American Reacts to Peter Brock 1979 | Last Lap in the A9X - Bathurst

[@chich61]

There will never be anyone as good as Brocky. RIP Peter.

[@danesorensen1775]

The A9X was basically Holden's reaction to Ford's domination of the championship in 1977. That humiliation finally got Holden off the couch and throwing resources at the Torana to turn it into the car it really should've been all along. The engine was actually the same Holden 308 that had powered the SL/R 5000 before it; it was the other stuff that made the real difference. Rear disc brakes were overdue, as were proper axles and a diff strong enough to take full throttle from a 5.0-litre V8. Brocky gave it an unexpected victory on debut at the Sandown 500 in '77, but it was a false dawn, as Moffat took his Ford Dealers Team to a devastating 1-2 at Bathurst. The A9Xs mostly broke down. So, Holden pulled out the stops: from somewhere they found a budget to run the works team, put someone who knew how to run things slick in charge of it, and lured Brocky back to his home team with a huge salary. He was worth the money, though; in 1978 he became the first driver to win the triple crown of the ATCC, Sandown and Bathurst in the same year. In 1979 he wasn't able to repeat the feat, losing the ATCC to Bob Morris in another A9X. He managed to abscond with Sandown again (he was actually in the middle of a phenomenal winning streak at his home track, winning 9 Sandowns overall including 7 in a row!), then utterly destroyed the opposition at Bathurst. The team's engine shop had coughed up an absolute weapon of an engine, good for 390hp and the mechanical reliability of a rock. To avoid putting miles on it, they only did the bare minimum of laps in practice to qualify both drivers for the race, meaning they only did 27 laps in it before Sunday - including practice and qualifying! Indeed, in Hardie's Heroes, Brocky took pole with a time of 2:20.5 - not only a new lap record, but a massive 1.966 seconds faster than the poor bastard in 2nd, his ATCC rival Bob Morris. Point made. Then on race day, the green flag waved, Brocky stomped on the accelerator and drove off. By the end of the first lap he was 3.4 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, and from there he just drove off into the distance. When he came in for his first pit stop, they spent roughly two minutes refuelling and re-tyring the car (pit stops were not swift affairs in those days - refuelling was done with big milk churns!), but even so he rejoined without losing the lead. By the end of the day, he was six laps - 23 miles - ahead of second place, a winning margin we will never see again. And as you saw, he deliberately reset the lap record on his last time around, just to rub it in. Years later - like New Millennium later - the Bowdens who now owned his priceless racecar asked him to do a demonstration run against a current V8 Supercar and one of the latest HSVs. They forgot to swap out the short diff for the extra-tall one used at Bathurst, however, meaning he was chronically short on top speed down Conrod. Even so, Peter had the presence of mind to lift and hold the revs, for which the Bowdens were very grateful - blowing the priceless '79 engine would not have been a good look! And of course, not a lot later Peter crashed in WA and died. So it was a nice consolation that his final lap of Bathurst came in his favourite car, the Holden Dealer Team's '79 LX Torana A9X.

[@markozinga]

Your a champion for posting that awesome reply!

[@cameronliddell9533]

the only time bathurst has seen a lead bigger than that by a holden was when the new monaro came out and ran in the bathurst 24 hours where it came first by 24 laps over second place

[@tubes-lut]

He died doing what he loved.

[@matthewcullen1298]

Awesome comment post. Thanks for that😀

[@GrantasaurusRex]

The Holden V8 sounds great - different to the Fords and Chevs. Reason is the firing order is not the same. Great engines.

[@hudsonsled454]

Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday! I miss the production race car's, and the Torana's were the greatest. Phase 3's weren't bad either 😉

[@58biggles]

I don't even watch the supercars. The old production cars were brilliant

[@superstorby]

Peter "Perfect", King of the Mountain!

[@Lepusrabbit]

Remember it well with my friend John Long day it was , Cold in the morning sunburnt in the afternoon , camping on top of the mountain . Rest in peace Peter Brock .

