595 replies to this topic

[ReWind]

Was that the Racing History forum?

Yep, 'twas.

Thanks for the Hansen dates.

EDIT: Could Joe Diaz be Joseph Gilbert Diaz (b. 1939) [Source]?

Edited by ReWind, 26 December 2009 - 18:53.

[Michael Ferner]

Marshall Hansen, b. 30 April 1922, d. 24 April 2009 he was a car owner (CRA sprint cars). I believe he was related to midget/Indy racer of the 30's/40's Mel Hansen.

Yep, brother.

[Jim Thurman]

Yep, 'twas.

Thanks for the Hansen dates.

EDIT: Could Joe Diaz be Joseph Gilbert Diaz (b. 1939) [Source]?

Reinhard, I am not sure. I don't have an approximate age for Joe Diaz Sr., where he was living...nothing.

You're welcome on the Hansen dates, sorry I don't have more on the others.

[ReWind]

Summary 2009 (not complete I’m afraid)

Argentina (20 passings)
Segundo Ale (95 years old) Carlos Balbé (76) Roque Boyle (65) Jorge Caire (43) José Luis Firmani (51) Desiderio Kuriger (90) Fernando López Sánchez (c.40) Alfredo Manzano (68) Otto Parodi (84) Óscar Pazzaglia (77) Ricardo Pereyra (??) Silvio Pérez (34) Juan Pomodoro (70) Angel Rienzi (84) Aurelio Santoro (85) Carlos Stabile (91) Santos Toraño (87) Pablo Tosticarelli (c.21) Reynaldo Vaccalluzzo (63) Juan Yannantuoni (59)

Australia (20)
Bob Annear (c.86) Enno Buesselmann (67) Arthur Collett (96) Bert Flood (c.79) Frank Gardner (77) Arnold Glass (82) Ian Gordon (67) Vic Hodson (c.88) Peter Holinger (76) Reg Lunn (85) Bruce McPhee (82) Austin Miller (85) George Reed (98) Llynden Riethmuller (c.61) Arthur Rizzo (91) Adrian Ryan (77) Austin Tauranac (c.79) Graham Watson (61) Peter Wherrett (72) John Youl (76)

Austria (7)
Gunther Böhs (67) Rudi Hämmerle (56) Ernst Hauer (c.51) Hans Kalaschek (60) Karl Orthuber (81) Toni Sailer (73) Rudolf Schraml (58)

Belgium (11)
Guy Brunninghausen (81) Romain Diepart (22) Serge Jouniaux (56) Stéphane Lucchese (37) Philippe Maertens (53) Michel Meunier (c.60) Victor Trinon (77) Pierre Ugeux (95) Karien Vynckier (44) Christian Wauters (62) „Yasmine“ (= Hilde Rens) (37)
 
Bolivia (1)
Enrique Franco (49)
 
Brazil (6)
Dante di Camillo (79) Saul Caus (57) Delci Damian (c.67) Charles Naccache (c.79) Clayton Peres (c.51) Robson Walther (c.28)
 
Bulgaria (1)
Kiril Popov (c.22)

Canada (10)
Francis Bradley (82) Ernest Digney (89) Dave Greenblatt (71) Ron Hackett (80) Hima Maher (40) Lou Melin (42) Bob St. Amand (72) Tim Timms (c.35) Greg Wilkins (53) Barbara Wójtowicz (91)

Colombia (1)
Ricardo Londoño (59)

Croatia (1)
Mirko Mladenović (??)
 
Cyprus (1)
Michalis Koumas (64)

Denmark (1)
Birgitte de Bourbon (87)

Estonia (1)
Ülo Hallberg (65)
 
Finland (4)
Pentti Airikkala (64) Rainer Eklund (84) Curt Nelskylä (61) Esa Saarenpää (47)

France (34)
Tony Alves (50) Patrick Barrientos (58) Christian Bellement (59) Jean-Pierre Bochatay (45) Jacques Boucard (65) Jean Briche (64) Claude Buchet (63) „Casal“ (72) Jacques Coche (65) Jean-Paul Colas (98) Philippe Couesnon (47) Jean-Pierre Deroudilhe (41) Jacques Durand (89) Alain Florentin (37) Alain Gawski (57) Françis Guazzelli (55) Ketty Kerviel (93) Serge Laurent (67) Philippe Leroy (49) Laurent Licour (40) Francis Mariani (59) Paul Massy (64) Gérard Mérigaud (60) Didier Miquée (60) Stéphane Moutot (37) Marie-Jo Pialhoux (49) Jean-Michel Pietri (34) Jacques Poch (96) Jean Py (86) André Roman (c.62) Jean Sage (69) Cindy Sevestre (22) Serge Theilacker (57) Jean-Pierre Thibault (74)

Germany (24)
Klaus Coder (62) Gerhard Dammertz (63) Dieter-Paul Dick (62) Reinhold Hohmann (66) Paul Hulverscheid (59) Roland Hurlebaus (57) Oswald Karch (91) Hans Klenk (89) Heinz Kilp (61) Walter Knoch (89) Günter Lambert (??) Dieter Lingen (c.63) Richard Pfaffenberger (60) Norbert Przybilla (65) Hans-Dieter Mans (c.66) Rainer Mertel (64) Gerhard Reiß (70) Peter Rössler (61) Klaus Steinmetz (74) Norbert Walther (53) Franz Weigl (61) Harry Weishaupt (49) Karl-Ludwig Weiß (c.62) Hans Zacherl (61)

