Olly Hollamby 1944-2009

I am very sad to say that my Dad, Olly Hollamby, passed away on Thursday 17th December aged 65, after a short, but fiesty, battle against cancer.

Olly raced FVee and SuperVee in the UK and Europe during the 70's and 80's. He won the British SuperVee championship in 1977 and 1979. He was also instrumental in the setting up of the Beetle Cup in the 90's. He took up sailing and flying once he stopped racing but was always a keen follower of F1. A great guy who lived life to the full.

I have posted on this forum because I saw a few links to this site when I searched for his name on Google. Thought there may be a few drivers, marshals and journalists who would remember him?

Olly’s funeral will be held on Monday 4th January 2010, at 12.45pm, at Beckenham Crematorium, Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TD.

After the service you are welcome to join family and friends for a few beers at The Pickhurst, Pickhurst Lane, West Wickham, BR4 0HH.

Family flowers only, but if you would like to make a donation in Olly’s memory, please write a cheque made payable to The Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, and send it with the reference Keith ‘Olly’ Hollamby either to:

The Royal Marsden Fundraising Dept
Downs Road
Sutton SM2 5PT

Alternatively you can donate online at
http://www.royalmars.../GiftInMemoriam

Edited by shaunhollamby, 30 December 2009 - 15:55.

Hi Shaun, very sad to hear fo your Dad's passing. Take care and we'll chat again soon.
Gary Critcher

My Condolences to you and youre family.

I watched the Hollamby' s in Formula Vee during my marshaling days always a front runner and a lively racer .
He will be missed .


Peter

Very sad news, I certainly remember Olly as one of the names of that era

I hope you can take much comfort that he lived his life to the full

My condelences to family and friends

Very sad to hear of his passing, particularly at such a young age. He was always at the front in Supervee, and I clearly remember his battles with Bruce Venn in what was a golden era for single seater club racing in the UK.

Shaun, while it's good to see you on the forum, such a shame for the reason behind it.

My condolences, and best wishes to you and your family.

A good man. My condolences to you and all your family, Shaun.
I remember when I was testing at Goodwood, Olly turned up with his March SV and Kenny Acheson - he of the RMC (works?) March F3 - drove it. When it passed the pits one of Kenny's mates said "Hmm...it almost sounds like the real thing".

Cheers Guys

Thanks for the kind words of support which I have also shown to the rest of the family, much appreciated.

A good man. My condolences to you and all your family, Shaun.
I remember when I was testing at Goodwood, Olly turned up with his March SV and Kenny Acheson - he of the RMC (works?) March F3 - drove it. When it passed the pits one of Kenny's mates said "Hmm...it almost sounds like the real thing".

Hi Erle

I always thought the VW engine sounded much better than the strangled Toyota!

I remember that well (another day bunked off school!). I was only a kid then and showed Kenny some photos that I had taken at the Brands F3 GP support race that year. He did a great job of pretending to be be interested! Nice guy and very quick.

I also remember quite a few test days alongside the works/ semi-works March F3 and F2 team. As well as that day at Goodwood, there was also a day at Snett (1980?) with Teo Fabi, Stefan Johannson, Eddie Jordan, Kenny Acheson and Nigel Mansell. For a kid who spent his whole Thursday at school reading Autosport this was bloody brilliant!

Before that, Olly had bought a Ralt RT1 for the 1978 season but never got on with it despite Ron Tauranac getting Piquet along for a test. Don't think Nelson was that bothered considering he was the F3 hotshoe on the way to F1 stardom!

Olly bought a March 79V for 1979 and he absolutely loved that car. He won the British championship at a canter and also had some frontrunning results in the Gold Cup in Europe. Robin Herd convinced Olly to buy the 80V the following year but this was never as competitive as the 79V. He stopped racing at the end of the year but I think if he had kept the 79V he would still have been racing 30 years later!

At the start of 1980 we had a launch for the British Supervee championship at Brands. Marcus Pye came and tested various chassis, possibly Shannon, Lola, March and Argo?, for an Autosport feature.

