Peter Brock – A Sporting Legend

Most of the world has this past week been aware of the death of one high-profile Australian, naturalist Steve Irwin. However, like most Australian sports fans, I’ve been struggling to come to grips with the death of perhaps a bigger legend, racing car driver Peter Brock.

Peter “Perfect” was one of the most succesful sportsmen Australia has produced and one of the best racing car drivers the world has seen. His field was touring cars, driving souped up versions of what were then production road cars. He was most famous for his exploits in endurance races, especially on the testing road-track at Mt Panorama, in Bathurst, NSW. That race has had many names in recent years as sponsors come and go, but in my mind it is always the Hardie-Ferodo 500 (or 1000 as it became in the metric era).

I grew up watching the “King of the Mountain,” as a young boy and then into adolescence. Although I did cheer at times for the lumbering Ford GTs, it was the nimble Holden Toranas, piloted by Brock and co that dominated my youth.

One of the greatest sporting moments I’ve ever seen was Brock’s 1979 win. It was perfect motor racing – a marriage of precise driving, daring speed and mechanical conservation. He capped it off by setting a stunning track record on the final lap!

“Brocky” made a big mark on me as a young guy and his determination, manner and grit were representative of the best of Australian culture. Even his new age beliefs, which caused some derision and cost him business opportunites seemed to be representative of the spiritual search of many of from his generation down under. He was genuinely a “good bloke.”

Peter tragically died doing what he loved, racing cars and has been remembered with a State funeral and soon with a memorial at his home racetrack (Sandown). The trophy for the Bathurst endurance race will, later this year be cast in his honour; a fitting tribute to a great driver.

Sydney Morning Herald’s multimedia tribute to Peter Brock

[tags] Peter Brock, Brocky, Bathurst [/tags]