Barry Oliver has called time on a quarter-century-long tarmac rally career which yielded a record eight Targa Tasmania victories with Jim Richards.
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A 73-year-old grandfather-of-six, the Launceston navigator had been contemplating retirement for a while but made his mind up ahead of the 26th high-speed circumnavigation of his state.
“I got a huge amount of enjoyment out of it but you are well aware that it’s also one of the most dangerous motorsport events in the world,” he said.
“At one point going through Cethana we were doing 240km/h and every now and then you do think to yourself, should I really be doing this?”
Oliver received a standing ovation when he made the announcement at the presentation dinner in Hobart on Sunday.
“There were a few people who knew, I had obviously discussed it with my family, but a lot of people were not expecting it and I got a wonderful reception from the Targa family. I was deeply touched.
“From my point of view I think it’s time to step down.
“Jim and I had discussed over the course of the last 12 to 18 months what the future would hold and decided we would take things event by event. After Targa High Country in Victoria I asked how he would feel if I stopped and he was truly supportive.”
The decision brings to an end one of the most enduring professional relationships in Australian motorsport which began when Richards asked if Oliver would navigate for him in the second edition of Targa Tasmania in 1993.
Oliver said his answer took “about a nanosecond” and the pair have since completed 78 tarmac rallies in Australia and New Zealand, including 26 Targa Tasmanias, for 21 wins and 43 podium finishes.
Throughout that time they failed to finish only six times, of which four were caused by mechanical problems, indicating a remarkable display of skill by both driver and navigator.
Oliver was proud to have formed such a prolific partnership with the seven-time Bathurst winner, four-time touring car champion and member of both the V8 Supercar and Australian Motorsport halls of fame.
“It’s been a wonderful association. I consider Jim to be one of the all-time greats in our sport, certainly in Australia, and for me to have had the opportunity to sit beside him for 25 years has been a great privilege and an honour.
“I would never have imagined I would get that opportunity or that I would do so for so long and still don’t know where all the years have gone.”
Oliver said the pair had never once had a cross word.
“I can say that in all honesty. We’ve had discussions but never a harsh word.
“Jim is also my best friend and we can have a very open conversation.
“I have never been concerned that Jim did not have control of the car and was totally confident that he knew what he was doing.”
A former apprentice fitter and turner, Oliver’s many previous jobs included running a defensive driver training business and as an admin officer at Launceston City Council, assistant technician at Telecom, union official and draughtsman.
He thanked his wife Pauline for supporting a motorsport career which spanned half their married life and said Richards remained undecided on his rallying future.