JASON BARGWANNA

Edited transcript of the Live Chat with Jason Bargwanna on Saturday 10th of June 2001

Interviewer: This evening we are chatting to Jason Bargwanna (Holden) from Garry Rogers Motorsport. Hi Jason how are you and where are you?
Jason Bargwanna: I'm in the pits, and I should be smiling but I’m not really.

Interviewer: How long have you been driving race cars for?
Jason Bargwanna: I started racing carts when I was 14 and got into cars at 15 so for 14- 15 years, that makes me an old bugger *laughs*

Interviewer: stalkyboy46: How do you feeling racing with the pros what’s going on in your mind?
Jason Bargwanna: Its great to be a professional race car driver and its a goal I always wanted to achieve, winning at this level is tough and that is what you need to set your mind on.

Interviewer: windsor4eva: what are you’re options on reverse grid for the second race?
Jason Bargwanna: If its great for the spectators then I love it, action packed racing is what the sport is all about and I think its very entertaining and great for the sport.

Interviewer: windsor4eva: what factors contributed to you hitting the wall?
Jason Bargwanna: I fired off a curb and it bounced into a fence, the conversation was going well until now *laughs*

Interviewer: ihateford: Bad luck mate, good crash though....tell me, do you ever get distracted by the good looking women on the start line?
Jason Bargwanna: For about 30 seconds then you have to get your mind back onto the job, and they are VERY good looking.

Interviewer: HoldenChicka: What are your opinions of Canberra?
Jason Bargwanna: The race is fantastic, the circuit is very challenging and great to drive on, and although the results haven't been great for me over the last 2 years I’ll be back always..... It’s cold though.

Interviewer: HZ253: how do you think you'll go at Bathurst?
Jason Bargwanna: Win... we are going to WIN :)

Interviewer: HoldenGuy: Whats your favourite track
Jason Bargwanna: Bathhurst... or any, I love my job.

Interviewer: Army_Coat_Girl: What's your opinion on Craig Lowndes' switch to Ford?
Jason Bargwanna: Its good for the sport and good for Craig, some fans like it and some hate it, I don’t' see a problem with it.

Interviewer: will: would you rather the longer or sprint format races?
Jason Bargwanna: The longer ones, I enjoy the pit stops and other challenges of the long race, Adelaide is one of the best races we do.

Interviewer: The_Kid: Will you ever switch to Ford?
Jason Bargwanna: Its certainly not part of my plan at the moment and I doubt it, Holden’s rule.

Interviewer: Miss_Xr8: what is your ultimate ambition to achieve in motor racing?
Jason Bargwanna: To win Bathurst, that was the ultimate, after achieving that, to win more and to win the championship.

Interviewer: russell: what do u think is the worst thing about Canberra??
Jason Bargwanna: The concrete fences are too close *laughs* but its a great event and nothing really needs changing

Interviewer: Bargs: Who do you think is your biggest rival
Jason Bargwanna: Anyone that out qualifies me. I've enjoyed banging wheels with Bright over the last 5 years but I suggest my biggest rival is myself

Interviewer: artfulracer: you are a good driver Bargs, but you don't seem to capitilise in races, what must a driver do or have
Jason Bargwanna: That’s a fair comment. At the moment we struggled a bit with the cars and unfortunely a small mistake can put paid to a good result, and we have to minimize the mistakes.

Interviewer: HoldenChicka: How many hours a week do you spend training and testing ect.ect
Jason Bargwanna: Training approx 8 hrs, and testing about 1 day every two to three weeks.

Interviewer: holden_lover: I just want to say that you are one of my top 5 Holden drivers!
Jason Bargwanna: Does that mean I’m number 1 ??

Interviewer: Miss_Xr8: what is your scariest moment in racing?
Jason Bargwanna: A fraction of a second before I hit the fence today.

Interviewer: vu_ute_chick: I have a vk commodore,, do u think I could win bathurst?
Jason Bargwanna: Your a DREAMER... although there is nothing wrong with the VK.

Interviewer: TheBlueOvalBoy: What's your daily driver ? Have you modified it ?
Jason Bargwanna: VX SS silver 225 kw, a horny car

Interviewer: Fi|2e-We|2x: JasonBargwanna : do you still race jet boats and when is the next race?
Jason Bargwanna: No.... its too dangerous.

Interviewer: russell: what r u like as a driver on the open road??
Jason Bargwanna: Impatient, I get frustrated with incompetent drivers.