Great Britain (63)
Peter Arundell (75) Chrissie Ashford (60) Pierre Aumonier (73) David Baker (??) John Boardman (88) Tony Bodley (83) Terry Briggs (63) John Britten (78) Peter Bryant (71) George Burton (93) Marcus Chambers (98) Peter Cooper (c.86) Bob Dayson (70) Denys Dobbie (c.71) Martyn Dobson (51) Jackie Epstein (74) Jim Esau (??) Colin Escott (77) Tony Fisher (82) Steve Fleck (46) Geoff Friswell (63) Dave Gilbert (c.55) Andrew Goodfellow (??) Martin Gould (64) Don Gray (95) Bill Grose (87) David Haynes (80) Olly Hollamby (65) George Horne (88) Len Jarman (49) Will Johnston Jr. (c.19) Mark Joseland (77) Chris Kelly (c.58) Jim Kelly (63) Olga Kevelos (85) Pete King (80) Spen King (85) Roy Lane (74) Joe Lowrey (91) Ken Mackenzie (92) Tony Marsh (77) Roy Mayne (88) Peter Miller (81, Lawrence Mitchell (87) Bill Morris (67) Graham Nearn (76) Jack Newton (c.86) Patricia Ozanne (85) Rex Paddock (c.56) Bobby Parkes (85) Ken Rudd (88) Peter Sadler (68) Ian Scott (61) Reg Skeels (77) Allan Staniforth (84) Tim Stock (65) Henry Surtees (18) David Swan (90) Joe Tandy (26) Eric Tobitt (88) Tom Wheatcroft (87) Peter Wheeler (65) Douglas Wood (29)

Greece (4)
Vassileios Magalios (??) Periklis Pallas (c.57) Giórgos Velis (48) Minas Vourdoubakis (c.89)

Hungary (1)
Tamás Bukovics (34)

Ireland (2)
Vivian Candy (60) Tony Colley (58)

Italy (19)
Franco Ambrosio (76) Ciro Basadonna (103) Antonio Bellentani (c.77) Alfredo Belponer (80) Giuseppe Berretti (c.53) Alceste Bodini (77) Giovanni Centenari (c.60) Raimondo Gardella (??) Mirko Giachetti (22) Flavio Guglielmini (37) „Hoga“ (66) Gino Munaron (81) Biagio Muscionico (63) Raoul Patrizi (83) Tonino Persiani (c.60) Antonio Pucci (85) Sebastiano Scamporlino (c.46) Andrea Sternieri (c.28) Elio Zagato (88)

Japan (1)
Takayoshi Ohashi (67)

Kenya (3)
Riyaz Kurji (45) Harbhajan Saimbi (59) Farakh Yusuf (c.54)

Mexico (1)
Carlos Pardo (33)

Netherlands (4)
Barthold de Beaufort (89) Thomas Knopper (19) Gerry Meijerhof (40) Pim Stoel (c.71)

New Zealand (5)
Cliff North (79) Phil Ornstien (c.85) Dorothy Smith (92) Malcolm Stewart (63) Brian Tracey (??)
 
Norway (1)
Torkel Trønnes Jr. (51)
 
Peru (1)
Abraham Ortega (46)
 
Philippines (1)
Pocholo Ramírez (76)
 
Poland (5)
Włodzimierz Markowski (86) Kazimierz Osiński (82) Stanisław Wierzba (c.79) Jerzy Wilbik (75) Jerzy Zaczeniuk (c.83)
 
Portugal (2)
Aldino Brito (??) José Mégre (66)
 
Romania (1)
Lucian Gârbacea (41)

Russia (3)
Igor Kosarev (30) Viktor Kuzminykh (c.56) Lev Shugurov (75)

San Marino (1)
Massimo Ercolani (51)

Slovenia (1)
Boštjan Verbič (45)

South Africa (4)
Trevor Hulks (c.66) Tony Maggs (72) Jackie Pretorius (74) Willie Vlok (72)

Spain (6)
Hans Bäbler (85) Antonio González (52) Samuel Hernández (c.23) Luís Ramos (c.45) Manuel Raña (??) Jon Ander Usabiaga (c.27)
 
Sweden (8)
Gunnar Andersson (82) Sven Andersson (90) Boo Johansson aka Boo Brasta (68) Ingvar Carlsson (62) Harry Källström (70) John Kvarnström (89) Rolf Mellde (86) Staffan Svenby (65)

Switzerland (6)
Peter Baumberger (84) Charles Defrancesco (c.81) Ami Guichard (c.57) „Hervé“ (91) Hubert Patthey (90) Heini Walter (81)
 
Turkey (1)
Aydan Akal (55)

