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Photo: NBC / Contributed Photo
NBC’s Formula One racing team sportscasters, David Hobbs, left, Leigh Diffey and Steve Matchett, will be at the Ridgefield Playhouse for an evening of conversation on Monday, Nov. 28.
NBC’s Formula One racing team sportscasters, David Hobbs, left, Leigh Diffey and Steve Matchett, will be at the Ridgefield Playhouse for an evening of conversation on Monday, Nov. 28.
Photo: Ridgefield Playhouse / Contributed Photo
Remember the “old days” when Formula One racing was depicted as a sport belonging to the idle rich, the “jet set” and the young and beautiful?
Well, it still is, according to Australia-born Leigh Diffey, a member of the three-man team that covers the “pinnacle of motorsport” for NBC television. And it’s also the sport of millions of others.
Formula One has grown from a sport for the wealthy few — mostly in Europe — in the 1950s to an international phenomenon, Diffey says. “Other than the Olympic Games and the soccer World Cup, Formula One is the most watched sport in the world” — by men and women, kids to seniors.
Diffey, who calls Ridgefield home with his wife and two young boys, brings fellow sportscasters David Hobbs and Steve Matchett to the Ridgefield Playhouse on Monday, Nov. 28, for “Inside F1, 2016 Year in Review,” sponsored by Danbury Porsche.
“This multimedia event, including behind-the-scenes footage, will review the 2016 season and take you into the world of F1 with insight, humor and some rare stories,” the playhouse says. The season concludes one day before their talk on Sunday, Nov. 27, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
This is the second consecutive year the team will come together for an informal evening of conversation at the playhouse; the 2015 event sold out.
In a recent chat, Diffey said the sport’s allure is huge, and for good reason.
“Of course, with such high speeds, there is always the element of danger that comes into play,” he said. “But it’s so much more than that.”
High drama, a daredevil esprit (many call it bravery), glamour, exotic locations along with iconic legends and elegant brands (like Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari and Jaguar) are all part of the sport, which by its very nature is associated with innovation, precision and excellence, he said.
A former elementary school teacher in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, Diffey, 45, said he became fascinated with speed and broadcasting as a public address announcer for local motorcycle clubs. After less than three years as a teacher, he decided “to chase his dream” and with “a lot of hard work, good fortune and mates and contacts” he was able to find professional work in Australia, Great Britain and the U.S., where he became a citizen in 2011. In November 2012, he joined NBC Sports.
Diffey said he enjoys doing speaking tours with his colleagues. “It a fun night to be with all these like-minded people, who are generally fans” of the sport. “They can be a passionate group, which makes for a really good time.”
P.S. And, of course, we had to ask him about his favorite racing movies. Can’t say we were surprised by his response, as both feature actual racing footage. His No. 1 pick: “Le Mans,” a 1971 documentary-style movie starring Steve McQueen as a Porsche driver. Next in line, “for pure fun,” is “Grand Prix,” a 1966 film featuring an international cast including James Garner, Yves Montand and Eva Marie Saint.
pasboros@ctpost.com; Twitter:@PhyllisASBoros
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