Sir Jack Brabham: Family, friends and fans gather at racing legend's state funeral

Updated

Australian motor racing legend Sir Jack Brabham has been farewelled at a state funeral on the Gold Coast.

The three-time Formula One world champion died at his Gold Coast home in May at the age of 88.

Sir Jack is considered one of motor racing's greatest drivers and team owners, whose sense of innovation helped to modernise the sport.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate were among mourners who farewelled Sir Jack at the Southport Church of Christ on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Mr Newman called Sir Jack a "great Australian" who paved the way for other Australians to achieve success.

"Sir Jack was a champion who did it his way," Mr Newman said. "He was a battler who took on the world and who won, time and time again."



In a note to Sir Jack's family, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Sir Jack had a "have-a-go" spirit and led an "inspirational life".

"Australia has lost a legend," Mr Abbott's note read.

As his father's coffin stood in front of the church, adorned with a gold helmet, steering wheel and racing flag, son Geoffrey Brabham paid tribute to the man nicknamed 'Black Jack'.

Mr Brabham explained the state funeral had to be delayed because of the racing commitments of Sir Jack's grandsons Sam and Matthew.

"Dad would have got out of his coffin and kicked their arse if they missed a couple of matches for him," Mr Brabham said.

"He was a legend and a giant not only in motor racing but in all Australian sport."

Himself a racing driver, Mr Brabham added: "The only advice my dad told me my whole career was, he said there's the throttle, the brake, the steering wheel. If you crash don't come back."

Describing life with his dad as "never boring" he offered an insight into his father's character.

Sir Jack Brabham

Triple Formula One world champion - 1959, 1960, 1966

14 Grand Prix victories

13 pole positions

Australian of the Year in 1966

Awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1967

Knighted for his services to motorsport in 1979

Only F1 driver to win championship in car of his own construction

Contested 126 Grand Prix from 1955 to 1970





"Dad had his own plane and we flew to all the races together," he said.

"Dad always flew just above our house when he came back from a trip. It was to tell our mum to start dinner."

Mr Brabham also recalled a story about his father's final months.

"Someone had told dad a magnetic field would help slow his prostate cancer," he said.

"He brought an industrial size magnet and kept it in his undies.

"The cancer count went down...so dad gets all excited and got two magnets.

"They slammed together.. some of his more delicate parts squashed together.

"It was incredibly difficult to get two multi-grips on two industrial magnets apart when you're laughing and dad is rolling around in agony.

"He lived an incredible life and I don't believe you can ask for any more.

"I know he's up there trying to talk someone into building something so they can race together."

Flags on government buildings flew at half mast today in honour of the motor racing legend.

Born John Arthur Brabham in Sydney, he won the Formula One Drivers' Championship in 1959, 1960 and 1966 and the Constructors Championship in 1966 and 1967.

He was named Australian of the Year in 1966, awarded an OBE in 1967 and knighted in 1979 for his services to motorsport.

Sir Jack remains only man to win a Formula One World Championship driving one of his own cars, a Brabham BT19 chassis with a 3-litre V8 engine manufactured by Australian company Repco.

Describing Sir Jack as a "national treasure", Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott said: "He just took on the world and won."

Mr Westacott revealed from next year, the Australian Grand Prix's trophy will be re-named after the racing legend.

"Australian and international drivers alike can aspire to win the Sir Jack Brabham Trophy," Mr Westacott said.

"He's the greatest ever racing driver we've had and he's revered around the world as the only person to win a Grand Prix Championship and build the car in the same year and that's never going to happen again."

Motor racing experts agree Sir Jack's achievements of winning both the Formula One Drivers' Championship and Constructors Championship will not be repeated.

Topics: death, formula-1, motor-sports, veterans, southport-4215, qld, australia, vic

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