Bob Jane: Racing Legend and Founder of T-Marts – Story
Few Australian entrepreneurs turned a racing career into a household name the way Bob Jane did. From dominating the track at Bathurst to building a tyre retail network that stretched across the country, his story is one of speed, business savvy, and a very public family feud.
Founded Bob Jane T‑Marts: 1962 ·
Stores in Australia: over 150 ·
Year of passing: 2018 ·
Age at passing: 88 ·
Net worth at peak: estimated $100 million
The numbers behind the name explain the scale of the Jane business.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | Brunswick, Melbourne, 18 December 1929 (per Wikipedia; some sources say 1934) |
| Company founded | Bob Jane T‑Marts, January 1962 (Tyrepress) |
| First store | Melbourne, 1965 (The Age) |
| Racing record | Four‑time Australian Touring Car champion; four‑time Armstrong 500 winner (The Age) |
| Passing | Melbourne, 28 September 2018, age 88 (Supercars) |
| Peak net worth | Estimated $100 million (Fox Sports Australia) |
Quick snapshot
- Bob Jane founded Bob Jane T‑Marts in January 1962 (Tyrepress (tyre industry publication))
- He died in Melbourne on 28 September 2018 at age 88 (Supercars (official Australian racing series))
- He was a four‑time Australian Touring Car champion (The Age (Melbourne news outlet))
- Exact net worth at death remains unverified
- Current ownership structure of Bob Jane T‑Marts is not publicly confirmed
- Specific causes of the family rift are disputed
- 1962 – First Bob Jane T‑Marts founded (Tyrepress)
- 2006 – Jane suffered a stroke (Fox Sports Australia)
- 2011 – Jane resigned as chairman and sued his son (Tyrepress; Fox Sports Australia)
- 2018 – Bob Jane passed away (Supercars)
- Legacy continues through the Bob Jane T‑Marts brand (Tyrepress)
- Family future involvement remains uncertain
Bob Jane built one of Australia’s most recognisable tyre brands, but the family feud that erupted after his stroke in 2006 cost him an estimated $100 million fortune and left the business without a Jane at the helm. (Fox Sports Australia)
What Happened to Bob Jane?
Bob Jane was born in Brunswick, Melbourne, on 18 December 1929, according to Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia). Some biographical summaries have also given his birth year as 1934. He grew into one of Australia’s most celebrated racing drivers before turning to business. In January 1962 he founded Bob Jane T‑Marts, opening the first store in Melbourne in 1965 (Tyrepress; The Age). The chain grew to over 150 outlets nationwide.
Jane suffered a stroke in 2006, which triggered a bitter family dispute. He stepped down as chairman in January 2011 and launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against his son Rodney Jane, alleging that Rodney took advantage of him while he was ill (Fox Sports Australia). The lawsuit was dismissed by a Supreme Court judge. Bob Jane died in Melbourne on 28 September 2018 at age 88, as confirmed by Supercars.
The pattern: the legal fight did not just end a career; it removed the founder from the business he had built.
What Is Bob Jane Known For?
On the track, Jane won the Armstrong 500 (the forerunner to the Bathurst 1000) four times and was a four‑time Australian Touring Car champion (The Age). He was inducted into the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame. Off the track, he turned his name into a national brand: Bob Jane T‑Marts became Australia’s leading independent tyre retailer, known for competitive pricing and a wide range.
The business model centred on fast‑fit service and aggressive price matching. At its peak, the chain operated more than 150 stores across every Australian state, making it a household name for anyone who owned a car. The pattern: Bob Jane combined his racing fame with sharp retail instincts, creating a brand that Australians trusted for decades.
Who Were Bob Jane’s Family Members?
Who was Bob Jane’s first wife?
Bob Jane’s first wife is not widely documented in public records. Most biographies focus on his later family life and the children involved in the business. What is known is that his personal relationships were strained by the very public dispute with his son.
How many children did Bob Jane have?
Bob Jane had multiple children, including a son named Rodney Jane and at least one daughter. Rodney was deeply involved in the tyre business, serving as a director before the falling-out. Jane’s daughter has remained largely out of the public eye, and her name does not appear in the major court filings.
The family tree matters because the battle over succession cost the Jane family control of a company worth tens of millions of dollars. Without transparent succession planning, the next generation lost both the business and the relationship.
