The Brock family weathers the storm

After his clash with GM-H, it's business as usual for Peter Brock and his family firm   Pic Right: Peter and Beverly Brock with the sleek HDT Director Prototype.

WHEN THE corporate giant, General Motors Holden's, severed its business relations with racing car driver Peter Brock and his car modification firm, HDT Special Vehicles, family members closed ranks to deal with the crisis.

Wife Beverley put aside the making of a television video program for school and became the firm's publicity officer. Brother Philip shut up the Brock Shop in Queensland to become the general manager, joining brother Lewis, manager of special projects.

And by pulling together as a team, the Brocks overcame their problems and in not time had the business running smoothly again.

The wrangle hit the headlines after Peter launched the sleek HDT Director prototype despite a GM-H order for its return to the parent company. GM_H believed the car might not comply with the safety standards, and said it hadn't been given an opportunity to test modifications to the car.

However, Beverly said the real reason for the dispute was that "Peter's business had grown so much it was no longer seen as a complement to the Holden Motor Company but was seen as competition".

The row split both the racing and business divisions of Peter Brock's work, and star drivers John Harvey and Allan Moffat departed.

Beverley become public relations officer for the company after appearing on radio and television to put the Brock's case.

"I was driving in my car and heard this radio program, so I went straight home, rang them and spent the next 25 minutes putting our point of view across. From there I went on television and the boys said you can handle all this in future, because they haven't the time ---100 per cent of the energy has got to be running the business.

"So I started coming into the office every day, sorting out the things that everybody else was too busy to do. It's wonderful and it's challenging."

Beverley, a former science teacher, also plans to make a series of video programs for secondary schools.

"I have done a year's research with children on developing self-awareness, maybe in 10 videos, entitled Life for Living," she said. " They cover students' self-confidence and then look at all the relationships they will encompass in their lifetime --- family, peer groups, engagements, marriage, children.

"It is an exciting concept and I'll be getting back to it as soon as I can."

In the meantime, Beverley and Peter have had to deal with how the upheaval has affected their immediate family.

"Peter's parents can't see why when Peter has done nothing but work towards producing goods that Australia can be proud of, that he should be getting this sort of caning."

Beverley says they have had a fantastic response from all over Australia.

People know that Peter produces the goods. There has never been a bad press report on any vehicle he has built. Any motor manufacturer in the world would give their eye teeth to get those press reports.

"Peter has always said: 'I am able to take a good base mass-produced car and turn it into something special that is recognised around the world.'

"In America, the car he has there for testing which is identically mechanically to the Director has been getting such good reports that 165 dealers across North America have rung our franchise agent to say they want to be dealers outlets for this car.

"In Australia, Holden gave instructions to dealers to withhold cars and spare parts so in the first few days there was a tremendous amount of confusion. This caused a cash flow problem but now we have agents around Australia ready to establish a franchise network in the near future."

Has the experience soured them?

"Peter is totally positive, he does not hold grudges and he is certainly not mad as some people think. We have a couple of disappointments in people we have expected more of, but that's going to happen in life.

"I myself, have fought very hard against becoming cynical because I, like Peter, like to think good things about people. But let's say I am slightly more wary, if anything."

Story: Heather Waby
Picture: Gianni Marzella
Womans Day May 4 1987