Brendon Cook
Encyclopedia
Brendon John Cook, born 27 December 1970 in Belmont
Belmont, New South Wales
Belmont is a suburb in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, located 20 kilometres  from Newcastle's central business district on the eastern side of Lake Macquarie and is part of the City of Lake Macquarie....

, Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

, Australia, is best known as a race driver, racing mainly in Australia, but also in Europe.

Open Wheelers

He started racing at the age of 16 in Karts, winning club titles there and moved into Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....

 in Britain. He raced 4 times in the British Junior series, which ran the same races as the outright series, but for different points. The highlight for him would have been out qualifying eventual Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...

 driver David Coulthard
David Coulthard
David Marshall Coulthard, MBE, , sometimes known as DC, is a British former Formula One racing driver from Scotland.Coulthard, who was born in Dumfries and raised nearby in Twynholm, made his Formula One debut in 1994 and won 13 Grands Prix in a career spanning 15 seasons...

. After an unsuccessful season of Formula 3 in Switzerland in 1990, he returned to Australia and competed in various club racing including Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....

, AUSCAR, HQ Holdens and Karts. He made a brief return to Europe in 1996 for British Formula Ford and 1998 to compete in one round of the Benelux Formula Opel series and the EFDA Nations Cup in Holland. In 2002 he ran in the Australian Formula Two
Australian Formula Two
Australian Formula 2, sometimes abbreviated to AF2 or ANF2, is a wings and slicks formula racing category in Australia. The category is one of Australia's oldest, dating back to 1964. The current format of AF2 was introduced in 1978...

 Championship where he finished 8th and took out the Rookie of the Year award. He returned for one race in 2011 in the Formula R class at Eastern Creek.

Sedan Racing

Season 1995 saw an introduction to Production Cars in the Eastern Creek 12 Hour, but a blown head gasket saw them not start. He ventured to the Nurburgring 24 Hour in a Peugeot in 1996, but did not finish. From there he moved to the Australian Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi launched the Mirage as a three-door front wheel drive hatchback in 1978, as a response to the first fuel crisis some years before. It had a distinctive design with large windows and Mitsubishi's Super Shift transmission . A five-door joined the range in 1979...

 series and competed in the Bathurst 2 hour race finishing 3rd in Class B. 2004–05 he raced a Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...

 Xsara in the NSW Combined Touring Car Championship, winning the State Championship in his class. He raced a BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

 in the 2006, and a Holden Vectra
Opel Vectra
The Opel Vectra is a large family car that was engineered and produced by Opel. In the United Kingdom, the car was sold under the Vauxhall marque as the Vauxhall Cavalier and later as the Vauxhall Vectra, from 1995 onwards...

 in the 2007 Australian Production Car Championship
Australian Production Car Championship
The Australian Production Car Championship is a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of production cars, which must compete in close to standard specification...

. 2009 saw him join the Bargwanna Motorsport team in the Australian Mini Challenge
Australian Mini Challenge
The Australian Mini Challenge was a touring car racing category in Australia. First held in 2008, the Mini Challenge supported both the V8 Supercar Championship Series and the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series. The category is managed by Toleman Motorsport, who took over management rights following the...

.

Speedway

He joined the AUSCAR ranks in seaon 1991/92 after being a finalist in the Fastrack Driver Program. In the summer of 2006, he returned the ranks of Street Stockers
Street Stockers
Street Stockers, are production based speedway cars raced in every state in Australia. Mainly old style sedans, cheap to build and maintain. Most competitive series would be the raced at ....

, running at Parramatta City Speedway over the 2006–2007 season. The summer of 2010 he ventured in a part season in Wingless Sprints mainly in New South Wales.

Circuit results

Season Series Position Car Team
1987 SKRC vs CDKC Clubman Kart Challenge 1st Demon – Yamaha BCM
1989 British Formula Ford Championship
British Formula Ford Championship
The Formula Ford Championship single seater category is a motor sport category which gives many racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting...

NC Van Diemen
Van Diemen
Van Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of...

 RF87 – Ford
Harvey Gillanders Racing
1990 Swiss Formula 3 Championship
Swiss Formula 3 Championship
The Swiss Formula Three Championship is a Level 2 European Formula Three car racing series made up of circuit races and also hillclimbs.-Champions:-External links:*...

12th Ralt
Ralt
RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...

 RT23 – Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...

Jo Zeller Racing
Jo Zeller
Jo Zeller is a Swiss racing driver. He has raced in such series as Austria Formula 3 Cup and is a twelve-time Swiss Formula Three champion...

1991 CCCC Formula Libre
Formula Libre
Formula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...

 Championship
1st Van Diemen
Van Diemen
Van Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of...

 RF85 – Ford
BCM
1993 NSW HQ Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...

 Series
18th HQ Holden
Holden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...

BCM
1994 NSW HQ Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...

