Peter Brock dies in accident

[bennylaird]

Just heard unconfirmed reports that Brockie has died in an accident in the Targa rally?

[craigb]

Yes. That is what the SMH is reporting too.

Vale Brocky.

[Stuart]

The Age has it - killed racing - hit a tree by the sounds.

:( ####

Now there's a true Aussie legend. Glad it was racing and not like so many who despite all their skills, get killed on the road.


From the Age

Racing car driver Peter Brock has been killed in a car accident in Western Australia, according to reports.
Early reports suggest that the racing car driver was killed when his car ran into a tree.
It's understood the crash occurred while Brock was taking part in the Targa West rally in Western Australia.
Brock, 61, was driving with Mick Hone in a Daytona Coupe.
The circumstances of the accident remain unclear.
The Targa West takes place over four days and is divided into two categories, competition and challenge, the latter catering for relatively standard specification road cars.
The rally began in Perth yesterday.
Race organisers said an announcement would be made soon.
They would confirm only that an accident had taken place.

Brock, from Melbourne, was married with three children.

In a stellar career, he became Australia's best known motor sport personality and a dominant figure in the sport.

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,3600,5239485,00.jpg

[clubbyr8]

Just heard it's been confirmed :( :( :(

[Stuart]

Yeah. #### :(
It certainly rises above any Holden / Ford debate. Legends are legends.

[Groggy]

Please note that this is just an observation and not a criticism.

This is the second person in a few days killed in the pursuit of something they are "experts" in.

A very sad day.

[Grunt]

At least they died doing something that they loved. If ya gotta go, that's the way to do it.

[la Huerta]

what the bloody hell is going on... i'm still so upset from the loss of Croc Hunter on monday and now Brock...

i think the guy on 2gb announced Steves death at about 2:10 Mon and brocks death on 3:10 Fri...even he says he just can't belive it.

this has to be one on the most tragic weeks i'v ever known...9/11 coming up in a few days too...

just so terrible, lets just hope there is'nt a 3rd

[Stuart]

At least they died doing something that they loved. If ya gotta go, that's the way to do it.

That's the one bit of consoling news that my wife and I have of this. We are both huge racing fans, so this is pretty upsetting.

His co-driver is still alive, so that's something. The news is reporting him as Nick Hone, but I believe it is actually Mick Hone, a Melbourne motorcycle dealer who was team manager for the works Suzuki team in 2000. http://www.mickhone.com.au/

[Paul B]

Man, not Brocky too.

This has surely been one f***ed-up week.

[rowie]

just so terrible, lets just hope there is'nt a 3rd
yes thats what i was thinking.
sad day for us holden fans:(

[I_wanna_Shed]

Yes a sad day. People may just think of Brocky as a race car driver, but he also did A LOT of work for under-privileged children, lived and breathed promoting road safety (his race number "05" was to help promote the .05 alcohol blood limit when Victoria introduced it, and also to push the other States to bring in the .05 limit), and seemed to bang his head against a brick wall trying to convince the Governments that driver training for young people is absolutely required, along with many, many other things to benefit society.

Its a sad day for all car fans, no matter which badge you follow. Another loss to Australia.... the guy upstairs must think it has been pretty boring up there lately.

RIP Brocky.

[TEEJAY]

Bugger,

Do these things come in three's - whose next.

I don't wish it but . . . . .hmmmm.

What a melancholy week.

[Lignum]

Bugger,

Do these things come in three's - whose next.

I don't wish it but . . . . .hmmmm.

What a melancholy week.


Germain Greer

[Auld Bassoon]

Yep, I heard it on the 5pm ABC news.

It's rotten that such a legend should go, but I suppose it was in doing something that he really loved.

[TEEJAY]

Germain Greer


I heard the funiest thing yesterday about her on ABC and the interview finished with the comment that the Australian people would gladly give her a fully funded funeral at public expense in the back of a truck to the local tip - LOL - did cheer me up.

