Bad week for Aussie legends

[Gedanken]

This just in - racing driver Peter Brock was killed in a crash today:

A witness has tearfully described the accident that killed racing car driver Peter Brock in Western Australia.

A spectator at the Targa West rally in Western Australia, identified only as Jock, told Macquarie Radio that he was standing just metres from the site of the accident.

"The back end just slid out and that was it, it was all over,'' he said.

"The car didn't roll, the back end just slid out from behind him and slammed straight into a tree and it got him right in the driver's door.''

Choking back tears, Jock said he believed Brock would have died within "maybe two minutes of impact'' and that ``not a thing'' could have been done to save him.

"The car is a complete write-off,'' he said.

"The co-driver was taken away in an ambulance with severe stomach injuries, unfortunately.''

The witness said it had rained this morning but the road through the treacherous bend'' was drying out.

He said Brock lost it'' a little on the first part of the bend before straightening up.

"The back end (then) just seemed to hit a bit of ... gravel on the road that the other cars had thrown up and he just lost it, straight into a tree.''

He added: "I didn't realise who it was at first, then I realised who it was and I was just heart-broken.''

Brock, 61, was driving with co-driver Mick Hone in a Daytona Coupe. when his car hit the tree.

Hone was taken to hospital where he is in a stable condition.

The Targa West, which began yesterday, takes place over four days and is divided into two categories, competition and challenge, the latter catering for relatively standard specification road cars.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) this afternoon confirmed it would be conducting a full investigation into the incident.
"In the meantime, CAMS and event officials are working with the relevant civil authorities," CAMS said in a statement.

"On behalf of the motor sport community, CAMS offers its sincere sympathy to Peter's family and many friends."

CAMS president Colin Osborne will be making a further
statement in Adelaide shortly.

[Otis]

Certainly not a good week.
How old was he?

[Gedanken]

Tell me about it - first Steve Irwin, now Brockie. He was 61.

[JJ Irani]

Sad, very sad. Brock was loved by the Kiwis and very popular here. Truly tragic losing two such famous personalities in such a short span of time.

JJ

Wow! Not good news at all. One of my friends in Oz has a Brock Commodore that he took me out for a spin in while we were there. He races cars and bikes.......will have to send him an email today.

Not to make light of this situation, but the first thing that went through my mind was, if aussie cars had the driver's side on the left, Brockie would have survived with stomach injuries while his co-driver bought it.

Very sad.