The Historian

By Auto Action

Date posted: August 15, 2022

Mark Horsburgh has been capturing everything in the world of Supercars since 1996

By Paul Gover
Images: Horsburgh – of course! And Paul Gover as well…

Only one person has been to every single Supercars era race since 1996. He is not a driver, not an official, not even a team boss or a member of the Supercars management crew.

He is Mark Horsburgh. Best known for the #1 photographer’s tabard he wears as a badge of honour and respect, Horsburgh is the official historian of Supercars. That’s not an official title, but it’s the only one that fits for a happy snapper — no-one can ever remember him losing his temper – who is tasked with recording every race, every round and every driver.

When a driver bags a pole position, Horsburgh is there. When they finish on the podium, Horsburgh is there. When they get a new deal or a new car, Horsburgh is there.

And, sadly, when they go into the wall it’s highly likely that Horsburgh is there. Yet he has never raced and only drives a mundane Toyota FJ Cruiser on the road.

If he has any sort of a hobby, it’s house renovation with his wife Sonya in Brisbane. “The never-ending Renos,” Horsburgh laughs. “We’ve done three — so far. “Because I work from home, I can pick up a drill and a hammer and do renovations around the house. I get the builder in for the big stuff and I do the little bits.”

But there is very little time, apart from endless driving lessons with his 16-year-old daughter Lilly.

“We’ve been to Japan for skiing and sometimes we head up to Bali as a family. When Lilly was younger we’d go out to Fraser Island.

“We’ve always managed to squeeze in family time whenever possible. “When I am at home I try to give all my time to Sonya and Lilly. “So no hobbies. When I was younger I did a lot of sporting things. I played golf as a genuine competitor. I water-skied bare-foot. I did 15 years of martial arts. training But life changes.

“Because I’m away all the time, when I’m home I don’t want to rush off for a game of golf. My family deserve my time. “I guess my hobby is photography and I’m lucky that I can make a living out of it.

Even after all these years, I still love it,” Horsburgh tells AUTO ACTION’s Paul Gover during a conversation featured in the latest issue of the magazine on sale now.
He has also given us a selection of some his favourite images taken during his long and well acknowledge career of shooting fast moving (mostly) racing cars.

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