Family ties bring Davison to famous Longford pub

Will Davison has reflected on his famous family’s racing history in Tasmania, one day out from his own 18th Supercars appearance at Symmons Plains.

Davison and Dick Johnson Racing teammate Anton De Pasquale have touched down with fellow drivers ahead of the first on-track action at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint.

The DJR duo visited Longford’s Country Club Hotel on Thursday morning, located on the final corner of what was the Longford Street Circuit.

The Longford circuit hosted racing in the 1950s and 60s, including two Australian Grands Prix. However, its most famous story involved Davison’s grandfather Lex, who suffered a massive accident in 1962, ultimately crashing his Cooper-Climax into the pub itself.

Miraculously uninjured, Davison got out of his wrecked car, dusted himself off, and walked up to the bar to order a brandy. Fittingly, the pub’s bar is now named the Lex Davison Bar.

“The enormity of being here for me never gets lost on me,” Davison said.

“Believe it or not, it grows by the years. I've been coming here for near on 20 years now, but the history of it gets stronger and stronger, the meaning of it.

"I think being a new father myself, a new generation of Davison, I think back to what my father did for me and what his father meant to him.

“The tales that this town tells are just absolutely incredible. Every year, particularly with my dad being here this year, we'll go and reminisce on parts of the circuit and feel that family history.”

Lex was tragically killed at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway in 1965, some 17 years before Will was born. However, the racing genes have continued through generations of Davisons.

Will’s father Richard, uncle Jon, brother Alex, and cousin James are all current or former racers.

The two-time Bathurst winner now has one-year old son Dash accompanying him to most of his races, but nervously laughed at the prospect of a fourth generation continuing the family trade.

"I'm always very proud of my family heritage,” Davison said.

“Any passion that you share with your family, I think is critical. We've had an amazing bond, an amazing passion for motorsport from the day I remember.

"I’ve obsessed over race cars, steering wheels, going fast, and that's been a beautiful thing we've shared as a family. You could only wish that you'd share something similar for your son, but I won’t be pushing motorsport on him.

“But I'm not helping my case running around, making race car noises around the house every day.”

Davison and De Pasquale are sixth and 10th in the points heading to this weekend’s Tasmania event. Fans can meet all 24 Supercars drivers Thursday afternoon at SuperFest, held at the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania.