Black Jack, the man who raced his name to fame

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There are plenty of men who decide to build a car of their own design, whether it’s a multi-million project or a humble backyard special. Among these just a minority is confident enough to christen it after their own name - from Ford to Foers and from Ferrari to Fletcher. Not too many of these, however, have been brave enough to race their creation named after themselves on the track. And finally, of these, only very few have actually been successful in racing it internationally, too. As a matter of fact there’s only one man who won the F1 driver’s title in a car bearing his own name: Jack Brabham. And that man died yesterday, aged 88.

Australian-born ‘Black Jack’ Brabham brought the Cooper team victory after having moved to Britain in the 1950s, making his debut at the British Grand Prix at Aintree in 1955. He set up as a constructor in 1961 and took his first victory in his own car in 1966. Apart from a wide range of racing cars, the Brabham name was used for a few sports cars and a handful of car conversions, too. Last Sunday he made his last public appearance at Australia’s Sunshine Coast where he was reunited with one of his racing cars.

(Text Jeroen Booij)
 

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