Australian motor racing legend Peter Brock has been killed in an accident while taking part in the Targa West rally in Western Australia.

news.com.au

Sydney Morning Herald

Man. This must be a tough time in Australia right now. Two national figures dead in just two weeks.

Man.  This must be a tough time in Australia right now.  Two national figures dead in just two weeks.

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Peter Brock's death is a far bigger thing in Australia than the loss of the Crocodile Hunter.

While I realise that outside Australia the Crocodile Hunter is a lot more famous, over here, he was considered to be nothing more than an embarrassment and a publicity seeking fool who's death would be caught on film while doing something dangerous (or foolhardy) with a wild animal.

On the other hand, Peter Brock has been an icon and a legend for over 30 years, and has been a firm part of the motor racing landscape and a big contributor to road safety initiatives. For many years he was Holden's top racing driver, and was known as Peter Perfect for his (usually) flawless driving. He was the last person that you'd expect to be killed in a lightweight event like the Targa West rally.

Yeah... I kind of got the idea that most aussies were kind of pissed that he was reinforcing the "Crocodile Dundee" stereotype. With the Sydney Olympics a few years back, I'm sure it made people realize that you're not all a bunch of woodsmen who live in the outback and throw boomerangs to your pet Kangaroos.

He was a great conservationalist so I guess that's something you should be proud of.

It's unfortunate that the death of Peter Brock won't get as much world-wide attention though even though he was much more accomplished.

Edited September 8, 200619 yr by Cadillacfan

Thats too bad, many of the greatest drivers are dead, comes with the ability to drive on the very edge. THough many also died from freakish things like a fiber chard straight through the eye, or the petty little accident that killed Earnhart.

Im glad I read enough to find the "American" Peter Brock. I was going to say isnt that the same guy that was instrumental designer for StingRay as well as Gumball Rally ? Now I see there are two Peter Brock's

Im sorry so many Aussies may feel embaressed by Steve Irwin. That is his name BTW, IM pretty sure "The Croc Hunter" was the name of his show......... There was no guy named Led Zeppelin you know....... :AH-HA_wink: Frankly Im a bit embarressed for any Aussies that have some identity crisis with what Steve Irwin was about. Rather they hate the crocs and venimous or not. I never thought he was an attention whore, he simply had a zest for adventure so few have, like a big kid. From my view his angle was always about focus on the reptiles and their importance, habitat, and characteristics. Everyone else that did or does what he did look like wimps compared to him, Id say they were the ones only interested in the lime light. He also cattered to kids cause thats what he was, a big kid. Its all he ever knew, growing up with the life he grew up with.

Frankly Id put both of these two on the same plain. Very focused, adrenilin seeking enthousiast, in highly dangerous fields, not really all that unrelated.

I certainly would not say one was more accomplished than the other, seems to me they were both the tops in their field...............can any of us say the same of ourselves ?

RIP Peter. You are truly a legend and will be remembered among enthusiasts and car guys everywhere.

Long live the CSX2287 and the Superformance Brock Coupe.

Errr, wrong Peter Brock, or perhaps simply the wrong Daytona Coupe replica. http://borland.netvelocity.com.au/about/daytona.php

Datyona Sports Cars Pty Ltd has a domain, but no current site.

"Richard Bendell's Daytona Cobra Coupe, based aesthetically on the Shelby original, runs a MoTeC equipped LS6 engine and Tremec close ratio gearbox, and competes in Marque Sports and Rally races."

Edited September 9, 200619 yr by thegriffon

I have to disagree with JamesB. Despite our own interests far more Aussies knew about and respected Steve Irwin than they did Peter Brock, even if they only knew him as the "Croc Hunter". Irwin was also a more recent celebrity than Brockie and thus more in the public mind. Brock will be a great loss to the motoring community and Holden in particular, but will not be mourned as widely as Irwin. I doubt a state funeral will even be offered.

On another note this will be another, potentially devastating, blow road racing after the Targa Tasmania accident when a car plowed into spectators.

Edited September 9, 200619 yr by thegriffon

I thought one article said state funeral was offered ?

Curiously Brock was competing in an Australian replica of the Daytona coupe designed by the other (older) Peter Brock. Naturally this version was based on the powertrain of the Holden Monaro.

I thought one article said state funeral was offered ?

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My mistake. The Victorian government did offer a state funeral. I believe Irwin however was offered a state funeral by more than one Australian government.