United States of America (207)
Jim Abrecht (83) Pete Allshouse (77) George Alsobrook (75) Mike Amalfitano (72) Davie Annis (57) Al Arnold (69) Don Arnold (77) George Ault (56) Donnie Ayer (60)
Barney Barney (86) Jerry Bartlett (71) Alex Beaumont (55) Dick Beebe (76) Timothy Behmer (59) Tom Bell (57) Bill Berry (83) Gordon Betz (91) Lou Blaney (69) Bob Blood (70) Maynard Bodine (75) Mike Botelho (52) Steve Bowers (49) Glen Bradley (80) Harry Brix (61) Earle Brucker (83) Roy Bryant (71) Bob Burcham (73) Alan Burgess (54) Butch Burgess (62) Clem Burnsed (81) Jonathan Byrd (57)
Ray Callahan (71) Barry Cann (64) Terry Cannon (53) Shaun Carlson (35) Bill Carr (90) Don Carr (87) Joe Carver (85) Joe Caspolich (79) Russ Chapman (67) Bob Christie (85) Sid Colberg (93) Pete Condos (84) Jeff Conkel (53) Gary Cornelison (62) Bill Cornwall (86) Walter Cronkite (92) Darrell Crotty (71) Jim Cunningham (65)
Barnrat Devaney (67) Phyllis Devine (77) Gary Diebolt (64) Jerry Dominelli (68) Ikey Dorr (56) Thomas Dozard (58) Todd Drew (41) Ray Duckworth (86) Joe Duffy (83) Ralph Dyer (95)
Ace Eiland (83) Pete Elder (88) Bill Elswick (61) Bud Erb (90) Sig Erson (79)
Stub Fadden (75) Ray Figone (77) Chuck Finders (69) Chuck Forge (74) Elgin Freeman (66) Merv Furtado (87)
Chuck Gaa (63) Ernie Gahan (83) Harry Gailey (73) Ed Gibbons (46) Phil Good (54) Bob Graham (69) Owen Granger Jr. (74) Oda Greene (81) Kevin Grubb (31)
Paul Hacker (62) Eddie Haenelt (51) Marshall Hansen (86) Matt Hawkins (21) Gary Headley (67) Craig Hennige (60) Chet Herbert (81) Bill Herzog (88) Bob Hesser (46) Gilbert Hutson (87)
Vic Irvan (79) Walt James (86) Bud Johnson (80) Mike Johnson (64)
John Kerby-Miller (79) John Kirby (72) Danny Kladis (92) Brad Kline (25) Keith Kocher (53) Charlie Kolb (85) Joe Kosch (53) Dick Kraft (87) Joey Kuhn (48) Peter Kuhn (54)
Tom Luce (73) Bob Lytle (84)
Emory Mahan (82) Jim Makar (76) Ronnie Marcum (53) Dick May (78) Teddy Mayer (73) Jack McCoy (72) Chad McDaniel (34) Sheetz McGarvey (40) Ron McGee (61) Wayne McGuire (80) Sam McQuagg (73) Jim McWithey (81) Larry Miller (64) Donna Mae Mims (82) Tom Monarch (63) Charlie Moore (86) Robert Moorhead (88) John Moss (74) Jim Muldoon (69) Frank Mundy (90) Jim Murrow (64)
Jim Nace (55) Robert Nichols Jr. (46) Kenneth Nolan (60)
Johnny O'Laughlin (62) Walt Olsen (73) Jim Opperman (78) Bill Osborne (62) Bryan Osgood (77) Dan Osmeloski (54)
Don Palmer (88) Wayne Patterson (60) Judd Pickup (94) Robert Pierson (82) David Poole (50) Rupert Porter (73) Ollie Prather (89)
Ed Rahal (84) Ray Rairdon (82) Rudy Ramos (62) Stew Reamer (83) Jack Reilley (79) Francis Reynolds (83) Larry Rice (63) D.J. Richardson (37) Eric Rickman (90) Marvin Rifchin (94) Art Riley (93) John Romano (31) Bill Root (74) Rosey Roseman (80) Art Rousseau (87) Bobby Rowe (64) Chuckie Royer (46) Lloyd Ruby (81) Hank Russ (92) Dan Ryan Sr. (48)
Earl Sadler (87) Frank Sandlin (73) Lou Sattelmaier (74) Don Schisler (74) Kerry Schloder (53) Hans Schmidt (81) Billy Schulz (73) John Schulz (47) Benny Scott (64) Bill Scott (71) Will Scott (70) Phillip Seifert (30) Rich Shafer (66) Banks Simpson (92) Dave Sloyer (69) Bob Smeltzer (73) Steve Snoddy (59) Gino Spada (64) Cliff Spalding (80) Ken Spikes (74) Johnny Spradley (47) Raymond Stalls (83) Fred Steinbroner (83) Greg Stevens (60) Christian Stover (16) Harry Stryker (77)
Bill Tannhaeuser (87) John Thawley (71) Thomas Thrash (48) Jack Tyne (80) Tom Usry (72) Raye Vest (76)
Earl Wagner (74) Rick Ward (47) Trigger Watson (82) Charlie Webster (38) Billy Wilkerson (82) Lynn Wineland (81) Pat Wohlgemuth Sr. (74) Loren Woodke (84) Buzz Woodward (79) “Crocky Wright” (90) Noel Wynne (79) Leo Wyrsch (92)
David Yarmoluk (59)
 
Uruguay (1)
Héctor Fojo (83)



In each case where I had to put “c.” in front of the age number or even had to insert two question marks I would appreciate to learn the exact birth date of the deceased person. Thank you.

Edited by ReWind, 15 April 2024 - 14:31.

[Haine Kane]

My file about Hubert PATTHEY : I remember that I see him in the RETROMOBILE show several years ago.



RIP

[ReWind]

Surveying AUTOSPORT's feature "Loved and lost" (December 31, 2009, pp. 42 - 47) I came across short obituaries for Paul Franklin (b. 1946) and Dave Gilbert (b. 1952).

