Allan Grice
A hard-charging privateer who twice conquered Mount Panorama, becoming a folk hero by beating factory teams with grit and determination.
Born 1942 (age 84)·Australian racing driver and politician·Birthday: October 21·The Silent Generation
Biography
Allan Grice, or 'Gricey' as he's universally known, embodies the classic Australian underdog story. Hailing from Gunnedah, New South Wales, he didn't come from money or a corporate racing program; he was a true privateer, often preparing and funding his own cars. This made his two victories at the Bathurst 1000, Australia's most grueling and prestigious motor race, all the more sensational. His first win in 1986, co-driving a Holden Commodore with Graeme Bailey, was a masterclass in persistence. His second in 1990, partnering with Win Percy, cemented his legend. Grice was known for a fiercely aggressive, no-holds-barred driving style that thrilled fans and intimidated rivals. After retiring from full-time driving, he channeled his forceful personality into politics, serving one term as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for the Outdoor Recreation Party, advocating for issues like fishing and four-wheel-driving access. In the annals of Australian motorsport, Grice remains the ultimate battler who reached the very top.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Allan was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Allan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Allan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1942Born
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 70
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 80
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 84 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Bathurst 1000 touring car race twice, in 1986 and 1990.
- Achieved success as a privateer, often beating better-funded factory racing teams.
- Competed in the prestigious Bathurst 1000 race a remarkable 25 times.
- Served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1999 to 2003.
Did You Know?
He famously drove a Holden VL Commodore nicknamed 'The Big Gun' to his 1990 Bathurst victory.
Beyond touring cars, he also raced in the World Sportscar Championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
His political party was initially called 'The Fishing Party' before becoming the Outdoor Recreation Party.
“You race with what you've got, and sometimes that's just grit and a spanner.”
