27 replies to this topic

[raceannouncer2003]

I've been away for a while (still)...has somebody started a thread about Jack Brabham's 80th birthday coming up? I believe he will be 80 on the Australian GP Sunday. I saw his '67 GP car in the Sydney area and it will be at the GP apparently. What else is happening?

Vince Howlett

[Gary Davies]

I gather there will be a function here shortly after the Grand Prix. Potential gatecrashers are advised that sharks are active in Sydney Harbour.

[275 GTB-4]

Born 02 April 1926 ??

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Born 02 April 1926 ??

Well, if he's going to be 80 on 2 April 2006

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Vanwall
I gather there will be a function here shortly after the Grand Prix. Potential gatecrashers are advised that sharks are active in Sydney Harbour.

So thats why they are called the denisons of the deep

[Gary Davies]

Oh ferry good. That's enough to make Mrs Macquarie fall off her chair. :

[GreenMachine]

The Opera House furl its sails ...

[Vitesse2]

Would someone care to explain these Antipodean in-jokes?

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
Would someone care to explain these Antipodean in-jokes?

Make that Aussie jokes - or even Sydney jokes V2 - this Kiwi don't get the opera house one..

[eldougo]

;)
Fort Denision in in the middle of Sydney Harbour right near the Opera House ,accessible only by Ferry!!!!

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Vicuna

Make that Aussie jokes - or even Sydney jokes V2 - this Kiwi don't get the opera house one..

The Opera House roof is supposed to represent sails on the harbour....or something like that...Mr Utzen was a clever dude

[repcobrabham]

utzon reckons he was inspired by spiralled orange peel, actually, but everybody calls the opera house's shells "sails" (as they should, maybe it wasn't intended as a tribute to the harbour's sailing fraternity but it turned out that way). and mrs macquarie was a governor's wife who had a seat carved into a rock in the domain; don't know how she did it, but she anticipated the world-famous view of the opera house and harbour bridge (that is seen in the CNN network promos, among other things) by over 150 years. quite a feat!

oh, yes ... and happy 80th, sir jack! wouldn't it be nice if our current F1 representative could give him a special present?

[Patrick Fletcher]

The AMSF is hosting a birthday celebration dinner for Jack Brabham at the Park Hyatt Melbourne [flat tin roof] this Thursday March 30 - tickets still available - ring 0418 572 572 if interested.

[Gary Davies]

Originally posted by repcobrabham
utzon reckons he was inspired by spiralled orange peel, actually, but everybody calls the opera house's shells "sails" (as they should, maybe it wasn't intended as a tribute to the harbour's sailing fraternity but it turned out that way). and mrs macquarie was a governor's wife who had a seat carved into a rock in the domain; don't know how she did it, but she anticipated the world-famous view of the opera house and harbour bridge (that is seen in the CNN network promos, among other things) by over 150 years. quite a feat!

oh, yes ... and happy 80th, sir jack! wouldn't it be nice if our current F1 representative could give him a special present?

.

Ah, now you've raised the issue of what the bh is 'the domain'!

And to make things worse ... you've mentioned the naughty subject of modern Formula One.

There'll be trouble, nothing surer.

[repcobrabham]

in my defence, i can cite a precedent...

Originally posted by raceannouncer2003
I believe he will be 80 on the Australian GP Sunday. I saw his '67 GP car in the Sydney area and it will be at the GP apparently.

...and the domain is, of course, the local headquarters of the knights templar.

but you didn't hear that from me!

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by repcobrabham
in my defence, i can cite a precedent...

...and the domain is, of course, the local headquarters of the knights templar.

but you didn't hear that from me!

Currently imagining a freshly body shaven repcobrabham in the Tony Bartuccio dancer line up on the lanky yanks show

[repcobrabham]

surely you meant to hit ?

[graham donaldson]

I worked with Geoff and got to know Jack quite well and had many fine dinners with him and
John Judd I wish I could of got down to wish him well
graham donaldson

[Macca]

Originally posted by repcobrabham
utzon reckons he was inspired by spiralled orange peel, actually, but everybody calls the opera house's shells "sails" (as they should, maybe it wasn't intended as a tribute to the harbour's sailing fraternity but it turned out that way).

Some people call it 'The Dead Seagull'.............

I understand it received a respray in 2003, and again last summer:





Happy Birthday, Sir Jack - top bloke.



Paul M

[raceannouncer2003]

Ed Moody of the Canadian Motor Sport History Group sent a message to Sir Jack Brabham's agent, Donn Gurney, to wish Sir Jack the best on his birthday from the group. Here was the reply:

"Dear Ed,

Thank you for your good wishes. I am having 3 big birthday parties, 2 in
Melbourne during the Grand Prix and one in Sydney.

I am flying to Calgary in June to do the Rockies tour and then sailing
Vancouver to Alaska and looking very much forward to it.

Regards,

Jack Brabham"

[repcobrabham]

Originally posted by Macca
Some people call it 'The Dead Seagull'.............

honestly never heard that one before is that the fox news "some people", perchance?

Originally posted by Macca
I understand it received a respray in 2003

i know this is the nostalgia forum, but that's ridiculous! *plays 18-12 overture*

Originally posted by Macca


Happy Birthday, Sir Jack - top bloke.

well, you got that right...

must say i'm amazed at sir jack's itinerary in canada i know he's still handy behind the wheel, but he must be very fit for his vintage!

[Bernd]

I can't speak for his general fitness, but he hale & hearty last time I saw him.
Still has a handshake like a bear too.

[275 GTB-4]

As an Australian..........

I'm am just so very proud we have Sir Jack......

His exploits are the stuff of legends....

Many happy returns Jack

(and many more to come )

[GeorgeTheCar]

On the occasionoof his 80th birthday I am surprised that no one has mentioned the practical joke he played on the media on the occasion of his 40th birthday, long beard, leaning on a cane, hobbling to his car on the grid, the pole if my memory serves me well.

Anyone have the picture to share?

[GeorgeTheCar]

From the F1 website

Equally ancient was Brabham himself, or so it seemed to the media and his much younger rivals who used to kid him about his age. Prior to the 1966 Dutch Grand Prix, his first race after his 40th birthday, 'Geriatric Jack' Brabham hobbled onto the starting grid at Zandvoort, wearing a long false beard and leaning on a cane. Sportingly, several of his laughing opponents helped him into the cockpit of his Brabham-Repco, which happened to be on pole position. Tossing aside his beard and cane Brabham proceeded to win that race, a feat he also accomplished in France, in Britain and in Germany - on the notoriously difficult and dangerous Nurburgring - a victory he felt was the most satisfying of his career. Thus in 1966 Brabham became the first (and still only) driver, to win the championship in a car of his own make.

So my memory wasn't so bad!

[GeorgeTheCar]

Another rant on Pity the Poor Historian!

The race was actually on July 24th, the fifth race of the season.

I guess it was more to take the piss out of the people saying he was over the hill!

When it gets posted on the f1 website many will take it for gospel!

Anyone have a copy of the picture??

[GeorgeTheCar]

In Jack's own words

Incidentally, since I'd passed my 40th birthday
that April, I had been reading a lot of newspaper
stores about my being 'the old man of motor
racing' so before the start I walked to my car
using a jack handle as a walking stick, and
wearing a long, luxuriant clip-on beard. It
raised a laugh. I certainly didn't feel old, and
thought it would be good to make my point.
Fortunately our race performance underlined it.


http://www.amazon.co...5310793-3420661

[David M. Kane]

Happy Birthday Jack!