That
"evil natured" machine, the A30
Given
that Brocks first car ever, was an Austin Seven purchased
for five pounds, it was perhaps not surprising that his
first race car should also be an Austin. While his first
car had no brakes and indeed, no body (yes just a chassis
- the body removed with Dads axe!), his first race car had
both these innovations. Nevertheless, it was still totally
unconventional.
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On his release
from National Service in 1967, Brock planned his first racing weapon.
Money was tight,
however Brock and his friend Ken Mitchell had planned to share the driving
duties in the A30. They worked hard weekends putting this car together.
A 179 Holden engine was sourced from a wreck, an A30 body purchased from
Wagga, and parts begged and borrowed from friends.
His Dad
was there for moral support and served as his first mechanical consultant.
Blood sweat
and tears went into this project along with considerable guesswork at
times.
This ungainly
beast was entered for a race meeting at Winton on November 26 1967,
however persistent throttle problems prevented the car from racing.
The car was then entered at Hume Weir on Boxing Day but again it did
not finish the races.
Geoff at
least identified the problem to the inadequate size of the Pommy cars
fuel lines, which starved those triple SUs. This car was pitted against
a variety of cars during these days. Mostly young Brock battled with Sports
Cars and on occasions with Series Production and Improved Production Cars.
Finally at Calder on January
21 1968, Brock found himself leading three times AGP winner Doug Whiteford
and his works Datsun 2000. Unfortunately Brock finished this race second.
At last Brock
demonstrated he had the ability to dice with the best drivers and be competitive
against far more sophisticated machinery. Brock had to wait until later
in the year for his first win which came at Hume Hume Weir on 1 September
1968.His car was a consistent winner from that point onwards.
Between 1967 to 1970,
Brock developed the A30 into a very competitive racecar.
It's shape and
degree of sophistication (I am using this term extremely liberally) evolved
with the advent of wild spoilers, flares, and air cooling ducts. He obtained
modest sponsorship over the years (Diamond Valley Speed Shop, Lance J
Ruting & Castrol) all of which flowed back into the car and certainly
eased his on-going race expenses. Brock used his Dads old EJ Panel van
to tow his beloved A30 from place to place.
 Indeed,
the $100.00 starting money offered to young Brock from the Oran Park Promoters
also served to expose him to the big boys of the Sydney/NSW racing scene.
The crowds at
Oran Park loved the young lad and that ultra weird A30.
The A30's last
meeting was at Oran Park witnessed by a large nighttime crowd.
Many fans were
unaware that they would never see old 179 again in Brocks hands.
Over the years
Brock had many renowned adversaries, such names as:
Gary Cooke
(mini), Peter Woodward (Lotus), Tony Farrell (Mini), Maurice Quincey
(Lotus 7), Charlie Occhipinti (Elfin Mallala), Lakis Manticas (Mini),
Barry Reibelt (Mini), John Millard, Lyn Brown (Mini), Don Holland
(Mini), Dennis Cooke (Mini), John Leffler (Mini), Red Dawson (Mustang),
Ian Geoghegan (Mustang), Brian Foley (Mini), Jim McKeown, John Simmons,
Doug Whiteford (Datsun), Beven Gibson (Elfin 400), Ross Bond (Austin
Healey), Brian Sampson (Spitfire), Bob Muir, Barry Grainger (Mini),
Terry Hook (HR Holden), Alan Hamilton (Porsche 911T), Ian Harris
(Mini), Barry Sharpe (Falcon V8), and John Goss (Tornado).
(Sorry
if I missed anyone)
Overall, Brocks
achievements in this car were quite spectacular, and thrust him into
the limelight.
People were
watching carefully, but that's another story.
