Adam Prowse was first exposed to the world of Supercars and Adelaide in 2013, watching at home in the UK on a now-defunct TV channel that carried all sorts of motorsport.
It was at that point that the first seeds of what would become an obsession were planted, eventually leading to an annual sabbatical Down Under and being adopted by Supercar’s PremiAir Racing.
Adam, often referred to nowadays in the Supercars paddock as ‘that Pom,’ has now travelled here Nine times, as of 2025, taking in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Surfers Paradise, and of course his beloved Adelaide, where he has visited Six times previously, with number Seven coming in November 2025
While his interest in Supercars was piqued immediately that day in mid-2013, the insight into Australia provided by the broadcasts sparked a drive in Adam to visit the country that Supercars called home.
“Watching that race in 2013 on TV, the racing was close, and the commentary was light-hearted, so I made an effort to look out for more races,” Adam says.
“My first full season of watching Supercars was 2014, and watching the opening of the telecast where the viewer gets a brief look at the place where the race is taking place made my mind up that I had to have a ‘once in a lifetime holiday in Australia.’
“I simply had to go to Adelaide, and I absolutely loved it from the moment I arrived – I can’t define anything specific, I just like it.
“That once in a lifetime trip turned into a ‘got to go every year’ trip and I have now visited Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Surfers Paradise and my Adelaide count is now Seven as of 2025.”
Adam’s initial trips did not coincide with Supercars events, but in 2020, that all changed.
“I decided that I had to see a Supercars race – another ‘once in a lifetime’ deal – and it had to be Adelaide; the race is walking distance from the CBD, easy for a tourist, and I love the place,” Adam said.
“2020 was the first race I attended. At that time, it was the season opener, beforehand I had a few days in Surfers Paradise as I wanted to walk the route of the race, which I did, before flying to Adelaide for the race.
“I booked a hospitality box at the pit entrance, which also gives access to the paddock at the back of pitlane – I had a fabulous time, met some really nice race fans, and I can still remember the point where I said to myself, ‘I have got to do this again!’”
While COVID put a temporary pause to his plans, his remained keenly invested in the goings on here in Australia for Supercars and made his way back at the first possible opportunity.
“When COVID closed the world and it was announced that the South Australian Government would not run the event again, I wondered, had I been to the last Adelaide Supercars race?” he reflects.
“Then, the politicians got involved – it was the only time in my life I have followed an election!
“It was announced that an additional event would be held at the end of the season in Adelaide and I decided I wanted to be there.”
That 2022 trip was a pivotal moment for the Pom, because of two people he would meet.
“I decided to have one night in a hotel in Glenelg before going to the CBD in Adelaide, and this is where I met a fellow race fan, John James & his wife Hayley.
“We became firm friends since that day – we meet every year at the Adelaide race, chat via email every race weekend year-round, and for the Bathurst 1000 and the Bathurst 12 hour I stay up all night in England and watch the races live while messaging him.
“Living in England there isn’t anyone I can chat to about Supercars, but now I have my Aussie Pal John, and it is great to swap opinions on Supercars stories & news.
At the 2025 event I will have the pleasure of meeting John & Hayley’s first born, a boy called Jett.
“At the Rundle Mall driver signing that year I also met and chatted to some more great race fans and was interviewed by Riana Crehan, with the interview making it in the telecast; I have the video clip on my phone. I was also first in the queue for the driver signing session – I was on cloud nine and I hadn’t event got to the track yet!”
The second pivotal person he would meet in 2022 marked the beginning of what is now a close relationship with PremiAir Racing.
“I had booked another hospitality place in 2022 at the Paddock Club and spent an enjoyable amount of time in paddock – this is when I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to Peter Xiberras, who chatted to me for about 20 minutes,” Adam remembers.
“I was blown away; here was a Supercars Team owner who is a multiple Top Fuel drag racing champion talking to little old me!
“The following day I went back to thank him for his kindness, and we chatted for another 15 minutes, and Peter got me a Team polo shirt, signed by Chris Pither!”
From this point on, Adelaide was even more special for Adam.
“By now the Adelaide race was ‘my race,’ I have to be there each year. Some people go to Bathurst every year, for others it is Le Mans or the Isle of Man TT – for me, it is the Adelaide 500,” Adam says.
“Now that it takes place in November at the end of the season, the trip is around the time of my birthday, and it gets rid of two weeks of English winter!”
In 2023, the trip coincided with a special milestone which led to a whole new experience for Adam.
“That was the year I was ‘adopted’ by a race team! In 2023 I had a birthday with a zero at the end of it and the first day of track action was my actual birthday – unfortunately on the Thursday it rained and rained, and I got soaked through!” he smiles.
