Racing kid grows into legend’s gear
Brock Gilchrist dreams of following in King of Mountain's tracks.
When Brock Gilchrist was 3 months old, motor racing legend and namesake Peter Brock signed a poster for him with the message “Live your Dreams”.
Since then, Brock has loved to be behind the wheel, whether a battery-powered Ford Bronco at 2, a quad bike at 4 or 80km/h go-karts at age 7.
Now 14, Brock is living his dreams on the race track at Hampton Downs, and is tall enough to fit the Australian legend’s race suit, which his dad, Brent Gilchrist, bought years ago.
“Peter Brock was racing,” Brent said.
“I used to watch him race at Bathurst with my dad when I was Brock’s age so when I was offered the suit I bought it immediately.” The white suit was worn by Peter Brock in about 1986.
Young Brock said he felt honoured to wear the racing legend’s outfit but just huge to it wouldn’t be worn on the track.
“It is pretty musty and really hot and uncomfortable.”
Still too young to hold a NZ driver licence, the Westlake Boys’ student has hit speeds close to 190km/h at Hampton Downs in races against more experienced drivers.
This year, Brock joined the final two rounds of the prestigious Toyota 86 Championship, gaining valuable experience in a more powerful car.
Mother Ursula Gilchrist said it was an anxious time watching her boy race but she trusted his level head.
Nine-year-old sister Natalia is a regular supporter in the pit.
That family support and Brock’s perseverance paid off this month when he won his first race at Hampton Downs in his gold BMW E30 — number plate BrockG.
“He had only had six weekends of racing in the car so to see him come through and win his first race was ridiculously exciting and a bit overwhelming to be honest,” Ursula said.
Dad Brent was ecstatic. “Some of the guys are 50 years old and have raced in that series for five years.”
The family is now putting together a programme to allow Brock to compete in the full Toyota 86 Championship season in November.
They need to secure a car plus specialised training.
Despite being too young to remember Peter Brock, who died in a hairpin corner crash in 2006, Brock holds the sportsman in high regard.
He went to the Bathurst race with his dad in 2016 and was in awe when he stood alongside the part of the Mt Panorama track named “Brock’s Skyline”.
“That was a huge moment for us,” Brent said.
“Watching the cars race at Bathurst was life-changing for him and he said ‘this is what I want to do, Dad’.”