595 replies to this topic

[E1pix]

Hello, ReWind:

Thanks for answering my PM, and for what you do here.

This is the definition of Honor. Thank You.

[D-Type]

So what you're suggesting, Duncan, is to start a new Post 2010 thread, and leave the old one, perhaps renamed to say pre-2011, to be added to as and when?

Yes. It would be one way to get over the "Post is too long" problem. Someone with more computer knowledge will probably know a better way.

[ReWind]

Thanks for your thoughts.

Meanwhile I split up the lists from the initial post and distributed them to the first TWO posts.

[ReWind]

Summary of passings since August up to yesterday’s inconceivably tragic loss of a two-time Indy 500 winner:

Christian Bakkerud (Den,26) Dick Beauregard (USA,85) Jim Bouchard Sr. (USA,71) Mark Bridges (USA,60) Nev Bridges (Aus,61) Hully Bunn (USA,91) Klaus Butenschön (Ger,74) Bernard Collomb (Fra,80)
Georges Dardenne (Bel,89) Forrest Deininger (USA,84) Tony Everard (GBr,88) Earl Gaerte (USA,67) Chris Griffis (USA,45) Alexey Grigoriev (Rus,66) Adrian Hall (GBr,c.68) Harold Heasley (NZl,85)
Mary Hendrick (USA,88) Martin Hines (GBr,63) Rick Huseman (USA,38) Sal Incandela (Ita,61) Graham Jones (Can,??) Jaroslav Juhan (Gua,89) Reds Kagle (USA,79) Joe Kennelly (USA,97) Chris Lawrence (GBr,78)
Michel Z. Lecomte (Fra,c.76) Bob McLees (USA,86) Larry Moyer (USA,60) Alan Munday (Aus,c.58) Sonny Rabideau (USA,82) Jerry Reigle (USA,43) Jean Saurel (Fra,63) Betty Skelton (USA,85) Alan Smith (GBr,??)
Larry Snellbaker (USA,73) Herbert Stilborn (GBr,??) Ian Sutherland (GBr,83) Allan Tomlinson (Aus,95) Don Truman (GBr,89) Michel Weber (Ger,73) Dan Wheldon (GBr,33) Lucien Xhervelle (Bel,65)

Edited by ReWind, 30 October 2011 - 20:56.

[ReWind]

This week’s AUTOSPORT (October 20, 2011, p. 83) features an obituary for Paul Harmer (1949 – 2011):

Paul Harmer, who has died aged 61 after a long illness, was part of the Brands Hatch scene for a quarter of a century as both a driver and a journalist.
Harmer was a handy Mini racer in the late 1960s and early ’70s, prior to becoming AUTOSPORT’s Brands and Lydden correspondent. He also had two spells in the Brands press office, a short stint on the AUTOSPORT staff, published his own club-racing periodical, and edited the BRSCC’s British Racing News magazine.
Drawn back to competition in the late-1980s, Harmer raced a Vauxhall Astra GTE in Roadsaloons (and made two BTCC starts in 1987) and then a Citroën 2CV.

Alas, I cannot find exact life dates. Is anyone able to help?

[ReWind]

Nearly three years ago Richard Ward died at the age of 65.
Look what a nice memorial website his widow created here.

[ReWind]

Mark W. Hillestad (57) succumbed to a heart attack while racing at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton on Saturday, 29 October 2011.
Obituary
News

[Jim Thurman]

"Bernie" Burnworth, 81, who raced super stocks at Cajon Speedway near San Diego in the 1960's, passed away October 15 in Hemet, California. He worked as a paint and body man, and fittingly, his race cars were outstanding in their appearance.

Tommy Montes, 69, died September 20 at Las Vegas. Nicknamed "Terrible Tommy", Montes had a long career racing stock cars, late models and dwarf cars. He was a regular at Craig Road Speedway in North Las Vegas, NV and in the early years of Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, CA. He had good success and won quite a few main events. He also competed on the open competition late model circuit in the late 70's/early 80's. After a heart transplant, he continued racing, running dwarf cars with success.

