AN EX-BRABHAM MECHANIC WRITES

AN EX-BRABFIAM MECHANIC WRITES

Once again your excellent magazine has reawakened memories of my early days at Brabham.

In December 1963 I started my apprenticeship with full expectation that within days I’d be at least Jack’s or Dan Gurney’s mechanic.

My arrogant public school expectations were brought to a halt when the Australian foreman took me to a hundredweight sack of Alford & Alder uprights and told me to get filing.

These were the days before sophisticated air tools and polishing aids. Then one started with the coarse bastard file and ending with a finishing file smoother than paper!

For months I toiled, my finest efforts frequently being rejected especially a set destined for Denny Hulme’s F2 car until eventually all my misplaced ambitions had been finally put into perspective.

I think I can safely say that I filed the foundry marks off (and polished) every Alford & Alder upright used on a Brabham between 1963 and 1966.

And look what it did for me!

AM, YOURS, ETC. NICK GOOZEL, MANAGING DIRECIOR, PENSKE CARS