[Wood Butcher]

Germain Greer
That would not be a tragedy. It would be cause for celebration

[Wood Butcher]

yes thats what i was thinking.
sad day for us holden fans:(
Rowie,

Its just a sad a day for us Ford fans too.

That man was a legend in Australian Motorsport and will be sorely missed by all us fans!

[Andy Mac]

just so terrible, lets just hope there is'nt a 3rd
There already was, Colin Thiele, great (South) Australian author, who I loved reading as a kid, died at 88 on the Gold Coast, same day as Irwin I think. He wrote something like 60 books including "Storm Boy". An Aussie icon, a legend who defined and described an era.
RIP Colin, Steve and Peter.

Regards,

[sliver]

What a week!!! Peter Brock, I must admit I have not seen for years. Last time was racing on 'The mountain' on t.v. Liked his talent very much. I'm a motorsports fan myself & always feel it when these things happen.

My sympathy goes out to his family & friends.

sliver.

[Bushmiller]

I found myself wondering why we revere our heroes in death who, by their own antics and frequently self admission, tempt fate.

Steve Irwin probably had a similar mentality to a lion tamer whilst Peter Brock was an adrenalin junkie arguably past the useby date for most racing drivers.

So why do we lament them so publicly, because on a rational basis you would have to say they brought it on themselves? Just by the law of averages, the more frequently you travel at elevated speeds in excess of 200kmh per hour; the more often you wave a dead chook over the head of a four metre crocodile, the greater chance there is of the ultimate disaster.

You would also have to say that for the most part they were financially well rewarded too.

So could it be that we just admire them and if we had their talents we would be doing exactly the same thing. Is it the proverbial battlefield substitute? Instead of swinging an axe or weilding a mace or other instrument of pain and destruction on the battlefield we watch our heroes allowing them to "do battle" for us by proxy. So when they fall, we go with them.

Perhaps it is because both Steve Irwin and Peter Brock were unselfish in their attitude to charitable and worthy institutions. They didn't ignore or forget their lesser foot soldiers.

It is just sad for me that we cannot honour everyone who dies suddenly or by misadvanture in the same splendid fashion.

I am reminded of a famous saying that everyone knows, but is mostly only partly quoted. It dated from the time of the plague in London when the cart was drawn through the streets calling to people to bring out their dead....

"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am part of mankind. Therfore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."

As a parting comment, Germaine Greer's words reek of an unfullfilled, sour old witch and are totally unworthy of one who once aspired to high ideals.

My sympathies and condolences to the Irwin and Brock families because their greatest trials are still ahead of them.

Sad regards
Paul

[ozwinner]

Just by the law of averages, the more frequently you travel at elevated speeds in excess of 200kmh per hour; the more often you wave a dead chook over the head of a four metre crocodile, the greater chance there is of the ultimate disaster.




Averages.
Each push of the pokie button gives the same chance to win as the push before it, therefore the chance of dieing is the same every time you push the limit?

Or is it different for "heros"

Al :confused:

[craigb]

I dont know. In the case of someone like Brock, maybe we feel it a bit more keenly because they are part of our shared past.

So when they die, a little bit of our past dies too and reminds us that one day it'll be our turn.

Perhaps.

I'm sad that he bought the farm, but as Grunt said, at least he died doing something he loved.

[la Huerta]

i see your point bushmiller...but for me loosing say Steve for instance is loosing hope for what he was doing, he was the one guy in the history of the world that stood up for the animals and made an impact, it's proof that one man can make a difference, and he was just an aussie bloke, not a soldier, royal, politition or rockstar, but someone different that the world had never seen before...someone who had become so vital, and must continue, but how?...will people keep his dream alive or just do it short term so they feel better ...

he had 500 million followers, God has 2 billion, only for times more than Steve.

he was supposed to train his kids so they could continue and now it has suddenly come to an end, i think his wife Terry knows this...

...but

Steves death could possibly make him more powerful, even to the extent of buda or gody like statis (i don't mean worship him) simply because his fans will now do more for thee world and those who were'nt fans before may be now...if one man really can make a difference, imagine what 500 million can do...

