70 replies to this topic

[sandy]

What was the general attitude of British spectators towards Jack Brabham in the period of time - 50's to 70's when he was racing in the UK? Was he held in high esteem, or was he just yet another foreigner to beat, did he have an enthusiastic following amongst the locals or was he just a supporting player in the game with the real enthusiasm reserved for Clark, Hill, Moss, Brooks, etc., Was he popular? Was it felt that the Brabham cars were representing Britain? If we could be standing in the crowd at that time what would be the reaction to Jack winning for example?

[Barry Boor]

As a regular spectator through the 1960s and 1970s I would put Jack's level of popularity in the area of respectful admiration.

I don't think there was ever huge rejoicing at Jack's success, but he was certainly well-liked. Especially when he took on the 'big boys' with his home-made cars.

In my case, having Dan Gurney driving for him didn't do my opinion of him any harm, either!

[RS2000]

I'd second the view above. More "one of us" than "one of them" but certainly public enthusiasm well under control when seeing him win in a Cooper with a better gearbox than Moss had. Probably no wide recognition among general spectators of the "Black Jack" reputation or hard driving against others in period. Dismissive of winning in F2 with Honda engine in 66 (eg. spectator rejoicing at a rare Rindt F2 victory I witnessed that year with Cosworth engine). Possibly a distinct lack of disappointment at him losing (70?) Brit GP at Brands on last lap out of fuel (Ron Dennis not readjusting mixture- is that story really true?). Monza 67 against Surtees? - maybe neither of them were entirely at the centre of UK spectator affections then so no opinions either way on pleased or not? Today - only total respect and high regard, definitely a much loved and respected "one of us"?

[ensign14]

Originally posted by RS2000
(Ron Dennis not readjusting mixture- is that story really true?)

No - Nick Goozee confessed to Jack in 2002 that it was him...(The Jack Brabham Story, Sir Jack and DCN.)

[Doug Nye]

Perhaps I am partial but I think some of what has been expounded above is nonsense. I first became aware of a Cooper driver named Brabham around 1957-58 and when he began winning seriously in 1959 a group of us at my school (here in England) were great fans - Moss was favourite No 1, Brabham No 2, Brooks No 3. If Moss didn't or couldn't win we would still be very happy to see 'Black Jack' win instead. Through 1963-64 in my area of the country there was strong support for the Brabham team in general - and by 1965-66 as Barry says personal feelings towards Jack were affectionate respect. By 1967-70 he was very much The Old Man amongst boys and as far as I am concerned there was always very considerable support for him here in the UK. Despite the imperfect luck of having been born an Australian he was regarded very much as "one of us" and/or "one of ours". You have to remember that as two nations it's only really ball sports at which we are bitter enemies...ahem...currently becoming more embittered by the hour...

DCN

[llmaurice]

I'm in agreement with D.Nye. Back in the late '50s Jack Brabham was certainly one of our favourites,especially so as he appeared to "father" the young Bruce Mclaren when he first arrived over here.
Sir Jack still is a favourite with us Brits , in fact he is the prized "President" of the Classic F3 Association and appears at least once every year at their races within HSCC .
He even signed a copy of his book which I was given as a surprise birthday present last year and was guest of honour at the Classic F3 site during last years BRDC 500 meeting at Silverstone .along with Dave Morgan and Bev Bond .
Truly ,a great man and still MOST popular .

[Gary C]

Funnily enough, Maurice, I saw Sir Jack just this very afternoon at the HSCC Superprix at Brands Hatch!

[petefenelon]

An interesting aside is the popularity of David Brabham with sports car fans - for all that he looks like a balder version of his dad, he seems a rather more gregarious character, and he comes across as one of the most laid-back, approachable and enthusiatic guys in the game. He always seems to have time to chat with fans about what's going on - a real gent and a real racer. (Someone really ought to get him to do an autobiography when he decides to jack it in, he's an erudite bloke and he's done *everything* in sports cars, it'd be a fantastic book).

I noticed last week that he was mucking around for charity in a Ginetta at a clubbie meeting -- bonnet came off and he still won the race ;) Lovely pic of it in MN this week.