Although I seem to recall to have read about Franklin's passing in an earlier issue I failed to find it again.

The original death notice about Gilbert (where his year of birth was given as 1953) suggests he died in late February or early March.

Has anyone more exact dates about those two lost ones?

[Nanni Dietrich]

Fabrizio Violati passed away at the age of 75 after a long illness, on 22 January 2010.

A historic cars collector, he founded the Maranello Rosso team creating the greatest Ferrari and Abarth cars museum at Falciano, Republic of San Marino in 1989. A Ferrari vintage cars famous racer, Fabrizio Violati participated as an active competitor in the Historic Challenge Series, winning several times the title.

He also drove Ferraris (512BB, F40 and others) in the World Sportscar Championship in the 1980s and 90s.

[ReWind]

Jesse - full name: Dr. Malcolm Robert Jesse - Wyllie died on 12 February 2010 at the age of 90 in Troy, Virginia.
(Source)

(Source)

(Source)

Peggy and Jesse Wyllie live on their cattle farm in Troy, Va., where they moved after Jesse Wyllie’s retirement in 1982. They previously lived in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Texas, California and Pennsylvania during Wyllie’s long career as a research scientist and executive with Gulf Oil Corp.

He was president of Gulf Research and Development Co., then, successively, executive vice president, president and chairman of Gulf Oil Co. (Eastern Hemisphere). He also served as chairman of the Kuwait Oil Co.

A South African Rhodes Scholar, Wyllie earned a Doctor of Philosophy in electrometallurgy at Oxford in 1942. In 1958, Oxford awarded him a Doctor of Science in recognition of his published research in the fields of geophysics and geochemistry.

Edited by ReWind, 20 February 2010 - 07:51.

[David McKinney]

Another great name passes
I remember him more as a small-car man, especially in the Lotus IX and Lola
Didn't realise he was South African

[cooper997]

Surveying AUTOSPORT's feature "Loved and lost" (December 31, 2009, pp. 42 - 47) I came across short obituaries for Paul Franklin (b. 1946) and Dave Gilbert (b. 1952).

Although I seem to recall to have read about Franklin's passing in an earlier issue I failed to find it again.

The original death notice about Gilbert (where his year of birth was given as 1953) suggests he died in late February or early March.

Has anyone more exact dates about those two lost ones?

The Mini Cooper Register ran an obituary for Dave in their March 2009 issue. States he passed away on January 23, 2009. It also states 1953, but no actual birth date. He had been battling leukaemia for a lengthy period. Two of his 3 Rally Minis then went to auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2009. '8 EMO' went to TV Chef, James Martin. GRX 555D (the 1966 Monte Carlo Rallye 'winner' - but famously disqualified) requiring comprehensive restoration was sold to Paul Lips and GRX310D was retained by his daughter.

Stephen

[Terry Walker]

Gone in 2010 in Western Australia:

John Garry Budgen - raced in the around-the-houses era in the early 1960s in the Ford Spl built by the late Jack Nelson in 1940, by the 1960s fitted with a Morris ohv engine rather than the original supercharged Ford 10 and known as the FoMo; retired; reappeared in the 1990s in Historic racing in a Dodge powered front engined special. Died 10 January aged 72. Raced until 2008.

Ted Jordan (Edward Henry). Died 13 February 2010 aged 67. An enthusiastic racer in mostly the Historic category in a 356 Porsche and in a Mustang, for many years.

[HiRich]

Gordon Jones, sometime Formula III and Lotus XI driver of the 1950s died 14th January. Apparently he had some part in introducing NG Hill to ACB Chapman.

[hansfohr]

Gordon Jones, sometime Formula III and Lotus XI driver of the 1950s died 14th January. Apparently he had some part in introducing NG Hill to ACB Chapman.

Gordon met Graham at the U.M.R.C. drivingschool at Brands which led to a hitchhike for Hill with Colin to London. It resulted into a job as mechanic at Lotus' former premises in Hornsey, London. The rest is history......

As for Gordon's career: in the 60's he just competed in a handful of races with Lister/Marcos/Lotus. The last recorded result I could find was a DNF in the 1000 kms on the Nordschleife in 1964, sharing a Marcos Gullwing with Roger Nathan.

Edited by hansfohr, 22 February 2010 - 11:37.

[David McKinney]

As for Gordon's career: in the 60's he just competed in a handful of races with Lister/Marcos/Lotus

I presume those comments are limited to international events?
I seem to remember he was a fairly active clubman, especially with Lotuses

[hansfohr]

I presume those comments are limited to international events? I seem to remember he was a fairly active clubman, especially with Lotuses

That's true, but in my post I was only referring to the early 60's, HiRich already mentioned his exploits in F3 and the Lotus XI.

BTW He quit racing after he couldn't properly use his left foot anymore, due to an accident on or off track. He started flying instead at Biggin Hill.

Edited by hansfohr, 22 February 2010 - 13:20.

[Richard Jenkins]

According to a wise, indefigatable and learned source, Bill Moss died on the 13th January 2010.

Best remembered for driving the pre-war ERA Remus for many years in club and historic racing, he also failed to qualify for the 1959 British Grand Prix.

