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Peter Gethin has passed away


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#1 Giraffe

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 14:14

I have received the news from Patrick Sumner that very sadly Peter Gethin passed away at his home this morning.
Peter has been unwell for some time now, but has been helping me with my project until very recently. A very sad passing of a true hero and racer.

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#2 Gary Davies

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 14:23

Oh dear, that's dreadful. RIP Peter and condolences to his family and friends.

#3 pressman

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 14:34

Very sad news
One of my first heroes...
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Peter Gethin F5000 by jones115, on Flickr

#4 john winfield

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 14:51

That's a real shock. I'm very sorry to hear this very sad news.

#5 alansart

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 14:56

Sad and unexpected. Always quick but sometimes underrated. Monza 1971 is the obvious high but winning the Race of Champions in a F5000 Chevron was pretty amazing. RIP Peter Gethin.

#6 RogerFrench

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 15:01

That's sad. RIP.

#7 barrykm

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 15:17

Oh my... :cry:

RIP.

#8 Gabrci

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 15:18

This is really sad and completely unexpected for me. RIP :(

#9 kayemod

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 15:36

What sad news, Pete was a nice guy, and a lot of fun to be around, though his best stories were barely repeatable.

Edited by kayemod, 05 December 2011 - 17:29.


#10 ktrhe

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 15:40

Very sad News.
R.I.P.

#11 John Ginger

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 15:49

Very sad to read this

My condolences to family and friends

#12 Paul Parker

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 16:19

This is very sad indeed, I watched him race many times including the Brands Hatch ROC win in 1973.

My sincerest condolences to family and friends.



#13 Mig007

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 16:30

RIP. Great rider, great man.

#14 Arturo Pereira

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 16:38

Sad news indeed :(

Godspeed Peter and my condolences to the family and friends.

#15 Michael Ferner

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 16:45

:(

RIP.

#16 S A Dunbar

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 16:53

My condolences to the family... I was a fan.

#17 Doug Nye

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 17:59

Oh dear. Just back from Sheridan Thynne's memorial service today, where Peter's plight was discussed with universal sympathy...and now this news. Godspeed Peter...Monza '71, Pau '72 and so many more. A Racer. Our most sincere condolences to his family and friends...

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 05 December 2011 - 22:01.


#18 Phil Rainford

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 18:36

Had the pleasure to work with Peter when he was at Ferrari (UK )

Peter was not someone who looked back often; he would rather discuss his future plans for the Ferrari Driving Academy

However on the odd occasion when the situation would arise when he did reminisce about his racing career ( Like below at Monza ) he would portray a fascinating insight into sport a world away from the current GP circus

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RIP Peter :cry:


PAR

#19 Bloggsworth

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 18:37

Great racer, great gentleman, great loss.

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#20 Jerry Entin

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 19:27

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Peter Gethin and Count Rudi Van der Straten

RIP: Peter

A great friend and a Real Gentleman

Edited by Jerry Entin, 06 December 2011 - 06:02.


#21 xj13v12

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 19:43

He was well known down under after winning the 1974 Tasman series. RIP

#22 MCS

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 19:44

Very sad to have just seen this.

I saw him race on a number of occasions. He won in Formula One, Formula 5000, Formula Two, Formula Three, Can Am and goodness knows what else. A great favourite of mine, certainly.

Michael Turner's superb, dramatic depiction of the final yards of Peter's sensational victory in the 1971 Italian Grand Prix hangs in pride of place in my study at home, signed by the driver and the artist.

Sincerest condolences to his family, friends and many fans.

Edited by MCS, 05 December 2011 - 19:45.


#23 Option1

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 19:49

May he rest in peace. :(

Neil

#24 E1pix

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 19:55

Ooooh, I hate hearing this, I was a fan of his as a kid and admired him greatly (and saw him take his only Can-Am win at my home track of Road America, in 1970).

RIP, Mr. Gethin. :cry:

Edited by E1pix, 05 December 2011 - 19:58.


#25 Paul Hurdsfield

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 20:00

Very sad

#26 Cargo

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 20:16

Yes, this is a sad thing. :(

saw him many times in F5000 and

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remember the 1971 Monza race too.



#27 sterling49

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 20:30

I saw Peter so often, winning at the R.O.C. and then Monza...................so many good times. R.I.P. Peter.

#28 jj2728

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 20:55

RIP Peter

With the gang at Mid-Ohio for the Can Am in 1970

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At speed

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Copyright JAG

#29 Lola5000

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 20:56

RIP,long remembered down-under for the Tasman series in 1974.

#30 rdmotorsport

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 21:00

RIP,long remembered down-under for the Tasman series in 1974.




RIP to a very underated driver

#31 Richard Jenkins

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 21:00

Although Peter had been ill, this is still very sad news. A pretty wretched couple of weeks all-round really. RIP to a very underrated driver and although I never met him, I understood he was a very decent, supportive bloke.

#32 JacnGille

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 21:55

damn!

#33 Pedro 917

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 22:38

I've made a tribute to Peter album on my Facebook page, you can find it here

#34 eldougo

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 22:47

Very sad news to hear of his passing,such a lovely man. Peter was as my photo show always good for a laugh and a joke.

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#35 D-Type

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 22:56

RIP



#36 millau

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 23:11

I have received the news from Patrick Sumner that very sadly Peter Gethin passed away at his home this morning.
Peter has been unwell for some time now, but has been helping me with my project until very recently. A very sad passing of a true hero and racer.

Unaware that he was ill
Sad loss
Will always be remembered, so many good memories but especially for Monza
M


#37 ellrosso

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Posted 05 December 2011 - 23:14

RIP Peter, taken far too soon.

