"Let‘s Get This Day Over With" – Peter Brock‘s Haunting Final Words

The illustrious career of legendary Australian race car driver Peter Brock came to a sudden end on September 8, 2006. According to eyewitness accounts, just minutes before his fatal rally crash, Brock uttered one final cryptic phrase: "Let‘s get this day over with."

These seven words provide a tragic glimpse into Brock‘s mindset and emotional state in the moments leading up to the accident. Clearly, something was weighing heavily on the motorsport icon‘s thoughts during what would be his final drive.

Peter Brock‘s Life – Racing Superstardom and National Treasure

To understand why Brock‘s shocking death had such an immense impact, it‘s important to understand his significance in Australian culture. During a career spanning over 40 years, "Peter Perfect" established himself as the country‘s most successful and adored racing driver.

After honing his driving skills in touring cars during the late 1960s, Brock took on Australia‘s most grueling race – the Bathurst 1000. In 1972, he stunned fans by winning the event at just age 27 in his Holden Torana GTR XU-1.

This would be the start of Brock‘s utter domination of Mount Panorama. Over the next 15 years, he‘d go on to claim an unmatched nine Bathurst 1000 crowns, including an incredible seven straight from 1978 to 1984.

During the 1980s, Brock became a household name in Australia. He was the face of the immensely popular Holden Dealer Team, claiming victories across Australia and New Zealand in Holden Commodores that fans came to revere.

Brock‘s fame extended far beyond just motorsports. He appeared in various advertisements and merchandising campaigns and even had a fan club with a staggering 180,000+ members.

After his professional split from Holden in 1987, Brock went on to find success partnering with other manufacturers like BMW and Ford. He also branched out into sports car racing in Europe, competing several times at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

When Brock retired from full-time racing in 1997 at age 52, his records placed him among racing‘s all-time greats:

• 9 Bathurst 1000 wins (the most of any driver)
• 61 Touring Car/Supercars race wins (2nd most all-time)
• 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 Touring Car Championships
• 4 Sandown 500 wins
• 8 wins in Wellington 500 (NZ)
• Inducted into V8 Supercars Hall of Fame in 2002

Beyond the track, Brock was universally praised for his humility and affability with fans. His broad appeal led him to be considered a beloved national treasure in Australia.

Brock‘s Final Day – Competing in the 2006 Targa West Rally

After stepping back from full-time racing, Brock stayed involved in motorsports by competing in select events. One of his passions was Targa rallies, multi-day road races held on closed public roads across Australia.

On September 8, 2006, Brock was contesting the third day of competition in the five-day Targa West rally event near Perth. He was piloting his familiar Porsche 996 "Daytona" Coupe – a high-performance modified version of the production sports car.

Brock was partnered with trusted friend and co-driver Mick Hone, who had raced with Brock many times before. Eyewitness accounts portray Brock in an uncharacteristically withdrawn mood in the hours preceding the fateful crash.

According to Hone, Brock was reserved and relatively quiet throughout the morning as they prepared for the grueling stages ahead. This was unusual for the normally upbeat and talkative Brock on race days.

Just minutes before the crash, Brock also cryptically radioed his team saying "Let‘s get this day over with." This, along with his subdued demeanor earlier, suggests Brock was in a troubled frame of mind and eager to finish the day‘s racing.

The Crash That Claimed a Legend‘s Life

At approximately 11:50 AM local time, Brock and Hone were navigating their 996 Coupe through Stage 7 of the competition. The 15-mile stage traversed the Malbooma forest service road, with speeds reaching over 180 km/h in places.

According to police reports, the Porsche approached a slight left-hand bend on a crest. Rather than turning, the vehicle continued in a straight line off the road at high velocity. It traversed roughly 40 meters of dirt and scrub before violently crashing side-on into a tree.

The severe impact caused devastating trauma to Brock, killing him instantly at the scene. Meanwhile, Hone survived after being extracted from the mangled wreckage by paramedics. He was airlifted to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.

A subsequent coroner‘s inquest and police investigation found no evidence of mechanical failure in the well-prepared and inspected Porsche. Tire marks showed Brock had made no attempt to turn or brake ahead of the crash site. Weather was also ruled out as a contributing factor.

The coroner ultimately recorded the official cause of death as "crash trauma", but could not conclusively determine why Brock failed to negotiate the bend. Speculation ranged from driver distraction, fatigue, ill health, or loss of concentration.

But we‘ll never truly know what was going through Brock‘s mind in those final seconds. The chilling words he uttered to his team shortly before provide the only hint at his tragically foreboding mindset and emotional state.

A Nation Plunged into Mourning at the Loss of a Hero

The sudden death of Australian motorsport‘s greatest icon at just 61 years old sent the country into a state of mass grief and mourning. Brock was cherished not just as a supremely talented driver, but as a down-to-earth Aussie bloke adored for his humility.

The outpouring of tributes from fans, driving colleagues, celebrities, and prime ministers alike was immense. Brock‘s memorial service in Melbourne was attended by over 7,000 devastated mourners.

Roads and highways were lined with thousands more fans as Brock‘s funeral procession ceremoniously drove past. Makeshift shrines appeared at his business locations and at Mount Panorama – the racetrack he conquered so many times.

Touchingly, mourners also left hundreds of model cars and written tributes at the crash site in the Malbooma forest. It highlighted the sheer impact Brock had made across Australian society.

In honor of his glittering career, a striking 1.8-meter bronze statue of Brock was later erected at the Bathurst 1000 track. While motorsport moves on, Peter Brock‘s legacy and memory will forever be etched into the hearts of generations.

Closing Thoughts – Remembering an Australian Champion

Looking back at that tragic day in September 2006, many of us wish we could have understood Brock‘s mindset in those final moments. What caused this Australian legend to make such an uncharacteristic mistake while driving?

As a fan, I choose to remember Peter Brock for the incredible mark he left on motorsports, and for his character traits that made him such a revered figure. His humility, passion, and affability made him a hero beyond just racing.

Brock‘s chilling last words on that fateful day now serve as a reminder to appreciate our loved ones while we can. And for fellow motorsport fans, it reminds us to celebrate the careers of our greatest champions.

For this Aussie petrol-head, Peter Brock will always be remembered as "Our Perfect Peter" – a beloved national treasure whose legacy lives on.