[Richard Jenkins]

From the Indianapolis Star:

E. Hoyt "Doc" Kerr Jr., who worked on Buddy Lazier's 1996 Indianapolis 500-winning crew with Hemelgarn Racing as part of his long career in the sport, died earlier this week at the age of 93. His funeral was Saturday in Speedway. (March 13th article - http://www.indystar....f-IndyCar-race)

More precise obituary here - http://www.tributes....t-Kerr-88039180

[ReWind]

a wise, indefigatable and learned source

You mean "indefatigable", don't you?;)

Edited by ReWind, 17 March 2010 - 13:29.

[Gabrci]

According to a wise, indefigatable and learned source, Bill Moss died on the 13th January 2010.

Best remembered for driving the pre-war ERA Remus for many years in club and historic racing, he also failed to qualify for the 1959 British Grand Prix.

Sad news. Does anyone happen to know what he was doing in the past 15 years? An obituary perhaps?

[ReWind]

A survey of the passings which to my knowledge happened in the first quarter of 2010:

Mike Addington (USA,50) Horia Andronic (Rom,56) Gene Angelillo (USA,74) Christian Avril (Fra,77)
Franco Ballerini (Ita,45) Eric Barnes (Aus,c.58) Harold Beach (GBr,96) Jean Boillot (Fra,84) Ed Brannon (USA,85) John Budgen (Aus,c.71) Otto Burghart (Aut,66)
Jerry Camp (USA,75) Albert Chappe (Fra,c.96) Bob Cody (USA,65)
John Dabbs (GBr,c.73) Michel Deleuze (Fra,c.53) Bob Donner (USA,79)
Jake Elder (USA,73)
Alain Franceschi (Fra,c.66) Larry Frank (USA,80) Pete Frazee (USA,83) Willi Frenz (Ger,c.74) Donald Frey (USA,86)
Jan Gabriel (USA,69) Norman Greenway (GBr,87) Shirl Greer (USA,74)
Jim Hayhoe (USA,74) Ron Haylen (Aus) Bob Higman (USA,84) Stace Hopper (NZl,c.27) Heinrich Hülbüsch (Ger)
Gordon Jones (GBr) Ted Jordan (Aus,c.67)
Hiro Kaneda (Jpn,60) Hoyt Kerr (USA,93) Marek Kozłowski (Pol)
Marilyn Makar (USA,76) John McKarns (USA,65) Alan McKechnie (GBr,c.73) Hal Minyard (USA,85) Pierre Monneret (Fra,79) Bill Moss (GBr,76)
Chris Neville-Parry (GBr,c.69)
Bill Patterson (Aus,86) Charles Pauley (USA,97) K.S. Pittman (USA,82) Jacques Poisson (Fra,72) Paul Prill (USA,67)
FitzRoy Raglan (GBr,82)
Walter Schneider (Ger,83) Carl Seelye (USA,72) Kevin Shearer (Aus,72) Lee Sofield (USA,67) Nanán Solana (Mex,67) Joe Stimola (USA,c.61)
Bob Tasca Sr. (USA,83) Jim Townsend (USA,72)
Silvio Vaglio (Sui,70) Fabrizio Violati (Ita,74)
Bob Wagner (USA,85) Dick Wells (USA,75) Jesse Wyllie (USA,90)
Porky Zartman (USA,76)

Edited by ReWind, 26 June 2010 - 15:19.

[ReWind]

Sad as it is to let you know that Italian Ciro Basadonna died seven months ago on 01 October 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, but it also means that he should be the new “record holder” amongst motor racing people in terms of lifetime because he was born on 30 June 1906 which tells us that he was a stunning 103 years old.

[werks prototype]

Herb Scott has passed away.

http://www.inracingn...erb-scott-dies/

[rx-guru]

Swedish former Rallycross driver and later Ferrari sportscar racer Christer Bohlin was found dead at his home at Götene near the Kinnekulle Ring on May 6 2010.
May he rest in peace!

http://www.rallycros...news_bohlin.jpg

Edited by rx-guru, 14 May 2010 - 07:30.

[rx-guru]

Reinhard, according to Jacques Privat’s French book RALLYCROSS 1977–2007 Mikaël Pailler († 14.01.2007) was 28 years old, but there is no DOB given.

[rx-guru]

Reinhard, according to Jacques Privat’s French book RALLYCROSS 1977–2007 Mikaël Pailler († 14.01.2007) was 28 years old, but there is no DOB given.

Just found out his DOB, 14.10.1979, so 27 years was correct.

[ReWind]

Thank you very much, Eddi!

[HistoryFan]

Chris Mays, former mechanic at Williams and Honda, died some days ago after an road accident five years ago.

[raoul leDuke]

Noted Ferrari collector and vintage car racer Tom Mittler passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2010. He suffered a massive stoke at his home in Three Rivers Minnesota. he was 67. Apart from his significant Ferrari collection he also owned 40 boats including Caleb Bragg's Baby Bootlegger.

[Red Socks]

Noted Ferrari collector and vintage car racer Tom Mittler passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2010. He suffered a massive stoke at his home in Three Rivers Minnesota. he was 67. Apart from his significant Ferrari collection he also owned 40 boats including Caleb Bragg's Baby Bootlegger.

RIP Tom , a man who never took himself too seriously and had-to my mind-one of the best collections in the USA.

