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Bill Forsyth - motor racing photographer


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#1 GMACKIE

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 10:21

The thread on Lance Ruting reminded me of Bill Forsyth.......anyone remember Bill? He took some great photos.

Edited by GMACKIE, 18 August 2012 - 10:22.


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#2 brucemoxon

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 10:35

I saw him at Barry Lake's funeral - looking fit and well.

Yes, a good photographer and a nice bloke.



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#3 ellrosso

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 10:38

Bill was working for Baltronics part time(commercial photography suppliers - now Sun Studios in Alexandria) the last time I saw him, maybe 5-6 years ago. He was doing the VMX (Vintage Motocross) magazine then and I think he still is. He moved to Tassy for a while before that I think, covering Targa Tasmania amongst other things. Very capable shooter, both commercially and motorsport. I think Ray Berghouse had most of Bill's early stuff in the Chevron library - they worked as a team in the late 60's, early 70's. Not sure quite why Chevron ended up with it, but that's the way it is.

#4 seldo

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 13:05

Billy still calls me every couple of years and, if I recall correctly, is now living in a retirement village in maybe Lindfield? He visits Toowoomba regularly to visit his daughter and grand-kids and usually gives me a bell on the way through to catch up for a coffee and a mag. Lovely bloke who wouldnt hurt a fly, and also happens to have taken some damn fine shots in his time, but never had the commercial drive to take it further, nor to really earn himself what they were worth.
For many, many years he would come to me shortly after a race meeting and give me a fistfull of photos that he would always refuse payment for. "Nah - don't worry - catch me next time..."
Lovely bloke.

#5 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 20:12

It was good to catch up with Bill at Leon Prgomet's funeral last year, when he was in the company of Ray Berghouse...

We've had a phone call or two since, while he has also supplied photos for our F5000 book - excellent shots, of course - and no doubt some of his earlier work will be in our Tasman Cup book.

Of course, if he comes up to Toowoomba via Seldon's place, he should go home via Dalveen, shouldn't he?

#6 ellrosso

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Posted 19 August 2012 - 08:43

That explains the Chevron scenario, he obviously wasn't too fussed....

#7 Ray Bell

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Posted 19 August 2012 - 20:45

I think anyone who does a good job, as Bill did, is 'fussed'...

I'm also quite sure he got enough money out of his photography to be happy with it. I would also think that he's especially happy that people still want some of his stuff.

As Seldo will testify, Bill was one of 'us'... those who drove through the night to get to interstate race meetings, to be there on the side of the track when great events took place. That he took a good camera or two and wielded the darkroom equipment well just added another facet to his involvement.

#8 ellrosso

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Posted 19 August 2012 - 23:28

Don't take what I am saying the wrong way Ray. I'm not implying for one minute that Bill wasn't fussed about his work - you can't do work at his quality not to be.
I asked him about his motorsport collection some years ago when he was talking to me about my MotoX work and he said that Bergie had the majority of it. He didn't elaborate on that and I always wondered why he didn't keep the work himself - simple as that, I'm not implying anything else by my previous comment and would not like anyone to think otherwise. Reading your posts I realize that Bill was happy for Ray to look after it and publish it as he saw fit - thank you for clarifying that.



#9 seldo

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 02:01

I had a long chat with Bill just now, and he is his usual chirpy self, despite a series of set-backs over recent years.
Still living in Lindfield and still very active as photographer for an historic MotoCross magazine as well as lots of smaller jobs as well.
He had a scare about 3 years ago with a heart-attack, and although I havent seen him for some years, I doubt that many of us would recognise him from his rotund self that I've known for the last 45 years as he tells me he is down to a trim 70kg.

