing's current V8 Supercar champion Russell Ingall took great pleasure today in unveiling a significant tribute to his good mate Barry Sheene at Ipswich Art Gallery’s Driving Passion: the colours of motorsport exhibition.
What will be a keynote component of the unique motorsport art exhibition, will be Sheene’s inaugural 1976 championship winning Suzuki RG500 bike, from his successful back-to-back World 500cc campaign.
The priceless piece of machinery is accompanied by one of Sheenes’ competition helmets used during a highly successful 30-year professional career.
This history making occasion for Australian motorsport can only be described as a truly remarkable inclusion for the Driving Passion: the colours of motorsport exhibition.
Today’s announcement follows hot on the heels of a 12-month European road show of both Championship winning bikes, which only arrived back in Australia a week ago.
“It may have been three years since Baz’s (Sheene) passing but his legacy in International motorsport will live on forever,” said Ingall.
“Barry Sheene had a great deal to do with my switch to Stone Brothers Racing where I secured my first ever V8 Supercar Championship last year.
“I owe him a lot and it’s fantastic that the Ipswich Art Gallery has seen fit to honour such a great ambassador during the Driving Passion: the colours of motorsport exhibition.”
One of motorsports' heroes, Sheene was riding motorcycles by the time he was five years old.
The son of a GP mechanic, he made his professional racing debut at 18 and won the British 750 title just two years later.
In 1975 he suffered his first major crash - a terrifying off at 175mph at Daytona, which broke his thigh, wrist and collarbone.
Yet one year later he rode one of these RG500s to victory for Suzuki in the 500cc world championship - and then repeated the feat in 1977, taking six wins from nine races.
For Ipswich Art Gallery officials the opportunity to have a championship winning Barry Sheene motorbike on display is seen as a major coup.
“Through the Driving Passion: the colours of motorsport exhibition we have blended reputable art pieces with their real life influences and managed to capture unique slices of motorsport history in all its colour and fanfare,” said Ipswich Art Gallery President James Sturges.
“When you talk of Barry Sheene, you immediately think World-class and I know his charismatic, easy going nature endeared him to all Australians when he moved here in the early 1990’s.
“He became a favourite with television audiences through his expert commentary of Australian and International motorsport events.
“We sincerely thank Stephanie Sheene for offering Australians the opportunity to take a close up look at one of the mechanical marvels of World motorbike competition.
“This bike coupled with the many and varied cars and bikes, plus contemporary art pieces assembled at the Ipswich Art Gallery are sure to be a major hit over the next couple of months.”
‘Driving Passion: the colours of motorsport’ will feature an exploration of the early years of touring car activity, the impact of today’s highly popular V8 Supercar Series, Australia’s biggest and best drag racing identities including local heroes Victor and Ben Bray plus fellow Brisbane driver/rider Brett Stevens.
No motorsport exhibition would be complete without the alluring appeal of Formula One, while for Australian audiences Champ Car racing and the recent impact of the all new Team Australia franchise during competition in Queensland’s own Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast, makes this one of the most comprehensive must see events of Ipswich.
The exhibition, which runs until August 6, has something for everyone and the Ipswich Art Gallery extends a personal invitation to experience Australia’s biggest and best motorsport’s extravaganza – ‘Driving Passion: the colours of motorsport’.
