Rock Icon in a Race Car

AC/DC front man Brian Johnson has a huge fascination with cars both old and new, and he just loves racing them as well.

Best known by most for his music, the rock and roll singer is also a serious car nut. He says it stems from his childhood where only the very privileged had a car. “That’s undoubtedly what has made me so dedicated now. When, as a kid, you can’t have something, it makes it that much of a thrill when you do get it later in life, no matter how old and mature you’re supposed to be” he exclaimed.

Brian’s enthusiasm spreads across a spectrum that includes the nostalgic - vehicles he remembers desiring in his youth as well as the first types of cars that he owned - and the modern, especially the super and hyper exotic.

One of the nostalgic British cars that was still a very desirable machine when Brian was growing up in the ’50s and ’60s was the 1929 Bentley 4.5L Le Mans Tourer. 'Thunder Guts' is Brian's own example of this model that was not only an expensive touring car for the road, but also a great race car with one winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929.

At the other end of that enthusiasm spectrum is the Fifty Plus Racing Foundation which Brian co-founded and drives for when he is not on tour with AC/DC. “Fifty Plus Racing is proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association and do our part on the track to spotlight this disease. Highway to Help was created in honour of the millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s. Our team is racing for awareness and eventually a cure”.

Brian also compares the feeling he gets on stage with how he feels about driving both vintage and modern race cars. “To me, it seems so bloody obvious. The crowd, the noise, the excitement, the finish line, the end of the show - it all goes together. When there are 100,000 cheering it is such a rush. When they are cheering for you and it is a personal, special thing there is nothing that can beat that. But it comes a close second when you’re standing at the starting line with about 40 V6s and V8s from the 60s and 70s”.

A full-length feature story on Brian Johnson can be seen in issue 38 of Performance Garage magazine. You can find a print copy if you like, and it is also now available to download.

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