26 replies to this topic

[2F-001]

Have just heard, on tv news in the UK, that Richard Burns has passed away, 'peacefully'.

RIP, Richard.

[Macca]

Terrible news - this is being a real bummer of a year.



Paul M

[Nanni Dietrich]

Ciao Richard.

[ghinzani]

Oh no, thats absolutely terrible news. Its always worrying when you dont hear much news about someones progress and I did wonder. RIP Richard, a great rally driver for sure and a very brave man.

[bigears]

I didn't see this coming at all!

When I looked in the BBC website (my homepage) I thought it was referring to George Best but there was a different picture and I immediately recognised who it was.

A very sad year for the rallying fans, the WRC and of course his family and friends.

Thank you and RIP Richard Burns.

[Vitesse2]

Like ghinzani, I'd been wondering. Sad, sad news - a great rallying talent taken far too soon.

[Richard Jenkins]

Richard first came to my attention on a radio report on BBC Radio Berkshire in 1993 - I certaintly didn't take notice of rallying back then. It mentioned he'd won the British Championship & I thought "oh good, a top driver from Reading." "It'll be nice to see him do well - boost Reading's profile."
So, from there on, I followed his career. And what a career it turned out to be!!!

I checked a week ago about his health status. The lack of information since August and his condition in August made me fear the worst, which was proved today.

RIP, Richard & utmost sympathy to partner Zoe & his friends & family.

[bill moffat]

Dreadful but, sadly, not unexpected news. Our thoughts are naturally with his family and friends at this difficult time. Not a good week for sporting legends (that includes you, Jabby).

The romantic side of me fantasises about a charity Richard Burns RoC event at the Millenium stadium next year (we'll let them get the Internationals out of the way first, and quite possibly the FA Cup).

All the rallying greats both past and present battling it out in Pug 309's, Imprezas and 911s (remember Silverstone) and all for the ultimate benefit of Cancer Relief.

Look forward to seeing you all there....

[Paul Taylor]

Hmm, I just heard Really sad news - RIP, Richard

[moody]

..am very sorry to hear this news, God speed Richard ;)

[flat-16]

Horrible news...

Considering how boring circuit racing has become in the current era, following Burns' progress had become one of the few inspiring motor racing interests left for me in recent times.

As others have commented, with little news being posted on the Burns site in recent times, it didn't look too hopeful... Considering my own father died from a brain-tumour in his mid-thirties, I'm at a loss for words... My thoughts are with his family.

Justin

[David M. Kane]

34 is way too young to die. To his credit, he lived life to the limit.

[Rainer Nyberg]

Richard Burns at the 2003 Swedish Rally.

RIP.


Photo courtesy motorsport.com / Team Peugeot

[AAA-Eagle]

It's terribly...................... I don't have other words

[Cargo]

Yes, this is terrible news. Never met the fellow, but in TV interviews he came across as a thoroughly nice man. And shockingly young... a very sad day....

I'm an F1 man through and through, but during the recent lean F1 years (Shumi dominating) I did turn to rallying for a chance of backing a Brit and being patriotic.

Thanks for all your efforts Richard... Much appreciated.

[FLB]

I still remember the first time I read about his illness. The name 'Gunnar Nilsson' kept ringing in my ears. I just wished the result was going to be different this time.


Sadly, it wasn't to be...

[Théodore33]

Thank you for all, Richard...

Never forget

[Doug Nye]

To lose such talent so young is always a tragedy - there was self-evidently so much more to come. A neuro-surgeon friend predicted the likely outcome very early on. I only met Richard Burns once but admired him - and his peers - as would any other enthusiast. These WRC guys are complete heroes. They are the true descendants of the great road racers who first thrilled, gripped and entranced the likes of yrs trly - from the dawn of motoring sport until the time road racing became homogenised, sanitised and industrialised. I was a great admirer of this brave and capable young man...and would like to echo all the sincere condolences already presented here.

DCN

PS - Another recent loss, which seems to have passed unremarked here in TNF, is the death of sometime BMC road racing star and multiple Le Mans and Sebring competitor Andrew Hedges.

[Gary C]

just looking at the site from Brazil, where I´ve been out of touch for a few days. First George Best and now Richard Burns, what an absolutely terrible week. RIP Richard.

[FLB]

Originally posted by Doug Nye PS - Another recent loss, which seems to have passed unremarked here in TNF, is the death of sometime BMC road racing star and multiple Le Mans and Sebring competitor Andrew Hedges.