 Series
8th HQ Holden
Holden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...

BCM
1994 CCCC Club Car Championship 1st HQ Holden
Holden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...

BCM
1995 NSW Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....

 Hillclimb Championship
1st Van Diemen
Van Diemen
Van Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of...

 RF85 – Ford
Peter Finlay Racing
1996 Australian Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....

 Hillclimb Championship
3rd Van Diemen
Van Diemen
Van Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of...

 RF85 – Ford
Peter Finlay Racing
1996 British Formula Ford Championship
British Formula Ford Championship
The Formula Ford Championship single seater category is a motor sport category which gives many racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting...

NC Martlet DM6 – Ford 3 Sisters
2002 Australian Formula Two
Australian Formula Two
Australian Formula 2, sometimes abbreviated to AF2 or ANF2, is a wings and slicks formula racing category in Australia. The category is one of Australia's oldest, dating back to 1964. The current format of AF2 was introduced in 1978...

 Championship
8th Cheetah Mk7-Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...

BAE Racing
2003 Australian Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...

 Mirage Cup
12th Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi launched the Mirage as a three-door front wheel drive hatchback in 1978, as a response to the first fuel crisis some years before. It had a distinctive design with large windows and Mitsubishi's Super Shift transmission . A five-door joined the range in 1979...

 RS
Mal Rose Racing
2004 Australian MG Trophy 5th MG F
MG F
The MG F and later the MG TF are mid-engined, rear wheel drive roadster cars produced from 1995 onwards. The MG F was the first all-new car to bear the MG marque since the MG MGB, produced from 1962 to 1980...

 Trophy
Mopro
2004 NSW Combined Touring Championship Class C 1st Citroën Xsara
Citroën Xsara
The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën from 1997 to 2006.Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shares running gear with the Peugeot 306....

 VTS
Fortec Motorsport
Fortec Motorsport
Fortec Motorsport Ltd. is a motor-racing team that races in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the British Formula Three Championship, and several junior formulae categories at a British and pan-European level...

2005 NSW Combined Touring Championship Class E 3rd Citroën Xsara
Citroën Xsara
The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën from 1997 to 2006.Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shares running gear with the Peugeot 306....

 VTS
On Track Motorsport
2006 NSW Combined Touring Championship Class E 2nd Citroën Xsara
Citroën Xsara
The Citroën Xsara is a small family car produced by French automaker Citroën from 1997 to 2006.Like its predecessor, the Citroën ZX, the Xsara shares running gear with the Peugeot 306....

 VTS
On Track Motorsport
2006 Australian Production Car: Trophy Class 12th BMW 323i
BMW E36
The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still...

On Track Motorsport
2007 Australian Production Car: Trophy Class 5th Holden Vectra
Opel Vectra
The Opel Vectra is a large family car that was engineered and produced by Opel. In the United Kingdom, the car was sold under the Vauxhall marque as the Vauxhall Cavalier and later as the Vauxhall Vectra, from 1995 onwards...

Mertens Racing
2009
2009 Australian Mini Challenge
The 2009 Australian Mini Challenge delivered by Pizza Capers was the second running of the one make championship. It began on 26 March at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit and ended on 2 December at the new Homebush Street Circuit...

Australian Mini Challenge
Australian Mini Challenge
The Australian Mini Challenge was a touring car racing category in Australia. First held in 2008, the Mini Challenge supported both the V8 Supercar Championship Series and the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series. The category is managed by Toleman Motorsport, who took over management rights following the...

7th Mini JCW R56
MINI (BMW)
Mini is a British automotive marque owned by BMW which specialises in small cars.Mini originated as a specific vehicle, a small car originally known as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and developed into a brand encompassing a range of...

Bargwanna Motorsport

Endurance Races

Year Race Circuit Team Car Qualified Outright Class
1995 Eastern Creek 12 Hour
1995 Eastern Creek 12 Hour
The 1995 Eastern Creek 12 Hour was an endurance race for GT Production Cars. The event was staged at the Eastern Creek Raceway in New South Wales, Australia on 27 August 1995...

Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek International Raceway is a motorsports circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek , New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the...

AAP Racing Peugeot 405
Peugeot 405
The Peugeot 405 is a large family car released by the French automaker Peugeot in July 1987 and which continues to be manufactured under licence outside France. It used TU/XU petrol and XUD diesel engines....

 Mi16
35th DNS DNS
1996 Nürburgring 24 Hour
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...

Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...

 Nordschleife
Fortec Motorsport Peugeot 405
Peugeot 405
The Peugeot 405 is a large family car released by the French automaker Peugeot in July 1987 and which continues to be manufactured under licence outside France. It used TU/XU petrol and XUD diesel engines....

 Mi16
111th DNF DNF
2003 Bathurst 2 Hour Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 12 Hour motor race, held each February, and the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October...

