Jack Brabham.

John Arthur Brabham

Born 2 Apr 1926 Hurstville, Australia

Died 19 May 2014 Gold Coast, Australia

Citizenship Australia

Would Be 100 yr If Living

7 min read

Reading time

1,396

Words

May 24, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

Australian Jack Brabham won his third Formula 1 World Championship in 1966 driving the Brabham BT19, a car he designed and built himself. He had previously won back-to-back titles in 1959 and 1960 with Cooper. Over 123 Grands Prix starts, Brabham claimed 14 wins, 13 poles, and 31 podiums. He retired in 1970.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Jack Brabham — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Native Name John Arthur Brabham

Nicknames Black Jack

Aliases Sir Jack Brabham

Spouses: Margaret Taylor Betty Evelyn Beresford
Children: David Brabham Gary Brabham Geoff Brabham

At a glance.

STATS

Jack Brabham by the numbers — life, work, and family.

88 Years lived

6 Awards

2 Marriages

3 Children

Who was Jack Brabham?

BIOGRAPHY

Jack Brabham — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born on April 2, 1926 in Hurstville, New South Wales, Jack Brabham developed an early interest in engineering and racing. He attended Georges River College and worked as a mechanic before starting his racing career in Australia. After winning numerous titles in his home country, he set his sights on the international stage.

Career

Brabham entered Formula 1 with Cooper in 1955. He scored his first championship points at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. In 1959, he became the first Australian to win a Grand Prix at Monaco and later that year claimed his first World Championship. He repeated as champion in 1960 with Cooper. In 1961, he took a rear-engined car to the Indianapolis 500. He founded his own team, Brabham, in 1962 following a brief stint with Lotus. In 1966, he won the championship driving the Brabham BT19 and BT20, becoming the first driver to win a title in a car bearing his own name. He retired in 1970 with 14 wins, 13 poles, and 31 podiums.

Personal life

Jack Brabham married Betty Evelyn Beresford and later Margaret Taylor. He had three sons: David, Gary, and Geoff, all of whom became race car drivers. He died on May 19, 2014 in Gold Coast, Queensland from kidney disease.

Legacy

Jack Brabham is the first and only driver to win a Formula 1 World Championship in a car of his own construction. His use of rear-engined cars at Indianapolis changed American open-wheel racing. He received an OBE in 1967 and was knighted in 1979. Named Australian of the Year in 1966, he combined engineering skill with driving talent. His sons continued his racing dynasty, keeping the Brabham name prominent in motorsport.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 6

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Jack Brabham — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Australian of the Year
Officer of the Order of Australia
Australian Sports Medal
Centenary Medal
Australian National Living Treasure

Did you know?

FACTS · 12

Little-known facts about Jack Brabham — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Claimed three Formula 1 World Championships in 1959, 1960, and 1966.
Started 123 Grands Prix for teams including Cooper, Maserati, Rob Walker, and his own Brabham team, achieving 14 wins, 13 poles, 12 fastest laps, 31 podiums, and 261 points.
His sons Geoff Brabham, Gary Brabham, and David Brabham all became race car drivers.
Awarded an OBE in the 1967 Queen’s Honours List and later knighted in the 1979 Queen’s Honours List for services to motor racing.
Won the Australian of the Year award in 1966.
In 1966, became the first man to win a Grand Prix and a world title in a car bearing his own name.
Champion in British Formula 2 1966, Trophées de France – Formula 2 1964, 1966, Formula 2 1960, and Formula 1 1959, 1960, 1966.
At the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix, finished 4th and became the first Australian driver to score points.
At the 1959 British Grand Prix, became the first Australian driver to start from pole position.
At the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix, became the first Australian driver to win, stand on the podium, and set the fastest lap in a Formula 1 race.
Teammates in Formula One included Les Leston, Mike MacDowel, Roy Salvadori, Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney, Denny Hulme, and others.
At the 1968 Canadian Grand Prix, alongside Graham Hill, became the first F1 driver to reach 100 Grand Prix starts.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 34

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Jack Brabham.

When was Jack Brabham born?

Jack Brabham was born on April 2, 1926. He was born in Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.
Where was Jack Brabham born?

Jack Brabham was born in Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. Hurstville is a suburb of Sydney.
When did Jack Brabham die?

Jack Brabham died on May 19, 2014. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.
How did Jack Brabham die?

Jack Brabham died from kidney disease. He passed away in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
How old was Jack Brabham when he died?

Jack Brabham was 88 years old when he died. He was born in 1926 and passed away in 2014.
Where did Jack Brabham die?

