King of the Mountain

The fans called Peter Brock the "King of the Mountain" after winning the Bathurst 1000 motor race a record nine times in the 1970s and 80s. In his Holden Toranas and Commodores, he dominated the race for almost two decades.

His first victory came in 1972, driving a Holden Torana GTR XU-1. With only an inline six-cylinder motor, he dominated the race against the fancied V8 Ford Falcon driven by the likes of Allan Moffat. His second victory on the mountain was in 1975, in privately entered Holden Torana SL/R 5000 L34.

From 1978 to 1984, he won the "Great Race" six times, driving his Torana to the first of three victories between 1978 and 1980 and then completing the second three-peat of victories in his Holden Commodore between 1982 and 1984.

His last victory on the mountain was in 1987. Brock finished the race in third place but inherited the win when the two Eggenberger cars were disqualified for illegally modified front wheel arch guards.

Peter Brock was killed driving in a road rally event in Western Australia in 2006. He failed to round a bend, and his car skidded off the road and hit a tree, killing Brock instantly. He was 61 years of age.

No one has eclipsed his success at the great race, and that is why he is still known as the "King of the Mountain."

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