#10 E1pix

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 06:36

Don't take what I am saying the wrong way Ray. I'm not implying for one minute that Bill wasn't fussed about his work - you can't do work at his quality not to be.
I asked him about his motorsport collection some years ago when he was talking to me about my MotoX work and he said that Bergie had the majority of it. He didn't elaborate on that and I always wondered why he didn't keep the work himself - simple as that, I'm not implying anything else by my previous comment and would not like anyone to think otherwise. Reading your posts I realize that Bill was happy for Ray to look after it and publish it as he saw fit - thank you for clarifying that.

Beautifully said with such regards to your profession and those sharing it.

We in the biz need more like you, Ell. Huge Kudos. :up:

#11 seldo

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 07:06

Don't take what I am saying the wrong way Ray. I'm not implying for one minute that Bill wasn't fussed about his work - you can't do work at his quality not to be.
I asked him about his motorsport collection some years ago when he was talking to me about my MotoX work and he said that Bergie had the majority of it. He didn't elaborate on that and I always wondered why he didn't keep the work himself - simple as that, I'm not implying anything else by my previous comment and would not like anyone to think otherwise. Reading your posts I realize that Bill was happy for Ray to look after it and publish it as he saw fit - thank you for clarifying that.


I also asked about his old work and he said that whilst Bergie has some he said he still has heaps and is in the process of trying to digitalise it, and to that effect has just spent a bomb on new hardware

#12 xj13v12

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 09:59

I got to know Bill a bit through my years doing Targa Tasmania.
A good story is how at an early Melbourne AGP he outwitted the world's photographers.

It was the beginning of season group pose for all the F1 drivers. The photographers were held back off the track until the drivers were moving into position. Then they were released and the throng jostled for prime positions. Bill held back and waited until everyone else was in place and then casually picked up the ladder he was quietly leaning on and walked to the rear of the photographer group and cooly erected his ladder and climbed up to the applause and amusement of the rest of the shutter bugs. Point made - there is more than one way to skin a cat, or maybe age and experience beats youth and enthusiasm?

#13 Ray Bell

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 11:50

Originally posted by ellrosso
Don't take what I am saying the wrong way Ray. I'm not implying for one minute that Bill wasn't fussed about his work - you can't do work at his quality not to be.....


It's all too easy in this medium to take people the wrong way...

But I didn't. When I responded that I believe he is 'fussed' about his work, I meant today. I'm quite sure that Bill likes to see his photos out there in places where photos of the '60s and '70s are needed. So you have misunderstood me, but these things happen.

I was not being critical at all, just saying that this dimension is also there in Bill.

As for him losing weight, yes, it was very obvious at Leon's funeral that he'd taken a large slice off the portly parts. He was (justifiably) quite proud that he'd pared his weight back, a shame he had to go through trauma to discover it was necessary.

Back in the sixties, Bill would often join Bob and me on the flag point at the Farm. There would be the usual banter about what was going on, we'd be displaying the appropriate flags and he'd be snapping away getting lots of pics. He might be with us for half a practice session or for a five lap race, then he'd be off. But there were always drivers he'd wave to as they did their slow-down laps, generally blokes from the north side of the Harbour, of course, he had a lot of friends out there.

#14 kevinbartlett

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 00:08

[Back in the sixties, Bill would often join Bob and me on the flag point at the Farm. There would be the usual banter about what was going on, we'd be displaying the appropriate flags and he'd be snapping away getting lots of pics. He might be with us for half a practice session or for a five lap race, then he'd be off. But there were always drivers he'd wave to as they did their slow-down laps, generally blokes from the north side of the Harbour, of course, he had a lot of friends out there.]
[/quote]

Count me in that friends bunch. Billy always makes it a point to call by for a cuppa when he comes up to Conondale for the VMX magazine motocross annual. Indeed he has taken his health seriously and looks quite fit.

Edited by kevinbartlett, 21 August 2012 - 00:09.


#15 ellrosso

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 07:30

That's a terrific story re the AGP, I can just imagine Bill doing that - great lateral thinking........ Good to hear he is scanning his old shots too. I'll be interested to see his results. Any chance of talking him into posting a few Seldo?