Mike Murphy, 58, died March 10 at Carmichael, CA. Murphy raced sprint cars in the 80's in northern California, most notably with NARC.

[ReWind]

Midget racer John Tenney died at 75.
But what a gruesome fate!
News
Obituary
Portrait

[Michael Ferner]

Former Indianapolis 500 mechanic, historian and Historic Racing Car builder, Bill Castle passed away yesterday. He was a treasure trove of information about US racing history, and his loss will be felt deeply. Over the last two or three years, I exchanged many emails with him, always fearing that his advanced age would eventually "cut me off" from this deep fountain of knowledge. Sadly, the fountain's now run dry...

I had the privilege of meeting Bill Castle last summer at his home in Indianapolis, and it was a real joy to see the man in person, and witness his energy and enthusiasm - a true inspiration! We had a great time, discussing various minutiae of racing history, and departing I had that warm sensation inside of me that you get when meeting a kindred soul - a friend!

Sooooo sad he's gone now!!




Here's Bill, engaged in conversation. You'll notice he's on oxygen, but that didn't deter him; he was marvelously "alive", and sharp!




Me as wannabe mechanician in Bill's baby, the outstanding 1920 Miller replica he built himself from ground up - as an octogenarian!




Riding down pitlane on the Milwaukee Mile, courtesy of Terry Castle, Bill's son. Bill himself was already to weak to accompany us to the Beer City.


RIP, Bill - and thank you for everything!

Edited by Michael Ferner, 08 December 2011 - 18:57.

[ReWind]

Just a small correction, Michael: William Shannon Castle (b. 24 June 1920 Omaha, Nebraska) did not die yesterday, but slightly earlier on Monday, 05 December 2011 at the age of 91.

[ReWind]

On the 500race.org website I read that 96-year-old German Helmut Polensky has died.

I haven’t seen a confirmation elsewhere, though. And no exact date.

[Haine Kane]

On the 500race.org website I read that 96-year-old German Helmut Polensky has died.

I haven’t seen a confirmation elsewhere, though. And no exact date.

Hello,

in the link from ReWind , I find a Jack TURNER who passed away in March 2011, Is he the same Jack TURNER who drove a CHEVROLET in LE MANS 1962 ?

[ReWind]

No.
He was a Welshman who produced his own cars.

Link #1 Link #2

[David McKinney]

Probably won't mean much to most people, but when I started following the sport the motor racing reports in the New Zealand Herald were by Geoff Lee Martin, who I met once or twice, and who died recently

http://www.telegraph...Lee-Martin.html

[ReWind]

In another place I found that the following Americans passed away in 2011:
John Hall, regional editor for „Speedway Scene“
Lou Ligino, veteran mechanic on Sprint Cars, Midgets and Indy Cars
Bob Nowicki, veteran Midget owner
Jim Powers, Seekonk Speedway announcer

Is there anyone who can contribute more specific info, especially life dates?

[Richard Jenkins]

Louis P Ligino b. 26 Oct 1925 d. 30 Oct 2011

(Source: SSDI)

[ReWind]

Thank you very much, Richard! (.. and Happy New Year!)

Can you look up the exact birthdates (i.e. the missing days) for the following ones, too?
Clifford Cornell, Illinois, b. December 1924, died 16 December 2011
Neil Murray, Massachusetts, b. May 1941, died 20 December 2011

[Richard Jenkins]

Happy New Year Reinhard!

I'll remind myself to do it later this month - there's normally a one month delay with the SSDI - anything past the early days of the month won't normally be loaded until 25th January.

