Speedcafe.com founder and media personality Brett ‘Crusher’ Murray has been honoured with a CAMS Service Award (Media) as part of the National Awards Gala Dinner in Melbourne.
A character of Australian motor racing, Murray has been an influential figure within the sport for nearly three decades.
He founded Speedcafe.com in 2009, which has since grown to be one of the world’s leading motorsport news websites with almost 38 million page views in 2018, and has claimed a host of awards in its own right.
Murray began his career as a cadet journalist in Albury, before moving to the Gold Coast in 1989 to take up a job with the Gold Coast Bulletin.
He established his own public relations and media agency soon after, with BMW, Tony Longhurst, Frank Gardner, and Paul Morris among his initial clientele.
An integral part of the development and survival of the Gold Coast IndyCar race for more than 19 years, Murray played a role in developing it into the Supercar event it is today.
He also had a hand in reversing the fortunes of a flagging Queensland 500 in the late 1990s.
A stint in IndyCar with PacWest followed before returning to Australia to work with Stone Brothers Racing, Marcos Ambrose, and Russell Ingall during their championship winning campaigns.
In 2016 Murray achieved a lifelong dream by campaigning a car, the Pirtek Team Murray entry, at the Indianapolis 500 for Matt Brabham.
CAMS recognised Murrary’s efforts and dedication by awarding him a CAMS Service Award.
“I guess this means I am getting old or I have upset someone,” joked Murray.
“After 30 years in the business it is nice to be acknowledged by CAMS with this service award.
“I have enjoyed the ride and seeing the benefits of the risks we have taken along the way.
“Being involved in the careers of many successful young drivers, including Matt Brabham in my own PIRTEK Team Murray entry in the 100th Indy 500 in 2016, has been a highlight.
“The enormous and continued success of Speedcafe.com to a point where we are the leading independent motorsport news site in the world has been an enormous accomplishment in which everyone involved can take credit.
“I have to thank my dedicated staff over all my companies through the years for their loyalty and work ethic and my wife Trudi and son Maximilian for being the backbone and motivation for just ‘having a crack’.”
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