Member at Live Well With Vision Loss
Passion drives us — for speed, for skill, for overcoming what life throws our way.
I’m Gary, a lifelong motorsport enthusiast and automotive specialist. My journey began in Gympie, Queensland, and has been defined by a love of racing, engineering, and creating experiences through vehicles — from drag racing to off-road adventures, and even pursuing speed records on water.
Motorsport has always been central to who I am. The thrill of tuning, building, and racing cars and buggies, exploring forest rallies, or pushing limits on the water wasn’t just a pastime — it was a way of living fully, embracing challenges, and mastering skill. That passion shaped my identity long before life asked me to adapt.
In 2017, everything changed. Overnight, I lost my vision completely due to retinal detachment caused by a growth. The sudden blindness was devastating and forced me to redefine what independence, purpose, and achievement mean. Competitive racing, once a central part of my life, was no longer possible.
Through this period, I discovered new ways to channel my determination. Restoring a 1977 Holden Monaro, which I named “Lucy,” became my focus. Stripping it to bare metal and rebuilding nearly every part by myself, with limited vision, tested my patience, creativity, and resilience. The project was more than a restoration of a car — it became a restoration of self.
Lucy went on to be showcased at Summernats, symbolising not just skill, but perseverance. The experience taught me that independence and capability are never lost — they just require adaptation. Tasks may take longer, challenges may be greater, but purpose is always within reach.
I continue to live by the principle that passion and resilience define how we navigate life. While my journey no longer follows the straight line of the racetrack, it remains full of speed, skill, and unwavering determination. I may have built Lucy, but in many ways, Lucy rebuilt me.