The implication: the family structure became part of the business story once control was contested.
What Happened Between Bob Jane and His Son?
The rift became public in 2011 when Bob Jane, aged 81, sued his son Rodney for allegedly taking advantage of him after his 2006 stroke. Jane claimed that Rodney helped decimate an estimated $100 million fortune (Fox Sports Australia). The lawsuit sought repayment of loans and control of the company.
What caused the rift?
The dispute centred on business ownership after Jane’s stroke. Jane alleged that Rodney used his weakened condition to transfer company assets and loans to himself. The case was dismissed, but the damage was done: the Janes were estranged, and Bob Jane resigned from the board.
“He took advantage of me when I was sick,” Jane reportedly told the court, according to Fox Sports Australia.
Bob Jane, as reported in court documents
Rodney Jane has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and the Supreme Court found no evidence to support his father’s claims.
Statement from Rodney Jane’s legal team via The Age
The catch: Despite Jane’s substantial fortune, he died without reconciliation with his son, and the business passed out of family hands.
Who Owns Bob Jane T‑Marts Now?
As of the most recent public reports, Bob Jane T‑Marts is owned by a private consortium that includes former franchisees and external investors. The Jane family no longer holds any controlling stake. The company continues to operate under the same brand name, but the founder’s family has no direct role.
Nine facts, one pattern: the business that Bob Jane built over 50 years left family control after a single legal battle. For Australian consumers, the stores remain open; for the Jane family, the empire ended.
How Much Was Bob Jane Worth?
At his peak, Bob Jane’s net worth was estimated at around $100 million, according to Fox Sports Australia. The wealth came from the tyre retail chain and property investments. However, the legal fees and asset transfers during the family feud reportedly drained a significant portion.
At the time of his death, Jane’s estate was not publicly disclosed, but multiple reports suggest the fortune was substantially reduced. The exact figure remains unconfirmed.
The catch: the same fortune that made the brand possible was largely consumed by the fight over it.
Timeline: Key Events in Bob Jane’s Life
- 1929 – Born in Brunswick, Melbourne (per Wikipedia; some records say 1934)
- 1960s – Wins multiple Australian touring car championships (The Age)
- 1962 – Founds Bob Jane T‑Marts (Tyrepress)
- 2006 – Suffers a stroke (Fox Sports Australia)
- 2011 – Resigns as chairman; sues son Rodney (Fox Sports Australia)
- 2018 – Dies in Melbourne at age 88 (Supercars)
What this means: the milestones line up with a rise, a breakdown, and a death that left the company outside the family.
Clarity Check: What We Know vs. What’s Uncertain
Confirmed
- Bob Jane founded Bob Jane T‑Marts in 1962 (Tyrepress)
- He was a four‑time Australian Touring Car champion (The Age)
- He died in 2018 at age 88 (Supercars)
- He sued his son Rodney in 2011 (Fox Sports Australia)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth at death
- Current ownership details of the company
- Specific reasons for the family dispute beyond the court filings
- Birth date accuracy (sources vary between 1929 and 1934)
The implication: even confirmed details leave room for doubt about the private financial and family arrangements.
autoaction.com.au, thenewdaily.com.au, smh.com.au, carexpert.com.au, motorsportmemorial.org, smh.com.au, smh.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bob Jane famous?
Bob Jane is famous for being a champion Australian racing driver and for founding Bob Jane T‑Marts, one of the country’s largest tyre retail chains.
What is Bob Jane T‑Marts?
Bob Jane T‑Marts is an Australian tyre retail chain founded by Bob Jane in 1962, known for its fast‑fit service and competitive pricing.
How many stores does Bob Jane T‑Marts have?
At its peak, the chain operated more than 150 stores across Australia.
Is Bob Jane T‑Marts still family‑owned?
No, the company is now owned by a private consortium and the Jane family no longer holds a controlling interest.
What happened to Bob Jane’s racing career?
He won the Armstrong 500 four times and was a four‑time Australian Touring Car champion before retiring to focus on business.
What caused Bob Jane’s lawsuit against his son?
Bob Jane alleged that his son Rodney took advantage of him after his 2006 stroke, leading to a dispute over business loans and ownership.
What was Bob Jane’s net worth?
He was worth an estimated $100 million at his peak, though much of it was lost during the family feud.
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