Sometimes you kick...

David Clement made ve starts in the Bathurst 1000 between 1973 and 1988, along with countless other races over a 20-plus year career in touring cars and production cars. If his name isn’t ringing bells, you might know him as the bloke who had sponsorship from Aussie rock band INXS for many years. Sponsors don’t come much more glamorous, especially those that actually, erm, kicked the tin. Not only did Clements receive genuine sponsorship money from the band, he got to tag along with them on tour, receiving the same rockstar treatment.

Incredibly, INXS’s backing grew out of the support he gave the unknown six-member out back in the late 1970s on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Clement provided the band with rehearsal space at his automotive business for a peppercorn amount. It was a leg-up that the band never forgot.

Landlord Clement details his racing and the relationship he had with the Australian phenomenon in his self-published book Along For The Ride: Fast Cars & Rock Stars. What it might lack in polish, compared to, say, a John Smailes book, it more than makes up for in entertaining tales of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

tThe young group honed their songsmanship, playing ability, and chemistry in his workshop, going from humble beginnings to international success. David stayed with them for the ride. And they stayed with him.

One of AMC’s favourite yarns from the book details how he scored a free AUSCAR race drive in a XF Falcon at the Thunderdome, part of a bid by Bob Jane to woo INXS for a concert at the Thunderdome. The concert never happened, but Clement was the recipient of a once-in-alifetime experience courtesy of Jane’s largess. Clement’s Suzuki Swift was a familiar sight at Amaroo Park in the late eighties, bearing signage promoting INXS’s KICK album.

Sometimes you kick, sometimes you get kicked. For the Clement it was the former.

“Other biographies and stories on the band have been written by music journalists and are generally looking from the outside in,” says Clement.

“My story is written from the perspective of being right there, on the inside, virtually from their beginning as The Farriss Brothers and the change to INXS, before manager Chris Murphy began to wave his magic wand over them.

“It’s a story I’ve wanted to tell for 20 years or so, about this group of school kids who worked hard and ended up conquering the world.”

The book can purchased from www.alongfortheride.com.au

Another of Clement’s racing escapades is detailed in this issue’s Whaddayaknow section.