Friday 28th October 2016

Brocky at Bathurst: Time For Coffee?

Brock, a wet Bathurst and slick tyres - hold on!

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It's now more than a decade since Peter Brock lost his life in a rallying accident, a tragic loss to the motorsport world. Helpfully though, with the help of YouTube, we have plenty of video reminders as to why he was such a legend.

Like this one. Yes, Peter Brock at Bathurst is a video theme we've explored before, but why not revist it when they're this good? This clip is from 1987, where Brocky pitted to swap wets for slicks as the track began to dry out. As one YouTube commenter has pointed out 'PB would never put wets on unless ya couldn't see 10 ft in front', so off they went as soon as dry line appeared. Trouble being that there was still lots of wet patches around the Mount Panorama circuit, which become a little tricky with a hunk of V8 out front...

So here we have Brock's heroic battle with the car and conditions, slithering his way around Bathurst and making a wonderful noise in the process. He flagrantly ignores the blue flags waved when Steve Soper's M3 catches him, makes life very difficult for a Sierra Cosworth and shows in just over four minutes why V8 saloons will always make cool race cars. It's a great vid.

Be warned though: it's very hard to stop at just one Peter Brock video. But if you're starting the weekend early then we can hardly think of a better way to do so. Enjoy!

Watch the video here.

[Photo: LAT Photo. And yes, it's not from Bathurst, but there weren't any from that race and this is definitely the 1987 car]

[big_rob_sydney]

Peter Brock was a legend, and something of a flawed genius. To those who dont know the story, a device called a Polariser was responsible for much of his troubles.

But his racing was pretty incredible, and he really was one of the best touring car racers I've ever seen. Kudos.

[FourWheelDrift]

Continued, more here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwWNyQUQf18

[Leins]

big_rob_sydney said:

To those who dont know the story, a device called a Polariser was responsible for much of his troubles

Never heard about that before, and just been reading up on it. Very interesting, thanks!

[braddo]

The article said:

Be warned though: it's very hard to stop at just one Peter Brock video.

Ain't it just. I did well, I only watched 4!

[308mate]

big_rob_sydney said:

Peter Brock was a legend, and something of a flawed genius. To those who dont know the story, a device called a Polariser was responsible for much of his troubles.

But his racing was pretty incredible, and he really was one of the best touring car racers I've ever seen. Kudos.

Someone I know is looking into an alternative form of therapy involving a machine that can "reprogram your body's energy" to heal ailments and create well being. Which seemed like my cue to explain the Energy Polariser. Didn't go over that well.


Thank you PH for another PB installment.

ETA: That's not the 1987 car (VL) in the photo FYI. That is the 1986 VK Commodore on duty during the Spa 24hrs, with Messrs Harvey and Moffat.


ETAA: The interesting back story to the '87 race finish is how Brocky ended up in that car in the first place, as he didn't start in it. When the 05 car gave up, Brock (as team manager) called the #10 car in, booted the driver and acquired it for himself to finish the race, as he had cunningly entered his name as a driver of that car also. (sorry but you did get me started)

Edited by 308mate on Friday 28th October 13:43

Edited by 308mate on Friday 28th October 13:53

[AlasdairB10]

My hero when I was a nipper. Peter Perfect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SE5fk4vXYU

Edited by AlasdairB10 on Friday 28th October 16:00

[Coatesy351]

The ten car was lucky to make the race as the steering failed at the top of mountain straight in practice. The car just missed the wall on its trip up the escape road. It was also cobbled together to fulfill sponsorship obligations and wasn't expected to last the race distance.

[ZX10R NIN]

The way he left the pit lane was legendary

[405dogvan]

My first proper encounter with motor racing was watching a VHS of 80s Bathurst races

TBH I don't think I've seen better racing since either - proper cars, amazing circuit, down-to-earth coverage - they even talked to drivers whilst they were racing - they even joked with each other - amazing stuff!!

When I started going to UK motorsport the 'old boys club' atmosphere of the commentators and drivers always put-me-off - I always feel I'm attending an event they only let me into begrudgingly because they needed a few quid.

That said - you should never join a club who's standards are so low they'd actually admit you ;0

[FourWheelDrift]

I first saw the Bathurst 1000 on ITVs World of Sport. Even back then they used swivel in-car cameras that followed overtaking cars and interviewed drivers out on track during the race. Not just on the warm up lap like in the BTCC.

Dick Johnson when his car stopped in 1984 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYb-P44rf8w
And Peter Brock talking while racing with a dodgy 2nd gear he has to hold in place in 1993 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AiQPFcq0uY

[ZX10R NIN]

Even the modern version still produces good racing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV3vP3UHLAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vKCRh-5WTs

Now we have Van Gisbergen doing stuff like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1O4ChHM4jE

[Ahonen]

Article said:

He flagrantly ignores the blue flags waved when Steve Soper's M3 catches him, makes life very difficult for a Sierra Cosworth...

Gary Brabham was driving the M3, as the commentary said. Steve Soper was driving the Sierra.