- Peter Wherrett
Peter Wherrett (born 10th June 1936) is an Australian motoring and motor sport journalist and former race car driver.
Wherrett first learned to drive when his parents got their first motor car when he was 12.Abc.net.au (August 29, 2004), [http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1208054.htm ABC interview with George Negus] . Retrieved January 2, 2008.] Angry at the lack of motorsport newspaper coverage, he complained to various newspapers and was hired in 1958 by the
Sydney Morning Herald to write for them on the sport.Advanced driver training
In 1967, Peter Wherrett set up Australia’s first
post-licence driver training school as "The Peter Wherrett Advanced Driving School". In 1980 he sold the school to his manager Peter Finlay. [Finlays.com.au, [http://www.finlays.com.au/pages/aboutus.html About Us] . Retrieved January 2, 2008.]Motor racing
Peter Wherrett drove in the 1969
Bathurst 1000 race forMazda , in 1970 forFord and in 1974, 1975 and 1976 forAlfa Romeo .Television
From 1973, Peter Wherrett presented the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation s television program series "Torque" and later a historical series called "Marque", which is the only television program on that topic to be produced forfree-to-air television.Wherrett Sigma
In 1981,
Mitsubishi Australia produced a limited edition "Peter Wherrett Special" GH Series Sigma sedan. Only 1016 cars were produced, which were commissioned after Wherrett complained about the GH Sigma's handling and was challenged to design a better car by the Mitsubishi Chief Engineer. [Autoweb.com.au (June 3, 2004), [http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_101660/title_Torque-of-The-Auction/newsarticle.html 'Torque' of The Auction] . Retrieved January 2, 2008.]Family
Peter Wherrett has been married and divorced three times.
His first marriage was to Denise. They had a son and a daughter and now have six grandchildren; Angus, Connor, Brittany, Emily, Jackson and Nicholas.
His second marriage was to Lesley Brydon, former Executive Director of the Advertising Federation of Australia.
His third marriage was to Kim. When Kim obtained employment in Europe as a chef, Peter remained in Australia. Because of their physical separation, they decided to divorce amicably in 2007. Following that divorce, Peter sold the house that they had shared in Queensland and moved to New South Wales.
Crossdressing
Wherrett also wrote a memoir entitled "Desirelines" with his brother Richard, who died in 2001. [Wherrett, Peter and Richard, "Desirelines:An unusual family memoir", (Sceptre, 1997), ISBN 0733604854] In the book he revealed that he is a
heterosexual cross-dresser.Bibliography
*"Peter Wherrett's A Century Of The Motor Car"
*"Marque a Hundred Years of Motoring" ISBN 978-0-642-97460-0
*"Torque" ISBN 978-0-7254-0383-6
*"Quest for the Perfect Car : My Life in Motoring"
*"Motoring Skills and Tactics"
*"Explore Australia BY Four-Wheel Drive" with Kim Wherrett
*"What They Don't Teach You In Driving School" ISBN 978-1-920923-40-2
*"Grit: An Epic Journey Across the World" - the story ofFrancis Birtles epic 1927 journey. ISBN 978-1-920923-62-4
*"Wheels of Australia" (editor)
*"Drive It! The Complete Book of High Speed Driving On Road And Track" (1981)References
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