Bev Brock: Longtime partner of motor racing legend Peter Brock dies after cancer battle

Bev Brock — the longtime partner of Australian motor racing legend Peter Brock — has passed away after a brave battle with cancer.

The Brock family confirmed the tragic news on Sunday morning, which came two years after the Perth-born and raised 77-year-old was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

She died at her Melbourne home.

“Bev was a dedicated parent, always making time to make a costume for a play or help out on a school camp,” her son James wrote on Facebook in a statement announcing her passing.

“She dedicated her life to helping Peter’s racing career taking on multiple roles, all met with skill, smarts and purpose.

“Beverley was also involved with multiple charities earning her an Order of Australia in 2016.

“Over the last few years she focused her time and passion on The Skyline Foundation, Melbourne Rotary, public speaking and her ever expanding family.”

Bev was a a constant figure in Brock’s racing career before the pair split in 2005.

A year later, Brock died during the Targa West rally in Gidgegannup, in the Perth Hills.

Bev was born on January 15, 1947, in Stoneville. She was one of seven children.

After studying education, she went on to teach science and home economics.

In her book, Life to the Limit, the mother of three spoke fondly of her childhood in the Perth Hills and her time at the single-teacher Stoneville school.

After studying at Claremont Teachers College and Perth Tech, Bev taught at country schools such as Beverley, Brookton, Northam and Carnamah.

It was during her time in Carnamah where she suffered a life-changing injury when she dived into water at Three Springs and broke her neck, an accident she described as the “biggest challenge of my life”.

Bev had James with her first husband James McIntosh and later had two children, Robert and Alexandra, with Brock.

She leaves behind seven grandchildren.

“Her loss will be immense as her presence, wisdom and support can never be matched,” the Brock family said.

A statement from Supercars described Bev as the “matriarch of the Brock family”.

“Born in Western Australia, Bev was a former teacher, life counsellor, an author, a passionate environmentalist and road safety advocate,” the statement said.

“But she was probably best known as Bevo, the backbone of Peter and his stature in the motorsport world from 1978.

“She was the constant presence in the pits whenever he raced for around 28 years, often while lap charting Peter’s races in the early days and then organising the giant signing sessions for his fans in the later days.”