Jack Brabham died in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. He had been living there in his later years.
What was Jack Brabham's birth name?

Jack Brabham’s birth name was John Arthur Brabham. He was known professionally as Jack Brabham.
What is Jack Brabham's native language?

Jack Brabham’s native language was English. He was born and raised in Australia.
What nationality was Jack Brabham?

Jack Brabham was Australian. He represented Australia in Formula 1 racing.
What did Jack Brabham do for a living?

Jack Brabham was a professional racing driver and also worked as an actor and transportation crew member.
Who was Jack Brabham married to?

Jack Brabham was married to Margaret Taylor and Betty Evelyn Beresford. His marriage to Margaret lasted from 1995 until his death.
Did Jack Brabham have children?

Yes, Jack Brabham had three sons: David Brabham, Geoff Brabham, and Gary Brabham. All three became race car drivers.
Where did Jack Brabham go to school?

Jack Brabham attended Georges River College. He studied there in his youth in New South Wales.
What awards did Jack Brabham win?

Jack Brabham won several major awards including Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Australian of the Year, Officer of the Order of Australia, and the Australian Sports Medal. He also received the Centenary Medal and was named an Australian National Living Treasure.
How many awards did Jack Brabham win?

Jack Brabham won six major awards.
What was the origin of Jack Brabham's nickname Black Jack?

Jack Brabham was nicknamed Black Jack due to his dark hair and his racing style. The name also reflected his serious demeanor on the track.
Why was Jack Brabham sometimes called Sir Jack Brabham?

Jack Brabham was knighted in 1979 for his services to motor racing. After that, he was often referred to as Sir Jack Brabham.
What was Jack Brabham known for?

Jack Brabham won three Formula 1 World Championships and was the first driver to win a title in a car of his own construction. He also introduced rear-engined cars to the Indianapolis 500.
Was Jack Brabham married?

Yes, Jack Brabham was married twice: first to Betty Evelyn Beresford and later to Margaret Taylor. Margaret was his wife from 1995 until his death.
Who were Jack Brabham's parents?

Jack Brabham’s parents were Cyril Thomas Brabham and May Maddeford. His father was a greengrocer.
Who were Jack Brabham's relatives?

Jack Brabham’s relatives include his grandchildren Matthew Brabham and Sam Brabham, who are also involved in motorsport.
How many Formula 1 World Championships did Jack Brabham win?

Jack Brabham won three Formula 1 World Championships: in 1959, 1960, and 1966. He is one of only a few drivers to achieve a hat-trick of titles.
Which teams did Jack Brabham drive for in Formula 1?

Jack Brabham drove for Cooper, Maserati as a privateer, Rob Walker, and his own team Brabham. He started 123 Grands Prix in total.
What was Jack Brabham's first Formula 1 win?

Jack Brabham’s first Formula 1 win was at the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix. He became the first Australian to win an F1 race.
How many Grand Prix wins did Jack Brabham have?

Jack Brabham won 14 Formula 1 Grands Prix. He also achieved 13 pole positions and 12 fastest laps.
Did Jack Brabham design his own car?

Yes, Jack Brabham designed and built his own Formula 1 cars under the Brabham brand. He won the 1966 championship in the Brabham BT19.
Who were Jack Brabham's teammates?

Jack Brabham’s teammates included Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney, Denny Hulme, and Jacky Ickx. He raced alongside many top drivers of his era.
What is Jack Brabham's most notable achievement?

Jack Brabham’s most notable achievement is winning the 1966 Formula 1 World Championship in a car of his own design. He remains the only driver to accomplish this.
When was Jack Brabham knighted?

Jack Brabham was knighted in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II. He was honored for his services to motor racing.
What is the Jack Brabham trophy?

The Jack Brabham trophy is awarded to the winner of the Australian Grand Prix. It commemorates his contributions to motorsport.
Did Jack Brabham ever race at Indianapolis?

Yes, Jack Brabham raced at the Indianapolis 500 in 1961. He drove a rear-engined car, which was revolutionary at the time.
How did Jack Brabham change Formula 1?

Jack Brabham helped popularize rear-engined cars in Formula 1 and IndyCar. His engineering mindset influenced car design for decades.
What was Jack Brabham's final race?

Jack Brabham’s final Formula 1 race was the 1970 Mexican Grand Prix. He retired after that season.
Is Jack Brabham in the Hall of Fame?

Yes, Jack Brabham was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990. He is also in the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on May 24, 2026

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