28/08/2026
Rider Profile: Geoff Grant
A Life Built Around Speed, Sidecars and Two-Stroke Passion
Some racers discover the sport later in life. For Geoff Grant, racing seems to have been there from the very beginning. “I think I was born to race," Geoff laughs.
From pedal cars, slot cars and bicycles to go-karts, endurance events, boats, and even a few youthful adventures on the streets, competition was always part of his DNA. After getting his first motorcycle at just nine years old and earning his licence at sixteen, Geoff's passion for motorcycles quickly grew through road riding and regular trips to watch racing at Mallala and Adelaide International Raceway.
It was during those years that Geoff became a founding member of the Cafe Racer Club. Annual Easter pilgrimages to Bathurst exposed him to the world of serious sidecar racing, and he was hooked instantly.
Inspired by legends such as Doug Chivas, Stan Bayliss and Lindsay Urqhart, Geoff dreamed of one day joining their ranks. Life temporarily got in the way, with marriage, divorce, single parenting, study and career commitments taking priority. But the dream never disappeared.
Eventually, Geoff found the opportunity to purchase a Period 4 sidecar outfit from Melbourne, built by the legendary Lindsay Urqhart and powered by one of his favourite engines, the Kawasaki triple two-stroke.
Over the years Geoff and his passengers enjoyed tremendous success, winning races and championships across multiple states. Today he races a Duncan Rogers-built replica outfit, still proudly powered by that beloved Kawasaki triple.
Geoff's race number came with a special twist. “I was issued number 30 simply because it was next in line on the South Australian register." The significance wasn't lost on him. Number 30 was famously used by his hero Stan Bayliss in New South Wales. Suddenly Geoff found himself riding a Lindsay Urqhart-built outfit carrying Stan Bayliss's number while sharing the track with Doug Chivas. “It felt like I was living the fantasy I'd imagined while watching Bathurst."
Among Geoff's proudest achievements are multiple State Championship victories in both South Australia and Victoria. One particularly memorable accomplishment was becoming one of the first two Japanese-powered sidecar outfits invited to race in New Zealand, ultimately finishing second overall in the prestigious Trans Tasman Challenge. His racing career also opened doors internationally, including an invitation to work as a mechanic for a Manx sidecar team at the legendary Isle of Man TT.
Of all the races Geoff has contested, one stands out above the rest. At Winton in 2010, disaster struck on the opening lap of the opening race when the throttle jammed wide open, sending the outfit upside down. Most teams would have called it a weekend. Not Geoff. The team repaired the damage, returned to the track and scored enough points to win the meeting overall.
Without hesitation, Geoff names his original Lindsay Urqhart-built sidecar outfit as his favourite machine. Built in 1968 for Bathurst and originally fitted with a Triumph engine, the outfit carried significant racing history before Geoff ever owned it. “I loved it." Together with passenger Craig Lawson, Geoff won more than 100 events over a 20-year period aboard the historic machine.
While Geoff has competed against many great racers throughout his career, he particularly enjoys racing against riders he trusts completely. Today that includes Jack and Scoobie from New South Wales, along with Scoobie's parents Ed and Bronson. “They're such clean racers that I can totally trust them in close racing." Sharing the track with some of the heroes who inspired him also remains one of the biggest thrills of his racing life.
Every successful racer has people behind the scenes making sacrifices. For Geoff, his biggest supporter has been his partner Barbara. “I think she realised early on it was a case of 'love me, love my racing too.' His family has always supported his racing journey, and his late father was a constant presence in the paddock, serving as Geoff's mechanic whenever he raced close to home.
Ask Geoff what he loves most about race weekends and the answer comes instantly. “Race starts." The anticipation. The adrenaline rush when the lights go out. The intensity of the opening corners. But beyond the competition, it's the friendships that have kept Geoff involved for decades. “The social side is excellent too. Racing has given us friends we'd never have met otherwise."
If Geoff could race any sidecar outfit in history, there is no hesitation. A TZ750-powered sidecar. As a lifelong two-stroke enthusiast, Geoff considers the Yamaha TZ750 the pinnacle of sidecar racing technology and one machine he'd love to experience firsthand.
After a lifetime of racing, championships, international competition and more than a hundred victories, Geoff Grant remains exactly what he's always been: A racer at heart, driven by passion, friendships and the unmistakable sound of a screaming two-stroke Kawasaki triple.
