Ugly Bathurst split over Brock celebrations as city transformed

Exclusive: Bathurst has been transformed to mark the 20th anniversary of Peter Brock’s death, but the city’s council is distancing itself from the massive celebrations as an ugly divide casts a shadow over The Great Race due to allegations that have tarnished the legacy of the motor racing icon.

Tributes will be led by the ‘Brock Experience’ trackside at this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, which will include a static display of original Brock cars, as well as displays and vision of his “most heroic” moments.

In Bathurst itself, a large scale ‘Brocky’s Helmet’ has been built in the middle of the town. Inside, fans will be able to “interact further and celebrate milestones from Brock’s career”.

The commemorations were organised in partnership with Supercars, the National Motor Racing Museum – which is operated by the Bathurst Regional Council, which also operates the Mount Panorama circuit – and the NSW Government.

Brock is considered a legend of Australian motorsport and the Mount Panorama circuit in particular. Brock won nine Bathurst 1000 titles, and won the 1979 edition by a whopping six laps.

The winners of the race are awarded the Peter Brock Trophy.

Brock was killed on the second day of competition at the 2006 Targa West near Perth, when he lost control of a replica Daytona Coupe and crashed into a gum tree. It's believed he was killed instantly.

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But several legends of the sport have disclosed concerns Brock is being lionised despite serious allegations of domestic violence.

After Brock’s death, each of his first two wives Heather and Michelle went public with allegations Brock was violent during their short-lived marriages.

Nine.com.au understands Brock's off-track behaviour was something of an open secret in the paddock, particularly early in his career.

A legend was involved in filming preview content for a previous Bathurst 1000 years ago. When asked for his memories on racing against Brock, he wasn’t interested.

“I don’t talk about wife-bashers,” he said.

Brock’s long-term partner Beverly – they famously never married – maintained until her death in 2024 Brock never beat her. Brock left her for long-term family friend Julie Bamford in 2005, and the couple was engaged when he died.

In a statement to nine.com.au, Supercars said it was aware of the allegations.

"Domestic and family violence is never acceptable," the statement read.

"Supercars is aware of the allegations of domestic violence made against Peter Brock. We recognise how difficult it is for anyone to speak about experiences of domestic violence, and we respect those who have done so."

In a separate statement, Bathurst mayor Ben Fry said the council was also aware of the allegations, and revealed one of his councillors had expressed their own concerns over the Brock celebrations due to the allegations.

"Bathurst Regional Council is aware that serious historic allegations of domestic violence have been publicly reported in relation to Peter Brock," Fry said.

"Domestic and family violence is never acceptable, regardless of a person’s public standing or sporting achievements, and allegations of that nature should be treated seriously and respectfully.

"The Peter Brock commemorations taking place during this year’s Bathurst 1000 are part of Supercars’ event program. Council’s role in the Bathurst 1000 is primarily as owner of the Mount Panorama circuit and associated facilities, which are hired by Supercars for the event.

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"Council has discussed the issue with Supercars … the scale, theme and strategic direction of the Peter Brock commemorations are matters for Supercars as the event organiser."

Fry said the National Motor Racing Museum’s remit for its Peter Brock: King of the Mountain exhibition was “focused on his racing career, his sporting achievements and his influence on Australian motorsport, particularly at Mount Panorama”.

"The National Motor Racing Museum’s purpose is specifically to present the history of Australian motor racing, and Peter Brock’s nine Bathurst victories and influence on Mount Panorama are plainly part of that history.

"The presence of a person in a museum exhibition is not an endorsement of every aspect of that person’s life. It is a recognition that they form part of the historical record the institution exists to document."

Supercars' statement also conceded there was a level of discomfort surrounding the allegations.

"The Peter Brock Trophy and this year's tribute at the Repco Bathurst 1000 recognise his achievements on the track and his contribution to Australian touring car racing," the statement read.

"They are not intended to diminish the seriousness of those allegations.

"Supercars expects the highest standards of behaviour from everyone in our sport. Drivers, teams and officials are bound by the Supercars rules and regulations, including the Supercars Code of Conduct, as well as Motorsport Australia's national rules and regulations."

Most drivers on the grid for this year's race would be too young to have raced against Brock or shared a paddock with him.

For them, he remains a demigod.

Craig Lowndes was Brock’s protégé, and his victory in the 2006 Great Race – held only weeks after Brock’s death – was a fairytale. He won that 2006 race after a thrilling battle in the closing laps with Rick Kelly.

Eerily, the gap between the two at the finish line was 0.5 seconds. Brock's iconic number was 05.

Brock was a fan-favourite. He'd spend hours after racing had ended patiently signing autographs for fans and listening to their stories. Everybody walked away from meeting Brock feeling as if they were genuinely mates.

He passed that knowledge onto Lowndes.

"(His death) still feels like yesterday … he transcended different sports, and he was the first driver who really captured the imagination of fans," Lowndes told nine.com.au.

“He was amazing the way he was always very positive. I remember a number of times when I had incidents or accidents, he’d sit down and have a chat … he was always glass half full.”

The link between Brock and Lowndes goes deeper than that of master and apprentice. The pair grew up in the same area in Victoria, went to the same high school – albeit many years apart – and played Aussie rules for the same club as kids. Lowndes’ dad also worked on Brock’s cars.

While Lowndes and others remember Brock fondly, there are many who don't.

Bob Watson was the long-term husband of Brock’s first wife Heather, who died in 2010 after a battle with cancer.

Watson raced against Brock in the rallycross scene, well before he was the legend we know today. Watson told nine.com.au even in the early days Brock was a different man on the booze.

“We’d often go to parties afterward, so I knew him reasonably well … he didn’t handle grog all that well,” he said.

He said the scale of the Brock celebrations are "a bit overdone".

“I can’t think of another sportsperson who died that’s had that much fuss made of them 20 years afterwards,” Watson said.

Watson was coy when asked if it was time for the Peter Brock Trophy to be renamed.

“He polarised people a lot, and people who are Peter Brock fans are Peter Brock fans through and through, and there’s a lot of them,” he said.

“I think the fans turned a blind eye, but I think a lot of them are aware of (the allegations). But to the really true believers, you can’t sort of say anything against Peter Brock because they arc up.

“You respect what that bloke did, and he had great driving ability, there’s no question about that. But the rest sort of goes into the background.”

Brock’s legacy lay at Mount Panorama – he and the track are intrinsically linked. Most don’t think of one without the other. But for those who’d rather forget him, this weekend will likely add to the pain and bitterness that still lingers.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).