In contrast, Gary always seemed a bit "tightly wrapped" and perhaps highly-strung; Geoff came across very much as Jack Mk2 - get the job done to the best of his abilities and keep quiet about it!

[oldtimer]

For once, I am not in agreement with Doug. Fortunately, this is a subjective thread, so I can get away with it.

I was one of those who was not a Brabham fan, attributing his early success to the Cooper cars. But respect for the driver grew and grew, particularly after he wouldn't leave Graham Hill to win the 1960 British GP, and later showing some very big names the way around a wet Silverstone in an International Trophy (the year escapes me). And I felt he really played with Rindt's mind at Brands in 1970.

As for Brabham the constructor, 1966 sealed that, out performing some long established names with his Aussie souped-up Olds engine. As with the driver, the wrong guy to underestimate. I used to wonder if he liked that position.

But on the fan scale, Moss, Clark and Graham Hill were well ahead.

[RS2000]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Perhaps I am partial but I think some of what has been expounded above is nonsense.
DCN

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, particularly when it is based on direct personal experience. What I did not say, because I didn't agree with it, is that, as an impressionable schoolboy, I witnessed open hostility from typical British spectators of the day (flat 'ats worn) the 3 times I saw him win. In one case a waived fist, accompanied by: "he gave you that race!". I attended very few races, any hostility was in no way significant or typical - but I saw it so it existed. Probably did correspond to the prevailing cricket climate (but my earliest memory of Test cricket is the Windies in Britain in 64 [?] - a memory I recently dined out on with Carribean friends who were all too happy to recall it given their current position!

[D-Type]

In my case the racing world was split into Stirling Moss and 'not Stirling Moss' with a few neutrals - Tony Brooks, Fangio, Ecurie Ecosse and a couple of others I can't remember. Jack was definitely classified as 'not Stirling Moss' at least initially. By 1966 it was more a case of 'Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees and Jackie Stewart (just)' and 'The Rest'.

I think that, in general, British fans were ambivalent towards Jack. He had a blue passport with the Queen's name on it and spoke English so he wasn't a foreigner; but they hadn't seen him come up through British club racing so they couldn't consider him 'one of ours'. There certainly wasn't any antagonism in the sense of begrudging his wins or booing him. The more discerning recognised his driving talents and later his engineering talent as well.

I agree that anti-Australianism is generally confined to ball games. Jardine has a lot to answer for.

[RAP]

My percetion is that the fact that Jack came from Australian was not viewed as any more significant then, say, being Scots. Remember that this was not too long after WW2 when the Commonwealth had freely and instantly supported the UK and their troops had fought alongside British. White, English speaking citizens of the Comonwealth were not regarded as "foreign", especially if they were resident in the UK for a number of years. Certainly I never heard the make Brabham being viewed as anything other than British. All this of course is nothing to do with whether you personally supported Jack.

[Eric McLoughlin]

I've often heard that Jack's driving style was slightly "robust" (by the standards of his time). Would that have affected the public's opinion of him?

[Stephen W]

Black Jack Brabham was amongst my favourite drivers. He was never THE favourite driver but I admired his no nonsense approach.

I remember the 1969 Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone where he beat my hero Jochen Rindt. I was pleased for JAck as I believed he deserved the win. However I was jumping for joy at the results at Monaco and Brands in 1970 as Jochen swept to victory!

Jack was a hero in Britain but with the talent in the sport he may well not be as fully appreciated in hindsight!

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by RAP
My percetion is that the fact that Jack came from Australian was not viewed as any more significant then, say, being Scots.

Original question: "Jack Brabham - was he popular in the UK?"

It is always good when the English decide to speak for the whole of the United Kingdom

But to be fair, I think probably the Scots viewed Jack as an Aussie as being better than, say, being English

[Barry Boor]

Oh great! Another England basher.....

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
Oh great! Another England basher.....

Borrucks. Don't read more into it than a tongue in cheek reminder that the terms "United Kingdom" or "Britain" are not synonyms for "England"

[RAP]

My percetion is that the fact that Jack came from Australian was not viewed as any more significant then, say, being Scots.