#16 seldo

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 08:32

That's a terrific story re the AGP, I can just imagine Bill doing that - great lateral thinking........ Good to hear he is scanning his old shots too. I'll be interested to see his results. Any chance of talking him into posting a few Seldo?

That'd be great, wouldn't it. I'll ask him. Might also inspire him to dig a few out of the archives.

#17 seldo

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 08:57

I think anyone who does a good job, as Bill did, is 'fussed'...

I'm also quite sure he got enough money out of his photography to be happy with it. I would also think that he's especially happy that people still want some of his stuff.

As Seldo will testify, Bill was one of 'us'... those who drove through the night to get to interstate race meetings, to be there on the side of the track when great events took place. That he took a good camera or two and wielded the darkroom equipment well just added another facet to his involvement.

Quite O/T, but I have to tell you about one of the scariest moments in my life, when we were travelling interstate. There were 4 of us in Billy's ex-Bob Holden London-Sydney-Marathon Volvo 142S and, as usual, Billy liked me to drive. In those days (circa '69) the enforcers were far thinner on the ground, and we were flashing along on the Pacific Hwy through the forest near Port Macquarie. It was the middle of the night, and we were doing about 160kph with all 4 Super Oscars ablaze and it was a bit of a doddle really.
Then suddenly, with no warning, one of the guys in the back somehow kicked the battery-kill-switch which was located on the transmission tunnel in the back seat, and killed every light and the engine..............BLACK. It was as black as the inside of a cow! You literally could not see your hand in front of your face!
I can still remember the moment clearly - I jumped on the picks as hard as I could and tried to steer according to the mind's-eye picture that I last had, and I was wincing back from the steering-wheel as I tried to back-away from what was going to be an inevitable monumental impact.......
The car seemed to slide down the road for an interminable few minutes.....and I waited for the bang......and winced...... and waited..... and waited..... until it finally stopped, and there was a deathly silence......
I dont think anyone was even breathing, it was so eerily quiet.
Then, a few hysterical curses, as they tried to find the "key", and suddenly it was daylight again for a moment until the car was engulfed in a massive cloud of tyre smoke that finally caught up with us, and we could see that we were stopped in the middle of the road, straddling, but slightly to the wrong side of the centre-line....but hadn't hit a thing......
I restarted the car, and we drove off gingerly down the road, very subdued, as we listened to the constant thump, thump, thump, thump from 4 of Bill's Dunlop SP3 tyres flat-spotted to the canvas.......
Very scary!

Edited by seldo, 21 August 2012 - 09:00.


#18 Ray Bell

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 10:04

Yeah, a good story...

You've told me that one before. But I didn't realise it was a 142, I thought it was an older model.

#19 eldougo

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Posted 23 August 2012 - 06:46

That is the old Bill at the front right hand side.

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#20 seldo

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Posted 11 March 2024 - 11:26

I’m so very sad to advise that my old friend and arguably Australia’s best and certainly one of the most prolific motor sport photographers passed away today in peace. Bill Forsyth endured and glorified Australia’s golden era with a voluminous output of amazing photography encompassing all facets of the sport - from F1 to rallying to modest club events, Billy was always there with some amazing shots. Always Johnny on the spot!
As an always broke rising young driver, Bill would always roll up a couple of days after a meeting and flop an envelope on the counter with “I got a couple of good shots of you”
Rest in peace old mate

Edited by seldo, 11 March 2024 - 11:27.


#21 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 March 2024 - 12:18

It's shattering news to me, David, even though when I went to visit him today and was told he'd had another heart attack...

 

You're dead right about the quality of his photos. Few could match the volume of his work, even fewer could turn out the consistently-good photos he produced. And the few who could match him were acknowledged world-wide, principally Nigel Snowdon.

