Bill Brown didn't just roll at Bathurst once

It goes without saying that Bathurst has produced some of the most memorable moments in the history of motor racing in Australia. One of those moments involved Bill Brown, whose story of survival involved drama, chance, and a whole lot of luck.

Bill started racing in the early ‘60s initially racing European cars like Porsche and Fiat, eventually landing a seat with good friend Spencer Martin in a Vauxhall Viva, where they won their class at Bathurst in 1964. Bill was also part of the original HDT team to race at Bathurst in 1968, co-driver in the new HK Monaro GTS with Paul Hawkins.

Bill was a regular private entrant into Bathurst, and in 1969 driving the #55 Alto Ford / Scuderia Veloce XW GT-HO Falcon, Bill was involved in an incident early in the race. As a pack of cars raced over the top of Skyline, Bill was accidently cut off forcing him up the embankment and subsequently rolling the car.

Marshalls frantically waived yellow flags knowing full well that the Skyline’s natural crest makes the awareness of an incident almost impossible. Despite their efforts the other racers arrived at the scene of the rollover with way too much speed, causing a massive pile up involving no fewer than 14 vehicles.

But it was Bill’s high speed crash at Bathurst in 1971 that is etched into the minds of racing fans across Australia forever. In what can only be described as ‘death defying’, Bill was involved in a sickening rollover which totally destroyed the Yellow Glo #63 Newell & Sons XY GT-HO Phase III.

How Bill Brown's GT-HO Phase III looked before his accident. (image credit: Survivor Car of Australia)

As he approached the McPhillamy Park section of the track a tyre blowout caused him to lose control of the car at more than 100mph, slamming into an embankment and rolling over multiple times, the car eventually coming to rest on the roof. “The spectators ran over and started to tip the car up, and I yelled out for them to stop. I could smell the petrol, and asked if anyone was smoking could they kindly leave.” recalls Bill.

In scenes that defy logic the race continued on, and when reviewing the old footage of the incident you’ll notice many cars zooming past at full race speed despite the right hand side of the road being filled with an ambulance, tow trucks, and track marshalls.

Bill walked away (literally) from the accident, and refused to lie on the stretcher for medical attention in the moments after the accident. Bill’s survival has been attributed to the back rest of the seat breaking during the crash meaning that as the car’s roof was being crushed, Bill was actually horizontal and avoided what would have surely been a life ending impact.

Bill was lucky to walk with so few injuries.

It should also be noted that there was another amazing Survivor of this incident – a track marshall who managed to run out of the way of the rolling car, only millimetres from a certain fatal hit. Unlike Bill, the Yellow Glo GT-HO did not survive the accident and was then stripped of all salvageable parts, the end of the road for this GT-HO.

Bill Brown featured many times on race tracks across Australia with limited success, but it is his unlikely story of survival and that unforgettable footage of his XY GT-HO tumbling over and over that ensure his place in history as a very lucky survivor.

Source: Survivor Car Australia Magazine

What do you think is the worst accident to happen at Bathurst? let us know in the comments.