...it's not impossible

[Bushmiller]

"[quote=ozwinner;369873]Averages.
Each push of the pokie button gives the same chance to win as the push before it, therefore the chance of dieing is the same every time you push the limit?

Or is it different for "heros"."

Al

Each push of the pokie button considered individually has the same probability, but multiple pushes taken collectively as a group event see the chances of "success" multiplied by the number of times the task is attempted. In reverse it is the same for the racing driver.

Who is more at risk? The driver who completes ten races or the driver of a thousand races; The soldier who fights two wars of he who fights twenty wars?

Is it different for heroes? Unfortunately no. Despite being seemingly bulletproof, their human frailties both mental and physical (and sometimes morally) are every bit as weak and vunerable as the rest of us lesser beings.

Still sad.
Paul

[ozwinner]

I'm sad that he bought the farm, .


No... he just sold the farm an Nutfield Vic. :confused:

Al :confused:

[ozwinner]

Each push of the pokie button considered individually has the same probability, but multiple pushes taken collectively as a group event see the chances of "success" multiplied by the number of times the task is attempted.

Not so Im sorry to say, this is what the casinos and pokie venues want you to think.

Each push is a new and unconnected push to the last push.

Al :)

[Bushmiller]

Please don't misunderstand me on this one. Both Steve Irwin and Peter Brock were exceptional people who undoubtedly had more to give. We always feel cheated when people die before their time. More than their achievements, my sadness is for their untimely death and their families' grief. It is something to which I can relate.

Paul

[martrix]

So when they die, a little bit of our past dies too and reminds us that one day it'll be our turn. .

I think thats it in a nutshell. It reminds us that we are only here for a short time, and one day, we all must go.....

[Stuart]

No... he just sold the farm an Nutfield Vic. :confused:

Al :confused:

Actually Al, "bought the farm" is a euphemism for dying. I don't think Craig was referring to Peter's recent transactions.


Not so Im sorry to say, this is what the casinos and pokie venues want you to think.

Each push is a new and unconnected push to the last push.

Al :)

Sorry again Al, as much as they are independant events, there is a collective chance, based on the number of attempts. If you threw a coin 10 times, sure, each throw has a 50/50 chance of being a tail, but collectively, there is a much higher probability that at least 1 of those 10 throws will be a tail.

Put it another way: if we both had $100, and I would give you my $100 if on one flip of a coin it came up tails, and you would give me the $100 if it came up tails on any one of 10 throws, who is more likely to end up broke at the end? The person who had to survive 1 toss of the coin (50/50) or the person who had to survive 10 attempts (1 in a 1000 (almost exactly))?

Anyway, this is a bit of a distraction from what this is about: the late, great Peter Brock.

[la Huerta]

yes it does make us appriecate our own lives more...

i know i don't feel the same about my life as i did before this, and i will be certainly making more effort to live my dreams , and have more experiences and adventure...

as the saying goes "a life lived in fear is a life half lived", they did not fear and therefor had some of the most amazing experiences...

[dazzler]

Stoopid cow on Today Tonight is gaining mileage out of it on TV with that ridiculous denyer midget pretending to be upset..:mad:

Nice guy but at least he went out doing what he loved.:)

[Stuart]

Missed that one - hate Today Tonight - utter crap journalism. (Just my opinion).

[dazzler]

Missed that one - hate Today Tonight - utter crap journalism. (Just my opinion).

But it was good tonight.....took away my tears after saints lost and replaced it with ..............anger:)


much better now :D

[la Huerta]

yeh anger usually makes me feeel better to....GGRRRRR

[Stuart]

But it was good tonight.....took away my tears after saints lost and replaced it with ..............anger:)


much better now :D
I'd be shattered for a lot longer than that, but as I support Richmond, there's no chance of them making the finals anyway. It's about bloody time that the salary playing field was leveled, with the only difference being the relative cost of living differences. I think the non-Victorian teams have proven they are up to the task now - do they need extra assistance?

