Moffat shares his dementia battle
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 28 June 2023
Australian motor racing and Bathurst legend Allan Moffat has gone public about his fight with dementia and hopes it can support others.
Moffat, 83, is one of the most famous Ford figures ever, winning four Great Race crowns and ATCC championships between 1969 and 1988.
All four of his Bathurst wins were recorded with the Ford badge, while his Moffat Ford Dealers formation finish alongside Colin Bond and their respective co-drivers Jacky Ickx and Alan Hamilton in 1977 is on the podium of greatest Mountain memories.
Allan Moffat on his way to winning the 1971 Bathurst 500. Image: Offical Allan Moffat Facebook
But sadly Moffat has been away from the public eye in recent years, and only now have the Moffat family and carer Phil Grant provided an update on his battle with dementia.
The family allowed Channel 9 News cameras and reporter Tony Jones into Moffat’s current home at a Melbourne aged care facility.
His room is something of motorsport fan’s heaven, with the walls adorned in memorabilia including a photo of Moffat and fellow Dementia Australia patron Jackie Stewart.
Model cars including his iconic Coke Mustang and GTHO Falcons are also visible in the clip.
In addition to being an ambassador and patron of Dementia Australia, Moffat has also lent plenty of support through an appeal, which has so far raised almost $2 million.
Allan Moffat in his room with carer Phil Grant and 9 News reporter Tony Jones.
Grant works with Moffat’s son Andrew and former racing rival Larry Perkins, plus some nurses to assist the famous Ford figure.
He offered a small insight into life supporting Moffat through his current challenge.
“We all do it for Allan,” carer Grant told 9 NEWS.
“On the good days it is really fulfilling and it is hard on some of the days we struggle.”
Moffat is just one of around 400,000 Australians currently living with dementia, which is the second leading cause of death in this country.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe hopes Moffat’s story can help tackle the illness and break the stigma attached to it.
Allan Moffat leads Colin Bond through Murray’s Corner in the original “Cobra” liveries at the 1978 Bathurst 1000. Image: Official Allan Moffat Facebook
“When people like Allan share they realise they are not alone,” she told 9 NEWS.
“It really allows people living with dementia in the community to realise that dementia does not discriminate.
“Once they share they are living with dementia, family and friends do not include them anymore.”
Dementia Australia describes the illness as a “collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. It is not one specific disease.”
Peter Brock and Allan Moffat race side by side at the height of their rivalry in 1977. Image: V8 Sleuth
It can affect thinking, memory and behaviour and impact people in different ways.
Signs and symptoms include the following:
- memory loss
- changes in planning and problem-solving abilities
- difficulty completing everyday tasks
- confusion about time or place
- trouble understanding what we see (objects, people) and distances, depth and space in our surroundings
- difficulty with speech, writing or comprehension
- misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- decreased or poor judgement
- withdrawal from work or social activities
- changes in mood and personality.
For further information call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit Dementia Australia website.
For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
PODCAST: The latest episode of the Auto Action RevLimiter podcast is out now!
In the latest podcast, we discuss the heated action in Darwin, the Canadian Grand Prix and more.
AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 14,
'name' => 'Industry',
'slug' => 'industry',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 14,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 259,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 14,
'category_count' => 259,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Industry',
'category_nicename' => 'industry',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16698,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16698,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
2 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 659,
'name' => 'National',
'slug' => 'national',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 659,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 4676,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 659,
'category_count' => 4676,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'National',
'category_nicename' => 'national',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
3 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5585,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5585,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
4 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2029,
'name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'slug' => 'email',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 2031,
'count' => 7255,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2029,
'category_count' => 7255,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'category_nicename' => 'email',
'category_parent' => 2031,
)),
5 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2031,
'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 6610,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2031,
'category_count' => 6610,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
