Jack Brabham has passed away at the grand age of 88 years, a sad day for F1 but we should smile and pass our respects to somebody who lived a very full life.
I hadn't heard... Sad news indeed and the loss of another part of F1 history. As you say, Silver.... He led a very full and accomplished life. R.I.P.
Tragic. For a moment I question my use of the word, for his life was far less tragic; far more well spent; far more influential than most. But despite death's inevitability, to me, Sir J's is tragic: another personal hero has passed into the intangible⦠That man was a diamond never to be forgotten. Heroes are made of this kind of stuff and it is people such as he who set an example to all of humankind. He knew how to live a life. He was a thoroughly good man; a decent chap. Well done, that man. Well done Sir. I for one will never forget you as long as I live. - - -o0o- - - Condolences to David, Lady M and the rest of the Brabham dynasty. â Thankyou.
Can't believe it really. I've tried to watch as much footage of him in his hey-day as I could because when I first heard of him he sounded like an incredibly interesting racing driver and person. Some of his accomplishments were incredible, most of all actually surviving through that era of racing to live a full life with a lasting legacy. Definitely a man I wish I'd met at some point. RIP Sir Jack
Another site has this quote from Sid Watkin's book "Life at the limit": That says more than I ever could, RIP.
May he rest in peace, incredible to think that he won the championship in 1966 with a car bearing his name that he designed and built could not even imagine that happening these days. A true great of the sport and from the interviews I have seen with him seemed like a thoroughly good bloke I know for Mark Webber he was a big inspiration.
The sad thing is not his passing away after a long life, I hope till I live till I am 90, but the neglect of his achievements amongst the modern day F1 followers. People laud Sebastian Vettel as though he has actually achieved something that is “great”. Absolutely no understanding of the history of F1 until someone dies. Sir Jack Brabham not only drove cars to his WDC's he actually built them. He actually helped to design and build the cars that gave him the 1959 and 1960 WDCs. Colin Chapman is praised as being some one that was innovative when it was the Coopers and Brabham that did that. Chapman simply copied their ideas. Over the next few years there will be other famous drivers reaching the end of their lives. It is just so much a pity that people can not take the trouble to appreciate their achievements before they read their obituaries.
I get your point, but it's rather harsh to suggest that what one of the greats did in the 50 and 60's somehow diminishes modern drivers achievements. The sport is vastly different now and the likes of Brabham will never be seen again. You can't build an F1 car in your garage anymore and drivers have different pressures than drivers had back then, if not the same dangers.
A wonderful video made a couple years ago: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/whenwereracers/default.htm