Results 1967 – Austin A30
|
Circuit
|
Date
|
Place
|
Comments
|
|
Winton
|
26
November
|
DNF
|
Retired
upon debut
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
26
December
|
Unplaced
|
First
race finish
|
Results
1968 – Austin A30
|
Circuit
|
Date
|
Place
|
Comments
|
|
Calder
|
21
January
|
2nd
|
Sports
car race
|
|
Philip
Island
|
28
January
|
3rd
|
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
14
April
|
4th
|
|
|
Winton
|
26
May
|
2nd
|
Had
spin
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
9
June
|
2nd
|
|
|
Lakeland
|
30
June
|
1st
in class
|
Hill
climb event
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
1
September
|
1st
|
Handicap
event, won from rear of the grid, set fastest lap.
|
|
Oran
Park
|
22
September
|
5th,
5th & 4th
|
First
interstate event
|
|
Templestowe
|
17
November
|
1st
|
Won
3-litre Sports car National Championship class.
|
|
Winton
|
1
December
|
1st
|
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
26
December
|
1st
|
Fastest
lap
|
Results
1969 – Austin A30
|
Circuit
|
Date
|
Place
|
Comments
|
|
Philip
Island
|
2
January
|
1st
& 2nd
|
Sports
car race
|
|
Philip
Island
|
26
January
|
1st
|
|
|
Sandown
|
16
February
|
1st
|
Handicap
event
|
|
Winton
|
9
March
|
2nd
|
|
|
Templestowe
|
16
March
|
1st
|
Hillclimb,
1st in class
|
|
Philip
Island
|
Easter
|
1st
|
|
|
Winton
|
18
May
|
1st
|
First
race in new sports sedan class
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
15
June
|
1st
|
First
Australian Sports sedan Trophy meeting
|
|
Sandown
|
14
September
|
2nd
|
|
|
Oran
Park
|
21
September
|
1st
& 2nd
|
First
in Sports sedan sprint, second in combined Tourers
|
|
Hume
Weir
|
28
September
|
1st
|
|
1970
Results - Austin A30
|
Circuit
|
Date
|
Place
|
Comments
|
|
Oran
Park
|
3
January
|
1st
|
New
lap record
|
So what happened to the
A30, after it's faithful service during this period?
 I
am advised that the A30 was put up for sale (Ken Mitchell's share in the
car was bought by Brock reasonably early in it's racing career). Apparently, the
car was sold and driven for several meetings before it was written off
at Surfers Paradise.
Its parts were
salvaged and sold off.
So Jamie Brock
did a remarkable job to recreate the car his dad cut his teeth on.
So what
did Brock and his competitors say about the A30?
Peter Brock
"I built the
car as I did because I knew a 179 would fix up everything after watching
Brian Muir and Norm Beechey in their S4's.
It was a good
teacher, being a basically of an evil nature and we were able to keep
it going on the prize money we pickled up.
"It still had
to be treated carefully, though because there wasn't any money to spare
and I couldn't afford to risk a motor or anything.
Still it taught
me a lot, even about tyres in those early days.
"I met Howard
Marsden, who was with Firestone, at Matich's and got some almost worn
out YB22s which Leo Geoghegan had been using on his Lotus.
They were the
gun tyres at Oran Park - I only ran them there
- and they were
a second a lap quicker than the Dunlops.
We couldn't
get any more though."
Harry Firth
"I saw him drive
the A30 at Sandown.
He had the best
lines of any young kid I'd seen for years.
It was a terrible
car, but he got it going so cleanly."
Peter Wherrett
"From the way
Peter Brock threw the car around at Hume Weir and Oran Park it was expected
to be a pleasure.
It always looked
to be to be so neat and tidy - and stable.
What a rude
shock we were in for
- and what new
respect we suddenly found for 'Brocky'."
"I can see no
reason why Peter Brock was capable was capable of 50s in this car.
But his living
with it for such a long time must have had a lot to do with it.ne thing's
for certain, - he has more talent than we are often prepared to give
him credit for - and a very big heart."
Lynn Brown
"I was one of
the kings of the Sports Sedan scene when Brocky started out.
The first time
I saw his car was in the pits at Albury - there was this horrible A30
that looked like it was still sitting on its trailer."
"I have the
utmost respect for him and his family, I never saw him make an error…"
Stephen
MrHDT
13 March
2000
More about
Brock
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