ABOUT TODD
As long as I can remember I’d always wanted to be a race car driver. I started my racing career at the age of ten (10), and with my Dad Mum and baby brother back then, spent many hours on the road, my trusty Mini race car in tow, touring the countless country race tracks around WA. The plan was for me to race as much as I could to improve my driving skills and build up my competence. In my first year of club racing I picked up Rookie of the Year (age 11) and with names like Veronica McCann and Jamie Oldfield already on the trophy prior to mine (and a trophy that stood as tall as me) - I was overwhelmed and I can remember Bill Oldfield saying to my dad “that boy will be a champion one day.”
  Even though my fellow competitors were older and more experienced being 15 to 16 years of age it was very pleasing to also pick up 3rd in the overall points score in my first season of racing. We then took possession a pair of Daihatsu Charades that we hoped would help me get to the next level of competitiveness.

Across my junior journey I did experience some heart break that I am sure every sportsperson does in their careers - very tough lessons at such a tender age make you even stronger and resolved to be the best. Most in my mind was the first ever Australian National title held at the Kwinana Motorplex. While fighting for the lead in the event final, a race incident with a fellow leading competitor saw my car slam into the back straight fence, causing steering damage. I started off the front of the Indian file restart with the knowledge that the last two remaining laps were always going to be a handful. The heartbreak came in the last 20 metres of that race as Rob Adley stuck the nose of his corolla in front of my race car to take the inaugural championship. This tore my heart from my chest for the anguish for what could have been. But misfortune made me even more focused and determined to reach my goals and I believe this event will remain with me for the rest of my career and pushing me to never give up.

 
 
I did win the next Australian Title at Collie WA and a year later was the defending champions on the east coast of Australia. I felt the pressure on me at this event was enormous, the question being just how good was this kid from WA going to be against the East Coast chargers. I just focused on the task at hand and after 2 days of hard racing had captured my 2nd Australian Title. This was so much more rewarding as now I knew that I could win away from WA. We went on from there to take our 3rd Australian Title in Murray Bridge SA a year later.

The endless hours of labor in the workshop developing the mechanical side of things together with lap after lap at practice and race nights paid up in the end helping me to win the International Australasian Championship, 3 consecutive Australian Championships, 1 Western Australian and 1 Queensland State Titles, 3 consecutive Kwinana Quit Motorplex Championships, 3 consecutive Healthway Smarter than Smoking championships and representing Australia 3 times internationally in the Australia vs. New Zealand Team Challenge. Importantly also I have always concentrated on keeping a high level of fitness by playing football in the winter off season and building up my strength by attending a gym 3 to 4 times a week. I was also very lucky to be able to gain experience in the media giving interviews for newspapers and magazines and also taking part in sports television and radio programmes.

All my success, especially winning 3 Australian Titles in a row, was a fantastic but very special to me was being chosen as Captain of Australia and traveling to New Zealand to wear the green and gold. I really felt very proud leading my team and a true sense of patriotism to be lucky enough and privileged to be given the opportunity to represent my country. Hearing our national anthem played on foreign soil was extremely moving and after that, I can only imagine what our Olympians must experience at the Olympic Games.

Where ever the future will take me I will never forget my junior speedway journey and I am very grateful to all the people, racetracks and organizations that assisted me in rising to the top especially the great bunch of competitors that never gave an inch at the track and were always ready to give their all.
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