It is always good when the English decide to speak for the whole of the United Kingdom

I obviously didn't express my intention very well. My point was meant to be that at the time the notion of the British Commonwealth was still a very strong concept and was seen as like a family. Being Aussie (or New Zealand or Rhodesian etc) was viewed more as a somthing like a "regional identity" like being Scots, Welsh or English, and not at all the same as being "foreign" like French, German or American. He was therefore "one of us" and not "just another foreigner to beat" to quote the original question as he wasn't "really" a foreigner. Don't know if I've mde my thought clearer or not.........

[ensign14]

Originally posted by RAP


I obviously didn't express my intention very well. My point was meant to be that at the time the notion of the British Commonwealth was still a very strong concept and was seen as like a family. Being Aussie (or New Zealand or Rhodesian etc) was viewed more as a somthing like a "regional identity" like being Scots, Welsh or English, and not at all the same as being "foreign" like French, German or American. He was therefore "one of us" and not "just another foreigner to beat" to quote the original question as he wasn't "really" a foreigner. Don't know if I've mde my thought clearer or not.........

From "When The Flag Drops", Sir Jack, p.139:

I'd won the World Championship! Although Mike had been the first Briton to win the Championship, I had clinched the double and become the first British driver in a British car to do so!

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by ensign14

From "When The Flag Drops", Sir Jack, p.139:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd won the World Championship! Although Mike had been the first Briton to win the Championship, I had clinched the double and become the first British driver in a British car to do so!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[/B]

I am not certain but didn't Jack race using a BRITISH race license issued by the RAC?

[bill moffat]

I reckon Black Jack was pretty well respected within the UK (and certainly is now) but inevitably fell below the popularity of Clark and Hill when they were busy duelling for the WDC in the mid/late 60's.

Overseas drivers tend to get well-received within the UK until they are perceived to have in anyway affected the career or fortunes of a British driver..then blind and very unpleasant jingoism may take over. Schumacher's incidents with Hill, Senna blocking Warwick's drive at Lotus and Frentzen "nicking" Hill's seat at Williams all being examples of how you can rapidly become unpopular in the UK. Hence the (awful) cheers when Michael had his leg-breaking accident at Silverstone and the equally inexcusable "**** Senna" banner that appeared at the same circuit a few years earlier.

[275 GTB-4]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by RAP


I obviously didn't express my intention very well. My point was meant to be that at the time the notion of the British Commonwealth was still a very strong concept and was seen as like a family. Being Aussie (or New Zealand or Rhodesian etc) was viewed more as a somthing like a "regional identity" like being Scots, Welsh or English, and not at all the same as being "foreign" like French, German or American. He was therefore "one of us" and not "just another foreigner to beat" to quote the original question as he wasn't "really" a foreigner. Don't know if I've mde my thought clearer or not.........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From "When The Flag Drops", Sir Jack, p.139:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd won the World Championship! Although Mike had been the first Briton to win the Championship, I had clinched the double and become the first British driver in a British car to do so!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Put that Australian icon down!!

I can't ever see a larrikin Aussie saying he was British (no offence to the Old Dart ...mate)...surely a misquote ot journalistic licence

[llmaurice]

Originally posted by Gary C
Funnily enough, Maurice, I saw Sir Jack just this very afternoon at the HSCC Superprix at Brands Hatch!

Indeed Gary , as a guest of the Classic F3 Association . He also did 2 laps of the circuit as he was interested in seeing the changes .
When asked a question , the reverse of that which originated this thread , he remarked , "I must've liked the place , I spent the best part of 30 years over here !"

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
I can't ever see a larrikin Aussie saying he was British (no offence to the Old Dart ...mate)...surely a misquote or journalistic licence [/B]

It's a generation thing
Fifty years ago, Commonwealth citizens were proud to be called British

[Doug Nye]

Before Grocer Heath and his ilk declared them aliens...