[@tweakintrax6097]

We All Had Heavy Hearts The Day We Heard Peter Had Passed Away RIP Champ Greatest Bathurst Driver Hands Downs GOAT !

[@5lcalais1]

At least he went out doing what he loved 👌 Sadly most don't.

[@tweakintrax6097]

@@5lcalais1 not sure if you have ever seen the co driver speaking after the accident he spoke about when the car got loose and started to head into trouble he said that Peter actually somewhat controlled the out of control sliding car to position the car so that the co driver would not take the brunt of the force and he felt that Peter had actually put himself in danger to save the co drivers life the co driver was very emotional as he was the only one there with Peter and only he knows what Peter did to save his life.

[@5lcalais1]

@@tweakintrax6097 no haven't seen that, that's awesome that Brock did that 👌❤ He was a pretty cool guy tbh super easy going and down to earth, my brother and I met him at summernats 17, was only a coupla minutes being the line to meet him was 1klm long 👌🤣

[@alsheps300]

The A9X was one of the iconic Australian muscle cars. Driven by the most iconic Australian race car driver, on Australia's most iconic race track. It doesn't get better than that.

[@nextgenpsychos1016]

Don't forget the most iconic Marlboro livery

[@aussieoffroader1974]

And probably spent the next two hours singing autographes

[@marksshed1100]

@@aussieoffroader1974 he always made time for his fans.

[@zappagorewaikato1009]

@ashleps I’m an old bugger who owned an LJ XU-1, an LX SLR5000 (alas not an A9X) & an E38 Charger, all of which I stupidly sold many years & way way too few dollars ago. Watching Peter Perfect drive in that ‘79 race was the absolute epitome in my book - never gonna be topped. But those ridiculous Weber-packed 6’s I had brother...the sound has never left me. Kia kaha 🤘

[@alsheps300]

@@zappagorewaikato1009 I know the feeling, I had a beautiful 72 HQ that I had to let go of, it was over 20 years ago and I still regret it now. A mate of mine had an A9X though, man they can move, I still remember how it threw me back in my seat when he gunned it.

[@ScottEDawg]

I may be biased here being a Holden lover but I have to say that the A9X is the most aesthetically pleasing motor vehicle EVER produced by any car manufacturer! EVER!!

[@rayray-xs6xu]

I was going to say something like! By far the best looking car ever.

[@venderstrat]

@@rayray-xs6xu Except VW Beetle. Love TORANA!

[@Chapps1941]

@@venderstrat VW Beetles are such a fun car.

[@glennrochemusic]

I've been watching Bathurst for 40 years and loved all the early years of driver talents. My favorite was Larry Perkins, a Bathurst winner on multiple occasions. He coined the phrase "mechanical sympathy" and I have subscribed to that in my steel fabrication work as well as driving and mountain bike racing ever since. Glad you like this Aussie brilliance that I've been proud of for the 45 years I've lived in Australia. I'm proud of a heck of a lot of down to earth realism we have and share in Australia,,, and I'm British!

[@digigarb]

That has the old Aussie made 308 cu in 5 litre V8. I used to be an automotive machinist and rebuilt many in the day.

[@flamingfrancis]

The L34 variant in this and the ealrier LH had a lot of prework performed by Repco and that engine also was the basis of the Formula 5000 open wheelers that ran in that era. I think the famous Hall of Famer, Frank Matich also ran it in his SR4 sports car.

[@kaafromoz]

Yep that is why he is called The King of The Mountain, that classic 308 A9X Torana SS is still a lovely sound to hear as every now and then they are dragged out to do a charity run or a guest drive on The Mountain. He won by 6 Laps to 2nd place that year and set the lap record on that last lap. I loved it when they did a camera cross to Brocky him sitting with his arm on the window sill chatting while travelling like a bullet down Con Rod Straight. Great memories of the Great man Thanks mate for showing The King in his great era 9 times winner never to be forgotten

[@tidalfaun]

Dad has a torana original from factory. Looks like a beast almost 50years later

[@bigoz1977]

Damn that will be worth a pretty penny these day 👍🏻

[@damianm3786]

Well done Ian, love your channel. Even as Ford fan Peter Brock is the king of mountain. I think it’s a Aussie 308 Holden motor.

