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Sir Jack Brabham dead
Sir Jack Brabham dead
Peter McKay
May 19, 2014
Three-time formula one world champion Sir Jack Brabham has passed away aged 88.
Brabham, a former Royal Australian Air Force mechanic, began his motorsport career on Australian speedway dirt tracks in the late 1940s.
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Jack Brabham (left) receives the Key to the City from Sydney Lord Mayor Harry Jensen in 1960.
Photo: SMH
He headed to Britain and joined the Cooper Racing Team, with which he won the 1959 and 1960 formula one championships.
But it was his own Brabham racing cars - designed and engineered with friend and fellow Australian Ron Tauranac - that led to him winning the 1966 championship.
Brabham is the only person to have won the formula one world championship in his own car.
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Sir Jack Brabham exits a corner in a Repco Brabham 1966 at Albert Park in 1994.
Photo: Fairfax
He was born John Arthur Brabham on April 2, 1926, but was known as Jack and later picked up the nickname Black Jack.
Brabham is survived by his second wife, Lady Margaret, and sons to his first wife Betty - Geoff, Gary and David, each of whom has enjoyed success in motorsport.
Two of Brabham’s grandsons are also forging careers in motorsport.
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Jack Brabham during a practice session at Oran Park raceway, 1968.
Geoff’s son Matthew is competing in the Indy Lights race in the United States and won his first race this month.
David’s son Sam is competing in the Formula Ford championship in Britain.
THE RACING LEGEND FROM DOWN UNDER
Sir Jack Brabham's winning form
Formula One:
*F1 drivers champion: 1959, 1960 and 1966
*F1 constructors champion: 1966 and 1967
*Contested 126 F1 Grand Prix races 1955-1970
*F1 Grand Prix wins: 14
*First F1 Grand Prix win: 1959 Monaco Grand Prix
*F1 Grand Prix pole positions: 13
*F1 Grand Prix podium finishes: 31
*Only driver to win a Formula One world championship in a car of his own construction (1966, Brabham)
The rest:
*Four-time winner of the European Formula Two Championship
*Australian Grand Prix wins: 3
*Australian of the Year: 1966
*Knighted for his services to motor sport in 1979
smh.com.au
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