DCN

[HDonaldCapps]

In an attempt to steer this back to the original query, I have to ask whatever in the world prompted this question in the first place? That is, Why wouldn't people like Jack Brabham? I am a bit puzzled that there would be a serious thought that he wouldn't be liked or admired or whatever. While we all had our favorites back in those days, I cannot for the life of me think of a drive that was not liked in some way, shape or form. Maybe we were simply naive and clueless, but I really don't recall anything like the visceral denunciations and character assasination we accept as commonplace today concerning drivers (mea culpa). Very few were thought poorly of and even then we were polite enough to think that perhaps we were simply not seeing his true abilities. Even those without a lick of hope for being att he sharp end of the grid or results sheet were still great chaps and characters -- my personal favorite being Herman "The Turtle" Beam.

Or, did I not understand the question in the first place?

[Eric McLoughlin]

Did he really?

I never knew that.

I think Aussies and New Zealanders should be honorary Brits - that would really nark them.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by D-Type
Jardine has a lot to answer for.

So do James Allen and Jim Rosenthal.





Oh - hang on ......




You meant Douglas Jardine.

Nothing wrong with a bit of Leg Theory. Bloody whinging Aussies ......

/V2 runs for cover (on the grounds he can catch better than Pietersen)......

[2F-001]

I must admit that for one fleeting moment (when I first read D-type's post) I wondered what Tony J had been saying!

When I first began to get really interested in the minutiae of motorsport - later 60s, and post Jack's 3rd WDC - I had read of Brabham's earlier exploits and considered him 'establishment', tried, tested and trusted. And admired I guess; heck he was a racing driver of all things... and had his name appended to a car too. In those (for me, pre-teen years) I was impressionable and probably had a more worshipful stance on JYS (he had long hair) and Graham Hill (he drove a Lotus) and Rindt (very exciting to watch and he drove a Lotus). Then this young Brazilian we'd heard about turned up at Mallory with a Jim Russell car, long hair and an exotic name and my allegiences shifted again. But I do remember Black Jack going up my books when he won the season opener in 70 - that did make me go and read up more on him and reappraise what I knew of him. He must have seemed ancient to me at that age, but showed me something about innate talent and experience.

(Re: my comment about Rindt, I have of course since seen footage of Brabham which showed he could be pretty exciting to watch too!)

[UAtkins]

I suppose my perspective of this is a bit different. Because my Dad had cars that were entered in races I naturally supported the drivers (regardless of nationality). Since both Sir Jack (once in 1961) and Bruce McLaren raced for Dad occassionally I rooted for them. Roy Salvadori, Ian Burgess, Jack Fairman, Chris Amon, and Graham Hill were among others who also raced for him and so I always watched for them whenever they were racing.

My Dad was friends with Sir Jack and ended up selling his Chessington lockup to him. Dad had a tool and die manfacturing plant and often made parts for his cars and I am sure sometimes for others. I received a nice letter from Sir Jack talking about the help that Dad had provided to him over the years. I don't think that nationality played a part much in those days from my experience. I know that Dad thought the world of Bruce (and I remember having a terrible crush on him ) and that he had mechanics from New Zealand (Wally Wilmott).

I think it seemed to me (remember, I was young at the time and not involved in the racing world other than by listening to my Dad and going to practice sessions at Goodwood) that my Dad respected people like Sir Jack and Bruce and had the sense to know that they had excellent ideas that he could use to his advantage; plus he helped them out when they needed it and he did the same with John Cooper so that he could have the best cars possible given his private entrants budget and capabilities. It had nothing to do with nationality and everything to with friendship based on mutual respect and benefit.

I'm in a bit of a hurry here and could probably say this better given more thought but hopefully you will get the gist of my meaning.

Ursula

[Cirrus]

As a 14 year old, the only racing photograph on my bedroom wall was JB in the BT33. I was really rooting for him to win the 1970 World Championship, but the season sadly fell apart.

He was winning Grands Prix at 44, and my dad was only 40 at the time - that made a big impression on me.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Cirrus
As a 14 year old, the only racing photograph on my bedroom wall was JB in the BT33. I was really rooting for him to win the 1970 World Championship, but the season sadly fell apart.