[@johnmathisen1167]

It is a 308 last of the Chevy motors was in the hq and I think it might have been only in the statesman

[@damianm3786]

@@johnmathisen1167 thanks mate being a Ford man I wasn’t sure.

[@mikes6970]

There was a 307 chevy as well . Came in late 60s early 70s holden broughms? (?can never rem how spelt ) and also had a 2stage auto behind it ..

[@grahamriley91]

@@johnmathisen1167 There was a HQ Monaro GTS with a 350 L48 Chevy V8

[@jimbojones8601]

@@johnmathisen1167 the 308 was a holden engine, completely different to a chev, in the late 80,s it was reduced to a 304 to fit in the under 5l class and I think for tax classes, at the same time it received better heads but a restrictive injection system and was used until the early 2000's when it was replaced with the LS1 chev

[@tiaelina1090]

Yes I remember that race I was 13 and Watch it with my dad. This was one race we would watch throughout the years till his death. Peter Broke was a legend in Australia.

[@stevejenner1864]

He won by six laps

[@hasmedia7153]

A9x is a beast. 308 engine.

[@hasmedia7153]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH2yZI1tYp6XsMU

[@craigscanlan599]

There is a later race and brockys driving a commodore it’s raining and the car is sliding through the corners and the commentator is interviewing him and he’s laughing like it’s nothing, hes fucking awesome

[@dutchaus5813]

Greetings from Australia! Remember that race well. I was 8, got up early and watched every minute! Only moving from the television for food, drinks and toilet breaks. My family wasn’t happy with me as I woke them all up that Sunday morning!

[@Wolfsschanze99]

Driven around the track several times, its just a very narrow, hilly country road with lots of blind spots. It looks so much wider on TV, hats off to the guys who race on it & the crew who prepare it.

[@obiskeyone]

Peter Brock was the best, my hero growing up.

[@76aussieguy]

To be fair to those cars that got passed there were a few different classes of car racing in the one race, earlier(1960's ish) they were catogorised by price then later(70's on) it was based on cubic capacity of the engine if i remember correctly. Youve been nailing the vids lately mate, classic stuff.

[@AUS673]

Yep the Alfetta he blew past would have been a 2L 4cyl.

[@garrygraham7901]

Peter Perfect. He was a freak. For us Ford fans, he crushed our spirits way too many times. ☺

[@mikeparkes7922]

And THAT'S why he was called Peter Perfect. Still love the A9X. Great car. Ah...the memories! Thanks, Ian. Cheers.

[@neilmcmenemy4510]

I was there! Parked the bike in town at the campsite and spent the next two days on the mountain. One of my greatest memories.

[@thelorax9622]

My favourite race car, and the only one I have seen up close, it was amazing. I was ten when this race was on and I would sit there the whole day - the telecast started at 8am with warm-ups and finished somewhere around 5pm.

[@deanbritton7436]

I love all the Torana's from LC up. This is one of the later models with a 308ci (5.0Lt) V8 and 4 speed manual. I used to own a 1970 LC Torana. Loved that car.

[@divusaugstus]

The A9X were head turners on the street along with the Falcon GTO’s and they both sounded great. I wish I’d had a chance to drive one. Bit young. There was also the Tirana XU1 - inline 6 but also fast. The cops in NSW used them as highway patrol and pursuit. There was a purple one (unmarked) in Armidale where I grew up and the cop who drove it wore almost complete leather; peaked cap, leather jacket and jack boots. We as young drivers were scared shitless when that car appeared in our rear view mirrors - happy days. I learned to drive in my mothers 351 Fairlane. I’m surprised I’m still alive.

[@jedjen7473]

NICE, I was the first to suggest this when you asked for Bathurst video recommendations, this is an incredible drive.

[@adamlee9071]

Best car built in Australia,driven by the king of the mountain

[@toddjames7]

That's why he is known as Peter perfect.

[@RexAlfieLee]

Brockie always said that when he was driving this race he wasn't in the car, he felt like he was watching himself from above.

