OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Curly3 on May 14, 2012, 08:27:31 pm

Title: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Curly3 on May 14, 2012, 08:27:31 pm
Not VMX, so shoot me.
On Australian Story tonight is Sir Jack Brabham.
Won his first world title in 59 by pushing his car across the line in the last race of the season to finish 4th.
The only person to win a world championship driving a car he designed.
I remember riding with his son's at the old Kingsgrove brick pits.
We're quick to celebrate the achievements of people like Bradman & Fraser but motorsport is forgotten.
A shame.

P.S. His parting words were.
      " I'll die without an enemy in the world, I'll outlive the bastards "
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Hoony on May 14, 2012, 08:53:35 pm
caught the last part of aussie story, what a legend. sad he nearly went unrecognised.

" I'll die without an enemy in the world, I'll outlive the bastards "

that quote was indeed an Aussie classic.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: AjayVMX on May 14, 2012, 09:02:47 pm
That was a great programme.

I dragged my son downstairs to watch most of it.  He's a part of the "top gear" generation, was fascinated by the fact that McLaren was from NZ.

I have been fortunate enough to have met Sir Jack.  He was hard to talk to because he was so deaf  ::)
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Curly3 on May 14, 2012, 09:06:51 pm
No earmuff's or earplugs back then Ajay.
OH & S, whats that?
Can't imagine a modern day driver being allowed to push his car across the line.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: AjayVMX on May 14, 2012, 09:15:58 pm
I'm betting that they wouldn't even think of doing it!  ;)
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: FAT-TOY on May 14, 2012, 09:16:49 pm
  This thread reminded me of a doco I watched years ago.  It was about a engine designer (Aussie I think) who built and raced his own design Grand Prix bike I think in the 70s.   He became quite ill during the developing and testing of the bike but I think it was one of the only privateer designed bikes that went on to actually win a Grand Prix race.   He died soon after the show was filmed I think of cancer.  Anyone else remember seeing it, I would love to watch it again.
                                                
                                                                Zane
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: mustanggrahame on May 14, 2012, 09:28:27 pm
Zane are you thinking of John Britten from NZ
(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy211/smartybananapants/britten-v1000-2.jpg)
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: VMX247 on May 14, 2012, 09:40:53 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=QeQ_jVjBvg4

pre78 ~ pump up the volume  8)

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/


For Zane : Britten thread
http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/ducati-workbench/36484-john-britten-thread.html
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: GMC on May 14, 2012, 09:43:35 pm
I only caught the last bit too, spewin I missed most of it.
It was many years back now that I built the exhaust megaphones for some company that was restoring his car.

(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/gmcloa/Misc%20bike%20stuff/Brabham-megaphones-2.jpg)
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: FAT-TOY on May 14, 2012, 09:53:49 pm
  Thanks Grahame thats it. (1 mans dream)  Now I just have to arrange to get a copy of it.  This is a good show and worth a look.
         Zane
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Curly3 on May 14, 2012, 10:12:56 pm
I think they have an encore screening on the weekend some time.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Davey Crocket on May 14, 2012, 10:38:37 pm
I'm like AJ, have been fortunate to meet Sir Jack, I think Honda have been kind to him of late, that blokes more famous overseas than here....I mean, who the farks Lowndes or Skaife or Winterbottom when it comes to the world stage...dont get me wrong, there great drivers/blokes but.... I was also lucky enough to meet John Britten.....just like Bruce McLaren, taken too young. The autobiography's of those guys are great reads.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Lozza on May 14, 2012, 10:54:39 pm

