It's probably fair to say that Barry Sheene was the James Hunt of the motorcycling universe during his heyday.
The Australian was known for his distinctively nasally British accent, an ability to surround himself with attractive women at the snap of a finger, and his unforgiving nature on the track as a championship-winning motorcyclist.
He was very much an antithesis to the athletes of today, often speaking his mind every time the cameras rolled in. In many ways, the sheer idea of the playboy rider or driver was shaped directly around his legacy.
Sadly, Sheene passed away in 2002 after losing his battle to cancer. But that wasn't until after he had shifted to Australia, where he eventually became a broadcaster for Channel 10 on motorcycling and the V8 Supercars. It was through the latter that the young me was first introduced to Sheene, as he commentated alongside the likes of Leigh Diffey and Mark Oastler — an excitable terrier of a commentator who would go off his tree during any battle or any crash.
And as part of that period as a broadcaster, Sheene, Channel 10, Stone Brothers Racing, and Marcos Ambrose produced this obscure little gem, which I found while bouncing around the world wide web late last night.
It shows Sheene sampling Ambrose's Ford Falcon AU V8 Supercar at Queensland Raceway. Of course, he had dabbled in four-wheeled warfare as well — including truck racing and the BTCC.
Naturally, his pace in the Pirtek Falcon is impressive; enough to qualify for the equivalent race at the paperclip-shaped Queensland circuit. Not too bad for someone who hadn't steered a car competitively for a decade or so, and a great insight into the professional athlete's psyche for competition.
Rest in peace, Baz.