[@hainesy67]

The Man and his beast.

[@tedse21]

Pter Brock wqs a legend. He uised to drive Bathurst with his elbow resting on the window sill. He so relaxed and in control.

[@andrewforbes146]

the best that ever was may the great MAN RIP TY MR BROCK

[@ramiromaia592]

The band Midnight oil made a song about him it's called "king of the mountain"

[@Mirrorgirl492]

OMG we LOVED this man. Peter Perfect, King of the Mountain.

[@gregedwards1087]

Production cars races back in the days of Holden and Ford rivalry in Australia, the A9X was the homologated, uprated version of the LX SS Hatchback, 308 Ci (5 Litre), 90 degree V8 with 4 speed manual transmission, I actually had a Burnt Orange one with the 253 Ci (4.2 litre) V8 in 4 Speed manual with widened and chromed steel wheels, nice cars.

[@aussietaipan8700]

Also, check out PB's first win at Bathusrt in a Torana XU1, this was a 3.3L (202cu) inline 6 cylinder pocket rocket, 1972. And my 3rd car is a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD 4.7L with Quaddrive 2 245 transfer case for boat towing and bush bashing.

[@poppa5289]

The mighty Holden V8, 308 cubic inch with a 4 inch bore and 3 inch stroke love your videos keep it up 👍

[@ditch7135]

PS I'm a GM Holden fan and its so disappointing that Holden won't be represented in the production car races any more.

[@blueenglishstaffybreeder6956]

Amazing how there was also a car racing legend in the states named Peter Brock, also I think it’s that actual car that’s coming up for auction soon

[@garyoneill8868]

Yes, that Pete Brock is also a legend and also for good reasons. If you haven't had a look at him it's worth a look. Fascinating fellow and engineer.

[@blueenglishstaffybreeder6956]

@@garyoneill8868 thanks Gaz

[@chrisrumble2665]

The freaky thing is that Brocky was killed in a replica Cobra Daytone Coupe - which designed by the American Peter Brock.

[@mozzaplaysgames7897]

@@chrisrumble2665 Yeah I remember reading that, Weird stuff huh

[@andyossie]

We had an A9X Tarana called an SLR 5000 when I was a kid in 1979 until 1982 in black and yellow and it was so fast. There was no give in the back suspension whatsoever and my dad used to timer 21 foot savage fishing boat on the back of it which looked really funny because the car was so small compared to the boat. It had a short ratio 4 speed gearbox with a highway diff and it do 110 km/h in 1st, 160 km/h in 2nd, 200 km/h in 3rd and 260 km/h in 4th. It had a 308 bored and stroked to 360 with twin spark plugs and even though it was not running right with a misfire it would still break traction at 160 km/h in 3rd gear.

[@thisnametaken3735]

Just remember. Brock did that lap with next to no oil in the sump. They'd chuck a litre of oil in at the mid race pit stop, as a matter of course.

[@menocat8353]

That's why they call him Peter Perfect. RIP

[@fitzyholden1036]

Its a Holden designed 308. Based on the small block Chev, banks are staggered opposite to a Chev to give firewall clearance for the brakes on a right hand drive car. Sounds unique because of the firing order, 12784563.

[@seanmack9207]

He said a few times that when he raced time slowed down....he made it look so easy

[@donbrackenreg2270]

When you see that Brockie won by six laps, the modern races are so close that usually all the cars that finish are on the same lap at the end, and the times between the first three cars could be as little as 0.003 seconds!

[@flamingfrancis]

ABCTV had a brilliant program called Peter Brock - Over the top just two nights ago...excellent progran that covered PB's feats from day one in his home made paddock basher. It can be viewed on IView. If you take in the commentary of the program you get an understanding of his ability and mindset.

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

Paddock basher???that wasnt all he bashed!!of course that wasn't mentioned..

[@davidhandson2429]

DID you know that Brock also won the the Bathurst 24 hour race in a V8 Holden Monaro.