The thing I remember is that Brian Henton kindly attended, Olly knew him from FVee, and also Mansell who was representing March. Henton was on his way to F1, so was the big name, and Nigel was the struggling race driver yet to make a name for himself. Funny how things turn out!

Great days that always leave me thinking what a special sport motor-racing is.

Cheers Shaun.

Edited by shaunhollamby, 31 December 2009 - 10:55.

Olly bought a March 79V for 1979 and he absolutely loved that car. He won the British championship at a canter and also had some frontrunning results in the Gold Cup in Europe. Robin Herd convinced Olly to buy the 80V the following year but this was never as competitive as the 79V. He stopped racing at the end of the year but I think if he had kept the 79V he would still have been racing 30 years later!

At the start of 1980 we had a launch for the British Supervee championship at Brands. Marcus Pye came and tested various chassis, possibly Shannon, Lola, March and Argo?, for an Autosport feature.

The thing I remember is that Brian Henton kindly attended, Olly knew him from FVee, and also Mansell who was representing March. Henton was on his way to F1, so was the big name, and Nigel was the struggling race driver yet to make a name for himself. Funny how things turn out!

I was there that day as well, and I drove Olly's March - quite simply the best car I've ever driven. The brakes (off a VW) were amazing, and the power, on a damp track with no limited slip diff was very impressive. The only downside was the attempts of a stuggling race driver, representing March, attempting to sell me an 80V. Having built and raced my own car in '79, I could see it wasn't going to be great. I'd also done some work for Ron Tauranac, and had seen what was coming... I still think that, if anyone could get hold of a good March 79V, it would win Classic F3 races outright, despite being in the watercooled Supervee class.

We have an aircooled Supervee class in Historic FF2000, and I'm intending to be out next year - see the Barn Finds thread http://forums.autosp...p;#entry4046683

Sincere condolences, Shaun. Just think of all the good times and recent bad memories will quickly fade.

DCN

Shaun

I didn't know your dad but I do know that he produced a very decent son! You are a credit to him and my thoughts are with you and your family at this time.

Peter Alexander

My condolences, Shaun. I never knew your dad, but I remember his name from the times when racing was still fun. Seems he enjoyed his time!

Hi

We had Olly's funeral earlier this month and his wife, Lesley, put together a photo board which had a section for racing and hereare a few pics that may be of interest? Feel free to comment.




Me and Olly (in car) Brands Hatch 1991ish? He did a 1 off FVee race, finished second. Scarab.



Rare shot of Olly smiling at a race meeting! Scarab.



Second place. Not bad having not been on a track for nearly 15 years! After the race we had a few beers in the Kentagon then went onto a pub in Chislehurst. A really good night was had by everyone except the landlord, Ken, who decided I was being too raucous so "barred" me!



Scrambling with long-time friend and mechanic Mick House. Late 60's?



Highly technical FVee in those days! Earlier 70's. Austro?



FVee Austro early 70's.



Formula SuperVee. Mid 70's Royale?



Seat fitting in March 79V with his mate Martin Thompson. This was his favourite car. Might be interested in buying it if someone knows its whereabouts? 1979.



With his mates John Wade and Mick House, at Oulton Park by the look of it. Early 70's.



March 79V



If I had to picture one look that encapsulated my Dad whilst motor racing this is it! Concentrated and determined. Royale 70's, looks like Snett?



With John and Mick. Smiling again, bloody hell!



Royale SuperVee again.



March 79V with the updated sidepods. Cadwell Park? and unknown fans!



Lining up for that one off FVee race, 1992ish.



March 79V at Brands, he used to keep the car there when you could hire the garages like a lock-up. Dave Manton (middle) was the mechanic in those days. I am on the right.



March 79V.



Olly with Mike Catlow, I think?



March 79V.



There seems to be a common theme whereby the car is constantly in various states of disrepair!



March 79V, Sachs Curve Hockenheim



To the winner the spoils! Stop showing off Mum.



Heres that common theme again!



