EP 844
31:52They've Arrived
We chat about Josh's index cards, an American family living in Australia, Father's Day, magicians, and what's been planned for Screenplay Sunday.
All Guests
Richard Janssen
Josh's Dad
2 episodesFeb 2020 — Sept 2020
About Richard
Richard is Josh's dad and can be referred to as The Master At The Lights
Richard has a passion for cars, drag racing and fireworks! He's also known for a few run-ins with sports umpires in grassroots clubs.
In Richard’s words
Verbatim from the transcripts — each quote links to the moment.
“Oh, what a load of bullshit.”
“Well, most of us are Wales. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, I don't know, it's a British thing, isn't it?”
“Yeah, the easiest way to become a millionaire in drag racing or motorsport is to start as a billionaire.”
“You better tell your mates to shut the fuck up because I've got a gun in me bag.”
“He goes, they look good, didn't they?”
“It's just crazy, you know, like they, they're on drugs. They— there is no reason to for anyone really to buy that car. It's not worth $100 grand.”
“I need a haircut, it's gone a bit fluffy.”
Richard’s advice on the show
Stories Richard told
Richard describes his first car, a custom HR Holden ute converted into a convertible by a GM design employee and built in the early 1970s.
Richard recalls mixing zinc dust and sulfur in a high school chemistry prac, causing explosions, and how he and friends later bought their own flash powder ingredients to make rockets.
Richard and other fathers would heckle opposing players at Veneto Club games to get them ejected; one heckled player, recently released from jail, threatened he had a gun in his bag.
Richard recounts discovering, via photos on the family computer, that his son Jake had taken his blue EK ute to a party and done burnouts, ruining brand-new tires.
Questions these interviews answer
Drawn from the episode transcripts.
What did Richard Janssen do to his Holden car?
Richard Janssen put a Chevy badge on his Holden SS because of the family's love of American car culture, despite acknowledging in the call that 'in hindsight it probably isn't' a great idea.
From episode 844→Why was Richard Janssen nicknamed 'Master at the Lights'?
It stems from his drag-racing days, reportedly around 20-30 years prior, related to his skill with reaction times at the start lights; old VHS footage of him was played constantly by the family.
From episode 617→What is Richard Janssen's history with Holden?
His father worked at Holden (a GM subsidiary) for 42 years starting in 1951 as a material controller in spare parts, based first at Fisherman's Bend/Port Melbourne and later Dandenong; Richard grew up around the brand and later drag-raced Holden-based cars himself.
From episode 617→What caused the decline of drag racing in Victoria according to Richard Janssen?
Richard attributes it largely to the way Calder Raceway was managed under owner Bob Jane and friction with the sport's governing body, which caused drag racing to lose momentum just as Supercars gained popularity.
From episode 617→Episodes with Richard
Every episode featuring Richard Janssen on The Daily Talk Show.