Did not know that, Doug


Whenever I read his name, I always think of Le Mans 1970. What a horrible feeling that must have been, to drop out like that with less than 15 minutes to go...

[wolf sun]

This is terrible news (again)!

Richard, Jabby, Michael, and Andrew - gone but not forgotten!

[BRG]

I think it was a sad commentary on the British media, and perhaps on British society in general, that a formerly great footballer who had basically drunk himself to death is widely eulogised and mourned, whereas a British World Champion of commendable character and behaviour, who dies at a tragically young age, is largely ignored except by the specialist media.

Which one was the positive role model, I wonder, the binge drinker or the decent, professional sportsman? Maybe if Burnsie had been found unconscious in the gutter with Miss World a few times, he would have been more respected? It all leaves a rather sour taste in my mouth.

But Richard Burns will not be forgotten in the motorsports community, and maybe that is all that he would have wanted.

[ian senior]

Originally posted by BRG
I think it was a sad commentary on the British media, and perhaps on British society in general, that a formerly great footballer who had basically drunk himself to death is widely eulogised and mourned, whereas a British World Champion of commendable character and behaviour, who dies at a tragically young age, is largely ignored except by the specialist media.

Which one was the positive role model, I wonder, the binge drinker or the decent, professional sportsman? Maybe if Burnsie had been found unconscious in the gutter with Miss World a few times, he would have been more respected? It all leaves a rather sour taste in my mouth.

But Richard Burns will not be forgotten in the motorsports community, and maybe that is all that he would have wanted.

A bit sour there, I feel, BRG, although I've heard similar comments elsewhere so you are not alone in thinking that. While in no way condoning some of the more extreme examples of George Best's behaviour, no-one respected him for that kind of thing. But some of the small and largely unreported genuinely decent things that he did are ignored or glossed over. Example - after a speaking engagement, he was approached by a lad with Down's Syndrome who asked George if he would play snooker with him. George willingly obliged, let the lad win and ended up playing five frames. He didn't need to do that, but he did. Meanwhile, his "celebrity" wife was hovering in the background, itching to get away as that kind of thing wasn't her scene at all.

It does seem a bit unbalanced that the very sad death of Richard attracted by no means the same level of coverage in the media, but - and with no disprespect - Best was the bigger figure and competed in a sport which is supported by more people. And of course I'm not belittling Richard in any way - a super guy who was incredibly good at what he did. His death was so damned unfair.

[2F-001]

To be fair to "the media" when I heard this news on early morning tv, it was clear that the news team had hastily rejigged their sports round-up and devoted almost the entire slot to Richard Burns; all other sport was relegated to a quick mention at the end.
Ok, that was one broadcast (but I heard it mentioned numerous times on the radio thereafter in London), but as Ian points out Rallying will never rival Football for public interest - with, doubtless, many regarding it as minority/obscure/elitist/irrelevant/not a sport at all or whatever.
With regard to Best, one has to remember that, a) he was already a massive sporting and media personality before he began to go off the rails; b) he was, unwittingly perhaps, a central element in changing the face of his sport forever; and c) a credible contender for the nebulous 'title' of greatest talent in his sport, ever, globally.
As fine a performer, character, gentleman, sportsman, champion as Richard Burns was, he was none of those three particular things that framed Best's reputation and legacy within general public and media awareness.

[bill moffat]

..and on the same sort of theme perhaps James Hunt gained fame and notoriety beyond the norm as a consequence of his intermittently wayward and eccentric behaviour. Equally Graham rather than Damon is the more memorable Hill as he was the more colourful character.

I'm glad to see that Autosport are giving RB's loss due prominence this week (as they did c Jabby C. last week). As an aside the Autosport issue of April 11th 1968 carried a large colour picture of a Ford Falcon on the cover with just passing comment of tragedy at Hockenheim...was death just cheaper and more expected in those days ?

[FLB]

Originally posted by bill moffat I'm glad to see that Autosport are giving RB's loss due prominence this week (as they did c Jabby C. last week). As an aside the Autosport issue of April 11th 1968 carried a large colour picture of a Ford Falcon on the cover with just passing comment of tragedy at Hockenheim...was death just cheaper and more expected in those days ?

I think they probably went the same route as DSJ did. He didn't write a Jim Clark obituary, but simply wrote something along the lines of (I'm paraphrasing from memory) 'Jim Clark is dead. There is nothing more to say'

Clark's death hit everybody so hard that a good number of people had no idea how to cope with it.

[Phil Rainford]

Five years ago today


PAR