[ReWind]

Update (scroll to the bottom of the post behind the link)
Additions in June:
Richard Macon (USA,72) Clarence “Mutt” Anderson (USA,94) Bub Bilodeau (USA,53) Angus Clydesdale (GBr,71) Neal Parker (USA,58) Les Richter (USA,79) Mal Simpson (Aus,c.79) Jean Belin (Fra,c.71) Tom Mittler (USA,67) John Storr (Can,69) Thomas Maguire (Irl,26) Joe Phipps (USA,74) Aub Revell (Aus,91) Raymond Parks (USA,96) Robin Mortimer (GBr,58) Andrea Curami (Ita,63) Günter Nonninger (Ger,87)
R.I.P.

Edited by ReWind, 26 June 2010 - 20:15.

[raceannouncer2003]

John Storr of Victoria, B.C., Canada, passed away last Friday. He raced a Titan Mk 5 Formula Ford at Westwood, etc. in the early 70s, and a Brabham BT29 in some Atlantic races in 1975 and 1976. Here is the link to the obit:

http://www.legacy.co...sonId=143747153

and a photo of John in Steve Clark's Brabham in 2005.



Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 26 June 2010 - 00:34.

[eldougo]

Just found out the news ,it happened a few days ago.Sad indeed a lovely man he had a great life.

http://www.fvee.org....vale_aud_revell

Edited by eldougo, 26 June 2010 - 01:56.

[Ray Bell]

Both the FVee thread and the 'Mentioned in Passing' thread carried this sad news, Doug...

There's details of the service on one of them.

[ReWind]

Update of recent passings:
John Crampton (GBr,88) Wayne Leary (USA,71) Helmut Rathjen (Ger,91) Édouard Seidler (Fra,78) Audie Swartz (USA,84) John Metzger (USA,55) Frank Dochnal (USA,89) John Gunn (USA,70) Mark Niver (USA,60) Norm Bice (Aus,c.82) Don Robertson (USA,79) Peter Wynn-Jones (GBr,71) Earl Brooks (USA,80) Jochen Berger (Ger,64) Norm Froscher (USA,c.79)
For the respective dates click here & scroll down to the bottom of that post.

[Lemnpiper]

Obscure NASCAR Driver from 1975



Charlie Griffin 07/28/1943 - 03/10/2010,


The ONLY reason we may ever know his fate is because Mr Griffin's son posted to the Don Robertson funeral home memorial page offering his condolences and alerting the Robertson family of Charlie Griffin's passing back on March 10th.
The connection? Charlie Griffin's 2 career NASCAR races were at North Wilksboro in 1975 in a car owned by Don Robertson.
SSDI also lists a Charlie Griffin as dying on march 10, 2010 .

I did send an e mail to the folks at racing reference about Mr Griffin as well since they to are keeping of list of deceased drivers. But when you did the Aug 2 update i went back and noticed you didnt have Mr Griffin listed for march.

Sometimes it seems you get info in the most unexpected places in the most unexpected ways.


Thanks
Paul

[ReWind]

Thanks, Paul.

Unfortunately I just learned that yesterday German racing legend Sepp Greger died at the age of 95.

[Jim Thurman]

Some passings from the Western U.S. racing scene over the first seven months of 2010...

Ernie Bartley, 79, died June 9 in San Diego, California. Bartley raced Super Stocks at Cajon Speedway in the 70's and early 80's and stayed involved with the sport.

Al Eames, b. 1915, died June 10. He was either 94 or 95. Eames was a regular competitor in the stock cars races at Oakland Speedway, winning a 250 mile race there on May 30, 1941.

Don Gilchrest, 79, died May 26 at Everett, Washington. Gilchrest was an avid follower of the sport and helped out with a buddies track roadster in the Pacific Northwest in the 40's. Moving to Long Beach, California, Gilchrest became a columnist focusing on CRA sprint cars. His "West Coast Wanderings" column ran in several racing newspapers in the 70's and 80's.

Harry Schilling, 93, died July 7 at Discovery Bay, California. Schilling was a car owner in the midget ranks, driver in hardtops and race promoter. He operated Oakland Stadium it's last 3 seasons.

Ernie Stierly, 79. died July 3 at Vancouver, Washington. Stierly raced stock cars in the Northwest for many years before tackling the NASCAR Grand National West series. Stierly became a series regular in 1974, finishing 10th in points in a season featuring a heartbreaking loss at Cajon Speedway near San Diego. Leading handily over Ray Elder, Stierly's Chevelle blew it's engine in the final corner of the 150th and final lap around the 3/8 mile paved oval, spinning lazily into the infield as Elder passed by to take the win. Stierly would rebound to score 2 wins in '75, at Umatilla and Portland in Oregon. In 1976, Stierly repeated victories at those two tracks and scored an additional win at Victoria, B.C. on his was to finishing 2nd in points. He would finish 6th in points in 1977. Stierly also made 5 starts in NASCAR's top series, four of them at Riverside International Raceway and one at Ontario Motor Speedway. He also competed in the first four GNW events held at Laguna Seca Raceway. Overall, he is known to have made 98 career starts in NASCAR's Western series from 1971-1979 with 5 career wins and 24 top 5 finishes.

[ReWind]

Thanks for those infos, Jim! I added them to my thread-opening post.

Al Eames, b. 1915, died June 10. He was either 94 or 95.