Interviewer: Scorpion: Do you think the standing start in the second reverse grid race is a recipe for disaster? Neil Crompton thinks a moving start might be better. Do you agree?
Jason Bargwanna: No, any standing start has its potential of crashes, but we have managed over the last 30 odd years to keep them too a minimum.

Interviewer: NetjunkieF: JasonBargwanna : How’s Little Ben coming along with Racing or is Deb Saying No
Jason Bargwanna: *laughs* he's doing fine and if he wants to be a racing car driver i'm right behind him and so is Deb, and I’m a proud dad.

Interviewer: Army_Coat_Girl: Jason you have one of the coolest personality's in V8's, who do you get along best with?
Jason Bargwanna: Craig, Garth, Russel, Richo, Merv .... anyone but Skaife :)

Interviewer: fancyfree: who would be five dream guests at your bbq?
Jason Bargwanna: Mick Doohan, Michael Andretti, Bono from U2, Deb and Ben

Interviewer: Roonz00: do you guys play practical jokes on each other, if so what have you done?
Jason Bargwanna: yeah, put grease in Garths boots......... I’ll leave it at that.

Interviewer: OOGIE: any chance of seeing Deb race Nat Lowndes in a celebrity challenge ?
Jason Bargwanna: *laughs* I doubt it.... no, I don't think so

Interviewer: HoldenChicka: What's it like to win a race?
Jason Bargwanna: I remember winning my first V8 race was like this massive relief and pressure off my shoulders, but to win Bathurst was this most amazing thing.

Interviewer: Miss_Xr8: what is your most favorite car you have ever raced?
Jason Bargwanna: there's a good one, no doubt the best one I’ve races is my current V8 super car, but I really enjoyed driving the Formula Holden

Interviewer: KymbaHRTfan: How did you perfect your driving style, who did you learn the most from?
Jason Bargwanna: It just came naturally, it was the only thing I could do straight away, I can't do much else, I learnt a lot from my father, Brock, John Smith and many others.

Interviewer: iView: Would you like to have a go in a F1?
Jason Bargwanna: Absolutely, but you need a budget.

Interviewer: flogger: what do you do to relax away from the track?
Jason Bargwanna: Golf, jet ski, motorbike ride, spend time with Deb and being a dad

Interviewer: stalkyboy46: If you were not a racing car driver what would you be?
Jason Bargwanna: A try hard racing car driver.

Interviewer: fancyfree: its great of you to give time to the fans do you feel that is important?
Jason Bargwanna: Without fans I don’t have a job so the fans are one of the most important parts of our sport, i'd still race but not at the level that we do.

Interviewer: HoldenChicka: How many speeding tickets have you got on the road? :0)
Jason Bargwanna: Don't ask... its ugly, but they are all only 5kms an hour over.

Interviewer: shakri: do you think there should be more women in V8 racing?
Jason Bargwanna: If they can cut the mustard not a problem at all.

Interviewer: iView: How do you think would the V8 racing look like if you were only allowed factory standard cars - would it be Holden 1 2 3 ...to 10 and than all FORDS?
Jason Bargwanna: There are many teams, many budgets and set of rules, if the rules meant all the cars were standard then the results wouldn't make that much difference, that's what makes the sport great is the variety.

Interviewer: mudrat: what do you want to do when you finish racing?
Jason Bargwanna: I haven't thought that far ahead, I don't intend on stopping.

Interviewer: russell: do u ever feel like smoking them up when u win a race?? or do u save that till on the road? :P
Jason Bargwanna: I love doing that but my boss doesn't let me.

Interviewer: Bargs: Is Peter Brock one of your all time legends?????????????????????
Jason Bargwanna: Yes. He's amazing.

Interviewer: Blondie: What's your opinion about the safety car coming out when there was no carnage on the track?
Jason Bargwanna: Fortunately that doesn't happen that much, but I believe it should only happen when its necessary

Interviewer: fancyfree: what are your pet hates?
Jason Bargwanna: Dishonesty, Dishonesty, and Dishonesty

Interviewer: Kart: what do you recon needs to be improved with the sport as a whole?
Jason Bargwanna: Maybe I should be asking you that!

Interviewer: mudrat: would you like to run your own team one day?
Jason Bargwanna: Nah, too political, too hard trying to find the budget.

