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From the Library
'The tragedy is that by the
time they got the car built
all the short drivers had
signed up elsewhere.'
Brockbank's Grand Prix by Russell Brockbank
When I was a callow youth, friends of my parents had a book
of Brockbank's cartoons. I almost read the print off the pages of
that book - I was hooked! So when I saw this book at the
February club meeting, I grabbed it and signed it out before
anyone else got their hands on it.
Who was Russell Brockbank? Born in 1913 in Niagara Falls
Ontario, Brockbank arrived in the UK with his family in 1929.
He studied at the Chelsea Art School for two years where his
passion for drawing cars began in earnest. Along with his
girlfriend (and later wife) Eileen, Brockbank would travel
around London with his sketchbook and produce ‘on-the-spur-
of-the-moment’ cartoons whenever he was inspired by an
intriguing situation. His ability to capture the absurdities of
modern life gave his work an honesty that effortlessly translated
into humour. Autocar magazine began publishing his work in
1930 and other titles such as Speed & the Motor and Road & Track followed suit.
During World War II his artistry was utilised by the armed forces to create artwork for
aircraft recognition training.
Back in Civvie Street he continued to supply cartoons to The Motor and other motoring
publications. This period saw the appearance of Major Upsett in a regular strip in The
Motor. He was associated with Punch magazine for 30 years, being art editor from 1949 to
1960. He also produced a number of books, including the one that introduced me to his
genius.
Part of Brockbank's genius is that the cars illustrated are instantly recognisable, be they
Tyrrells, Ferraris, vintage Bentleys or Major Upsett's little Austin 8 tourer. You can even tell
if a Bugatti is a Type 35, 51 or 57. The people are equally recognisable, including many well
known motor racing identities.
One of my favourite Brockbank cartoons (see right) is also in this book. As a six foot two
inch teenager weighing only 9½ stone, I was light enough to be a racing driver, but the knee
humps would have been needed.
The text of this book is written by Henry Manney III, who provides an entertaining link
between the various groups of cartoons. His only complaint is that he is portrayed in a few
cartoons as a "decayed walrus-like object festooned with camera and umbrella" while the
artist appears as "a slim boyish figure..."
Russell Brockbank died in 1979 at the relatively early age of 66,
but his name lives on in the hearts and minds of all those who
loved his beautifully crafted and very funny cartoons.
This book is one of the many donated to the VSCC library by the
widow of Dev Dvoretsky, the almost legendary Australian
motoring writer. Librarian Mark Jones is sorting through the
books and they plus the remainder of the collection will be
available in the library at the club rooms during any club meeting
or other gathering at the Caversham rooms.
Bob Campbell