Mal Rose Racing Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi launched the Mirage as a three-door front wheel drive hatchback in 1978, as a response to the first fuel crisis some years before. It had a distinctive design with large windows and Mitsubishi's Super Shift transmission . A five-door joined the range in 1979...

 RS
22nd 17th 3rd
2003 Bathurst 24 Hour
2003 Bathurst 24 Hour
The 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour was the second 24 hour race run at Bathurst. The race started at 2:00pm on 22 November 2003 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst and finished at 2:00pm on 23 November....

Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 12 Hour motor race, held each February, and the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October...

Mal Rose Racing Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi launched the Mirage as a three-door front wheel drive hatchback in 1978, as a response to the first fuel crisis some years before. It had a distinctive design with large windows and Mitsubishi's Super Shift transmission . A five-door joined the range in 1979...

 RS
46th DNS DNS

Speedway results

Season Series Position Car Team
1991/2 Australian AUSCAR Championship 22nd Holden Commodore VN
Holden VN Commodore
The Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends...

Fastrack
2006/7 PCR Street Stock Championship
Street Stockers
Street Stockers, are production based speedway cars raced in every state in Australia. Mainly old style sedans, cheap to build and maintain. Most competitive series would be the raced at ....

26th Holden Commodore VS
Holden VS Commodore
The Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...

BCM
2007 RSA Australian Street Stock Championship
Street Stockers
Street Stockers, are production based speedway cars raced in every state in Australia. Mainly old style sedans, cheap to build and maintain. Most competitive series would be the raced at ....

43rd Holden Commodore VS
Holden VS Commodore
The Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...

BCM
2010/11 Tyrepower Sydney Speedway Wingless Sprint Championship 38th Gambler Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...

Fortec
2011 New South Wales Tri-Series Wingless Sprint Championship 40th Gambler Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...

Fortec


† Championship still in progress

Rugby

Cook played both Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 and Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 in his early years as a utility back, usually full back. Starting in League he represented Group 3 and Central Coast Juniors before going to Barker College
Barker College
Barker College is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Hornsby, a North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1890 by the Reverend Henry Plume at Kurrajong Heights, Barker is an all-boys school from Kindergarten to Year 9, and co-educational from...

 and playing seven years of union there where he also became a certified referee. After leaving Barker, he played for Singleton Pirates, representing NSW Country Under 21's in 2 games off the bench in 1989 thanks to his family ties with Phil Hawthorne
Phil Hawthorne
Phil Hawthorne was an Australian rugby league and rugby union footballer - a dual-code international. He represented the Wallabies in 21 Tests and the Kangaroos in 3 Tests. He captained Australia in rugby league the 3rd Test of the 1970 Ashes series.-Rugby union career:Hawthorne was born in 1943...

, before leaving for Europe. In 1990 after returning from Europe, he played for Sydney University Colts
Sydney University Football Club
Sydney University Football Club, founded in 1863 , is the oldest club now playing rugby union in Australia, and as such is nicknamed "The Birthplace of Australian Rugby" or simply "The Birthplace".The club are the current NSWRU Premiers.The club was a member of the inaugural Sydney club competition...

 and at the end of 1990 Oak Bay Castaways-Wanderers in Canada. He retired from rugby after a knee injury in Canada.

Personal life

Cook's parents were hotel owners, and he and his four sisters had a nomadic lifestyle. Thus he went to boarding school at Barker College
Barker College
Barker College is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Hornsby, a North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1890 by the Reverend Henry Plume at Kurrajong Heights, Barker is an all-boys school from Kindergarten to Year 9, and co-educational from...

 and then Sydney University. He is married to Kim (2001), has one son Jenson (2004) and a daughter Mollie (2007) and now lives in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove North. Cook's father John won a National Title in Under 16's soccer for NSW, and a National Junior Surfboat
Surfboat
A surfboat is an oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf or severe waves. It is often used in lifesaving or rescue missions where the most expedient access to victims is directly from the beach.-Construction:...

 title with Swansea
Swansea, New South Wales
Swansea is a locality and commercial centre at the entrance to Lake Macquarie from the Pacific Ocean in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area....

 Caves Beach as well as two Bronze Medallion
Bronze Medallion
The Bronze Medallion may refer to:*Bronze Medallion *Bronze Medallion *Bronze Medallion *Bronze Medallion...

s in the pool and surf. Brendon followed his father by achieving a Bronze Medallion
Bronze Medallion
The Bronze Medallion may refer to:*Bronze Medallion *Bronze Medallion *Bronze Medallion *Bronze Medallion...

 in the pool. He is also a Laird Of
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...

 Jura
Jura, Scotland
Jura is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, situated adjacent and to the north-east of Islay. Part of the island is designated as a National Scenic Area. Until the twentieth century Jura was dominated - and most of it was eventually owned - by the Campbell clan of Inveraray Castle on Loch...

since 2007.

External links

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