112 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

Slightly morbid, but have there been many examples of drivers who were murdered away from the track?

Here is an account I have just come across:

MURDER BY CAR ALLEGED

LONDON, Wednesday.

Three men are in custody in Manchester, accused of murdering William Jackson, 37, stock car racing driver, by deliberately running him down by car. A policeman told the court yesterday it was alleged that a car was driven straight at Jackson as he stood on the pavement outside his home on Saturday night, and he was knocked down and killed.

MURDER BY CAR ALLEGED. (1954, November 25). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved April 18, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nl...-article2899838

[alansart]

70's saloon racer Nick Whiting was murdered in 1990.

He was the brother of current F1 Race Director Charlie Whiting.

Edited by alansart, 18 April 2012 - 06:24.

[David McKinney]

...famously preceded of course by British sportscar driver David Blakeley in 1955

[Roy C]

David Blakely http://forums.autosp...howtopic=129983

[dbltop]

Mickey Thompson was murdered along with his wife in the U.S

[john medley]

Gary Coglan, Australian MG racer of the 1940s-50s

[Gabrci]

And of course poor Jackie Pretorius was murdered at home.

[Ray Bell]

Not a driver... but close to the action...

Paul Higgins, journalist, committee member etc, IIRC shot in front of his home in Melbourne.

And wasn't Stewart McLeod, South Australian rally driver and sometime racing driver, murdered?

[RCH]

Do Benoist and "Williams" count?

[Arjan de Roos]

Do Benoist and "Williams" count?

Certainly.

[Vitesse2]

Do Benoist and "Williams" count?

No reason why not. Some similar ones:

E Gordon Brettell - murdered by the Gestapo after the "Great Escape".

Violette Morris - assassinated by a French resistance hit squad. She worked for the Gestapo.

Edoardo Teagno - executed/murdered, along with a companion, by anti-Fascist partisans after being found with a large amount of stolen money.

Enzo Ferrari's old boss (and nemesis?) Ugo Gobatto was murdered outside the Alfa Romeo factory and I believe the Polish driver Stanislaw Holuj was also executed/murdered by the Gestapo.

Edited by Vitesse2, 18 April 2012 - 07:45.

[brucemoxon]

And wasn't Stewart McLeod, South Australian rally driver and sometime racing driver, murdered?

Yep, Stewart was on the receiving end of a bomb, placed at the foot of his bed. Blew his wife's legs off too. Not nice.

Do I remember a suggestion of foul play in Ron Hodgson's plunge off The Gap in Sydney?




Bruce Moxon

[Ray Bell]

Actually, I was just wondering about Hoddo the other week... whether that might have been a possibility...

But he did have a lot of financial woes. His incessant philandering meant that he had to sign over pretty much all of his business interests to his wife, I doubt that he had anything left at all.

[Lee Nicolle]

Not a driver... but close to the action...

Paul Higgins, journalist, committee member etc, IIRC shot in front of his home in Melbourne.

And wasn't Stewart McLeod, South Australian rally driver and sometime racing driver, murdered?

Yes, his home was bombed killing Stewart and severely maiming his wife.
I feel it may have had something to do with his business in retirement homes. But may be wrong.

[Lee Nicolle]

Actually, I was just wondering about Hoddo the other week... whether that might have been a possibility...

But he did have a lot of financial woes. His incessant philandering meant that he had to sign over pretty much all of his business interests to his wife, I doubt that he had anything left at all.

I was of the understanding it was suicide because of his business troubles. Though that is by reading the media!!

[Ray Bell]

Yes, that was the story, Lee...

However, my line of thought was just how easy it might be for a couple of burly blokes to 'help' him take that final step.

[Lee Nicolle]

Yes, that was the story, Lee...

However, my line of thought was just how easy it might be for a couple of burly blokes to 'help' him take that final step.

Very true, there has been similar goings on in the media recently.Did he push her or did she jump.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 18 April 2012 - 09:28.

[Rob]

Ricardo Londoño-Bridge was murdered in his native Colombia.

[Michael Ferner]

Maybe the word "murder" is not always technically correct, but Elmer George and Henry Pens also fall into this category.

