Goba is my nickname
that stemmed from GOB, which was given to me by a mate in my first year of
school. He took one look at my name – Grant O’Brien – then looked at me and
said, “Did you know your initials spell GOB, and I was like no, never really
thought about it before. And from that moment, at five years of age, Grant was
rarely ever used again. Later on down the track Gob became Goba and it has
stuck to this very day.
River crossing Cambodian style on two canoes with planks on top.
GOBADIRT.COM is the home for the photos I’ve taken and the stories I’ve written
starting from the year 2001 until now. As you’ll notice all things moto make up
the majority of the space on this site, but don’t be surprised to find random
images from my travels, or other material I find interesting as the site
evolves over time.
I figure it’s of a greater benefit to allow like-minded enthusiasts the chance
to check out my work at the touch of a button than to have it stored on CD’s
and in photo files collecting dust in a dark cupboard where no one can see it,
including myself.
I welcome any feedback from those who visit my site, and I’m always on the
search for the opportunity to shoot more photos and capturing the story if
needed, especially if it includes travel, adventure and meeting new people,
while at the same time getting paid for it!
Kids in a small Camodian village couldn't believe seeing their faces on the screen of my camera.
A Little History First
I was born in a
place called Hammersmith, England, 1969. My father Phil had
made the journey from Australia to Europe the previous year to fulfil his dream
of racing motorcycles in the world championship – 350 and 500cc GPs, and the
legendary Isle Of Man (the place I was christened) street circuit race – that
has claimed the life of many a keen racer through-out the years, and it still
is thriving today.
Joy with spare goggles ready on the start line at Sachsenring GP, Germany, 1969.
My mother Joy made the journey with him and they together
travelled from country to country, race to race in an old van with two
motorcycles - an Aermacchi 350 and a Matchless 500 - and everything they needed
to survive life on the road during the road-racing season. I spent my first ten
months travelling in that van, and sleeping through the sounds of factory MV
Agusta machines being warmed up for early morning practice while parked in the
pits. What a way to enter the world. I guess you could say that the energy of
motorcycles was instilled in my blood from an early age.
Feelin very seedy on my way up the Mekong River, Cambodia, after food poisoning the previous night.
My First Ride
A Honda XL75,
headlight an all, was the first bike I had the pleasure of riding and owning at
10-years-of-age. The old man was quite happy to have me riding my BMX up until
that point, but he knew it was only a matter of time before riding motorcycles
became a passion that I would live and breath forever.
As time went on my ride changed to a Yamaha YZ80K that was ridden every weekend
at the local Police Boys Club, Menai. Then by the time I turned 15 the lure of
racing motocross became far too strong and I lined up for my first race aboard
a Honda CR125RE at Macarthur
Park, Appin. I was lapped
towards the end of the race, but it was the greatest experience I’d had up
until that point of my life. The following four years saw me upgrade to each
new Honda 125 model and race or ride every weekend possible. Somehow I even
managed to complete an apprenticeship as a Fitter/Machinist during those four
years, which helped me pay for the fuel in my Holden HQ Ute, and all the
expenses that come with racing a motorcycle … Yes I was broke.
Peto snapped this shot of me from our hotel room in Osaka, Japan, love that place.
My Best Shot
I never became a star, but racing dirt-bikes opened exciting new doors,
introduced me to many great people, and many became friends for life. It taught
me how to fight for the things I want. It taught me patience, determination,
focus, how to handle pain and that the reward after healing is sweet. I’ve
never regretted for one minute the endless hours I’ve dedicated to the sport -
the blood sweat and tears, the ups and downs, and disappointments endured
during my racing years were always far outweighed by the thrill and inner
feelings reached from riding a motorcycle.
If I’d never been given the opportunity to ride a motorcycle I wouldn’t be
where I am today, travelling the world capturing the sport I love through my
photography and writing, which came about when asked by a friend to write my
first article for the first ever issue of Freerider MX in the
year 2000. The flow continued from that first article with another for Moto
X Rider, then another for ADB. Then from issue five of Freerider
MX I regularly contributed features until I took over as editor from
issue number nine. That love affair lasted 20-odd issues until February 2004
when I decided to take a well earned break. But it didn’t last long as Trail
Bike Adventure magazine needed an editor for a bunch of issues and
guess who couldn’t resist?
Who knows what the future has in store, but I know one thing is for certain,
and that is I’ll be riding, writing, and shooting photos for gobadirt.com for
many years to come!
Feel free to shoot me an email
with feedback, questions, or just to say hello. Cheers, Goba.
Adam Barker, from Fuel TV's Freestyle Motocross program M80,
produced this clip about my photography whilst filming the 2007 FMX Euro
Roadtrip with Germany's
Busty Wolter.
Magazines I
Contribute Or Have Contributed To
Freerider MX (Editor from issue 9 to 28, 2002 to 2005)
Trail Bike
Adventure (Editor from issue 7 to 10, 2005 to 2006)
