McCARTHY TO STEP BACK FROM FULL-TIME COMMENTARY

Photo flashback: Stu McCarthy behind the microphone at Sydney’s former Parramatta City Raceway. Photo By: Gary Reid.

By Brian Van De Wakker

Sydney International Speedway’s lead commentator Stu McCarthy will end his full-time commentary commitments at the completion of this season.

 McCarthy has been the lead commentator at the venue since its opening in 2022.

 After 29 years in commentary, McCarthy believes now is the perfect time to set aside.

 “I think I’ve done my bit for the sport and it’s about time someone else had a go,” McCarthy said.

 “My daughter Indiana, she’s 14 now, it’s more about getting to spend more time with her.

 “This year at school she’s just taken up photography as one of her elective subjects. She’s taken a liking to it and I can see that I can give her that opportunity to start doing social media for teams, and I can introduce her to people, she can get to know people and if I can help her start a career that she wants to get into then I can give her that opportunity.”

McCarthy started his commentary career at Premier Speedway, Warrnambool in 1996 before moving to Sydney to start calling at Parramatta City Raceway in 2005.

He got to work with legendary Speedway caller Steve Raymond throughout his time at Parramatta.

“I owe everything to Steve Raymond. When I first came to Sydney the deal was, I was to come and do the first four shows and fly backwards and forwards from Melbourne. I did the first four shows with Steve and Steve had the ultimate call on whether I would come back to Sydney or not.

“(Track Manager) Steve Green asked Steve Raymond what I was like, and Steve (Raymond) said ‘I can tech this kid a thing or two’ and the rest is history.”

A return to commentary is likely at some point for McCarthy, but it won’t be a full-time role.

“I’m not giving up announcing, it’s just that commitment of being at a race track for thirty events a year. If Garry (Willmington) rings up and says do you want to come commentate two or four nights then we can sort something out.”

McCarthy wanted to thank the drivers and the fans of the sport for their on going support of the industry.

“Without the drivers and what they do on the race track, I don’t get to do what I’ve done. The fans that are there for the drivers, those guys make it.

“When you ask the fans to get involved and they do, there’s no better feeling.”

Saturday, May 10 will be McCarthy’s last night calling at the venue.

The night will still feature the Speedcar 50 Lapper, Sprintcar Season Finale and Fender Benders