We are sitting in the foyer to the official hotel for the 2006 Australian Pro. I was really nervous yet pumped as we had taken the show to the Gold Coast, first and only time it was out of my home town of Melbourne. I had been pretty stressed because it was like the first show all over again, not knowing how it would work out.
The customs in Queensland had been really hard on the bodybuilders coming through and were putting every one of them through the third degree. One even got fined for having a single viagra tablet without a prescription. So by the time I had them all at the hotel, I was relieved to say the least. It was an incredible lineup with over 20 pros in the show and as it tuned out a massive crowd would show up for the show.
It was also the comeback of two of the most popular bodybuilders of the early 90s, Francis Benfatto and Vince Taylor. One was 47 and the other 48. Neither had ever competed in Australia so I knew they would be very popular. I had even organised Vince to do the original terminator routine as Australia had never seen it.
I was talking to Vince and a few others, when in walks Benfatto who has not seen Vince for about 15 years. He scrams "Taylor, Taylor" in his funny French accent, genuinely moved to see his old friend. The hugged and exchanged hellos when out of the blue, Benfatto rips of his shirt and starts hitting shots, cold, no pump, tan or anything. He was in incredible condition and everyone was clapping and laughing. His wife started to crack the shits and began berating him for his impromptu display. By then we were all just about in tears as it was so funny to see how excited the eccentric Francis had become. The more she objected, the more he posed.
I guess you had to be there but fuck it was funny at the time. They both went on to make the top 5 and Vince re-qualified for the Olympia. Francis was right out there and provided us with not only laughs and stories but also with a sense of history and camaraderie that you don't see today.
It was one of the most memorable shows that I have ever ran and these two made it something special.