For the Motor-heads: The Bathurst 1000 and goodbye to frat-member Peter Brock

[highflyerlaura]

I just thought that I'd let you guys know that the V8 Supercars Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst Australia, starts in about an hour. This event is literally the equivalent of Le Mans, the Indie 500, the Daytona 500 or the British GP (F1) in Australian motorsport, runs over a distance of 1000 kms and is one of the biggest days on the Australian sports calender. Its more important to the Aussie community this year than ever as well, considering that one of the greatest sportsmen that Australia has ever known and previous 9-time winner of the event, Peter Brock passed away during a motor-vehicle accident nearly a month ago this day during a rally-car event in Western Australia, just days after his friend Steve Irwin was killed.

Peter was what symbolises Australia. As well as being a great sportsman and ambassador for the sport on and off the track, he was heavily involved with various community-service organisations throughout his life and wasn't afraid to talk or do anything for anyone, no matter what their gender, sexuality, age, status or ethnicity were. Because of many of his actions and his lobbying, numerous safety improvements have become compulsory for new cars in Australia, with many being later implimented in other cars around the globe.

About 2 weeks ago the organisers of the event and owners of the track made an announcement that the event would be renamed the Peter Brock 1000 for this year, with the winners trophy also being perminently re-named as the Peter Brock Memorial Cup. They also announced that the highest part of the track, previously known as "Skyline" due to its spectacular view out over the rest of the track would be perminently renamed Peter's Skyline.

For a guy that held community service and the brother/sisterhood of humanity at such a high level, I can't think of a more fitting tribute than that.