He was winning Grands Prix at 44, and my dad was only 40 at the time - that made a big impression on me.

I really thought Jack was past it in 1965. In 1970 I had a rethink.

Now I don't think drivers should be allowed into F1 until they are 35, and properly grown-up....we now have the situation where we are going to have the youngest ever champion. Alonso is younger than my children

We need a new challenger for the oldest ever champion.

[Barry Boor]

Younger than mine, too. Oh dear!

[Mac Lark]

Ursula

Wally Willmott is alive and well living in northern New South Wales.

He visits NZ a couple of times a year and our home is his home when he's in Auckland - which is not often as he's a South Island boy through and through.

Wonderful bloke - I plan to catch up with him in 6 weeks or so at Eastern Creek.

[UAtkins]

Please say hello to him when you see him. I have been in touch with him via email and he sent me a letter with some great photos awhile ago. One of these days I have to make it to New Zealand and Australia.

Ursula

[eldougo]

You be WELCOME here anytime hope you make it Soon.

[UAtkins]

Thanks! At the moment I am preparing a move from Alaska to Arizona and then to spend the winters in Arizona and our summers in Alaska from now on...a very civilized idea...then I am taking my husband to the Goodwood Revival which will be a wonderful break and his retirement present. Life is pretty hectic at the moment so I'm really looking forward to it.

A trip "down under" will follow in the next few years.

Ursula

[BRG]

As far as I can recall from that long ago, as a lad I was comparatively indifferent to Jack Brabham. Not in a negative way, I hasten to add, for as Don has pointed out, in those days we tended to almost universally admire and respect drivers (as indeed we should today, difficult though some of them seem to make it).

But I did feelt that he was indeed another foreigner – albeit, as an Aussie, a lot less foreign than most. I certainly never considered him as British and I am astonished to see the quotes above that suggest that he himself did.

Even in those less media-conscious days, certain drivers had a more favourable media profile. Jim Clark was the reticent and shy, but dashing, young fellow with the fighter-pilot looks. Graham Hill was the jovial chap-next-door. By comparison, Black Jack was a bit dour and daunting, like that school teacher that you respected but didn’t much like. All stereotypes of course, but that was how they appeared to me through the filter of the limited media coverage of the day. Those who were privileged to have real access to them would of course have had a much more realistic opinion. But maybe it was the unremarkable* Vauxhall Brabham-Viva that colours my views!

Having said all that, I was pulling for Jack in 1970. I wanted the ‘old man’ in that dated looking BT33 to put one over on the flashy, commercialised and dominant Lotus team. So it was disappointing that the two GPs that I attended that year were the two that Jack lost at the last corner. Once the tragedy of Monza unfolded, that was put in perspective - perhaps even Jack would not have wanted to beaten Rindt in those circumstances.

As for teams Brabham and McLaren, set up in the UK and largely British manned but with an Aussie and a Kiwi owner, I could never decide if they were British or not. It is no easier today of course. Is Minardi an Italian, Australian team? Was Jordan an Irish team and what the devil is it now? Not that it matters a hoot.



* a word used advisedly in this instance as anyone who recalls that car will understand!

[ian senior]

Originally posted by BRG
As far as I can recall from that long ago, as a lad I was comparatively indifferent to Jack Brabham. Not in a negative way, I hasten to add, for as Don has pointed out, in those days we tended to almost universally admire and respect drivers (as indeed we should today, difficult though some of them seem to make it).

But I did feelt that he was indeed another foreigner – albeit, as an Aussie, a lot less foreign than most. I certainly never considered him as British and I am astonished to see the quotes above that suggest that he himself did.

Even in those less media-conscious days, certain drivers had a more favourable media profile. Jim Clark was the reticent and shy, but dashing, young fellow with the fighter-pilot looks. Graham Hill was the jovial chap-next-door. By comparison, Black Jack was a bit dour and daunting, like that school teacher that you respected but didn’t much like. All stereotypes of course, but that was how they appeared to me through the filter of the limited media coverage of the day. Those who were privileged to have real access to them would of course have had a much more realistic opinion. But maybe it was the unremarkable* Vauxhall Brabham-Viva that colours my views!


