Jack Brabham

**SPman** · 19th May 2014, 13:38

SIR Jack Brabham, Australian icon, died suddenly this morning at his home on the Gold Coast aged 88.
He was having breakfast with his wife Margaret when his health, which had been failing for more than a decade, finally gave out.
“It’s a very sad day for all of us. My father passed away peacefully at home at the age of 88 this morning,” son David Brabham said in a statement.
“He lived an incredible life, achieving more than anyone would ever dream of and he will continue to live on through the astounding legacy he leaves behind.”

Another legend gone.

Thank's for all the memories, Jack

**oldrider** · 19th May 2014, 14:14

R.I.P. Jack and thank you for the memories!

**Motu** · 19th May 2014, 17:49

When I was a young fella watching the Grand Prix at Ardmore, Stirling Moss had a white helmet, was the hero and obviously the good guy. Jack Brabham had a black helmet, black hair and seriously big black eyebrows - very obviously the bad guy. I didn't want him to win. It took me a long time to like Jack Brabham, but he earned my respect, with a 3rd Championship at 40 or so, in his own car, with a Repco engine. Go down to Repco tomorrow and see what we lost to the retail bottom dollar.

**Robert Taylor** · 19th May 2014, 18:24

Originally Posted by Motu

When I was a young fella watching the Grand Prix at Ardmore, Stirling Moss had a white helmet, was the hero and obviously the good guy. Jack Brabham had a black helmet, black hair and seriously big black eyebrows - very obviously the bad guy. I didn't want him to win. It took me a long time to like Jack Brabham, but he earned my respect, with a 3rd Championship at 40 or so, in his own car, with a Repco engine. Go down to Repco tomorrow and see what we lost to the retail bottom dollar.

SIR Jack Brabham, ''Black Jack'' etc.

''To finish first, first you must finish'' So said Jack Brabham after spinning out at the last corner on the last lap of the 1965 Monaco Grand Prix, whilst leading.

The Repco name ( when it meant something ) had a fine presence also in early 70s Formula 5000 with their ''Repco Holden'' engines in Frank Matichs own branded A51 race cars. Frank was about the only guy that could match the raw pace of our own Graham McRae, a brilliant driver and engineer. Also these engines were used in the Ansett Elfins and I think it was 1971 maybe 1972 that another Aussie John McCormack won the NZ Grand Prix at Pukekohe in one of these cars. He was no spring chicken either and one of the few drivers still wearing an open face helmet and nomex balaclava.

To this day nothing has bettered the Tasman series that prededed this and the raw, dangerous, unreliable, deafening noise and spectacle of these F5000 cars.

**Motu** · 19th May 2014, 19:53

And we can't mention the Repco V8 powered Brabham without bringing Phill Irving into it.

**Grumph** · 19th May 2014, 20:50

i met Jack at Wigram in around '58. My old man had helped out with something when he came over with the Cooper Bristol.
Very nice to a young kid, encouraging, no condecension at all.
And a VERY underrated driver all his career strangely.

He had the knack of getting the right people to work with him too. I know three guys in ChCh who worked at Coopers then Brabham's outfit and all spoke highly of him.

One of the greats for sure.

**RDjase** · 20th May 2014, 17:53

One of Jacks race cars, The Repco Brabham castings in the rocker covers say it all

Based on 308 Holden block? Have seen one mid mounted in Valiant Charger

**Grumph** · 20th May 2014, 18:07

[QUOTE=RDjase;

One of Jacks race cars, The Repco Brabham castings in the rocker covers say it all

Based on 308 Holden block? Have seen one mid mounted in Valiant Charger[/QUOTE]

To the best of my knowledge all the SOHC and DOHC V8's were based on the Buick/Olds/Pontiac alloy block.

Repco did a F5000 motor based on the Holden block.