“At the Rundle Mall driver signing Riana Crehan remembered me, and I got my second interview which again made the telecast – what a souvenir! A couple of the drivers also remembered me, as did Helen who owns the Merchandise company, MDG.
“All the hospitality places that I could afford were sold out, so I booked a Grandstand and Paddock pass – I love the paddock experience, it is the most open, friendly paddock of all the motorsport series I’ve been to.
“To my surprise and delight, Peter remembered me on sight – this important man who must meet hundreds of people in a year looked up and waved me over for a chat!
“That weekend I watched the qualifying sessions and the Sunday race from the PremiAir Garage; that was an amazing experience – you see pictures on the TV of teams in the garage watching the race and here I was doing just that! I had been adopted by a race team and from that moment on, PremiAir Racing was my team, and they had a dedicated English fan.
“I really enjoy being on the ‘journey’ with a new team, watching the steady improvement in results, keeping an eye on their social media, website, and YouTube channels. Feeling the elation of a good result and the heartache of a bad one, even seeing the people that you have met on the TV at subsequent races.
“I can honestly say that apart from my small group of close friends of many years standing, I have never felt so welcome and included in anything else in my life.
“Going to the Adelaide 500 is now as much about meeting up with my friends from the Supercars world as it is about seeing the track action, which of course is always good.”
Last year,2024, the visibility of ‘That Pom’ rose even higher and his Supercars circle expanded even further.
“My Aussie pal John James arranged Grandstand tickets, so we were all sitting together and I got Paddock passes. At the pre-event in Victoria park, I saw my PremiAir Racing friend Richard and we arranged to meet at the garage later.
“Before that, continuing my Australian stardom, I was interviewed live by Matt Naulty at the Wednesday ‘Track to Town’ event at Victoria Park and Chad Neylon also gave me a mention on the podcast – I had the pleasure of briefly meeting them in 2023 and again they remembered and welcomed me when I saw them.
“At the PremiAir Racing garage, I met Carmen, Peter’s wife, who I had a long chat with, and Peter introduced me to some other team members, and I had a few chats with Tim Slade’s and Jimmy Golding’s dads – I really felt like I was home.
“I introduced my Aussie pal John James to Peter Xiberras and the three of us had a very pleasant 15 minutes together.
“A Super Ute driver, Rossi Johnson, had also followed me on X (formerly Twitter) and as the Utes were racing as part of the support programme, I took the opportunity to go and say hi, and another friend was made in the Supercars world with another really nice guy.
“On the Monday after the race weekend, I had a chance meeting in the street with Neil Crompton also and had a nice little chat with him – he really is a nice guy like you see on TV.”
Today, the relationship between Adam and the team is ongoing, and he will once again be in the PremiAir Racing garage for this year’s Adelaide event, the Adelaide Grand Final across 27-30 November.
“My initial and most frequent contact with the team is Richard, I usually see him at the pre-events, and we have a chat, and he invites me to the team’s garage,” Adam notes.
“Richard is the team’s Press Officer and an all-round good egg – every time I reply or like a post from the team, or look at the WhatsApp updates, I always know that I am communicating back to him – this article was his idea, and it is truly a friendship I value. I always look out for shots on TV with him in the garage and wave and shout, “there he is – hello mate!”
Having made the trip quite a few times now, Adam has his itinerary exceptionally well-tuned.
“When I tell people that I am going to Australia to watch a car race, I am often asked what is involved – firstly I take a 13-hour flight from London to Kuala Lumpur arriving at 7 AM LT, by the time I get to sleep again, I have been up for 33 hours!
“I stay for two nights, then fly from KL at 10pm LT for an eight-hour flight to Adelaide. I usually get into Adelaide on Tuesday AM, having been up for 23 hours.
“After the race weekend I make the trip back, via KL for a couple of nights.
“The cost in round figures is $10kAUD all included, and I save up and book throughout the year – I am just a normal working guy and not on a particularly high salary, but this is my sole focus throughout the year. I must mention my generous sister, who regularly ‘tops up my Aussie slush fund’ to make the trip possible.
“There is a fair few other Supercars races I would like to go to, but as I can only afford one a year, it has to be Adelaide and now that it is the final, the event has an even more important status – I hope it doesn’t push the hotel prices up!
“If you are one of the many race fans reading this that I have spoken to over the years in Adelaide and you are thinking, ‘I remember that Pom,’ thank you for your time and pleasantness, I have enjoyed talking to you all.
“I love Supercars, I love Australia, I love Adelaide – and yes, I would live there if I could.”
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