FORGET 1995: NOMAD DIRT CULTURE REINVENTS MOTORSPORT GLAMOUR AT THE HISTORIC EKKA DOORS

As the Gold Coast 500 revives retro grid girls, the daughter of speedway legend ‘Big Bad Johno’ launches a modern wave of high-energy trackside showmanship.

BRISBANE, QLD 

As Australian motorsport sparks national debate over the return of 1990s-style bikini-clad grid girls to the Surfers Paradise strip for the Gold Coast 500, an authentic motorsport dynasty is unveiling a modern evolution of trackside glamour and promotion.

Standing before the heritage timber doors of the Brisbane Exhibition Ground (the Ekka)—the birthplace of Australian speedway showmanship—Nomad Dirt Culture (NDC) has officially introduced the NDC Grid Ambassadors. The initiative proves that racing glamour and raw entertainment never died; they just needed to evolve for the modern era.

Born from Speedway Royalty

The driving force behind this cultural reboot is Jocelyn Dare, author, broadcaster, and daughter of the towering icon Ron "Big Bad Johno" Johnson. Revered throughout the 1960s as "The King of the Ekka" and internationally documented as the world's tallest speedway solo rider, Johnson was an entertainer who understood that packed grandstands demanded larger-than-life spectacle and charisma.

"Motorsport at its peak was never sterile or quiet," says Jocelyn Dare. "My father raced in an era when 40,000 screaming fans packed the Ekka because promoters (including himself) knew how to deliver theatre, glamour, and pure adrenaline. The traditional paddock lost its way when gatekeepers stripped the energy, music, and showmanship out of the sport. We aren't here to bring racing back to the Ekka oval—we are here at these historic doors to honour where that soul came from and carry that exact flame forward."

 

A Modern Upgrade to the Gold Coast 500 Debate

The revival of traditional promotional models at the Gold Coast 500 has proven that crowds still crave trackside pageantry. However, while mainstream categories lean into nostalgia, Nomad Dirt Culture is providing a contemporary alternative: athletic, brand-safe, and digitally influential ambassadors designed for today’s sports landscape.

Sporting performance streetwear, sneakers, and custom NDC activewear, the NDC Grid Ambassadors bring rhythm, spectator hype, and authentic creator-led visibility to the pit lane. Rather than serving as passive backdrops, they operate as content creators and crowd activators who reflect modern fitness, street style, and youth culture.

Restoring the Soul of Grassroots Racing

With grandstands across grassroots speedway and circuit racing facing an aging demographic, NDC’s approach leverages showmanship to invite a younger, broader audience back to Queensland tracks:

• Pure Showmanship: Reintroducing music, rhythmic performance, and paddock walk-throughs that bridge the gap between traditional racing and stadium entertainment.

• Brand-Safe Representation: Providing modern female ambassadors with athletic, professional presentation aligned with contemporary sporting governance and Blue Card community standards.

• Direct Digital Reach: Integrating trackside hype directly into NDC’s digital network, turning local grassroots drivers and junior competitors into recognized sporting personalities.

The NDC Grid Ambassadors will make their active grid debut supporting NDC Syndicate teams across upcoming dirt track, drifting, and speedway showcases throughout South East Queensland.

Now Booking for 2026/2027 Major Events & Track Calendars

Nomad Dirt Culture is actively scheduling event activations, promotional showcases, and multi-discipline stadium overlays alongside leading track operators and state-level festival organisers.

Event organisers who are serious about packing their grandstands, events and standing up for the authentic soul of Australian racing are invited to secure NDC activation dates for the upcoming season.

ABOUT NOMAD DIRT CULTURE

Nomad Dirt Culture (NDC) is an independent motorsport, event and lifestyle media engine.Backed by elite Queensland sporting pedigree, NDC bridges historic track heritage with modern digital influence, driving youth participation and cultural visibility across Australia's grassroots motorsport industry.

Media, Event & Editorial Enquiries:

info@nomaddirtculture.com