ABC Radio on the way home (774 - the "Thank God it's Friday" show) said that it was a sad week for Australia, mourning Peter Brock, Steve Urwin, and the Bali 9. I can't believe they lumped them all in together - Peter and Steve are tragedies, Australian icons. The Bali 9?:mad:

[martrix]

yeh anger usually makes me feeel better to....GGRRRRR
"Anger is a gift" Zach De La Rocha.

[Christopha]

Irwin was doing what he loved amd he was great ambassador for Australia, Brocky was also doing what he loved and he was an incredible driver and inspiration to many , many Australians. He will be sadly missed by many of us. They will both , in their ways, go on to be genuine Aussie legends.:(

It's a shame that "legends in their own lunchboxes" like Al with his snide, unnecessary comments on this sad event will leave nought behind when they go but a stench and large hole where their egos' popped...:mad:

[forunna]

Damn, Im hoping to get to Bathurst this year too.
We have an annual trophy at my volly firbrigade made of a fire helmet Brocky signed with ;
"Always drive safely, peter brock"

Will have more significance now I think. :-(

I was down the pub a lunchtime when the news came through, we had a round for him.

[Doughboy]

Brockie got to heaven and steve irwin greeted him with

''crikey, you died too!!!!

Pete

[Noel157]

It's been a sad week for you guys. My young son loved Steve Irwin and I watched and admired Peter Brock at Bathurst and other circuits since I was a kid. I see also that Colin Thiele has passed away.
A sad week indeed.

Noel

[longlux]

RIP Brocky :(

[Munga]

Gees first Steve then Brokky :( I hope Warnie keeps it tucked away and makes sure he goes in and out front doors

[Monster]

RIP Brocky :(

Dream, live life, Do it today.

Life is short


Cheers

Sean

[ozwinner]

Sorry again Al, as much as they are independant events, there is a collective chance, based on the number of attempts. .

http://www.responsiblegambling.qld.gov.au/gamble-resp/player-info/myths/myths.shtml

Al :)

[fred.n]

RIP Brocky

Tis better to have tried and failed
than to have failed to have tried
A LEGEND in the sport

[E. maculata]

Shattered, but still I remeber a joke from my childhood after an L34 race win driven by Peter Perfect:)
A Holden fan goes to heaven, and Saint Peter is showing him around, as they look around the perfect Motorsports complex they spot a dignified Bloke attired in a Marlboro race suit, 05 on the back surrounded by thousands of obviously adoring fans. The new Fella says "crikey i didn't realise Brocky hasd passed on, what the heck happened?" Saint Peter looked at him with a puzzled expression, then finally said "ohhh you mean that spectacle over there, that's the Boss, he just thinks he's Peter Brock":cool:

Thanks for the memories & good times Brocky,
Godspeed.

BTW someone above hit the nail on the head, when they pass on it reminds us of lost youth and our own inevitable mortality.:(

a mate of mine even named his son after him.

[Stuart]

http://www.responsiblegambling.qld.gov.au/gamble-resp/player-info/myths/myths.shtml

Al :)
None of those are relevant to my post. Sure, if you were looking at the history of 9 previous rolls, or coin tosses, what are the odds of the next one, but if you were looking at the next 10, what are the odd of at least one of them being the (un)desired outcome, then it is collective. Otherwise, why would we say that something is 1 in a 1000? Ie. if you tried 1000 times, the chances are at least 1 would work. That implies collectively, the odds are that at least once in 1000 attempts the event will occur.

[ozwinner]

None of those are relevant to my post. Sure, if you were looking at the history of 9 previous rolls, or coin tosses, what are the odds of the next one, but if you were looking at the next 10, what are the odd of at least one of them being the (un)desired outcome, then it is collective. Otherwise, why would we say that something is 1 in a 1000? Ie. if you tried 1000 times, the chances are at least 1 would work. That implies collectively, the odds are that at least once in 1000 attempts the event will occur.


I see you point, but not being a gambling person, I stick with the other theory.

I did find another post about coin tossing, but I didnt want to be see as ramming it home. :o

Al :p

[Grunt]

I didnt want to be seen ramming it home.

Except with your new labourer.

