Sad news: Gerry Marshall RIP

Originally posted by SEdward

We all miss him Gregor.

Your Dad had more charisma and personality than the entire 2009 Formula 1 grid.

Gerry was a larger than life character in every way. He also had a wicked sense of humour and I remember at one Oulton Park meeting whilst he was talking to Desire Wilson he addressed her as Deathray. Everyone around, with the exception of the lady in question, were highly amused.

He was also a very talented driver who always gave 100% and was highly entertaining to watch.

He is still missed.

Even if you did not recognise the car you certainly knew the driver by it s sideway atitude .


Pete

He gave us such a lot of pleasure, Gregor. Fast AND entertaining; the perfect combination!

The simple fact that even I, as a certified Monoposto Monomaniac ®, knew his name and his face tells you all you need to know...

Gregor.

Did your Dad ever mention the incident with the Norman Abbot Escort at Brands?

It ended up with Gerry being booed by the crowd in Startline grandstand.

Edward

Originally posted by SEdward
Did your Dad ever mention the incident with the Norman Abbot Escort at Brands?

It ended up with Gerry being booed by the crowd in Startline grandstand.

Well that's a charming note to remember my Dad on!! Anyway, yes he did, and he stood by his actions and did you ever read that he was completley cleared by an RAC tribunal for any wrong-doing??

I think out of 1500ish races to have one well-commented on blemish (that wan't even a blemish!!) isn't exactly bad for a high profile driver in the Club and International races too.

Dad was never an angel but I'd like to think he was the fairest person you'd come across on the track, hard yes, but definitely fair and I don't know of any driver who would disagree.

Gregor.

Don't get me wrong. I was just curious...

Edward

Nothing wrong with curiousity but if you have a specific question then just ask - am happy to answer as I'm sure many people on TNF are.

All I'll add is if there was an issue between Dad and Norman Abbot it would've been well known and remember Dad drove Norman's "Rent-a-Rod" at Braefield in '84 and they raced against each other numerous times anyway (there was certainly no Mick Hill, Dave Brodie, Nick Whiting "dis-like" there!!) - the Boxing day event incident was a bit of a non-issue in the end, especially whan the same thing happen a few months later (not including Dad) and the RAC kept well away!!

Gregor,
Just wanted to add my memories and appreciation of your Dad on this anniversary of his passing

As a lad in early 70's I would often help a family friend who competed in 850 and 1000cc special saloon classes, and many entertaining post race sessions in the old Silverstone Club spring to mind

I also remember the sprint from Copse back along the pit straight with IIRC, Derek McMahon

To me and many others, Gerry Marshall is an absolute legend and is sorely missed in our sport

John Ginger

Gregor - have you ever considered updating and expanding "Only Here for the Beer"? Seeing as you were there ....

A new book is almost finished - watch this space!! Without giving too much away, it's a big coffee-table size book with around 400 pictures and is co-written by Jeremy Walton and I and will be published by Haynes. It's very in-depth and is written as though Only Here for the Beer didn't exist but that's not to say there's any replication but things are chronological and properly researched. I think it's really good anyway!!

I had a meeting in Sheffield today and after everyone's kind words yesterday I thought I'd miss lunch and stop off and Donington and I am really pleased that I did (not least seeing the 2010 GP track, all the work they've done in the last 9 months and also seeing what cars have recently been sold from the Collection - this seems to have been kept quiet??), but also they've finished Dad's display, see pics below:-











And last one just for our fellow TNFer - nice to see his work on display too!!

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall
A new book is almost finished - watch this space!! Without giving too much away, it's a big coffee-table size book with around 400 pictures and is co-written by Jeremy Walton and I and will be published by Haynes. It's very in-depth and is written as though Only Here for the Beer didn't exist but that's not to say there's any replication but things are chronological and properly researched. I think it's really good anyway!!

I had a meeting in Sheffield today and after everyone's kind words yesterday I thought I'd miss lunch and stop off and Donington and I am really pleased that I did (not least seeing the 2010 GP track, all the work they've done in the last 9 months and also seeing what cars have recently been sold from the Collection - this seems to have been kept quiet??), but also they've finished Dad's display, see pics below:-

And last one just for our fellow TNFer - nice to see his work on display too!!

Look forward to the book and I'm really pleased that the Collection are giving your Dad due recognition. It's good to know that the Wheatcrofts (or whoever arranged it) understand there are icons outside of F1.

Is Andrew's painting the original or a print?

Originally posted by SEdward
We all miss him Gregor.

