We left off with Brett deciding in the middle of 1981 that the Formula 1 dream was over. He still remembers the challenge of reintegrating into life at home after arriving in time for Christmas 1981. “I was buying and selling cars with my father John, but I was unable to adapt to life without motor sport. I returned to the UK later that year to work for Alan Burrows, who was manufacturing Dart Pacific cars along with several other ex-Williams people.”
Brett had shown that the Dart wasn’t competitive with the dominant Ralts, so, at just past his 30th birthday, he went to work for ex–David Price partner John Bracey. He had set up a hospitality and promotions company handling the Rothmans motor sports programme that sponsored Porsche in endurance racing and European rallies, and Honda in Moto GP.
“This was a dream job travelling throughout Europe setting up events,” says Brett. “I spent a lot of time on European rallies, where they ran a Porsche 911 with the great Henri Toivonen, whom I got to know well.”
Brett returned home again for the summer of 1985/’86.
“I’d earned enough money to get back into New Zealand Pacific racing in conjunction with Eric Morgan, who had CRC sponsorship and a Ralt RT4. We did two seasons together in an updated car, but engines were not reliable, and, although occasionally competitive, we always seemed to be behind the game.
“After sliding off at a wet New Zealand Grand Prix, I realised I was also overdriving and felt I should stop, as I was no longer at the level of five years previously,” he says.
It was then back to Europe for Brett and a life-changing encounter in 1986: “I continued working for Rothmans, and that’s where I met Valerie, who was one of the promotional girls assisting me
