In this three-part series, Bond University journalism student Medinah Wells interviews Bondies who balanced their studies with the high-octane world of motorsport. Next on the grid, recently retired Supercars driver Jack Smith.
Wrestling a Supercar around the Mount Panorama circuit is one of the greatest challenges in Australian sport. Add in full-time study and the mental pitstops are few and far between. Yet this is the life Jack Smith embraced while completing his bachelor’s degree at Bond University, all while racing in three different motorsport categories in two countries. His advice to others juggling elite sports and full-time study?
“Embrace the chaos.”
"When I was in the more junior categories I was probably the busiest with racing I had ever been,” Smith said. "I was competing in three different categories at once, both here and in New Zealand, and spent a lot of time travelling while doing my degree.”
Gold Coast-born Smith started his racing career at just 10 years old, beginning in go-karts and travelling around Australia competing during his school years.
In 2016 he made his debut in the Dunlop Super2 Series. He also finished in the top 10 of the Australian Formula 4 Championship that same year and competed in the MARC Cars of the Australian GT Trophy Series when he was just 17.
In 2017, he made the move to the Albury-based motorsport team Brad Jones Racing (BJR) in both Super2, a critical stepping stone series in driver development, and the V8 Touring Car Series.
In 2020, Smith debuted in the Supercars Championship with BJR, the start of what would be a four-year stint in Australia’s top motorsport series.
While busily competing in Supercars, Smith worked closely with Bond University to ensure he could have a balance and continue to both race and complete his degree.
“Bond was great with flexibility, as far as supporting me in that way,” Smith said. “I was able to balance it quite well with good communication between my lecturers and the sports organisation they have at Bond. It took a lot of running around, but it was doable.”
Smith said he had always loved learning, and competing made him hungry to do better. He took that drive for success from racing into uni and life, he said.
“I enjoyed the program that they had at Bond, and the lecturers were great. The small classes were great. I made a lot of good friends and had good relationships with my lecturers, and I look back at my time at Bond and think very favourably of it. The facilities, the social life - it was a great uni to be at.”
The Bachelor of Property graduate said being organised, keeping on top of his priorities and having good lines of communication with all parties allowed him to juggle study and driving commitments.
Smith said Supercars taught him resilience and gave him a strong work ethic that have served him well since stepping away from his driving career at the end of 2023, finishing his final full-time race at the Adelaide 500.
He took some time off earlier this year to travel and is now working in his family business, learning the ropes of SCT Logistics, which was started by his father in 1974.
“It's hard to explain, but it was difficult to leave that life (professional motor-racing) behind,” Smith said. "The people you knew, the people you worked with … you have to transition to a new life. It is an especially difficult adjustment when you have grown up in the sport since the age of 10. The competitiveness of it is something that's hard to drag yourself away from. You're waking up every morning going, how do I do better?”
About the writer
Medinah Wells is a Bond University journalism student with a drive for high-speed thrills. Growing up around her father’s rally team, motorsport is in her genes. During her Bachelor of Journalism Medinah has worked for the Queensland Rally Championship, interviewed drivers and collaborated with local motorsport clubs. Her dream is to combine her love of journalism and motorsport, bringing the excitement of racing to readers.
Published on 15 January, 2024
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