Unforgettable Car Geniuses: Jack Brabham

Jack Brabham's story seems written by chance: his successes all stemmed from circumstances that led him to choices he might never have made. Born in Hurstville, Australia, in 1926, he was drawn to mechanics but was self-taught. When his country joined the world conflict, he enlisted in the Australian army, hoping to become an aircraft pilot, but fate — or chance — assigned him the role of a mechanic. What seemed like a setback turned into an opportunity after the war: thanks to his experience, a friend aspiring to be a racing driver asked for his help in building a small Midget-class single-seater.