Interviewer: Miss_Xr8: how do you celebrate after a good round?
Jason Bargwanna: After Bathurst which was my last good round, we had a fairly big night, big week, actually big month *laughs*

Interviewer: Bargs: How do you feel about the consistent rulings by CAMS??????????????? Are they consistent
Jason Bargwanna: They need to be consistent and they are improving, I don't have a problem with paying the penalty if you do the wrong thing.

Interviewer: timmyHSV: Hey bargs, do you think that you'll fair for the rest of the season? do you think the tem is in a strong position for the rest of the season? why the lack of pace ealy on
Jason Bargwanna: We have now found the speed and I believe the rest of the season will be back at the front were we should be, I believe the last of pace was due to being caught with our pants down and didn't work hard enough, but hopefully we have changed that now.

Interviewer: russell: what was your first car?? was it standard?? were u a hoon??
Jason Bargwanna: *laughs* An RX4, I was 16, it had mags, lowered, it was a 13b bridge port, and yes, I was a hoon

Interviewer: iView: There are a lot of collisions during the races, are the car designs as safe as they can be or is there a lot a driver like you would like to change?
Jason Bargwanna: The cars are great, yes there are crashes and collisions, but its not often people get hurt, its more dangerous playing netball, there are more injuries playing netball than motor racing.

Interviewer: rallymazter: what’s it like knowing that you have one of the best "jobs" around!????
Jason Bargwanna: It's Ace... and I’m humbled by the thought. I'm a lucky bastard

Interviewer: Bargsfan: Do you think the wings should be taken off the cars to improve the racing?
Jason Bargwanna: What’s wrong with the racing.... I support any change that improves the racing.

Interviewer: ihateford: do you like the idea of going to New Zealand for a round?
Jason Bargwanna: Yes, absolutely and more overseas races are better for our sport.

Interviewer: KymbaHRTfan: Jason, one of the things, I love about V8 racing are the paint schemes of the cars, if you could design your own paint scheme what colours would it be.
Jason Bargwanna: That’s hard.. these days it depends on who's paying for it. I do like the idea of a red car though.

Interviewer: Army_Coat_Girl: Have you ever had a really serious crash in your career?
Jason Bargwanna: Does anyone remember Bathurst 1997............

Interviewer: kram: do you think the race cars can get any faster than they are today?
Jason Bargwanna: I hope so because we aren't on pole yet *laughs*

Interviewer: NetjunkieF: JasonBargwanna: Do you ever sing along to music while you are driving ? Yes - What ?
Jason Bargwanna: In the race car... NO, I’m too busy concentrating.

Interviewer: JetPilot: Are there any drivers that intimidate you when you look in the rear view mirror and see them on your bumper?
Jason Bargwanna: Naaaaahhhhhhhh, they can all get stuffed.

Interviewer: Suff: what kinda times would the v8s run down the 1/4?
Jason Bargwanna: they do 0-100 in 3.9 seconds so it would be under 10 secs I’m sure.

Interviewer: NSX: Do you think races should be won on the track with brilliant passing manuvers or in the pits?
Jason Bargwanna: A bit of both, it involves the whole team then, but more so the passing manuvers

Interviewer: timmyHSV: Hey bargs what do you think about HRT's dominance in the series. Do you support giving that team alone a weight penalty as Barry Sheen said once
Jason Bargwanna: HRT deserve to be where they are, they work harder and do a better job, we just have to lift our game.

Interviewer: Miss_Xr8: What would you like to have to improve your chances of winning the championship?
Jason Bargwanna: More Points *laughs*

Interviewer: timmyHSV: are there any drivers that you feel drive too dirtily?
Jason Bargwanna: aaaaahh, noone in particular but everyone is very hard.

Interviewer: Bargs_n_GRM_rule: If it was neck and neck you and Garth to the line, would you concede for the benefit of points for the team?
Jason Bargwanna: Absolutely, if it was in the interest of the team winning the championship.

Interviewer: blue2000: you have a very casual attitude towards racing and everyday life where do you get it from?
Jason Bargwanna: I just love life and I believe that its up to you to make the most of what you have and there is no doubt I’ve worked hard to be where I am and I’m very grateful for the opportunities that I have, but it does become serious at times when it is necessary.

Interviewer: Thanks for the chat tonight Jason, all the best with the rest of the season.
Jason Bargwanna: Thank you very much, its great to be able to talk to you all, I look forward to doing this again in the future, and don't worry... we will be winning races again soon.

Interviewer: Remember to check out http://bigpond.com/chat/ for upcoming chats like this one or to see the past transcripts! This room is now free to chat in.