Your Dad had more charisma and personality than the entire 2009 Formula 1 grid.

Edward

Surely you mean the entire F1 grid for the past 10 years

Thanks - it should be brilliant when done and I think will surprise many people too!!
When Dads passed away I approached Tom and Kevin W and they really wanted to do something but Haynes Motor Museum wanted to too and they were a bit more focused just on Dad and they are very family-orientated with local schooles etc and that appealed more to my two older sisters (and Haynes did sell it to me too to be honest) so we went for them but it took ages to arrange and the goalposts moved so I approached the Wheatcrofts again (Haynes Motor Museum is superb too though) and they were more than happy to accomodate so excellent - Dad really liked Tom and I think the feeling was mutual.

Andrew's painting is the original - it was commissoned by the Formula Saloons Club (now defunct) and Andrew spent a lot of time with Dad doing it. If you've seen the prints than the original is 100% bigger and it's even more stunning!!

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall
Thanks - it should be brilliant when done and I think will surprise many people too!!
When Dads passed away I approached Tom and Kevin W and they really wanted to do something but Haynes Motor Museum wanted to too and they were a bit more focused just on Dad and they are very family-orientated with local schooles etc and that appealed more to my two older sisters (and Haynes did sell it to me too to be honest) so we went for them but it took ages to arrange and the goalposts moved so I approached the Wheatcrofts again (Haynes Motor Museum is superb too though) and they were more than happy to accomodate so excellent - Dad really liked Tom and I think the feeling was mutual.

Andrew's painting is the original - it was commissoned by the Formula Saloons Club (now defunct) and Andrew spent a lot of time with Dad doing it. If you've seen the prints than the original is 100% bigger and it's even more stunning!!

I never saw your Dad and Tom together but can see how they would get along with each other having seen both, at separate times, in the Silverstone Club, perhaps at there best after a few drinks:)

I'm glad Andrew's original is there - it seems appropriate. Prints these days are good but they always lose a bit in repro.

They were firm friends and I always remember Tom turning to Dad in the BRDC once and in his quietest but yet loudest rumbles saying "Eere Gerry boy, watch this", he walked off, cut a "nameless" BRDC member's tie in half whilst giving un-named member a Donington tie whilst saying "Eere's a proper tie for you" and then doing his big laugh!!

Agreed with the print - I'd have loved to have it on my wall but much better it gets exposure to as many people as possible. Was the same with Old Nail, she was fine in the Vauxhall Heritage Museum but it only opens it's doors twice a year and is a very strange mix of cars, well, Vauxhalls!!

Thanks for posting those pics Gregor. The painting looks great next to the famous 'old nail'. I agree totally with Alan, the prints are great to have but the originals are always far more impressive, from any artist.
Here is the print in detail if anyone has not seen it:
http://www.andrewkit...l-art-print.htm

Happy birthday Dad - wish you were still here;
Hell, I had to put up with Squeaker all by myself last weekend!!

Five years today - where does the time go?!

And the void he left on the grid will never been filled. If he was still racing today, I know I would be going to a lot more meetings!

Very true Alan.

Five years today - where does the time go?!

Cannot believe another year has passed

I can only echo the sentiments already written, we miss you Gerry

As you can probably see on another thread, I visited Mallory Park for the first time in ages today. Giraffe took me to meet Gatmo in the Control Tower and I said the last time I was at Mallory I had a pint with Gerry - in fact he came up to the old Press Box with me for couple of minutes afterwards to watch some of the early racing that afternoon.

I hadn't realised it was the anniversary today.

I've probably said this before, so please forgive me if I have, but I have such incredible memories of a very wet Mallory meeting in the early seventies when Gerry's Firenza was so sideways through the Esses in practice it was truly mesmerising. Never forgotten it - never will. Very quickly a crowd of people gathered to watch his driving. His performance in the race must have embarrassed Mick Hill no end. I don't believe he was even on the same lap when the race finished...

And today I had two clear memories before I saw any cars or track activity. They were a sideways Tom Pryce in the Formula Atlantic Royale at the hairpin - nobody got close all day - and then from the vantage point above Devil's Elbow of Gerry Marshall at incredible angles through the Lake Esses.

RIP Gerry.

Five years today - where does the time go?!

Indeed, Gregor.

But, on the other side of the coin, there are so many folk out there/here who hold your dad in such esteem that he'll never be forgotten...

Ever.

