Motor Racing
1 March, 2026
Dann aims for third Victorian title
It's been just under 20 years since street stock driver Mick Dann claimed his last Victorian street stock title.
The crown was his second for the state and fourth in total, having previously won in 2001-02 in Rosedale and a couple in South Australia.
But Dann's proved he's still got the car, passion and skill to suceed, with the driver from Mount Evelyn putting in a performance that was solid at the South Australian street stock title recently.
In this Victorian street stock title, to be held at Blue Ribbon Raceway on March 15 and 16, Dann's looking to do even better and has his eyes on a third title in his home state.
"I have been racing for 30 years in the street stock class," Dann said.
"I have always been into cars and car racing speedway mainly and I found this to be a cheap way to get into it," he said, adding it was a cheaper option 30 years ago.
"I haven’t really raced anything else because this has kept me busy enough."
The golden lining for the mechanically minded Dann in racing street stocks is that he can generally do any maintenance or repairs himself.
And he said the aspect of competition, which was always close and tough, was also another good thing about the class.
Dann, who said he'd been a "Holden man" all his life, steers a VF Commodore.
Despite his car being registered to Redline Raceway in Ballarat, Dann's home town is in the Yarra Valley.
"Mount Evelyn has been my home since I was a kid," he said.
"It's 35km from Melbourne and it’s just country enough."
Dann might be a country man at heart but he’s gathering a big following for his actions off the track.
Enthusiasts of speedway whose passion extends off the track might recognise Dann from his occupation: he's the owner of Rusty Cars Down Under, a business he started that has amassed more than 62,000 followers on social media channels.
But entrepreneurial Dann will take a back seat mid-March as he travels back to Horsham.
While Dann hasn't raced at Blue Ribbon recently, he did finish third in the Victorian title last time it was held at the venue.
He said he'd enjoy the challenge of getting reacquainted with the track and wasn't fussy when it came to favouring any particular venue.
"I like most tracks because at the end of the day they're all round and dirt," Dann said.
Like drivers across speedway, Dann agrees it takes a combination of things to claim the chequered flag in any title.
"The title is won in the shed with prep work, maintenance and checking your car is good to go," he said.
"And also just a little bit of luck as well.
"Anyone who does all that has a chance to win."
