CAR enthusiast Geoff Fry was not going to let an opportunity slip by to ask Ron Tauranac to sign his book.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Tauranac, an Australian engineer and racing car designer, was in Orange on Saturday as a guest speaker for a memorial service dedicated to the late Formula One world champion Sir Jack Brabham.
Mr Tauranac was the engineer and racing car designer who along with Sir Jack Brabham, founded the Brabham racing team in 1962.
At the service at Sir Jack Brabham Park Mr Tauranac spoke of fond memories he shared with the Australian racing driver and spoke alongside guest speaker Bill Buckle who built a car Sir Jack raced at Gnoo Blas.
Mr Fry had a copy of one of the first biography’s written about Sir Jack Brabham with him as well as a copy of a Brabham Ralt Honda: The Ron Tauranac Story for his idol to sign.
“I met [Jack Brabham] a few times ... a typical Aussie, very competitive but a lovely bloke,” Mr Fry said.
“All racing drivers are competitive.”
He knows just how competitive they can be as he races his 1961 Jolus regularly.
“I race with the Brabhams ... they mostly pass me though,” he said.
Mr Fry brought his open top, one seater to the service and proudly displayed the car which was one of three built by a car maker in Sydney.
The car enthusiast loved it so much he bought another one.
“It’s pretty bloody quick ... what people don’t understand is the difference between a single seater and any other car, you get in, bang and you’re hooked,” he said.
The Jolus needed a bit of tender loving care and was unable to be driven on Saturday but there were plenty of Cortinas, Fiats, Monaros, Pontiacs and Chevrolets among other classics to make a more than acceptable lap of honour for the late world champion.
During the ceremony, attended by about 130 people, two plaques were unveiled which honoured the connections between the former circuit and Sir Jack Brabham.