[Lola5000]

Yes, his home was bombed killing Stewart and severely maiming his wife.
I feel it may have had something to do with his business in retirement homes. But may be wrong.

Gambling debt that was owed to him?

[Ray Bell]

Yes, I seem to recall that gambling was involved...

But maybe the debt was his?

[JoBo]

In the US:

Bobby Aylward was killed in a gun-deal.
Joe Guibardo was shot by 2 young men when working next to his car.

JoBo

[Sharman]

Nick Whiting's relationship with Charlie makes one think about the probity of all the participants in the F1 circus.

[Lola5000]

Gambling debt that was owed to him?

he was owned the money by the guy that set the bomb up.10k

[Lola5000]

Not a racing driver,but a car lover and a great offshore world champ Don Aronow.

[David McKinney]

As posted recently by Graham Gauld

[ensign14]

Subject of a film as well.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Les
Yeah sorry I never noticed that.

That's all right...

You posted it in this thread, he posted it in that thread. No harm done.

[RS2000]

Since it is UK short oval racing that started this thread, it prompts recall of a "mainstream" motorsport magazine once describing UK short oval racing as: "Populated by steely-eyed Essex men with tatoos, beer guts, pockets full of used 50s and a shooter in the boot".

[Hieronymus]

And of course poor Jackie Pretorius was murdered at home.

Also compatriots John McNicol, Meyer Botha and a few others in this crime ridden country.

[Jim Thurman]

Maybe the word "murder" is not always technically correct, but Elmer George and Henry Pens also fall into this category.

It certainly would seem to apply to the latter case. And, the former depends on how one looks at the situation (though I believe the "ruling" was justifiable homicide, which would still equate to a form of "murder").

Bob Pronger, Rick Bussell, Chris Trickle, Jim Cook (the latter long after accident caused retirement).

Just earlier this year, Donnie Ray Crawford.

[ReWind]

Can anyone give dates for Rick Bussell, Garry Coglan & Joe Giubardo?

Otherwise I have the following motor racing people who were intentionally killed by the hands of other people (including legal or illegal executions):
29 Jun 1940 Stanisław Hołuj (Pol,41)
02 Sep 1941 Lloyd Seay (USA,21)
21 Mar 1942 Georges Paulin (Fra,39)
30 Sep 1942 Harry Torin (GBr,30)
29 Mar 1944 Gordon Brettell (GBr,29)
26 Apr 1944 Violette Morris (Fra,51)
11 Sep 1944 Robert Benoist (Fra,49)
?? Jan 1945 Eckard von Kalnein (Ger,52)
03 Mar 1945 René Biolay (Fra)
23 Mar 1945 „W. Williams“ (GBr,42)
27 Apr 1945 Claudio Fogolin (Ita,72)
28 Apr 1945 Ugo Gobbato (Ita,56)
15 May 1945 Edoardo Teagno (Ita,43)
09 Nov 1945 Norbert Sinner (Lux,38)
20 Nov 1954 William Jackson (Aus,37)
10 Apr 1955 David Blakely (GBr,25)
23 Aug 1963 Floyd Powell (USA,32)
09 Apr 1971 Henry Pens (USA,31)
17 Jun 1971 Bob Pronger (USA,49)
21 Jun 1974 Bobby Burns (USA,52)
21 Sep 1974 Charley Engle (USA,67)
30 May 1976 Elmer George (USA,47)
?? Feb 1977 Bill Main (USA,33)
07 Feb 1978 Bobby Aylward (USA,c.43)
26 Nov 1983 Jim Cook (USA,62)
?? Jan 1984 Jerry Petty (USA,c.28)
05 Mar 1987 Stewart McLeod (Aus,46)
16 Mar 1988 Mickey Thompson (USA,59)
27 Oct 1988 Meyer Botha (SAf,51)
23 Feb 1989 Roy Tyner (USA,55)
29 Mar 1990 Ron Hodgson (Aus)
?? Jun 1990 Nick Whiting (GBr,43)
21 Nov 1993 Andely Chan (32)
15 Jul 1997 Cheryl Glass (USA,35)
25 Mar 1998 Chris Trickle (USA,25)
27 Mar 2000 Jack Boggs (USA,49)
31 Jul 2001 John McNicol (SAf,59)
19 Feb 2002 Cletuis Samqua (USA,75)
12 Dec 2002 George Collazo (USA,33)
14 Apr 2003 Steve Brucker (USA,51)
26 Jan 2005 Jim Booth (USA,64)
30 Mar 2009 Jackie Pretorius (SAf,74)
15 Apr 2009 Franco Ambrosio (Ita,76)
18 Jul 2009 Ricardo Londoño (Col,59)
21 Mar 2010 Michel Deleuze (Fra,53)
14 Jan 2012 Donnie Ray Crawford (USA,24)