 

How well I remember those times when Nigel and his brother, Chris, along with Ray Simpson and Ian Elliott would be gathered together at race meetings 600 miles from home, like travelling troubadores, just bristling with cameras and lenses, jackets with pockets full of rolls of film. And Bill was there with them, ready to find a slightly different angle, ready to pit his work against that of those regarded as the best.

 

His studio work, too, was highly regarded. At RCN we sometimes had to get some good quality photos done for an advertiser and they were sent to Bill. But photography wasn't all Bill and Bill wasn't all photography. Bill was always smiling, he was enjoying life, he went out into the bush to photograph rallies - or was it to exercise his Volvo on those dirt tracks?

 

An artist of the first order and he will certainly be missed.



#22 E1pix

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Posted 11 March 2024 - 15:01

Sorry to hear you lost your friend, Guys, but thanks for honoring him like this.

#23 brucemoxon

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Posted 12 March 2024 - 00:14

This was coming for a while, sadly. Bill's last few years were hard ones, battling dementia. 

Bill was always there for advice for a young(er) photographer. 'Try this and this is why'. 

A lovely man, never mind his fantastic photography. 

 

 

 

BRM



#24 seldo

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Posted 14 March 2024 - 01:29

For those who might need to plan ahead, Bill Forsyth’s funeral will be held at 12.00 on Weds 27 at a venue yet to be confirmed in Toowoomba

#25 Ray Bell

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Posted 14 March 2024 - 13:28

Thanks, David...

 

I'll see if I can make it.



#26 ellrosso

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Posted 14 March 2024 - 21:01

RIP Bill Forsyth - one of the good guys and one of Australia's best motorsport photographers. I enjoyed catching up with him occasionally at Richard Wilson Studio in Ridge St, North Sydney when he was up from Tassy getting film processed.

No sides to him, just a good bloke.



#27 GMACKIE

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Posted 15 March 2024 - 03:31

Bill put this photo down in front of me after the 1963 Bathurst meeting. "You at The Dipper" he said. It is my most treasured photo.

 

Agree with the above comments - he was something special. RIP Bill...

volkswagen001.jpggif upload site



#28 E1pix

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Posted 15 March 2024 - 04:17

I love that shot, neat to put a name to it if even this way.

Nice to see you here, Greg.

#29 GMACKIE

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Posted 15 March 2024 - 04:42

:wave:



#30 seldo

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Posted 22 March 2024 - 00:17

Bill’s son in law has posted as follows on FB:
Search Robert James Whittet
“ We would like to announce the funeral for Bill will be in Toowoomba at Burstow Funerals on Ruthven St on the 27th of March 2024 @ 12pm Qld time.

This is a small intimate gathering so if you would like to attend please contact either Emma or Myself via Facebook or Phone.

You will also be able to view the Funeral via livestream with a code that we will issue if you would like to watch.”

Edited by seldo, 22 March 2024 - 00:19.


#31 ReWind

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Posted 26 March 2024 - 09:56

It seems nobody mentioned how old Bill Forsyth was.

 

It would be nice if someone attending his funeral could give us his birth date afterwards.



#32 seldo

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Posted Yesterday, 05:25

It seems nobody mentioned how old Bill Forsyth was.

 

It would be nice if someone attending his funeral could give us his birth date afterwards.

He was 80.

He was also probably the nicest, kindest, gentlest man I've ever met and his extensive work for Rotary was well recognised. In 58 years that I knew him I never heard him raise his voice in anger nor speak badly about anyone.

The funeral yesterday was a small intimate affair with only about 25-30 people as per request of his family.

RIP old friend.



#33 Ray Bell

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Posted Yesterday, 07:32

Such a loss, David...

 

As you say, a gentle, kind and very nice man, generous too. A shame his family decided that I couldn't go because I happen to know some people they don't like.



#34 cooper997

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Posted Yesterday, 08:38

The new Australian Muscle Car #143 (out today) has a tribute and insight to Bill from fellow photographer (and previous business partner), Ray Berghouse.

 

 

Stephen