[@roypeterson9793]

Loved the Marlboro colours on the VK big bangers. Both of them crossing the line together in 84 was gold. Some of my favourite Brocky footage is from 91. Look up Peter Brock 1991 Bathurst 1000 Tooheys Top 10 if you wanna see him throwing a full size sedan around 👍

[@bigfella6629]

I had the 4 door version of this model, bloody quick car and handled very good with the stock suspension, should never have sold it.

[@matthewmoorfoot4945]

Dude back in those days 5 classes raced on the track at the SAME TIME , ANX 308 L34 against a fucken VOLVO , of coarse the VOLVO looks like it’s standing still.

[@BassMatt1972]

Lapped everyone up to position 10, and set a fastest lap on the last lap, WITH TRAFFIC!!

[@haydenposnansky968]

The A9X Torana is an Aussie icon the 79 I'm sure is using a 308ci beast with about the same power as a stock LS-2.

[@stelitejet]

He's the man long live the legend! They just don't make cars like that anymore!👍😎

[@347windsor3]

It was "BROCK first daylight second" was the quote !

[@richardharp2810]

that's what legends do

[@johnd8892]

For this race Peter had as his co driver one of the best , being Jim Richards. Jim could easily drive at the pace needed and not damage the car.

[@darianistead2239]

"Gentleman Jim" and "Peter perfect" was arguably one of the best driver combinations in touring cars. Both were smooth, fast and look after their race cars but a huge advantage was they were both rain master's, Richards was freakishly fast in the wet.

[@evanbarrett7785]

308, Holden v8. The best days of racing

[@chrismorgan7886]

Peter perfect !!

[@JohnLee-mq4hk]

Previous Toranas had a small six cylinder engine, but putting a small block V8 into this giant killer made it sensational.

[@johnd8892]

This was notable as an Australian designed 308 cui 5044 cc V8. But not the only Australian designed V8.' The Repco V8 F1 and sports racing motors that in the Brabham F1 car won the 1966 and 1967 F1 Championship for Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme. All built in Richmond Vic then Maidstone Vic in suburban Melbourne. As well as the 3 litre ones F1 version there were 2.5 litre and I think a 4 litre Can Am sports car version. Another version raced at Indy for a while. The first ones were radically modified Oldsmobile 215 cui blocks fiited with overhead cams annd dry sumps. After identifying what could be done better with this motor, a new design was drawn up and cast locally. Jack Brabham won the 1959, 1960 and 1966 World Championship for Formula 1. The 1966 win made him the only driver to win an F1 championship in a car of his own make. Around this time Brabham made the greatest number of racing cars of any manufacturer at the time..

[@hisproperty1438]

G'day Ian, I'm not sure if you know the story, but this is always worth a mention. Peter Brock's race cars were always an advertisement for road safety in Aus. Our legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) is 0.05%. When it came into law, Brocky put 05 on his cars. It was such an institution in ATC racing that it took the FIA to get him to take it off. Even then, the TV commentators didn't accept it. Anyhow, keep up the Brocky vids - not everyone was/is a Brocky fan, but we all miss him. Thanks.

[@mikakamppi4826]

I remember that, although the tests were done done in a blow in the bag style, if you failed then you got the blood test.

[@hisproperty1438]

@@mikakamppi4826 I remember passing a test 1 night when I was suffering from a bad chicken pie! LOL.

[@hisproperty1438]

Yeah... I never got to the 2nd test. :)

[@norm70]

If you like the V8 sound sound so much, look up Bathurst A "lap on the limit". Runs the same 308 Holden engine as Peter Brock is running in this vid.

[@glennarmstrong7891]

Am original 1977 A9X Torana recently sold at auction for $775,000. It had done only 475 km. As a separate matter, back then the race was open to a wide range of cars. Most of those he was passing were much less powerful. I saw a Triumph Dolomite (127hp) and an Alfa Romeo Alfetta (160hp) - A9X (240hp). Also back then there were no safety cars. Yellow flags were waved and cars were passing tow trucks on the track. As the cars were not brought back together behind a safety car, winning margins could run to laps.

[@IWrocker]

wow!!!!