There are some cases of people gone missing who were probably murdered (or just disappeared):
17 May 1945 Edoardo Weber (Ita,55)
?? Apr 1960 Tony Parravano (USA)
04 Oct 1978 Giancarlo Bussi (Ita)
09 Sep 2005 Manfred Günther (Ger,63)
and the most recent one:
30 Mar 2012 Hugo Charles (Ned,46)

[Nigel Beresford]

Nick Whiting's relationship with Charlie makes one think about the probity of all the participants in the F1 circus.

What on Earth is that supposed to mean?

[AAGR]

Nigel,

Agree with that. Why think the absolute worst of everyone ?

[Vitesse2]

A couple of queries, Reinhard:

According our friend anjakub, Holuj was killed on April 27th: http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=2129268

I have also seen May 6th quoted for Teagno's death, although this may be the date he and Ronza were captured.

[ReWind]

My sources for the Hołuj dates: Aspekt Polski, Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa

[Jimisgod]

Yep, Stewart was on the receiving end of a bomb, placed at the foot of his bed. Blew his wife's legs off too. Not nice.

Do I remember a suggestion of foul play in Ron Hodgson's plunge off The Gap in Sydney?




Bruce Moxon

http://news.google.c...pg=3999,6795680

Some bomb.

[Jim Thurman]

Can anyone give dates for Rick Bussell, Garry Coglan & Joe Giubardo?

There are some cases of people gone missing who were probably murdered (or just disappeared):

Rick Bussell 22 May 1993 (33)

Bob Pronger is another that went missing and exact date may never be known. This despite a date being given, which likely was simply the date of a court ruling him "legally dead".

Edited by Jim Thurman, 19 April 2012 - 20:19.

[ERault]

No reason why not. Some similar ones:

E Gordon Brettell - murdered by the Gestapo after the "Great Escape".

Violette Morris - assassinated by a French resistance hit squad. She worked for the Gestapo.

Edoardo Teagno - executed/murdered, along with a companion, by anti-Fascist partisans after being found with a large amount of stolen money.

Enzo Ferrari's old boss (and nemesis?) Ugo Gobatto was murdered outside the Alfa Romeo factory and I believe the Polish driver Stanislaw Holuj was also executed/murdered by the Gestapo.

Vitesse,

I would be interested learning more on the life and death of Edoardo Teagno. Could you please provide more details, or point to some useful sources ? Thanks

[Vitesse2]

Vitesse,

I would be interested learning more on the life and death of Edoardo Teagno. Could you please provide more details, or point to some useful sources ? Thanks

All in Italian, I'm afraid:

http://books.google....bAs..."&f=false

http://gondlir.alter...lfranco-emilia/

If you do a google search for "Teagno" + "Ronza", you get about 90 hits, of which those are two.

[racinggeek]

In the list in Post No. 34, the inclusion of Cheryl Glass (July 15, 1997) is incorrect. Officially, she jumped off a bridge and into a river, although I believe some friends/family members question that.

[wagons46]

Actually, I was just wondering about Hoddo the other week... whether that might have been a possibility...

But he did have a lot of financial woes. His incessant philandering meant that he had to sign over pretty much all of his business interests to his wife, I doubt that he had anything left at all.

The sad thing about it all was that a finance company,supposedly,was prepared to give Ron another go by backing him ,but had not yet informed Ron of it's decision. The announcement was to be the following day. That was the 'word' at the time by those who would have known.

A very sad situation.

[LittleChris]

Not a driver, but 67 year old Sally Hingston who had marshalled at Silverstone was murdered whilst taking a walk near her home during August 2009.

