Brockclimbing
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: If there’s a better name for an annual national gathering than Brocktober, we’re yet to hear it.
This year the Brock Commodore Owners’ Association of Australia ventured to the Snowy Mountains over the October 19-21 weekend, with a fantastic array of Brock’s nest road cars in attendance. Among the cars ‘Brockclimbing’ the magni cent alpine roads included VCs, VH ADP plus Group 1 and 3, assorted VK and VL models, plus a couple examples of HDT’s express limo, the Magnum. Guest speaker at the Saturday night dinner in Jindabyne was Ray Borrett, who remarked that attendees had ventured to the location of Holden’s launch of the VK Commodore range, where the ‘V8s till ‘98’ campaign was born (AMC issue #101). Borrett was a prominent identity throughout Peter Brock’s career, but he had much more to share than just his association with the nine-time Bathurst winner. Ray explained that the VK Group A represented such an exciting time in Australian motorsport, where a locally built car could take on and beat the world’s best on the international stage. Ray gave an overview of his career highlights, having started as an apprentice mechanic working for Harry Firth. Fixing cars was one thing, but the only way he’d be empowered to make them better was to be involved in the design. He returned to study, obtaining an engineering degree and employment with Holden.
Progressing through a number of engineering roles, but with an interest in racing, he became Holden’s motorsport manager, and was involved in Brock’s European campaign in 1986. He provided a great insight into the way the Europeans used the Group A rules as a general guide, putting the “100 percent legal” Commodore at a disadvantage.
Borrett said the second round was at the Donnington circuit in April, and it was at dinner at Donnington Castle that Brock introduced the Polarizer to the journalists, GM and team representatives.
“Brock was very excited about it, saying it made a big improvement to the car. He tted one to a Vauxhall we had and told people to take
it for a drive to experience for themselves the difference it made.”
Shortly after, Brock began to t the Polarizer, making claims about its function. Ray, by that stage proving ground manager, had the responsibility of testing the device to ascertain if there was any validity to the claims. With no technical merit found when tested for performance, handling and NVH, Ray had meetings with Brock to discuss the results.
“I met with Brock and explained the testing that we’d done, and that it showed there was no difference when the Polarizer was tted. I thought I was getting through to Peter that the Polarizer didn’t make any difference to the car, but when he went home and talked to Bev and Eric Dowker there was no changing his mind.”
Beyond the GM world Ray was involved role in Vern Schuppan’s Porsche racing efforts, and headed up Vern’s Schuppan 962CR supercar project, which was effectively a road-going version of the Porsche 962.
As to other Brocktober weekend activities, cars were displayed on the Saturday morning, with Borrett, club members and the public given the opportunity to vote for their top ve cars. The afternoon saw cars drive into the Snowy Mountains National Park, however rain disrupted the planned photo shoot.
Major trophies were presented at the Saturday night dinner, with Michael Paterson picking up both members’ choice and public’s choice for his beautiful black VK Director, while Claudio Sasso’s VK Group A was Ray Borrett’s choice.
The BCOAA welcomes those owning a Brock-era HDT Commodore or Magnum. More information at bcoaa.com.au