I have just had notification from Haynes that the new Jeremy Walton/Gregor Marshall biography is available.
http://www.haynes.co.../...7&langId=-1

I have just had notification from Haynes that the new Jeremy Walton/Gregor Marshall biography is available.
http://www.haynes.co.../...7&langId=-1

£21.70 on the WHS website....

http://www.whsmith.c.....mp;cat=\Books

This weekend has marked the 7th Anniversary of Gerry's sad and premature passing at Silverstone

Thanks John
Spent Saturday at Silverstone with the VSCC meeting and the Clerk of the Course very kindly let me go on track and lay flowers - probably much to the bewilderment of the people sitting in the stand by the Silverstone Racing Club!!

I am pleased that you were allowed to do that Gregor

Of course, that would not have been the first time that the crowd looked on in bewilderment of the on track antics of a Mr G Marshall

Edited by John Ginger, 25 April 2012 - 12:36.

[quote name='Gregor Marshall' date='Apr 25 2012, 09:14' post='5687936']
Thanks John
Spent Saturday at Silverstone with the VSCC meeting and the Clerk of the Course very kindly let me go on track and lay flowers - probably much to the bewilderment of the people sitting in the stand by the Silverstone Racing Club!!
[/quote

Gregor,
Bugger. Owing to a fairly major eye operation two weeks ago, this was the first VSCC Silverstone I've not attended in 42 years, so I missed that.
GM really was a one-off, and not just on track. He was hanging about in the showroom one afternoon, waiting for a lift back to Finchley, whilst I was showing a couple of people around various cars in stock. They were real "messers" and their intransigence was becoming somewhat wearing, but finally they seemed to be settling towards one of our more "long stay patients", a 2.5 Lambo Uracco that was affectionately known as "The Pink Panther", owing to the vile hue in which it was painted.
Of course, all through my intensive sales patter (Hah!) your old man insisted on lurking in the background, hiding behind various vehicles whilst pulling faces and making "certain gestures" towards me, all unseen by these people, but having an effect on me that I'm sure needs no explanation.
Finally, when these two must have thought my increasingly red face and strangled giggles signified impending lunacy, I was asked the final, deathly question-"Can we have run in it?". I walked over to where GM was hiding and said, in a loud voice, something like, "Ah, Gerald, would you have a moment? These two kind people have asked for a demonstration of the pink Lamborghini. Would you be so kind as to oblige them?" Of course, he was there like a shot, and I introduced him to these two, not as a world famous racing driver but as our cleaner/delivery driver who had only recently passed his test and would they mind if Gerald took them out, as I had other business to attend?
Like lambs to the slaughter.
After all three had piled in to this thing, first the wipers came on, then the horn blew, then lights were lit, then the roar of the engine, followed by selection of 2nd, and a stall. Repeat this a couple of times, with increasingly nervous looking passengers then, 7000 on the clock, clear her throat, and out into the Edgware Road somewhat sideways. Our normal demo run was up the A5 to the M1, give it the gravy to the next junction, then home in time for tea. On their return, which was audible from the other side of the High St lights, they fell out, and without even thanking the driver or me, fled and were never seen again. Ingrates.
Needless to say, Marshall was helpless, in stitches, and could only be revived by a swift visit to the White Horse.
They really were, very, very happy days!

Great story John, i can just imagine it too as I saw similar things; best one being a Tickford Capri, but not sure if TNF enough?!
Eight years today since Dad skidded from the racetrack of life. It's a great comfort to still hear from so many people he gave such enjoyment too; he would be incredibly embarrassed by it all.

I watched a great doco on Gerry today in his halcyon days...self-effacing and a larger than life talent....he reminded me so much of our own Ian "Pete" Geoghegan...but from the UK!

Registered on here today & just found this thread, nice way to make my first post

 

He was the person who inspired me to love car racing, a friends dad took me to Thruxton , from memory I guess I was 14 or 15 All these cars racing around then a Vauxhall appears on 3 wheels sliding, looked like an accident was about to happen, amazed he got away with it I thought, I can remember making some comment & my friends dad smiled, next lap he repeated the same " about to have an accident routine" & the next lap & the next lap, needless to say he won, years later at Goodwood in the old cars still incredible to watch.

 

It all makes todays racing so so dull.  Today Ive seen a proposal to breathalise all drivers in BTCC before the start, I would love to hear Gerrys take on that, Ive heard one story of him on the start with a pint, true or not I don't know but it sounds more than likely, 

Edited by Miglia, 28 May 2014 - 08:42.

Gregor must be too modest to mention it but he's on the radio!  Friday 12th, 11.00am, BBC Radio 4 'Lives in a Landscape':

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk...rammes/b04gcdt4