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Original Aussie grit

At 87, Sir Jack Brabham is the oldest living F1 world champion. Not only that, but he won the title three times and remains the only man do so in his own car. AUTOSPORT's sister publication F1 Racing relished a rare chance to interview a grand prix great

Before anybody did anything, Jack Brabham did everything.

Bought a car. Built an engine. Raced them. Won. Won some more. Went to Europe. Sold a car. Bought another. Raced it. Won. Won some more. A championship. Another. A pause. Launched a team. Made a car. Bought an engine. A championship. Another. Still some wins. And then... then he quit.

It was 1970 and Black Jack's incredible adventure was over. The 'nut-brown Aussie' was three drivers' titles to the good and his own Brabham team had two constructors' titles to their name. So he decided, reluctantly, that enough was enough. Too many had died that year: Jochen Rindt, Piers Courage and Bruce McLaren all gone in violent accidents.

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