[@RexAlfieLee]

I used to play in a band with a mechanic (bass guitarist) who owned one. He drove around town in 3rd gear & said it felt like driving an automatic.

[@justin3131ify]

"Bowdens" pronounced like wow not bow.

[@akaitv6606]

Peter Brock was definitely the most exciting driver to watch , if you want technical brilliance watch Larry Perkins I the commodore

[@stevemurrell6167]

Ian, you may have noticed that back in this era Conrod Straight goes all the way from Forest Elbow, where it still starts now, to the final corner. They added The Chase (Right bend, left corner and right bend) to shorten Conrod in 1987 to adhere to FIA rules as it was too long for WTCC regulations. Edit: I see your aware of that now. :)

[@gregedwards1087]

2 minutes and 21 seconds was fast in those days, now the V8 Supercars run it in about 2m 08s even with the extra distance that the Chase has added, but the lap record is 2:04.76. An Audi R8 did it in 1:59.29 back in 2018, but not as part of the V8 Supercar Series races, the are others series that race at the Mt Panorama circuit, which is actually a public road most of the year.

[@xygt7173]

This was in the day when a driver could cross enter in more than one car for the race, that is why Brock won an additional 3 Bathursts when his starting car failed.

[@jpsabbey]

Gotta love the 5.0 ltr 308 v8.

[@RobDuggan]

Not sure if it has been mentioned at all, my bad if it has but this was the "Original" track layout. At the end of Conrod Straight it was just a hard left hander into pit straight. There was no "Chase". In 1987, the Chase was added in preparation for the World Touring Car Championship to adhere to FIA rules. The length of Conrod Straight exceeded the maximum length allowed on a WTCC track, and therefore was built to standard. The Chase breaks up Conrod straight and incidentally created the fastest right hand bend in Australia.

[@shaneeslick]

G'day Ian, This is my Favourite moment of Motor Racing, as it comprises my Favourite Piece of Tarmac, My 2 Favourite Drivers & my "If you could have any car in the World?" car, I don't think it is very often people get to have that total combination, Brocky & Gentleman Jim led from Flag Fall to Flag Fall even including Pits Stops. You mentioned the motor, it is the 308ci/5044cc 'L34 Spec' Holden engine used in Toranas & Commodores from 1974-1984

[@rob9752]

I just wanted to say something Americans might not be aware of is back then they raced multiple classes of cars on the track at the same time, so when you see Brock blitz past other cars they will often be much les powerful. In 1979 they raced 4 classes, upto 1600cc, 1600 to 2000cc, 2000 to 3000 cc, and 3000 to 6000cc engine sizes. More info here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Hardie-Ferodo_1000

[@Aearonjer]

The Torana, drew these a ton as a child, bunch of friends had them in the early nineties, including myself. Drop tanks, duel exhaust and flares, great memories as a kid. Coupe and sedan versions running around my town (Mount Gambier, South Australia) They go for a pretty penny these days. SS ashtray was a valuable item. Favourite Australian muscle car. Rock on Brocky. Rocket Bunny wouldn't be here without these types of cars with bolt on flares (The Torana had them from factory both the sedan and coupe!). Cannot show the Marlboro livery on Australian television I believe these days, or couldn't.

[@5lcalais1]

A neighbor (when i was 15, circa 1997) had a lh 4 door with a 186 and 149 head and single Holley 650 with the ol Ozzie 4 speed ,thing went like the clappers, personally I'd love a lc coupe but considering they're now 30 40 50k just for a rebuilder means only way I'll ever afford one is winning the lotto 😔🤣 So guess I'll have to stick with my vn commodore lol all good it's getting a turbo and around 400bhp 👌

[@Aearonjer]

@@5lcalais1 Pretty good consolation prize. Nice.

[@5lcalais1]

@@Aearonjer yeah considering they're going up in value now, bought mine for 650 4 yrs ago with 144k on the clock, 97% decent paintwork (few dents n peel on top of 1 rear quarter but decent for a32yr old car) ,now vns in similar/same condition are going upwards of 5k , ss are going for 20/30k+ now 😳👍

[@Aearonjer]

@@5lcalais1 With covid pushing prices and Holden finished, they should continue to move upward. Hold onto it.

