Motorsport: Make it a celebration race, not a memorial, says Oxton

Peter Brock sprays the champagne after his win at Baypark with co-driver David Oxton in 1982.

Peter Brock wouldn't want this weekend's Bathurst 1000 to be a memorial. Those passionate eyes would light up with the prospect of another fight to the finish on his favourite mountain.

Aucklander David Oxton, who teamed with Brock in the Great Race in 1985 and was associated with him in business and sport for close to 30 years, believes the mood should be respect and celebration for the Aussie legend who died in a racing accident last month.

"I'm sad about losing him but glad that I met him and I feel he is still around with his positive attitude to everything.

"Peter was never down and those passionate eyes would light up at the prospect of going to Bathurst."

Oxton partnered Brock when the Holden hero and Larry Perkins split after winning three times in a row. Four on the trot was thwarted by Armin Hahne and John Goss in a Jaguar XJS.

"He was the legend and you felt the full weight of Australia on your shoulders. But he gave me plenty of time in the car and because of his extraordinary confidence nothing was a problem.

"We were running second to the Jaguar with five laps to go and the television wanted me to go over for an interview because I was going to be the leading rookie. Then, with two laps to go, Peter limped in with a broken timing chain and we were out."

Brock always drove to win - and expected to do so - but there were no recriminations if he didn't.

"On top or not, he reached out to everyone. He believed that if you had it, you had a duty to give it back to your fans and he had such a way with people."

On Sunday afternoon those fans with their red Holden flags will be cheering other heroes over Mt Panorama - but there will be only one legend.