Does anyone remember the name of the Northern Irish Stock Car driver murdered by the IRA / INLA during the 80's. Have been racking my brains since this thread appeared

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by wagons46
The sad thing about it all was that a finance company,supposedly,was prepared to give Ron another go by backing him ,but had not yet informed Ron of it's decision. The announcement was to be the following day. That was the 'word' at the time by those who would have known.

A very sad situation.

Ron was a gregarious man with a passion for enjoying himself...

I'm sure a part of his enjoyment came from being in the position in which he appeared to be. In command of a huge empire of car dealerships, at the helm of a racing team (earlier on) which won at Bathurst and Amaroo Park, even took out the Australian Touring Car Championship.

But, as mentioned, underneath it all he was not so well off. His wife had him sign over title to properties or businesses whenever she caught him philandering - or at least, that's the 'common knowledge' of those close to him.

So would a finance company really have been able to turn his situation around?

[wagons46]

So would a finance company really have been able to turn his situation around?

Without a finance company's backing Ron was unable to start up again. He had the ability to quickly generate sales and profits from a new start and he knew that, but no company had stated their willingness to back him. This would have been a major catalyst in his depression.

Many people said afterwards that if only they had known the depth of situation they could have done this or that.........but all too late.

[seldo]

Ron was a gregarious man with a passion for enjoying himself...

I'm sure a part of his enjoyment came from being in the position in which he appeared to be. In command of a huge empire of car dealerships, at the helm of a racing team (earlier on) which won at Bathurst and Amaroo Park, even took out the Australian Touring Car Championship.

But, as mentioned, underneath it all he was not so well off. His wife had him sign over title to properties or businesses whenever she caught him philandering - or at least, that's the 'common knowledge' of those close to him.

So would a finance company really have been able to turn his situation around?

Hoddo saw his problems as two-fold - firstly JRA had just advised all their dealers that they were rationalising the network and that Jaguar dealers were to be culled from 17 down to 5, but that the remaining 5 had to commit to a multi-million$ upgrade of facilities, or else. Then, to compound the issue, our Treasurer Paul Keating, announced the luxury tax on cars above a price threshold, and Hoddo saw that as the inevitable final nail in the financial future of his business.
He was a larger than life character who ran every inch of the way, and hang the consequences, and I suspect that he may have been a bit bi-polar, with huge highs and lows.
His business was huge and complex, but also ran very close to the wind, relying to a large, and many thought precarious extent, on cash-flow, so that the above two issues were clearly going to have a severe impact.
He was vibrant character who was tough, straight, and good to work for and with, believing that you should have fun in everything that you do, but also to do it to the best level.
Was there ever any dark side to his demise? As one who who did business with him, sat on committees with him, and drove for him - I certainly don't believe so.

[Catalina Park]

From what I remember about the Hoddo story it was the way Seldo described it. I recall someone saying at the time that Hoddo was murdered by Paul Keating, meaning that it was the luxury car tax (and fringe benefits tax) that pushed him over the edge.

[GMACKIE]

The thing that 'pushed him over the edge' was losing his wife's money.

[Lee Nicolle]

Hoddo saw his problems as two-fold - firstly JRA had just advised all their dealers that they were rationalising the network and that Jaguar dealers were to be culled from 17 down to 5, but that the remaining 5 had to commit to a multi-million$ upgrade of facilities, or else. Then, to compound the issue, our Treasurer Paul Keating, announced the luxury tax on cars above a price threshold, and Hoddo saw that as the inevitable final nail in the financial future of his business.
He was a larger than life character who ran every inch of the way, and hang the consequences, and I suspect that he may have been a bit bi-polar, with huge highs and lows.
His business was huge and complex, but also ran very close to the wind, relying to a large, and many thought precarious extent, on cash-flow, so that the above two issues were clearly going to have a severe impact.
He was vibrant character who was tough, straight, and good to work for and with, believing that you should have fun in everything that you do, but also to do it to the best level.
Was there ever any dark side to his demise? As one who who did business with him, sat on committees with him, and drove for him - I certainly don't believe so.

David, I thought that Ron was a Holden dealer? Plus JRA products as well as used?
Though the luxury tax was the death of quite a few upmarket franchises nationally.

[Lola5000]

Wonder what happened to the Jaguar mark 2 he built up for historic racing?