Tributes "are pouring in from the world of Formula One" for JACK BRABHAM, "one of the giants of the sport" who has died at age 88, according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Brabham, a three-time world champion, "had been in poor health for some time." His death "will trigger a bout of national mourning in Australia where he was revered as one of the nation’s greatest sportsmen." There was a display in his honor at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in March "and there are calls for a state funeral." Brabham was not just an F1 icon "but a pioneer, who had an enormous influence on the development of the sport and some of its most important personalities." RON DENNIS was his chief mechanic for two years "and then went on to lead the McLaren team to become one of the most successful in history." When Brabham decided to retire in '70 at the age of 44, "he sold his eponymous team" which soon fell into the hands of F1 CEO BERNIE ECCLESTONE (LONDON TIMES, 5/19). The BBC reported former driver STIRLING MOSS and Dennis "have led the tributes." Moss, a rival of Brabham's during their racing days, called him a "wonderful guy" and a "terrific driver." Dennis said the use of the word "legend" to describe Brabham was "entirely justified" (BBC, 5/19). In Sydney, Peter McKay wrote Brabham "began his motorsport career on Australian speedway dirt tracks in the late 1940s." He headed to Britain and joined the Cooper Racing Team, "with which he won" the '59 and '60 F1 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 F1 world championship in his own car (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/19).
'ALL-TIME' GREAT: In Melbourne, Mark Fogarty wrote Brabham "was not just Australia’s greatest racing driver, he is also one of our all-time great sporting heroes." Brabham’s achievements in the most dangerous era of F1 motor racing "rank him alongside the nation’s other legends who excelled on the international sports stage." He deserves to be "recognized and revered for his feats behind the wheel of death-trap F1 racers." Brabham was a national sporting "treasure" who put Australian racing drivers -- and Australian motorsport -- "on the global map and left a rich legacy of Australians who continue to excel in F1 and other major racing categories overseas" (THE AGE, 5/19).
