Thread: Brock Telemovie

Wifey & I knew Brock for over 30 yrs, we've had a few of his cars, knew him socially, been to his house etc. So, We knew him as well as most.He was pretty special,...if He was in a room, you'd know he was there.
Besides Holdens, cars I remember that He raced were: Peugot 405M16, Volvo 850, Ford Sierra, BMW CSL & M3, Vauxhall, Chev Monza, Porsche (Lemans), and there's probably others!
"Brock & Moffat?...Until 1986 when Moff joined Peter's Holden Dealer Team, there was no frienship, but there was certainly mutual respect, with some ultra close racing,...but they never put each other off. After Moff joined HDT, & particularly after they both retired from racing they did become very firm friends.
"The Movie"?...What can I say?...How do you put a man's life of 60 yrs, especially someone like Peter, into a film of 3 hr(net of ads), & try to accurately portray his life, especially such an event filled & tumultuous life as his?....Simple answer?....You can't.
Those that knew Brock as a racedriver, crowd favourite etc, seen him on TV etc, would probably think it was a good story. But for those that were actually a PART of that story,..those actually affected by these events,..wife, business partner, family,....who were involved, got affected/hurt in various ways going through business failures, divorce, family etc,.....they would all have differing views, and each of those views from that person's perspective, would probably be correct.
Brock was, under the skin, a complex person, and He led a complex life, He knew He wasn't "Peter Perfect", and he diliked that description intensely.
My opinion?...It could've been better.
Pickles.

Hi Pickles

I respected and was amazed by his driving skill as I watched him on tv for years doing a fantastic job.

I have no wish to upset you, and so please feel free to ignore this question....

I was disappointed when he advocated a magic magnetic something or other for fuel. Do you know the story of that? Was he fooled by someone else, or was he trying to do a shonky? Or were all involved simply mistaken? My guess is that he was simply mistaken or fooled because I'd hate to think he was shonky.

Originally Posted by Walruslike

Hi Pickles

I respected and was amazed by his driving skill as I watched him on tv for years doing a fantastic job.

I have no wish to upset you, and so please feel free to ignore this question....

I was disappointed when he advocated a magic magnetic something or other for fuel. Do you know the story of that? Was he fooled by someone else, or was he trying to do a shonky? Or were all involved simply mistaken? My guess is that he was si
mply mistaken or fooled because I'd hate to think he was shonky.

Fair question.
Motor Racing is full of "Shonks", but Peter was not one of them.
The "Magnetic Device" to which you refer was the "Energy Polarizer"', and Brock believed in it TOTALLY.
People might find it hard to believe, but He did,...He wasn't asking people tobelieve in anything that He didn't believe in himself. In fact, He believed in it so much, it cost him his multi million dollar business, "HDT Special Vehicles", which modified a total of 4246 vehicles over the 7 years that Brock operated it. It was a "license to print money". These cars are now extremely collectable.
After racing at Lemans, Brock was stuffed, He was phyically drained, He was drinking, smoking, & eating the wrong food. Bev sent him to Eric Dowker the "Guru" chiropractor, who cured him, introducing him to crystals at the same time. It wasn't the crystals that cured him, it was giving up the smokes, drink, & a proper diet that "cured" him, but Brock was persuaded that crystals had something to do with it, .....so Brock asked could the same "methodology" be applied to Motor cars, engines etc,...which led to the creation of the "Energy Polarizer", which was a little box filled with resin & magnets, which was supposed to "align" the car's molecules, enable it to run on 22psi tyres etc. Holden could find no 'technical merit" in the device, which if it was fitted to a Holden, they would have to guarantee Brock's claims. They would have nothing to do with the Polarizer, and this & other linked events led to the Holden split which cost Peter his business & a lot of dollars.
This a very brief explanation, so I hope it gives you some idea.
Pickles.

That was the worst made, worst acting show I have ever seen, I'd be ashamed if I made that load a crap.

As for a correct adaptation of his life, apparently it was, Bev Brock said so.

But Jesus it crap.

Peter Brock would be turning in his grave!!

I do`nt care much for the man the movie or his personal life
But hell could the man drive

I'm torn , I wanted to like it , if only to celebrate the man and his machines , the legacy of P Brock , " elbow resting on the window , sideways across the top " .

Never again in our automotive history will there be another like him .

Originally Posted by Rextheute

I'm torn , I wanted to like it , if only to celebrate the man and his machines , the legacy of P Brock , " elbow resting on the window , sideways across the top " .

Never again in our automotive history will there be another like him .

You don't have to be torn,...the man was, & always will be, a TRUE legend.
He believed in himself absolutely, sometimes to his own detriment, sometimes dratically so, as is evidenced by past events.
I'll just give you one example of what He was like. Many years ago, We organized to get Bev & Peter up to Echuca for a Car Club event on a weekend. We let the local press know, & Brock was, as usual, mobbed. I had to get him back to the Motel for dinner, but he wouldn't leave the display area. Anyway, we eventually got him into his car, Bev was driving, so Pete was in the passenger seat, so viewable from the footpath. Although He was running late, when He was recognized by a group of rather scruffy local teenagers, He insisted on stopping, & got out of his car to speak to them!!..How many celebs would do that?
Just remember him the way you always did, the man who thrilled & gave enormous pleasure to Aussies for just about his whole life,...and He did go out doing what He loved.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Redback

That was the worst made, worst acting show I have ever seen, I'd be ashamed if I made that load a crap.

As for a correct adaptation of his life, apparently it was, Bev Brock said so.

But Jesus it crap.

Peter Brock would be turning in his grave!!

Thats why i watched half the first part, and none of the second.