Peter Brock --- Brock05 The Ultimate Resource --- Valedictory Speech by Jon Davison

For many Brock fans, the 1997 motorsport year was a difficult time. It was the sad realisation, that Brock would never race at your local track again, and that your favourite long distance events, Sandown and Bathurst, would be his very last.

This sense of history was certainly not lost on Sandown International Motor Raceway Promoter, Jon Davison. Jon was responsible for one of the most touching and emotional motor sport ceremonies ever conducted in the history of Australian motorsport.

Jon must have spent hours working on his articulate and emotionally charged Valedictory speech. For many of us, Jon's words reflected so well how we felt and indeed the esteem in which we hold Peter Brock. At the very place where Brock carved his reputation, in his home state, and at a place he loved racing at, Jon Davison planned the ultimate act of reverence. Renaming the main straight at Sandown, Brock Straight.

The clever thing was Jon's planning. Peter and Bev had absolutely no idea of what was about to happen. They knew there would be some presentation but really had no idea of the stature of the event about to unfold. The absolute nature of their surprise was beautifully captured by Channel 10 cameras. It showed Peter and Bev trying hard to maintain their composure while absorbing the meaning of the carefully crafted words Jon had prepared.

It was an extremely emotionally charged moment in which so many hard people openly wiped a tear from their eyes. To you Jon, on behalf of many Brock fans, thank you. You summed up how we felt so very well, and you are a true "wordsmith". We are therefore privileged to be able to reproduce your Valedictory Speech on this web page.

The Brock05 Team

Pictured right: The Valedictory Plaque is on the wall of the control tower at Sandowns' International Motor Raceway.
Photo by Peter_VL Thanks Mate
A readable inscription is below

1997 Sandown 500 - 14 September 1997

Peter and Jon struggle courageously to cope with the emotion of this significant event.

Brock and Bev are paraded for the last time at Sandown in a classic Buick convertible..


With hardly a dry eye anywhere to be found, Peter tries hard to control his emotion as Jon's heart felt words land home.	Peter and Bev were genuinely surprised and humbled by Jon Davison's speech. Eight days later Jon received a very special letter from Peter expressing his feelings of gratitude, no doubt a treasured possession.
	The legion of fans waiting to meet Peter with every type of memorabilia was simply enormous.

Brock - Peter Geoffrey AM.

As the promoter of the Sandown International Motor Raceway, it is my honour to represent the motor and broader sporting community, in recognising the contribution of one of Australia's greatest racing drivers, whose influence on the sport and on innumerable individuals has been permanent and profound. Respecting the ideals instilled by his late father that recognised the importance of the family, he commenced his motor racing career in humble circumstances, where as a result of his natural talent, he was chosen to drive for General Motors to whom he remained loyal for the majority of his illustrious career.

During this time he also devoted his energy and experience to driver education and played a pivotal role in many state and federal government road safety initiatives, before which the use of racing drivers, had been incidental to these campaigns and by his association and imagery, gave encouragement to the young to emulate the same heroic standards as his own. He that dedicated himself to his chosen career for thirty years, witnessed a vast number of technological changes, yet retained a natural aspect to his personality that some interpreted as abstract, when in fact it represented inner or true strength and by so doing, attained an extraordinary stature in the national as well as sport.

Whether one is religious or otherwise, we should pause for a moment and raise our eyes towards the almighty and thank him for his divine providence in sustaining Peter during the many risk taking years of his career and give thanks that he has survived with all his faculties, so that the next generation can benefit from his knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.

Jon Davison
Sandown Raceway
14 September 1997.

What Auto Action had top say about this extraordinary Event?

Emotions run high.

Peter Brock ended his last Tickford 500 not on a wining note, but on an emotional high - one he shared with 50,000 V8 fans at Sandown last Sunday and many thousands more via Ten's live coverage of the event.

All weekend, when he wasn't aboard his famous 05 Mobil Holden Racing Team Commodore, Brock patiently waited at the head of orderly 100 metre queues, signing everything from model cars to people's heads!

The emotion reached its peak immediately prior to the race when promoter Jon Davison, his voice crackling and hands shaking, read the Brock valedictory speech to a hushed grandstand. Brock, wife Bev in tears by his side, was visibly moved and fought to hold his own tears as the pit straight was renamed 'Brock Straight'.

It was the first time since he announced his retirement that Brock appeared to realise his illustrious career was drawing to a close and how much he had achieved in three decades of racing.

Head when bowed, as he listened to Davidson's tribute; Brock was able to regain his composure to address the cheering crowd.

" I had no idea that such a situation was going to unfold", Brock said shakily. I guess 30 years ago I had no great plan about what it was I was setting out to do. I just loved the sport and getting out and experiencing whatever life had to offer, and doing so with the greatest level of commitment, energy and enthusiasm that I could possible muster."

"I've always tried very hard to live by my own principles all the way through."

Brock said he was humbled by the renaming of Sandown's pit straight and hoped to be in front by the race's end.

"Hopefully later on today I can have Brock leading down Brock Straight, particularily at the end of lap 163", he said.

"I always remain optimistic about life - I always think that life is there is there to be made of by the choices you make and if life isn't going too good, well have a good look at yourself."

"Who knows what today has to unfold for any of us out there, but always I'll be giving it my absolute best shot." "I know of no other way!"

Brock was not in front when the race had reached its time limit at the 157 lap mark, but he did lead the race six laps until the clip on his throttle cable failed and he was forced to pit losing nine laps and finishing 12th.

It was good enough for his diehard fans.

Auto Action
September 12 - 25 1997