Peter Janson Peter Janson

Peter Janson is one of those enigma's that is very Melbourne known as a socialite and motor racing driver.

A true extrovert, Captain Peter Janson in an international socialite and was at one time a touring car racer. A bearded Wodehousian figure in a brocaded red velvet smoking jacket, he is a fan of foxhunting and friend of Prince Charles.

"Captain" Peter Janson was born 10 April 1940 in New Zealand moving around the world before settling in Melbourne in 1967.

Janson raced in Australian Touring Car Racing making 19 Bathurst 1000 starts between 1973 and 1992 primarily in Holden Toranas and Commodores. He finished second in 1979 and 1980 and third in 1977 with Larry Perkins.

Janson, who listed his occupation as "Gentleman", established a playboy penthouse in the Federal Hotel before moving to the Hotel Windsor. In the 1980s he moved to Rutherglen House. Janson is renowned for the parties he throws, and was a pioneer in transforming the Melbourne Cup into a major event on the Australian social calendar.

Now a national treasure, he regales with tales of derringdo at the wheel of his race car on Bathurst's Mt Panorama. Melbourne's most colourful character, the former aide-de-camp to the King of Bhutan and friend of the Sultan of Baroda.

There are many tales about Peter Janson. Once, due to the regulations preventing any advertising on the plastic strip across the top of windscreens in Australia, the area being reserved for the driver's name, Peter changed his name by deed poll to NGK Spark Plugs. Another time at Oran Park in the 70's he took off when the 1 minute board was shown, apparently you could only get a maximum 1 minute penalty for a jumped start and Janson hoped to that he would benefit more than that.

In England he took tea at 10 Downing Street with Margaret Thatcher, and hunted with the landed gentry. He spent weekends with the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort.

A marvellous life, indeed

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