* a word used advisedly in this instance as anyone who recalls that car will understand!

That's about it for me too. At the time I started taking an interest in motor racing, Jack was someone I certainly respected but I couldn't raise much enthusiasm for him. I had nothing against him at all, and I learned very quickly that he achieved some remarkable things, but in my youthfullly chauvinistic way I was fanatical about some drivers, hateful of some (for no real logical reason) and indifferent to others. The Brabham Viva thing didn't help - I expected something akin to a Lotus Cortina. It wasn't. But presumably they paid him a few quid for the use of his name, so good luck to him.

Rindt was one driver that fell into the "fanatical" category. How I cheered when Jack lost the 1970 Monaco GP on the last corner, and how I laughed at Brands Hatch when he started slowing down and Rindt came cruising by. At the back of my mind I felt sorry for Jack - he had those races sewn up. He didn't deserve that.

Shortly afterwards, I revised my opinions of him. I started to like him a lot. I admired the fact that he simply got on with the job without making any pretence to be a media darling. He might not have said much, but his opinions were well worth hearing. He was getting on a bit but my God he could show some of those youngsters how to drive. And to me at least, he was DEFINITELY Australian - I honestly can't imagine how anyone could even ithink of him as some kind of honorary Englishman.

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by BRG


As for teams Brabham and McLaren, set up in the UK and largely British manned but with an Aussie and a Kiwi owner, I could never decide if they were British or not.

* a word used advisedly in this instance as anyone who recalls that car will understand!

Largely British manned - piss off. Not in the early days thet weren't.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by UAtkins
Thanks! At the moment I am preparing a move from Alaska to Arizona and then to spend the winters in Arizona and our summers in Alaska from now on...a very civilized idea...then I am taking my husband to the Goodwood Revival which will be a wonderful break and his retirement present. Life is pretty hectic at the moment so I'm really looking forward to it.

A trip "down under" will follow in the next few years.

Ursula

Alaska to Arizona???...... Let us know when you are planning the down-under trip Ursula, so that we can help you have a fine ole time....

As an Aussie, I am not really allowed to comment on Jack because that is outside the intention of this thread....just allow me to say that a lot of Australians were tremendously proud to have their own hero strutting the world stage and competing on equal terms with all the other tremendous drivers of the day.


Jack also launched a Viva variant in this country which I thought fairly pathetic at the time in view of his stature:

http://gmh-torana.im...torana_hb.shtml

[ian senior]

Perhaps Jack's earlier attempts at road cars were a bit nearer the mark - those Climax engined Heralds and Dauphines (or was the latter a Cooper job?). The thought of a Climax engine in the back of a Dauphine, known for its wayward handling, is rather frightening. Does anyone here know more about them? Has anyone experienced one of these cars?

And does anyone remenber the Rootes advertisments for the Sunbeam Rapier, in which Jack extolled the virtues of that car - claiming that he owned one himself?

[BRG]

Originally posted by Vicuna
Largely British manned - piss off. Not in the early days thet weren't.

Really? Have you got any figures? I would surprised if they had more Antipodeans than locals even in the earliest days - particularly amongst the cleaners and storekeepers. But I am ready to be educated.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Stephen W
I am not certain but didn't Jack race using a BRITISH race license issued by the RAC?

He may well have done... but I'd confirm it with someone who knew before I made public declaration that it was irrevocably so...

For Jack was entitled to Gold Star points when he contested races in the premier Australian series, and that means he had to be in possession of an Australian licence.


Mac Lark... could you please let me know how to contact Wally when I'm in those parts?

raybell@ramojan.com

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by BRG
Really? Have you got any figures? I would surprised if they had more Antipodeans than locals even in the earliest days - particularly amongst the cleaners and storekeepers. But I am ready to be educated.

Mentioning people like Tim Wall and Wally Willmott is like talking about the tip of the iceberg...

It was said that turning up at the door at Cooper's or Brabham's or even at Lotus with a Qantas or TEAL tag on your luggage was a surefire way to land a job. They regarded the fact that Aussies and Kiwis had travelled halfway round the world to work on racing cars meant they were pretty determined.