And again!



And again!



The glamour of motor racing!



Bruce Venn (in shorts) and his Argo.



Wakey ,wakey hands off Snakey!



More work!



And again!

Edited by shaunhollamby, 01 February 2010 - 09:58.

Here are some more shots.



Nice shot of 79V March.



March 80V at UK SVee launch at Brands 1980.



In the paddock at Brands 2008 at Dunlop Sportmaxx races cheering me on to a s***e 5th place!



March 79V.



March 79V Silverstone 1979 with John Elliott and Gwen Kinchen.



Mac Daghorn chats to Bruce Venn in his ARGO at Silverstone 1979.



Silverstone 1979. Somethings of interest in that wheel!



March 79V Silverstone 1979.



March 79V 1979. The eye of the tiger!



Bruce Venn ARGO 1979, Silverstone.



March 79V Silverstone.



March 79V Silverstone Pitlane. 1979.



Funny what a 14 year old boys mind remembers! I can quite clearly recall that this girls backside looked great in those jeans! She supported one of the German drivers.



MARCH 79V Silverstone Pitlane, 1979.

Edited by shaunhollamby, 30 January 2010 - 15:23.

Shaun,

Good to see the pics of your dad. I saw him race quite a lot in the 70's - Mr Super Vee.

It would be good to get some captions for the pictures. The crew in sleeping bags for instance. Too much German beer perhaps

Shaun

Quite superb selection of photos of your dad and family/friends

As Alan has mentioned the shot of the sleeping bags just sums up Club Racing is the 70s.....not a motorhome in sight

PAR

Yes, excellent pictures! Thanks for posting!

Great pics Shaun, although the "then and now" of you came as a shock!!

I'm certain I recognise that black March from somewhere else though, if I had known that we were both at FOM, It might have come to me, but I'm older now!

Lots of good pictures of that fantastic March 79V (and a few of the rather less wonderful 80V). There is so much in those paddock shots. As DCN said in one of his books "The more you look, the more you see..."

Shaun,

Good to see the pics of your dad. I saw him race quite a lot in the 70's - Mr Super Vee.

It would be good to get some captions for the pictures. The crew in sleeping bags for instance. Too much German beer perhaps

Hi

Your wish is my command!

Sorry don't know who was in those sleeping bags?

But when I went through the photos again I remembered the girl in the tight jeans!

Cheers Shaun.

Hi

Your wish is my command!

Sorry don't know who was in those sleeping bags?

But when I went through the photos again I remembered the girl in the tight jeans!

Cheers Shaun.

Thanks Shaun. A great tribute to your dad and it's just how I remember racing in the 70's

I think I was marshalling at the 79 Silverstone meeting. Olly and Bruce Venn against the Europeans.

Funny what a 14 year old boys mind remembers! I can quite clearly recall that this girls backside looked great in those jeans! She supported one of the German drivers.

Sorry don't know who was in those sleeping bags?

But when I went through the photos again I remembered the girl in the tight jeans!

Cheers Shaun.

Oi! Quit talking like that 'bout my mother!!!




















Just kidding...

Oi! Quit talking like that 'bout my mother!!!
Just kidding...;)

Oh, shame you were kidding. I was going to ask if you had any other photos of her?!

Cheers Shaun.

P.S. Anyone know the whereabouts of Ollys 79V March?

Edited by shaunhollamby, 01 February 2010 - 09:54.

While searching out some club racing pics for other threads, I came across this one of Olly from Aintree 1977, when he was involved in a great dice with Bruce Venn.

While searching out some club racing pics for other threads, I came across this one of Olly from Aintree 1977, when he was involved in a great dice with Bruce Venn.

Hi Alan

Thanks for that Alan- haven't been on here for a while.

Always last of the late brakers my Old Man!

Cheers Shaun.

Edited by shaunhollamby, 05 August 2010 - 13:18.

Shaun, Great pics

You have a chassis # of your pops march? There is a 79 March super vee here in Seattle that has'nt seen the light of day for a few years.