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#38 Twin Window

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 00:41

I'm struggling to believe this sad news.

Peter was one of my original heroes when I discovered our sport forty years ago, after he switched to BRM from McLaren during the '71 mid-season.

Then, of course, he famously won that year's Italian GP; one of the most memorable victories in the entire history of Formula 1.

But my most tresured recollections of Peter will forever remain with his F5000 exploits; the amazing 1973 Race of Champions win, the Oulton Park Gold Cup victory that year too, both of which I was present to witness. And I knew he'd done a great deal prior to then too.

Rest in peace Peter. I won't forget you.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

#39 Manfred Cubenoggin

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 00:48

I'm shocked and deeply saddened at this news. :cry:

Thanks for the memories, Peter. RIP.

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#40 Jack-the-Lad

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 04:20

Sincere condolences to the family.



#41 Prototype

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 05:51

I remember the Tasman race at Oran Park in 1974 where he and teammate Teddy Pilette ran nose to tail all race in their VDS Chevrons, both were really "on it" all afternoon. And Tasman champion that year as well!

The Italian GP 1971 (which is on Youtube) when after the race Gethin is mugging at the crowd in delight. I was thrilled he won such a corker of a race; later reading DSJ's Motor Sport report of Monza describing Ceverts and Petersons reaction to Gethin's win, where they had not taken the wily Gethin into their calculations for the last lap.

I love the stories about his little black book, and the highlight of his career "the red headed twins he did at Bournemouth one time!"

Great and very underrated driver, a great character and let's not forget he really stepped up to the mark when Bruce McLaren died.

#42 Giraffe

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 06:31

An overnight post on the F5000 Racing Cars Facebook page:


Cher Amis

Très touche par la disparition de ce Grand Pilote

J ai été très proche de Peter nous avons passe 3 ans ensemble presque tous les week end avec le Team VDS en F.5000 de 1974 a 1976 Europe et usa .

De grande bagarre chaque week end pour gagne , il a été un adversaire hooo combien grand Gentleman dans la vie et dans la course

J ai toujours penser a lui depuis ce temps grâce a tout les bons moments passe ensemble dans la vie de la course mais aussi dans la vie privée.

Je n oublierais jamais le fou rire mais les pleurs après……..quand nous avons du aller dire la vérité a Rudy VDS,,,,,,,,,,,avoir perdu une voiture de location emporte par la mer en jouant sur la plage d Invercargill NZ lors de la Tasman….quel grand moment nous avons eux ensemble..

Une grande perte pour tous ..


Teddy Pilette

(Very touched by the loss of this great driver

I have been very close to Peter spending 3 years together almost every weekend with Team VDS F.5000 in the 1974 to 1976 Europe and the United States.

Big fight for wins every weekend, he was a great opponent and Gentleman in life and in racing.

I always think of him since then because of all the good times spent together in racing but also in private life.

No I never forget the laughter, but after the tears ... ... .. when we had to go and tell the truth Rudy VDS,,,,,,,,,,, losing a rental car wins by playing on the sea the beach of Invercargill NZ in the Tasman .... what a great time we have them all ..

A great loss to all ..)

Edited by Giraffe, 06 December 2011 - 06:53.


#43 Nanni Dietrich

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 08:52

What a sad, sad news.

And now, Pete and Lella Lombardi could share a kiss one another once again...

:cry:

#44 Simon Thomas

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 09:45

What a sad, sad news.

And now, Pete and Lella Lombardi could share a kiss one another once again...

:cry:

Does anyone remember a chidren's tv programme hosted by Anne Nighingale featuring Peter? It must have been in the early 1970s because the 71 Italian GP was featured. I recall they seemed to get on well together.
Simon Thomas

#45 charles r

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 11:22

Such sad news. Saw him many times in the 70's, always with a ready smile. One of the best. RIP Peter.

#46 kayemod

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 12:07

Does anyone remember a chidren's tv programme hosted by Anne Nighingale featuring Peter? It must have been in the early 1970s because the 71 Italian GP was featured. I recall they seemed to get on well together.


From what I remember of Pete back then, he "seemed to get on quite well" with many women in those days...


#47 AAA-Eagle

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 12:09

Very sad news indeed :cry: :cry: :cry:

R.I.P. Peter :cry:

#48 Glengavel

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 12:17

Does anyone remember a chidren's tv programme hosted by Anne Nighingale featuring Peter? It must have been in the early 1970s because the 71 Italian GP was featured. I recall they seemed to get on well together.
Simon Thomas


I don't think she did any TV work prior to the Old Grey Whistle Test in the early 80s, unless of course it was something obscure on ITV - her pre-BBC career is fairly sketchy; although by 1971 she was a BBC employee.

#49 Alan Cox

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 12:22

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A hero of F5000 and a member of the still relatively exclusive club of World Championship GP winners. Bonne Route, Peter.

#50 DJO

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Posted 06 December 2011 - 12:39

I remember seeing him many times in the F5000/VDS days. One memory in particular sticks in my mind.

I was a (blue) flag marshal on the inside at Mallory's hairpin. This was when you stood on the grass facing the traffic, ready to warn the guy on the yellow flag if someone was on the gress heading towards us (it happened to me...). Anyway, it was a one hour practice for the F5000 event, which meant a change over from yellow to blue flag. I had just changed to the blue flag, when Gethin came charging up behind a slower car (there used to be quite a few...) and I missed waving the blue, ruining Gethin's lap. I felt terrible but, just to make things worse, next time round a hand came out of the cockpit of the VDS car and gave me a little waving flag gesture! Point made....