I guess you could quote names all day, and still do it with regard to modern day teams too. Grant and Carl Gibson are among the many latter day examples, but there was Tony Caldersmith and there was John Joyce and there was Bruce Cary and there was eldougo and there was... well, is anyone interested in citing all the names?

eldougo, of course, was little more than a glorified storekeeper... as he'll readily attest.

[llmaurice]

I can agree with Ray as regards the Antipodean presence at Lotus .
In the late '50s we had an Australian ,an American ,a Canadian (who incidentally I'm joining this weekend at the Silverstone Historic Meeting ), 2 Jamaicans and latterly a South African as well .
Sir Jack Brabham also appeared at Brands last weekend as the Patron of the Classic F3 Association and when asked (following a previous thread about him ) ,if he felt Britain was like home , his typical Black Jack reply was " Well , I lived here for over 30 years so I must've liked the place " !

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4



Jack also launched a Viva variant in this country which I thought fairly pathetic at the time in view of his stature:

http://gmh-torana.im...torana_hb.shtml

I was going to mention this too. I remember as a nipper (and in later years from looking at old copies of Motor Sport and the weekly British motoring rags) the Brabham Viva (and I thought it was a HA to begin with). Point being I guess that GM-Vauxhall must have felt that there was a UK market for such an association. And that speaks to their view of his local popularity at the time.

Has anyone ever driven a Brabham Viva?

[Mac Lark]

Originally posted by Ray Bell




It was said that turning up at the door at Cooper's or Brabham's or even at Lotus with a Qantas or TEAL tag on your luggage was a surefire way to land a job. They regarded the fact that Aussies and Kiwis had travelled halfway round the world to work on racing cars meant they were pretty determined.

Quite right Ray - in fact I think Bruce McLaren was quoted as saying something like

finding their way to the McLaren factory meant they'd already passed the first 12000 mile initiation test.

BTW I've e mailed you about Wal. Well part 1 at least...

[BRG]

Originally posted by Ruairidh
Has anyone ever driven a Brabham Viva?

Yes. It was just a regular 1256cc OHV Viva HB 90 with a sports air filter and a tacky little vinyl Brabham sticker across the nose and down the front wings. The Brabham connection did nothing to improve the car's performance although the Viva HB was quite a nice handling little car anyway.

When Vauxhall shoehorned a 2-litre OHC engine into it and sold it as the Viva GT, it became a real prospect. If Vauxhall had had more of a competition image then (it was the height of GM's no-competition policy) it could have been a real competitor to the hot Escorts of the day and sold loads. But in reality it was a bit of a non-event and they didn't sell well at all for no good reason excpet lack of image. Now, if that model had been marketed as the Vauxhall-Brabham Viva GT, it might have been a different story.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Ruairidh


I was going to mention this too. I remember as a nipper (and in later years from looking at old copies of Motor Sport and the weekly British motoring rags) the Brabham Viva (and I thought it was a HA to begin with). Point being I guess that GM-Vauxhall must have felt that there was a UK market for such an association. And that speaks to their view of his local popularity at the time.

Has anyone ever driven a Brabham Viva?

No! but I talked to someone who had!!

When the HB was first introduced, the 56bhp engine was the only powerplant available. This was remedied late in 1967 with the introduction of the Brabham version and early in 1968 with the Series 70 engine option. The Brabham was an option package available for both the S and SL models and was equipped with twin carburettors. The engine was a 79bhp version of the same basic 1159cc Vauxhall four-cylinder engine. Other options were power-assisted front disc brakes, wider (four-inch) road wheels and 6.20X12 red-wall tyres and a lower-ratio (4.125:1) differential. Brabham were identified by broad centre GT-style stripe, blacked-out rear tail-light panel, small 'Brabham' badges on the front guards and a mahogany gear knob with the 'Brabham' motif. Automatic transmission was not available with this engine.


The Brabham Torana is going to be in heady company at this event ..http://www.afpcnats.com.au/