There was no shortage of hero worship in the air last Thursday at Silverstone for the BRDC Tribute to Sir Jack Brabham.
Organised by the BRDC with Sir Jack’s youngest son David, and in the presence of Lady Margaret Brabham who had flown over from Australia for the occasion, there was a packed house for several hours of far from sombre reflection on the life and achievements of one of the true greats of the sport.
After a welcoming prayer and then opening comments from David Brabham the assembled audience of BRDC members and fans, in a hall dressed with several of the extraordinary cars built by Sir Jack in a career that gave him three drivers World Championships and brought the Brabham marque a unique pair of constructors Championships too, were treated to the recollections of an astonishing array of his surviving contemporaries, a collection of racing heroes that covered over three decades of achievement.
Doug Nye had been combing the archives for video content and had dug up some fabulous period pieces including commercials for BOAC (Sir Jack urging people to visit the UK whilst cruising round London in and E-Tye Jaguar) and a brilliant bit of period advertising for McEwans Spanners!
There was a video tribute from current Aussie F1 sensation Daniel Ricciardo with his recollection of meeting Sir Jack, and in particular the awe with which his dad had experienced on the occasion before several on-stage set-pieces with Sir Jackie Stewart starting the ball rolling, recalling the racing genius of Brabham, and his contribution to the safety drive that sought to stem the appalling tide of death and serious injury in Grand Prix racing as the 70s beckoned.
Tony Brooks and Stirling Moss recalled the 1950s and the dawn of the emerging Aussie superstar before John Surtees and Jackie Oliver continued the story through to the 1960s.
John Watson and Gordon Murray took the story forward with contributions from John Judd, a video message from Mark Webber and a Eulogy from Nick Goozee before Geoff Brabham took to the stage to read a letter from FIA President Jean Todt, David following on with letter from Ron Dennis and the current generation of racing Brabhams Sam and Matt also taking th time to remember their Grandad.
All in all a fine tribute to one of the most universally revered personalities that the sport has ever known – RIP Sir Jack, and well done to all concerned.
GG
