A salute to Sir Jack - trail blazer extraordinaire

F1 legend Sir Jack Brabham, one of Australia's greatest sportsmen, was born on this day in 1926.

A 14-time Grand Prix winner and three-time F1 world champion, a man who blended his speed with his engineering acumen, Sir Jack blazed the trail for his family and many others through his outstanding motor racing achievements.

Brabham remains to this day the only driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship at the wheel of his own eponymous car.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.