THE MENTOR
Geoff Leeds
Geoff Leeds has the toughest job of all! As Driving Standards and Prosecuting Officer for the TA2 Muscle Car Series, it’s Geoff’s role to assess any on track driving incidents, investigate all parties involved, determine if any infringements should apply and then work with the Stewards to determine an appropriate penalty. It’s a tough way to win friends.
Every driver at some stage during the year is involved in an on-track altercation of sorts and it’s Geoff’s role to ensure all par- ties are given the opportunity to present their case. Of course, the camera doesn’t lie - and having in car vision available from all cars helps to deliver decisions that are fair and transparent.
Geoff’s heard all the excuses before - so nothing surprises him. He has the history and track record to cut through the driver spin ensuring his decisions are respected and based on knowledge in all levels of competition after a career spanning 35 years. You don’t line up on the grid for 23 consecutive Bathurst 1000 events without having a pretty impressive driving CV.
Geoff was an active competitor, predomi- nately in Touring Cars, racing a Torana XU1 in what many would say were the golden years of touring car racing - the Moffat/ Brock/Johnson/Jane/Geoghegan/Goss era. With co drivers such as Japanese Touring Car Champion and Le Mans 24 hour Winner Yoshimi Katayama, Ford Cortina and later Porsche pilot Jim McKeown, who was a runner up in the Australian Tour- ing Car Championship to the great Norm Beechey in 1970, F5000 Australian Gold Star Champion John Leffler, Terry Finnigan, and other Australian Championship winners - Geoff achieved a class win, numerous class placings plus a number of top 15 finishes with a best result of 8th outright in the 1991 Bathurst 1000.
After hanging up the helmet and gloves, he became the General Manager/Motor- sport Manager of Oran Park promoting the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Australian Super Touring Car Championship and Australian Sports Sedan Championship.
In 2002 he was approached by V8 Supercars to become the IPO (Investigat- ing and Prosecuting Officer) for the V8 Dunlop Development Series with Colin Bond as the Driver Standards Advisor - a position Geoff held for 2 years before resigning after becoming frustrated with the CAMS system of penalties. He’s back and TA2 is glad to have him. Geoff is not just the driving standards advisor - he’s a mentor, likes to encourage new talent and delivers transparency and consistency in his decision making.
While some drivers will not always agree with the decision, they do respect it comes from someone who has raced at the highest level and against the best touring car drivers this country has produced - accept, listen and learn from it, that’s all Geoff asks.