John  Britten developed cancer as a result of working with carbon fibre.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: GD66 on May 14, 2012, 10:59:06 pm
Jack has a tie-up with Honda that dates back to 1964, when he started to help them on their path towards F1. Also he won the 1966 F2 title in a Brabham-Honda. Somewhere I have a pic of him blatting round Suzuka on Jim Redman's 350 Honda four during a break in testing, with Jack tucked in wearing his blue Dunlop overalls.
As recently as 1995 he drove a Honda NSX in the Bathurst 12 Hour. Bloody good to see this programme re-run, it's a ripping yarn about a true legend.  :)
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: motomaniac on May 14, 2012, 10:59:32 pm
Wouldn't have missed it for the world.Drove almost an hour to be with my Dad in hospital to watch it with him.It was a great tribute.Shame about no official recognition on the 50 th anniversary but the classic racers put on a good turn at the Island for him.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: tony27 on May 15, 2012, 05:18:05 am

John  Britten developed cancer as a result of working with carbon fibre.
I thought it was melanoma that spread
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Hoony on May 15, 2012, 05:19:37 am
anyone know what date time the re run is ?
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: STW996 on May 15, 2012, 05:30:39 am
I was a member of the Gold Coast Kart club where Jack's grandson Matthew raced, Jack would come along for a look and handed out the trophy's to the young blokes a couple of times. was more of a treat for us older blokes to see and chat with him.

Nice to see he has received a living legends award earlier this year.

It is really hard to comprehend how great the feet of win in a car you helped design and build in the worlds tuffest sport of the 60's, true legend.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: TM BILL on May 15, 2012, 06:34:38 am
 This thread reminded me of a doco I watched years ago.  It was about a engine designer (Aussie I think) who built and raced his own design Grand Prix bike I think in the 70s.   He became quite ill during the developing and testing of the bike but I think it was one of the only privateer designed bikes that went on to actually win a Grand Prix race.   He died soon after the show was filmed I think of cancer.  Anyone else remember seeing it, I would love to watch it again.
                                                
                                                                Zane

Zane i think you are refering to kim Newcombe  :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Newcombe#Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_results.5B1.5D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6f6TRRXSPo

Another Kiwi hero whos achievments are virtually unknown out side of motorcycling circles .

Iv'e always maintained if you want funding or recognition in motorcycling put goal post up at your local track  ::)
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: tony27 on May 15, 2012, 05:28:13 pm
Except Kim died after crashing in a non world championship race in the UK in the year he finished second posthumously, the movie made on his life is called Love,speed and loss and is well worth watching
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: FAT-TOY on May 15, 2012, 09:31:19 pm

(Quote)  Zane i think you are refering to kim Newcombe. 

   Bill the john Britten story is the one I was talking about but the Kim Newcombe story (Love Speed & Loss) sounds like something I would like to have look at.  Blokes like these as well as legends like Jack have achieved what some of us maybe only dreamed about.  So I suppose I for one will be happy to watch them on TV and play with my toys.
                                                                                                                                                               Zane

Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Curly3 on May 15, 2012, 09:48:22 pm
That's something that we can all relate to only on a much smaller scale.
Building up our own " Special " to go racing with.
Personal satisfaction.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: vmxrider on May 16, 2012, 08:37:16 am
anyone know what date time the re run is ?

Saturday afternoon 12:30 pm ABC 1
Sunday evening 6:30pm ABC news 24
Or watch online http://www.abc.net.au/austory/
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: pancho on May 16, 2012, 09:30:15 am
 I saw it . Great program about a great Australian.
pancho.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: Hoony on May 16, 2012, 07:20:53 pm
anyone know what date time the re run is ?

Saturday afternoon 12:30 pm ABC 1
Sunday evening 6:30pm ABC news 24
Or watch online http://www.abc.net.au/austory/

Thanks Mate.
Title: Re: How quickly we forget.
Post by: vmxrider on May 19, 2012, 12:11:35 pm
anyone know what date time the re run is ?

Saturday afternoon 12:30 pm ABC 1
Sunday evening 6:30pm ABC news 24
Or watch online http://www.abc.net.au/austory/

Thanks Mate.

On in about 20 mins ABC 1, I've watched it online, but about to watch again on the tele.