[@5lcalais1]

@@Aearonjer true and yeah it's not going anywhere, it's a keeper plus after having 20 of the things from vb-vx and regretting selling 15 of them I'm sick of starting again lol Plus can't afford anything else anyway lol

[@tenzinphil]

It looks like conrod straight is just a drag strip from top to bottom. In more recent times they have put in a big chicane and very large sand traps etc to slow cars down as they approach the bottom corner and to generally improve safety.

[@dylans9651]

The Torana SLR5000 is a thing of beauty

[@grahamejohn6847]

Another beaut vid mate keep up the good work

[@geofevans2921]

Last lap after 1000km (600 miles) of full bore racing and he sets a new lap record on the LAST lap.

[@davidhandson2429]

He also stated in pole position in 1989 driving a ford sierra RS 500. The only time he collected pole in a car other than a Holden.

[@jman4652]

RIP Brockie Miss ya mate. Love this Torana. The sound of a Aussie v8. Before chev engines was the norm. Had a few toranas back in the 90s. There worth alot of money now. 🤣

[@tonyclark8860]

Brocky was poetry in motion.

[@IWrocker]

Great way to put it 😎

[@andrewcoulter323]

this why he got the nickname Peter Perfect, he rarely made mistakes on the track,,,

[@MarkJohnson-ro1ed]

The funny thing is that although the A9X has a 5.0Lt V8, the earlier models were designed with an inline 6 cylinder engine. They were not as thirsty as the bigger Fords and a lot lighter so they ended up being faster and going for longer between pit stops. Put a V8 in the things and they became rocket ships!

[@helmuthschultes9243]

A side comment, to recent Magpie attacks. In the news in recent days is that a young child died after a Magpie attack. A mother carrying the child ducked a swooping Magpie, fell and resulting serious injury caused the death of the child hours later in hospital

[@stewartdevisser3818]

Australian Giant Global Icon and National Treasure

[@bigcarle]

this car took pole (i think) lead EVERY lap and won the race by 6 LAPS and broke the lap record on the last lap, powered by a Holden 308 V8. The Volvo he passed at the top of the hill was a bog stock car on RADIALS and still registered!!

[@matton36]

The V8 is actually a Holden developed 5 ltr. (308 cubes) Its not chev this time. I still remember this lap as a kid, 11 years old.

[@Dazza_21]

R.I.P peter perfect 😢

[@crackers562]

He was called "Peter Perfect" because how he looked after the car.

[@simonwoodford8728]

Brock was a great driver but Sheppard was the best team manager he ever had. Previously Brock had Harry Firth as his team manager and Harry was a canny character who new how to push the rules and make the most of what he had to work with but his cars were often a bit rough around the edges. Sheppard's cars were always both bullet proof and immaculately presented which made it both easier for Peter to push them with confidence and maximised the marketing value of motor racing to GMH.

[@fknows1]

he best era for racing in Australia, you could buy these car off the shelf and race it the next weekend, and Bathurst had four classes of race cars in the same race from the big V8's down to small 4 cylinders

[@partymanau]

The engine was 308 ci local designed and built. Never available in US.

[@warrenmaskiell366]

The lx Torana had a Australian designed and build L34 308 v8 . About the same size as a chev 307

[@peterhoz]

The thing that really stands out to me in the older vids is how few and far between the safety walls were compared to today. So much bare earth vs the concrete of modern times.

[@barryphillips7327]

At this time Holden made their own V8 in either 253 308 later ones ( EFI ) were 304ci, the newer Commodores used Corvette engine.

[@marklowe7431]

You will find Ford fans will always admit Brock was formidable and highly respected. The one thing I remember watching my favorite race against him was that Brock was a very clean racer. He didn't need to get engaged in bullshit.

[@geoffbuckley9790]

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

[@generatorsnpumps5801]

The mighty A9X Torana with a 5.0L L34 Aussie V8...