What an incredible guy and life story from Peter Doulman. Our standout story from this part of the chat has got to be how they chose their Ex Brock BMWs for the team. 28:56 for the story. Just "take your pick" from the BMW dealer at Waterloo.
I drove the truck transporting the BMWs and Perkins Commodores all around Australia as well as knowing these cars intimately from the many hours of work I did on the in the workshop. I did all the re-fueling during races for Peter. Somebody asked me once how long I had been re-fueling for him, I said, with all honesty, since I was about five (Peter 12) when I used to carry a One Gallon Ampol Oil Can full of petrol for his Go Kart that he didn't mention in this. I'm not sure our parents knew Peter was competing in the Bathurst Light Car Club Events as young as he was. I remember riding in the old man's retired 1962 Six Cylinder Vanguard Ute (three on the tree) around the orchard with Peter, again he would only have been 12 - 13. A few years later I was doing the same in dad's next retired ute, a 1968 Holden Belmont 186 with three on the tree. Both utes were fitted with X Ply tyres on the front and Winter Treads on the rear, the old fella liked to get the power down in the dirt. Three days after my 14th birthday, Peter was coming up to 21 and at Uni Dad rolled a tractor and was seriously hurt. I was the youngest of the boys and this ended my education, I had to work the orchard as dad was unable to. I failed year 10, not because I am dumb but because I had missed so many school days working on the orchard for our parents, that I was ineligible to sit the exams and was simply given the lowest marks. Notwithstanding this, I was offered an apprenticeship as a Tractor/Diesel Mechanic but was unable to take as I was needed to work on the orchard for our parents. While I did love the orchard and farming more than anything, (and still do) I should never have been denied my education and the opportunity to train as a Diesel Mechanic, but they were very different times. If not for this I too could have had an education and career and enjoyed some motor racing at club level only, I've never had the same passion for it as Peter. I was in my late 20s when I became involved much more with Peter, John and M3 Motorsport and in doing so found another love in my life. This led me to do the two-day Frank Gardner BMW Performance Driving Course. Frank knowing Peter was my brother re-organised driver trainer and driver trainees to ensure I was with his most senior and experienced trainer for the two days. To this day I feel privileged that Frank took me aside and gave me three laps of the circuit personal tuition. I have been estranged from Peter and all my siblings since my sex change 22 years ago - like all transgender people I was faced with sex change or suicide, I do not believe suicide is an option whatsoever.
Pete, like many of us is a little older, greyer and been “ grazing on a good paddock” but still the same genuine bloke I met in the mid eighties. I had many very happy years helping Pete and Simon, we always had a laugh but made up for a lack of money with team work and practice. It was great to regularly show what a privateer team could do, particularly in things like the pit stop competitions, regularly knocking off the professionals. People don’t realise just how good a steerer he was. he regularly says Grant is better, but I don’t believe it (sorry Grant) Pete was bloody good, just ask Gricy how he qualified at Bathurst on 7 cylinders! Fantastic memories, thanks, “Desi”
Its worth mentioning that when the ALFA deal at Bathurst in 1988 fell through, Peter got the gig to drive the Medical Car at Bathurst in an RX7. It was the fastest driven RX7 anywhere!
What an incredible guy and life story from Peter Doulman.
Our standout story from this part of the chat has got to be how they chose their Ex Brock BMWs for the team. 28:56 for the story. Just "take your pick" from the BMW dealer at Waterloo.
I drove the truck transporting the BMWs and Perkins Commodores all around Australia as well as knowing these cars intimately from the many hours of work I did on the in the workshop. I did all the re-fueling during races for Peter. Somebody asked me once how long I had been re-fueling for him, I said, with all honesty, since I was about five (Peter 12) when I used to carry a One Gallon Ampol Oil Can full of petrol for his Go Kart that he didn't mention in this.
I'm not sure our parents knew Peter was competing in the Bathurst Light Car Club Events as young as he was. I remember riding in the old man's retired 1962 Six Cylinder Vanguard Ute (three on the tree) around the orchard with Peter, again he would only have been 12 - 13. A few years later I was doing the same in dad's next retired ute, a 1968 Holden Belmont 186 with three on the tree. Both utes were fitted with X Ply tyres on the front and Winter Treads on the rear, the old fella liked to get the power down in the dirt.
Three days after my 14th birthday, Peter was coming up to 21 and at Uni Dad rolled a tractor and was seriously hurt. I was the youngest of the boys and this ended my education, I had to work the orchard as dad was unable to. I failed year 10, not because I am dumb but because I had missed so many school days working on the orchard for our parents, that I was ineligible to sit the exams and was simply given the lowest marks. Notwithstanding this, I was offered an apprenticeship as a Tractor/Diesel Mechanic but was unable to take as I was needed to work on the orchard for our parents. While I did love the orchard and farming more than anything, (and still do) I should never have been denied my education and the opportunity to train as a Diesel Mechanic, but they were very different times. If not for this I too could have had an education and career and enjoyed some motor racing at club level only, I've never had the same passion for it as Peter.
I was in my late 20s when I became involved much more with Peter, John and M3 Motorsport and in doing so found another love in my life. This led me to do the two-day Frank Gardner BMW Performance Driving Course. Frank knowing Peter was my brother re-organised driver trainer and driver trainees to ensure I was with his most senior and experienced trainer for the two days. To this day I feel privileged that Frank took me aside and gave me three laps of the circuit personal tuition.
I have been estranged from Peter and all my siblings since my sex change 22 years ago - like all transgender people I was faced with sex change or suicide, I do not believe suicide is an option whatsoever.
Pete, like many of us is a little older, greyer and been “ grazing on a good paddock” but still the same genuine bloke I met in the mid eighties.
I had many very happy years helping Pete and Simon, we always had a laugh but made up for a lack of money with team work and practice.
It was great to regularly show what a privateer team could do, particularly in things like the pit stop competitions, regularly knocking off the professionals.
People don’t realise just how good a steerer he was. he regularly says Grant is better, but I don’t believe it (sorry Grant) Pete was bloody good, just ask Gricy how he qualified at Bathurst on 7 cylinders!
Fantastic memories, thanks, “Desi”
great stuff
Its worth mentioning that when the ALFA deal at Bathurst in 1988 fell through, Peter got the gig to drive the Medical Car at Bathurst in an RX7. It was the fastest driven RX7 anywhere!
Knowing Peter he would have made sure Medical was there in very good time!
Great history lesson.