In fact he was 94. (Source)

[Jim Thurman]

Thanks for those infos, Jim! I added them to my thread-opening post.
In fact he was 94. (Source)

You're welcome. Glad you found a date for Al Eames, none of the area newspaper obituaries I found listed one.

Surely he must have been the last surviving driver from the pre-WWII stock car races at Oakland.

[Jim Thurman]

A couple of others from Southern California earlier this year...

Ken Hobson, b. 1942, died in May. A dirt track late model racer, Hobson began racing at Ascot Park, and was also a regular at Corona Raceway and Speedway 117 as well as competing in open competition races throughout the region. Later, he owned dirt track modifieds. He also raced drag boats (I have turned up very little on this. I believe he was residing in Bullhead City, Arizona at the time of his passing).

Gary Sigman, 70, passed away March 5 at a Riverside hospital where he was being treated after a welding mishap. Sigman was one of the top stock car chassis builders in Southern California and a car owner as well. His Circle 6 car was one of the cars to beat on Southern California tracks - Ray Johnstone, Chuck Becker Jr., Larry Esau, Bill Butts, Steve Vaughn, Jerry Johnson and Dean Padie were among those who drove the familiar metallic blue entry over the years.

[ReWind]

Hans-Peter Pandur, 52, who scored two Formula 3 wins in Germany in 1983 and won a Formula SuperVee race in Detroit in 1985 obviously took his own life on 24 August 2010 in Anaheim, California, when he was hit by a train.
Link # 1
Link # 2

Edited by ReWind, 07 September 2010 - 12:21.

[ReWind]

More sad news from Germany:

Anton Goeser, 59, died on 28 August 2010 from a heart attack.

Gerhard Koch, 75, also died in August 2010. I don't know on which day, though.

[bradbury west]

From today in 1999, with all of his talents or faults, he knew his motor cars
http://www.telegraph...Alan-Clark.html
Roger Lund

[Nanni Dietrich]

On 29 August 2010 Tony Padrone was killed in a road accident in the Isle of Ischia, while riding his motor scooter.
He was 67.
Former touring-car and Formula 3 driver, he finished 2nd in the Italian F.2000 Trophy in 1982 (a national series for ageing Formula 3 cars fitted with Alfa Romeo engines).
In the 1990s he created the Asso-Minicar, which organized the Italian Minicar series, for small touring-cars derived from the old Fiat 500 and the Fiat 126.
More than 80 vintage cars were prepared by different teams, fitted with a 80bhp 2-cylinder engine and six-speed gearbox. Races were held at Magione and other Italian small tracks as Varano, Franciacorta, Battipaglia and Binetto but also in national circuits as Monza, Vallelunga, Imola and Pergusa. The Minicars also competed in Italian hillclimbs. More recently Padrone introduced the Formula Racing Free, a series for 600 cm3 Predator single-seaters.
He was very popular in Italy, acting as President of the Asso-Minicar. He took part in races only occasionally.

Edited by Nanni Dietrich, 08 September 2010 - 07:08.

[ReWind]

From various French sources I understand that Bernard Mangé, co-founder of tuning firm Sodemo, died after having been in a coma for nearly two weeks since he was attacked by an angry customer of his son’s shop on August 27th.

[Jim Thurman]

I accidentally posted this is the Mentioned In Passing thread, where it is out of place...

George Esau passed away August 15 in San Diego, California at age 82. Starting out in karts, Esau didn't step into a race car until he was 37, but enjoyed a successful 20 year car in stock cars. First at Cajon Speedway near San Diego, then racing the southern California NASCAR Late Model Sportsman division, Esau won many feature events at was 1972 Southern California champion. Sons Larry and Ron followed him into racing. Nicknamed "Big Daddy" and "Sir George", Esau also competed at Daytona International Speedway and was a popular and well-liked competitor among both fans and fellow drivers.

[ReWind]

Does anyone know the birth dates of Dan Margulies and Trevor Twaites?

[bradbury west]

All I can find for Trevor is born 2nd quarter of 1944, so not old. I suspect that the BRDC will have fuller details for both
Roger Lund

[ReWind]

Hilly Rife died recently. (Source)
An obituary by Lohman Funeral Homes:

Rife, Hillen “Hilly” –who celebrated his 83rd birthday on Sept. 1, was born in New Oxford, PA and succumbed to this life on Sept. 17, 2010. A 5:00 PM gathering followed by a 7:00 service will be held on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at the Ormond Chapel of the Lohman Funeral Home. New Oxford, PA Services will be under the direction of Fred Feiser’s Funeral Home, 302 Lincoln Way West. Visitation will be Thursday from 6-8 and funeral service Friday at 11:00 AM with interment to follow at the New Oxford Cemetery.
Hilly shared most of his life with his wife of 65 years, Becky, on their family farm in New Oxford, but moved to Ormond Beach in 1991; they periodically returned to their family farm, which has been in their family for nine generations. He was the son of Vernon Rife and Edith Griffin Rife, who along with his siblings, Harold Rife and Dorothy Deardorff preceded him in death.
Hilly was a very colorful individual who lived more than nine lives. He survived three airplane accidents, three serious racecar accidents, a mugging at gunpoint, among other close visits with death, but it was the ravaging disease of cancer that he finally submitted to.
Anyone who knew Hilly knew many of the stories in his life; there was never any need to exaggerate because his life was unbelievable enough. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church, past president of the New Oxford Lions Club, a Rotarian, a member of the New Oxford Chamber of Commerce, an Honorary member of the Elks and Moose Lodge of Hanover, PA and Ormond Beach, FL. He was on the Board of Directors of the Conklin Center for the Blind, the past Northeastern Regional Director for NASCAR in the early 70’s, Vice President of Motor Racing Heritage, and instrumental in the founding of the Living Legends of Auto Racing in Daytona and Ormond Beach, FL, for which he was recently honored and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Hilly built Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA and strongly promoted the “Outlaw” Sprint Car Racing in its infancy. He also promoted racetracks in Bedford, Dorsey and Susquehanna Speedway. He was a racetrack owner, driver, promoter, but most of all a fan of the sport of racing, and did all he could to promote the sport his entire life.
In his earlier years he had a Used Car Lot in New Oxford, and then later sold airplanes before retiring to Ormond Beach. He loved flying almost as much as racing, but even more than racing he loved his wife, family, and dogs. He was remembered by people in PA always with his cigar; in Ormond there was the cigar, his Stetson hat and bolo.
Mr. Rife is survived in death by his remarkable wife, Elizabeth Rebecca Wenschhof Rife, who he always thought was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, his daughter Vicki Hughes-Micheli of Ormond Beach, two sons Hillen “Hilly” Rife Jr. of New Oxford, PA, and Larry Rife of Hanover, PA, nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous extended family and friends that he would have considered close family as well. Memorial donations can be made in his honor to the Conklin Center for the Blind or Motor Racing Heritage / Living Legends of Auto Racing. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond.

Another obituary by Godwin Kelly, Motorsports editor of The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

Hillen "Hilly" Rife, 83, one of racing's pioneer promoters and friend of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., died Friday morning after a long battle with cancer.
Rife, who made one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in 1954, moved here from Pennsylvania in 1990 so he could assist the Frances when the family patriarch was slowed by Alzheimer's disease.
Rife's primary duty was to drive France around town to keep various appointments.
"He was a great man," Rife once said of France. "He saved my life once."
That was in 1957, after Rife crashed in a race and suffered a severe head injury. France made arrangements for a highly skilled neurosurgeon to take care of his buddy.
After a six-hour surgery followed by 28 days of unconsciousness, Rife woke from the comatose state. Nine days later, he walked out of the hospital. Rife never got a bill -- France picked up the entire tab.
Rife was one of stock-car racing's true characters and wackiest promoters. He always had a cigar in hand, wore a stylish cowboy hat and string tie.
"He was one of the last great promoters," NASCAR Hall of Fame historian Buz McKim said in a telephone interview. "I mean fireworks and parachutists.
"He was one of the great showmen of the sport."
Rife was in his mid-20s when he built Lincoln Speedway, a 3/8th-mile dirt oval in New Oxford, Pa.
He not only built the track and promoted races, but was himself a race driver. Just seven months after fracturing his skull, he drove a Plymouth Golden Commando stock car more than 122 mph on the beach in Ponce Inlet.
Rife was never short on storytelling. One of Rife's favorite tales was his promise to pay Daytona Beach driver Marvin Panch appearance money to run at Lincoln. Panch won the race in a car prepped by local mechanical legend Ray Fox, then asked for his under-the-table cash.
"You don't need that money," Rife said. "You won the race."
"Every time Marvin saw him, he would say, 'Here comes Hilly with my deal money!' " McKim said.
"Hilly was a great friend," Fox said Friday. "I knew him for many, many years."
Long before there was electronic social networking, there was the "Hilly network system." He seemed to know everybody and know everything about everybody. He was one of the most connected promoters in the sport.
"It was Hilly who started the Northern swing for the Grand National (now Sprint Cup) Series in the 1950s," longtime friend Dick Fleck said by phone. "Hilly would run them on his track and helped set them up on other little tracks up there. Hilly hosted seven Cup races over the years."
Racing wasn't Rife's only career. For a time, he repossessed airplanes to make extra money and bragged about "only crashing three times."
He had many a close call in his life, including losing a thumb and breaking both legs in different racing accidents. Just a few years ago, he was inside the Jacksonville Mayo Clinic, when his heart stopped beating.
Rife was quickly revived and never had another major cardio issue.
And there was one more aspect to Rife's life -- his culinary skills.
"Hilly's chili was the best," Fox said.
"He made the world's best french fries," McKim said. "He sold more fries at his racetrack than anybody else in country. Of course, that was according to Hilly."
Several family members, including his wife, Becky, survive Rife. Services are pending. Lohman Funeral Home, Ormond Beach, is in charge.

[raceannouncer2003]

Barry Grant from Medford, Oregon, has passed away. This from Barry's friend, Frank Gruen:

"...Sad news. I just received a phone call from Bonnie Grant in Medford, Oregon. She related that her
husband Barry passed away this past Monday at 4:10 am. He fought a tough battle over the last
five or more years but his Cancer finally won. I believe that services will be held on Friday 15th..."

and this obit from the Medford newspaper:

"Barrie Grant, 76, of Medford, Ore., passed away Monday, October 4, 2010, at his home..."

Barry Grant raced the Cheetah in 1968, the same car that had been raced previously by Allen Grant and Jerry Grant, none of them related.



Here is Barry in the Cheetah at the June 23, 1968 Westwood Pacific. He finished 8th OA, 3rd in over 2-litres.

Vince H.