Brock museum shuts its doors on Peter Perfect's 66th birthday

An emotional Peter Champion wrapped up the final tour of racing legend Peter Brock's cars and memorabilia on Saturday – the same day that Brock would have turned 66 had his life not been taken in a crash in 2006 – and he fired up the Bathurst-winning 05 'Big Banger' for the audience one last time.

"Brock never got to see the collection in all its glory but he was the inspiration for all this, and we made it exactly how he wanted it," Champion told the last gathering of about 100 visitors from interstate and overseas inside the dimly-lit warehouse-turned-museum.

"Brock even designed the giant dashboard that you walked through to get in here today, and he was instrumental in choosing what cars we had in the collection," Champion said.

Two of Brock's three children, Alexandra and Robert, were also there to mark the occasion.

"Dad would have loved to see his dreams come to reality here, so it is sad that it has to close," said an emotional Alexandra. "It's obviously brought back a lot of memories. We're just grateful that these cars and all of dad's memorabilia have found a good home."

Although most of the 45-plus vehicles are genuine Brock racers, the collection includes a replica of Brock's first ever car – a humble paddock basher that was little more than an engine, a frame and a seat (and no brakes) made from parts recovered next to the remains of the real car – and a replica of Brock's first race car, a bright blue Austin A30, restored by son James Brock in the early 2000s.

The collection also has the last car Brock ever raced, the handbuilt Daytona sportscar he crashed in that fateful road rally in Perth in 2006. Champion had it restored and added it to the collection in late 2010. It's mounted high, looking over the entire collection.

"There was a lot of discussion about whether that car should be in the collection, obviously it's a very contentious issue," said Champion. "But out of respect for Peter we've brought it back to its original condition and it now looks over the collection as a reminder that Brock is always with us."

Although the Daytona has been immaculately repaired, the interior still has some signs of the incident, and Brock's rally bag is still in the driver's door pocket.

The final group of more than 100 visitors from interstate and abroad was in fact the second big group of the day -- Saturday, 26 February 2011 -- which made it all the more difficult to close the doors, Champion said.

When it opened on 15 December 2007, Champion's Brock Experience in Yeppoon, on Queensland's Capricorn Coast about half an hour's drive from Rockhampton, had hundreds of visitors a week.

But in the lead up to – and in the wake of – the cyclones and floods that ravaged the region over summer, visitor numbers dropped to about a dozen a week.

"We've had groups as large as this every week since we announced we were closing a little over a month ago," said Champion. "If we only had this turn out over summer we might have been able to keep the doors open."

Champion won't say how much his labour of love has cost him to run, but the Carsales Network understands the retired mining contractor has lost close to $1 million over three years keeping Brock's dreams alive and open to the public.

"It was never about money," say Champion, who has recently returned to mining contract work. "It was about sharing Brock's cars and his memories with other Brock fans and car fans. But there comes a point in time where you have to make tough decisions. We've had a good three years and now it's time to close the doors for a while and focus on the HDT road-car side of the business."

Local girl Emma Holmes, originally from the small country town of Grenfell "a couple of hours drive" south-west of Bathurst, and a self-confessed car nut, had been hosting the guided tours since the day the centre opened.

"It's been a dream job for me and we've had thousands of people through, but it was getting quiet towards the end of last year," she said. "We used to do four tours a day but then it was one a week. What most people didn't realise is that this wasn't just a car collection, this was Brock's life story."

Ironically, she says, some of the biggest groups of visitors were from Ford car clubs.

"Whether you're a Ford fan or a Holden fan, I think everyone recognises Brock's achievements over the years. And let's face it, without Brock and Holden, perhaps Ford wouldn't have been as strong as it was. Competition is good for both sides of motorsport."

Champion's Brock collection includes rare sketches of Australian wildlife drawn by Brock himself – including a drawing of his pet kangaroo – and the entire trophy collection of Harry Firth, the man who talent-spotted Brock by taking him out of his Austin A30 makeshift sports sedan and putting him behind the wheel of a Holden Dealer Team Monaro in 1969. Brock finished third in his debut Bathurst outing, with Des West.

There will be one more private show at the museum before the year is over because Champion wanted to honour an earlier Holden car club booking. But last Saturday was the final public day – indefinitely.

However, the most extensive collection of Brock's road, race and rally cars – including the ill-fated Lada Samara and Ford Falcon road car projects – may find a new home in the years to come.

"We are talking to a few interested parties in three states: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria," Champion says. "We will look at them all and if there is a way to move the collection closer to a major capital city we will give it serious consideration. But for now the cars are staying here and, sadly, the doors are staying locked."

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