Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductee Allan Horsley, a respected promoter, manager, and star maker, has died in Sydney.
He was prominent as the general manager of Oran Park raceway in its heyday and promoted the Australian Touring Car Championship clash which was so successful that police closed the gates and would allow no more spectators to enter.
Horsley was a grass roots promoter – respected by competitors as their avid supporter at a time when their relationship with most track owners was confrontational.
He was the first promoter to pay Peter Brock a starting fee and bring him over the border from Victoria. He bought an engine for Allan Moffat’s Mustang as a means of attracting him to the circuit.
Horsley was Motorsport Australia’s (then CAMS) measurement official who controversially approved Moffat’s Mazda RX7 to compete in the Australian Touring Car Championship.
He became manager of Moffat’s Mazda Racing Team, but such was Horsley’s standing as an honest operator there was never a suggestion of impropriety.
Horsley went on to a three decade career as a senior executive with Mazda.
With his steadfast support and major contacts with the Japanese factory he guided Mazda to four successive 12-hour race victories at Mt. Panorama and Eastern Creek.
Horsley was a huge supporter of motorcycle champion turned car racer the late Gregg Hansford.
“I had dinner with Gregg the night before he died, “ Horsley told friends. “ He was typical Gregg – content in himself and excited about the things that mattered to him”.
The same could be said for Horsley.
His wife Rhonda (Iffland), a former Miss Australia predeceased him in 2018.
He is survived by their son David. The Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame offers its condolences to David and Allan’s wide circle of friends and admirers.