A dam good way to recharge

When he wants to put the brakes on his high-speed life, motorsport commentator Greg Rust takes a pit stop in a little-known Sydney oasis. By Needra D'Souza

Born into a family that loved all forms of motor racing, Greg Rust has been an integral part of Channel Ten’s Logie-winning motorsport commentary team for 10 years. He and his wife Sara recently welcomed a new baby, Stella – a sister for Georgie, who is two and a half. Greg’s friends call him ‘Rusty’ or ‘Thruster’ (the second moniker coined by the late motorsport legend, Barry Sheene).

“Manly Dam in Sydney might seem an odd choice to call my place, but it really is just that. No one seems to know about it and it’s tucked away, so it’s like my own little oasis.

Neil Crompton, who is a great mentor of mine, introduced me to it. At the end of the motorsport season, the crew and commentators would get together for a barbecue – it was a way of having some downtime after a busy season. Anyway, one year he took us there and I couldn’t believe this great oasis on our doorstep.

I go there to mountain bike – I don’t have a massive amount of spare time so I love it when I get a chance to go there for a ride. There’s a 10km loop that takes you through glorious bushland and around the dam. There are nice wide-open tracks and tight technical parts.

I sometimes go for a ride there with friends – it’s social but there’s a fitness element too; I love the combination of both. It’s not motorised so it’s a complete break from what I do and it’s good for my fitness. I love my job but it’s good to get away to a place like this.

My visits are sprinkled throughout the year: I probably go six to eight times a year. Most Sundays I’m in at Channel Ten, and with work and now the new bub, I haven’t been there that often. It adds to the attraction and beauty of the place that I don’t get to go there all the time, because I appreciate it more.

The best way to describe how I feel about the place is that it reinvigorates me. I used to work in the finance industry, which meant using the analytical side of my brain. Where I work now it’s more creative, and I use a different side of my brain – commentating, writing for magazines, family, so day to day there are different demands. When you get away from it all, it’s amazing how you can get ideas – ideas for stories, ways I can do things better, solve problems – so by the time I’ve done the 10km ride I’m knackered physically but I feel mentally reinvigorated, like I’ve almost unblocked my mind.”

Also known as Manly Warringah War Memorial Park, Manly Dam is in 375 hectares of tranquil bushland. Picnicking, fishing, swimming, kayaking and waterskiing are all permitted. It is accessible by car from King St in Manly Vale. For more information, visit Warringah Online and then click the Environment link.

Open Road November/December 2008