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10 Questions with Emerson Newton-John
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Emerson Newton-John is the son of Taxi star Jeff Conaway (he played Bobby, the actor), the nephew of Olivia Newton-John, and the brother of Australian pop star and TV host Tottie Goldsmith. You'd think with a pedigree like that, Emerson would be in show business. But then you find out he's the great-grandson of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Max Born. So he's a physicist, right? Nope. "Emmo" took a different course -- literally.
You see, Emerson was named after World Champion racecar driver Emerson Fittipaldi, and the name fits him perfectly -- because he plans on being the next "EMMO" of the racing world.
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Emerson made his show biz debut in 1979, when he appeared on the Mike Douglas Show with Aunt Olivia, mother Rona and father Jeff. But let's face it -- his family had conquered the worlds of music, film, TV, and even science. There was really nothing left to prove in those areas. Emerson decided to carve out his own identity, and it happened quickly.
Emerson started his career in karts -- in the ultra fast 125cc shifter kart category, and was thrown in with the lions of the sport. National and World Champions were his immediate competition. Still, in only six months, Newton-John was battling in the top five with non-factory equipment, and was signed by the World Champion Kali-Kart team.
By Emerson's second season, he won the U.S. Summer Nationals and finished 2nd in the U.S. National point standings.
Already a star, he promoted Descente Racing Wear and Adidas Shoes. Through them, Emerson started getting testing offers from Japan. He became a test driver for a very successful Formula three team -- and he was still only eighteen years old.
So Newton-John went to Japan and tested for Hayashi Racing. In typical Newton-John style, Emerson learned the car and the new environment in an amazingly short period of time. He went on to become an integral part of the team. He was then invited by Renault of Germany for a Clio Cup talent contest where he was up against the best young drivers in Europe. Emerson dominated the whole event, even though he had never driven a front wheel drive car before (or the rain). After that victory, he raced Formula Dodge in 1997 and Renault Megan Cup in 1998.
Visit Emerson's official site here! |
Lately, Emerson has been flirting with entering the Nascar Winston Cup circuit, but decided to go "Down Under" and compete in the Australian Formula Holden Championship. He then raced in the Tasman Cup Series held in New Zealand. Now he's considering offers for sponsorship for the 2002 season. So it's off to the races again!
But between laps, Emerson agreed to an interview with SportsHollywood to discuss his life in racing and show business.
TEN QUESTIONS
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SportsHollywood: How competitive is your family? Everyone is so accomplished...
ENJ: There really is no competition, as everyone is from completely different fields. I am really the only one in the family with competitive blood, anyway!
SportsHollywood: What's the fastest you've ever driven outside of a race?
ENJ: A hundred and sixty, on the way to Vegas with three friends in the car at night! Nuts.
SportsHollywood: How many speeding tickets have you gotten in the last year?
ENJ: None. But my last one was for going 140 mph in a 65 mph zone!
Emerson's dad, Taxi star Jeff Conaway: "I started him racing B.M.X. when he was 10. In 15 races, he won 15 races! I always knew that once he was old enough to race cars, he would be a winner." |
SportsHollywood: What's your favorite racing movie?
ENJ: It has to be Death Race 2000. It's so camp.
SportsHollywood: Least favorite racing movie?
ENJ: Days of Thunder. So ridiculous. It made the sport seem so silly. It hurt the look of NASCAR racing from the outsider's point of view -- the same way that Stallone's sorry movie, Driven, makes Champ Car look cheesy. One of my goals after I make it big is to make a realistic racing movie -- that makes drivers look like the badasses that they are! Top drivers should be as famous as movie stars, as it takes much more talent, and you put your life on the line. I plan on changing that.
SportsHollywood: Ever think of following your father and going into acting?
ENJ: I am actually very interested in getting into acting and modeling now. Racing has a long winter off-season, so I would like to tackle it then.
SportsHollywood: What about singing, like Aunt Olivia?
ENJ: Olivia says that I sing well -- but no thanks!
SportsHollywood: Your great-grandfather, Max Born, won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1954. Did you inherit any aptitude in that field, and does physics help you as a driver?
ENJ: I am completely useless at science!
Aunt Olivia Newton-John: "Emerson has been absolutely crazy about racing since he could speak! If it has two wheels and goes fast, he loves it! I am behind him 100%!!!" |
SportsHollywood: What's it like to have the secret fantasy of every guy in your high school be your aunt?
ENJ: It's creepy!
(The SportsHollywood reporter nods fervently like he agrees, making sure not to bring up the photo-collages he obsessively made of Olivia in junior high, and all of the "Grease" posters that covered his walls.)
SportsHollywood: Has Olivia never been mellow? Has she never let someone else be strong?
ENJ: Livvy is pretty mellow on the whole, but after a couple of days hanging out with me, she tries to be strong!
(The SportsHollywood reporter discretely hides the "Country Style" magazine he wanted autographed by his secret fantasy underneath the table, changing the subject.)
SportsHollywood: Would you rather have your children be actors, singers, or racers?
ENJ: None of the above! Something with more of a definite future would be great!
SportsHollywood: Which is scarier: Going 200 mph on a track or going 5 MPH on the 405 freeway with all the drive-by's?
ENJ: I'll take the track. The 405 is even scary without the guns!
SportsHollywood: How did you get interested in car racing?
ENJ: It's all that I ever wanted to do, since I was three.
SportsHollywood: What is your ultimate goal as a racer?
ENJ: To be a top driver in one of the three major categories of the sport. Champ Car, Formula 1, or Sports Cars.
SportsHollywood: Do you ever get tired of people asking you how to go to the bathroom in your drivers suit?
ENJ: Hell yeah. It's retarded. No one would race if you had to unload in your driving suit!
SportsHollywood: How do you go to the bathroom in a racing suit?
ENJ: You don't. If you do, you're a dirt bag!
Interview by Jeff Hause
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Emerson Newton-John:
HEIGHT: 5'11"
WEIGHT: 160 lbs
EYES: blue
HAIR: blonde
RESIDENCE: Woodland Hills, CA
CHILDREN: Son - Brin; Daughter - Valerie
CAR: 1994 5.0 Mustang GT
HOBBIES: mountain biking
WEB SITE: The Official Emerson Newton-John Site
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