[ozwinner]

You sounded real interested in the job today on the phone though.

Al :p

[craigb]

So what part of Mt Panorama should be named after Brock do you reckon?

Conrod Strait, Forest Elbow, ....?

[ozwinner]

So what part of Mt Panorama should be named after Brock do you reckon?

Conrod Strait, Forest Elbow, ....?


Petes Patch
Perfect Straight
Brocks Bit
Brocks Brow
Pete's Pit Straight
Brocks Bend


Al :)

[Bob38S]

Didn't like the brand of car he drove - but he sure as hell could just about drive the wheels off it.

I admired/appreciated his skills and his efforts in sponsoring responsible driving.

Vale Brocky

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

The first words Brocky heard as he approached the Pearly Gates?

"Crikey! They got you, too!"





Sorry. [crawls back under my rock]

[Stuart]

So what part of Mt Panorama should be named after Brock do you reckon?

Conrod Strait, Forest Elbow, ....?
The Brock 1000.

[Bleedin Thumb]

Just heard on tonights news the investigators are waiting on the "gold box" recorder from the car. This made me think?? I've never heard of that before, maybe black box.... then I remembered.
Can anyone recommend a biography (auto?) of Peter as I would like to know more about that episode. All I can remember is that media crucified him and Holden dumped him. It would be good to know his side of the story.
Must admit I'm not a real sports person but I grew up with Brockys' wins and he was such an unaffected star that you couldn't help but like and admire the guy. He never let his head get into the stratosphere like other elite sports people.
God speed mate.

[craigb]

As I remember it, he was dumped by Holden because in the mid '80's he was promoting this "energiser" gizmo that you wrapped around your fuel line and somehow it magically "energised" your fuel so you got better fuel consumption and power output.

It was complete bollocks of course.

GMH told him to stop promoting it, he wouldn't, so they dumped him.

[Schtoo]

Just heard on tonights news the investigators are waiting on the "gold box" recorder from the car. This made me think?? I've never heard of that before, maybe black box.... then I remembered.


The only one of 'them' I saw wasn't gold, it was white. Supposed to help handling too, but not too many bought that claim either.

The 'gold box' is very VERY possibly a Motec data logger in the car. Since it was built by Mr. Motec, the car would logically be equipped with all kinds of data collection points, that all go into that box.

Prolly easy to find out exactly what happened, provided the data is intact, not that anyone really needs to know. In fact, I don't want to know since it will prolly point out something about Brocky that I don't want to hear.


:( :( :(

[scooter]

It was called an "Energy Polariser" and was apparently a couple of magnets wrapped in foil in a box full of some sort of gel.

One of the motor mags tested a car fitted with it compared to a standard car & dismissed it as bunkum.

Bleedin, the bio I've read is by Bill Tuckey, it's called "the rise & fall of peter brock" I think. It was a pretty good read.


Cheers.................Sean

[I_wanna_Shed]

The 'gold box' they referred to isn't the magical "Energy Polarizer"..

The box they are referring to is the MOTEC data logger. These are damn good at logging data from all over the car. Depending on what sensors are installed, constant values are recorded; things like throttle and brake pedal percentage, tyre temps, tyre pressures, speed, RPM, what gear the car is in, amount of steering input, engine temp, fuel pressure, colour of the driver's helmet and their shoe size.

I've personally seen these pick up a temperature drop in a cylinder's exhaust for three hundreths of a second, indicating that there is a pending problem with that cylinder - these things are good! It will tell the investigators EXACTLY what happened.

[Stuart]

Peter Brock believed in foilies :D Pity he wasn't a forum member - he would have fitted right in!

(hey Al - ever thought of taping a couple of magnets into your foilie, Brockey style?) :D

As to the data recorder, I doubt it will reveal any surprises - not likely to show any equipment failure etc, and I would feel worse if it did I think. What it is very likely to show, is a loss of traction of the rear of the car, and all the correct driver responses (at much higher speeds than the average for a 61 yr old), all to no avail.

[ozwinner]

I read a story just recently about how the British police are useing the cars own computer to nail people.

