HTCAV Sponsor Profile - MJR Motorsport
Words: Geoff Vernon
Photos: Johnson family, Phil Wisewould, Chris Ralph
Helping his customers and anyone else who might need a hand, it seems like Mark Johnson is everywhere at a race meeting. Tracking him down in his day-to-day life isn’t so easy…
At an industrial estate in Lilydale, nestled in a row of drab concrete and glass, you’ll find the home of HTCAV sponsor, MJR Motorsport. But you’ll have to look carefully to spot the tiny ‘MJR Motorsport’ sticker on the grey plastic-covered windows of what is the “Office”.
Simple Beginnings
Mark started MJR back in 2001, initially doing work for VHRR member Ian Ross and then Ross Jackson (both Group S cars) in a small garage with a carpet-covered dirt floor. About a year later, he decided to move into a proper garage. (The present facility is only 300 square metres, about 1,200 too small according to Mark, but it’s all about economics).
Soon, Mark was fettling a go-kart for Ian’s son, Fraser, who’s now a race-winning McLaren pilot in the Australian GT Championship.
That was life for the next four years or so until, in 2009, Ian bought the ex-Drew Marget Mustang from Jim Richards for Fraser to drive. That gave Mark his first taste of Group N Historic Touring Cars that has grown to around ten Group N and three Group S cars, as well as a Group C and even a Formula 5000. Mark is also getting involved in MGs and other British cars, including Rover V8s.
Family Business
Mark’s wife Nikki runs the business side of MJR Motorsport from the family home - it’s easier that way, given there’s also a houseful of bulldogs to tend to.
Home is in Seville East, nestled in the Dandenong Ranges - 15 minutes from work and in desperate need of completion of the renovations Mark started but, with a thriving business, has had no time to finish. The bathroom was pulled apart nine years ago and hopefully will be done this weekend. Maybe… (hearty laughs ensue).
Mark met Nikki when she worked as a sales assistant at Repco. Married in 2007, the couple share three children: son Damien (22); stepson Joshua (soon 18), who now works as an apprentice at MJR Motorsport; and daughter Jade (9) who’s already plotting a new name for the business when she takes over (more laughs).
Teenage Responsibilities
Although he was an A-Grade student, Mark preferred the garage to the classroom. Deciding to become an A-Grade mechanic, he was apprenticed to his father at 14. By 16, Mark was also racing, putting a Mini Cooper S through its paces at hill climbs. The teenager was also pulling Minis apart to learn how the components worked.
Together, Mark and his Dad ran a towbar and towing business on the Mornington Peninsula. When Dad opened a wrecking yard, he left Mark in charge of the towbar business, selling it to him when he turned 17.
In between teaching himself all things mechanical, Mark attended trade school and eventually got his papers as a fully-fledged motor mechanic.
Father and son also worked together doing up cars at nights and on weekends to make a few extra quid (that’s dollars to you young ’uns).
With that and two businesses to run, Mark still wonders where all the hours came from back then.
Future Generations
Mark strongly believes in teaching today’s young ‘uns the “old” ways – not just pulling out an old part and replacing it with new. His penchant for seeing young mechanics right extends to a working relationship with the Wodonga Motorsport TAFE, where Mark hosts work experience students. He also provides in-house training at MJR for apprentices and currently has two on board – Mason (third year) and, of course, stepson Joshua. TAFE teachers call in regularly to assess the progress of their boys.
Major Moments at MJR
In the early 2000s, Mark learnt the internals of gearboxes by pulling apart the transaxle in Ross Jackson’s Pantera when no-one could be found to repair it. Mark is now known for his expertise in ZF transaxles, having repaired and rebuilt around 50 over the past 20 years.
To date, the most exotic auto Mark has fettled is a Lamborghini Countach – tuning the string of Webers by ear when all the machines in the world couldn’t get it right. The owner was astounded!
Mark’s shop pretty much handles it all today – chassis, suspension, brakes, engines, gearboxes, diffs and more. The only things he won’t touch are panels and paint.
Mark also supports visiting historic racers and their race cars - Brabhams, Lolas, Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches - at events like the Phillip Island Classic and Historic Sandown.
Working over 50 hours a week, Mark and his team will often be found at the track, supporting customers and pitching in whenever a mechanical issue rears its ugly head.
Highlights of Mark’s career so far have been:
• Fraser Ross – his career from push starting his first go-kart to where he is now.
• Ian Ross and Ross Jackson’s first race wins in cars maintained by Mark.
• Darren Collins wins in the Camaro at Sandown in 2012 – 3 races, 3 wins, pole and lap record.
• John Mann’s top running finishes in his Camaro.
• And most of all, making heaps of great friends through both business and motorsport.
And the not-so highlights? While logic will tell you components will always break on race cars, particularly old ones, failures can be hard to take, no matter what causes them. Accidents are the worst, though – especially that time waiting to hear that the driver is okay when a car fails to come ‘round past the start-finish line.
The MJR Touch
If you have a problem that needs tenacity and determination to solve, or if you want more power or better handling, call in to MJR Motorsport and say hello. You might even get a lick from a British Bulldog!
MJR Motorsport
12 Trade Place, Lilydale, VIC
Ph: (03) 9738 7825