Apparently all new cars with computers store data about speed.
It may be rubbish I dont know?

Al :)

[woodbe]

Al,

Well, I know my VW records everything it can, so I wouldn't be surprised. What it doesn't know is where you were at the time. If they start putting GPS's in, Watch out...

RIP Brocky. It's a shame, but it sounds like a combination of factors got him.:

* He'd only just got back from overseas.
* He apparently hadn't done much or any familiarity testing on the roads of the rally, and the corner that got him is notorious.
* It was wet.
* He was Brock. Spectators said that he drove into the area a lot faster than other competitors before him. He always delivered excitement for his fans, even if he wasn't the fastest at times.

Tarmac rallies are more dangerous than circuit racing because of the greater variety of terrain and the proximity of immovable objects close to the course with no armco in between.

When it's all said and done, I think Peter would have preferred to go this way than with a heart attack or other mundane death that awaits most of us.

Rest In Peace.

woodbe.

[sliver]

The only one of 'them' I saw wasn't gold, it was white. Supposed to help handling too, but not too many bought that claim either.

The 'gold box' is very VERY possibly a Motec data logger in the car. Since it was built by Mr. Motec, the car would logically be equipped with all kinds of data collection points, that all go into that box.

Prolly easy to find out exactly what happened, provided the data is intact, not that anyone really needs to know. In fact, I don't want to know since it will prolly point out something about Brocky that I don't want to hear.


:( :( :(
We all have our heroes. Mine happens to be Nigel Mansell. HE made mistakes in his racing career & so did Peter Brock, so did Ayrton Senna, Juan Manuel Fangio, etc, etc, etc. Any human being will make error now & then. What results from that mistake can either be passed off later with the person concerned saying "whoops, f**ked it up that time didn't I? ha, ha. or the other side of the coin.....The news breaks of a famous death, this occurs worldwide daily, but not to famous people on a daily basis. (Hell, who'd want to be famous if it did?). I don't mean to say he DID make error, but be ready to accept it if that is the case, they may be gods to us, but they are human, mere mortals & do get it wrong from time to time. If the black/gold/pink/green/blue with yellow spots on box says he made a mistake, don't think any the less of him, he was doing what we all do, his daily job. It can go wrong now & then.

Hope I didn't go on too long or muddy the waters too much. sliver.

[Bleedin Thumb]

Bleedin, the bio I've read is by Bill Tuckey, it's called "the rise & fall of peter brock" I think. It was a pretty good read.


Cheers.................Sean

Thanks for the reference Scooter,
I'll try tracking a copy down.
Cheers

[I_wanna_Shed]

They just replayed the Peter Brock episode of "Talking Heads" on ABC. I noticed that Brocky had a Triton Workcentre in his garage, used it to make a fairly nice dining table.

[keith53]

The Sunday Mail in Brisbane had tributes to both Peter Brock and Steve Irwin this weekend. The most moving for me was a cartoon, the background of which was in the sky. It shows a rear view of an FJ Holden with a 'brocky' number plate and 05 on the boot. The passenger door is open and a khaki-clad figure with a crocodile under one arm is walking along side it. The caption from inside the car is "want a lift?" Personally, I think this has been one of the saddest weeks I can remember.

[Cliff Rogers]

Not sure if this has been done already but somebody will tell me if it has....

The croc hunter is standing in line at the pearly gates & the king of the mountain joins the line.....
"Crikey.... how come you've already got a halo Pete?"
"Look again Steve, it's a bloody steering wheel"

[cub3]

The Sunday Mail in Brisbane had tributes to both Peter Brock and Steve Irwin this weekend. The most moving for me was a cartoon, the background of which was in the sky. It shows a rear view of an FJ Holden with a 'brocky' number plate and 05 on the boot. The passenger door is open and a khaki-clad figure with a crocodile under one arm is walking along side it. The caption from inside the car is "want a lift?" Personally, I think this has been one of the saddest weeks I can remember.

Neither, will have a shortage of mates, to carry them on their shoulders, for the last walk.

RIP cub's