[ReWind]

C. Cornell is already inserted, but there is no free access.

[ReWind]

Summary 2011

Argentina (23 passings)
Amado Allovero (79 years old) Osvaldo Ameal (72) Óscar Angeletti (63) Néstor Arosa (82) Jorge Bacqué (65) Rodrigo Bodetto (18) Clemar Bucci (90) Guido Falaschi (22) José Manuel Faraoni (64) Hugo Galaverna (83) Miguel Galluzzi (77) Edelmiro Gundi (91) José Manzano (77) Luis Meretta (c.89) Rodolfo Míguez (64) Mariano Millán (c.48) Rodrigo Niz (16) Juan José Pellegrini (62) Carlos Ragno (76) Óscar Tejerina (87) Carlos Vanrell (59) Mario Vessuri (72) Osvaldo Villaverde (68)

Austria (6)
Alfred Dixer (c.61) Kurt Hämmerle (62) Heribert Krausler (56) Walter Pöltinger (78) Andreas Waldherr (43) Peter Wedl (61)

Australia (17)
Kym Bonython (90) Nev Bridges (61) Mal Chapman (85) Tim Garratt (c.60) Peter Gubbins (60) Matt Harrison (c.16) John Katsanis (62) Maurie Monk (90) Alan Munday (c.58) Graham Slater (age unknown) John Stranger (??) Leon Thomas (77) Allan Tomlinson(95) Keith Williams (82) June Winterbottom (65) Grahame Wood (73) Don Wright (??)

Belgium (9)
Georges Dardenne (89) Olivier Delestienne (c.41) Jean-Louis Delestrait (43) Jacky Dortu (61) Philippe Havet (53) Philippe Hérion (44) Raymond Massa (63) Steve Wilmet (33) Lucien Xhervelle (65)

Brazil (5)
Luiz Bueno (74) Ênio Garcia (78) Paulo Kunze (67) Sid Mosca (74) Gustavo Sondermann (29)

Bulgaria (1)
Richard Gruev (64)

Canada (5)
Gary Hough (c.66) Leighton Irwin (c.72) Graham Jones (??) Al Prendergast (75) Ray Stevens (80)

China (1)
Dong Liu Cao (26)

Czechia (7)
Robin Bořke (30) Jindřich Budín (57) Stanislav Firtl (44) Karel Porsch (60) Lubomír Rek (86) Alois Samohýl (82) Jiří Skoupil (46)

Denmark (1)
Christian Bakkerud (26)

Estonia (4)
Mihkel Mark (77) Andres Napp (45) Hellat Rumvolt (75) Arved Virves (66)

France (41)
Jean-Claude Bajol (77) Claude Bobrowski (79) Didier Bonnet (61) Christian Boudas (64) Gilles Bouquet (60) Alain Brohet (63) Henri Cachia (85) Bernard Collomb (80) Olivier Coudin (47) Claude Daneyrolle (78) Bernard Duisit (65) Yves Dussaucy (56) André Francisci (48) Gaston Garino (83) „Gilbe“ [= Gilbert Combemale] (76) Michel Gioffre (39) Paul Guiraud (96) Hugues Hazard (88) Jacques Issautier (90) Pierre Landereau (69) Michel Z. Lecomte (75) Claude Lobo (67) Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (102) Jean-Noël Luppi (64) Pierre Mancini (61) Joseph Michaud (25) André Millet (68) Joël Mouetron (67) Robert Mougin (91) Sébastien Pagella (29) Christian Pillet (39) Denise Provence (90) Jean-François Rageys (68) Jean-Louis Rosier (86) José Rosinski (75) Marc Roy (67) Françis Sabine (52) Jean Saurel (63) Richard Udzik (54) Roger Usclard (73)

Germany (29)
Karl-Günther Bechem (89) Christian Benz (42) Helmut Beule (73) Wilhelm Bisterfeld (67) Klaus Butenschön (74) Graziano Cancian (75) Alfred Max Dörfler (c.90) Siegfried Eikelmann (80) Rudi Golderer (86) Richard Hamann (53) Bodo Hartkopp (68) Heinrich Heintz (72) Karl Jungmayer (88) Frank Kalkuhl (79) Dieter Kern (73) Heinz Kropp (86) Peter Kuhlmann (71) Werner Langshausen (c.50) Rolf Madaus (89) Georg Plasa (51) Helmut Polensky (96) Helmut Rösser (73) Heiko Scholz (44) Hans-Christoph von Seherr-Thoß (92) Heinz Stecher (??) Bernhard Sturm (57) Friedhelm Theissen (79) Arnold Wagner (75) Michel Weber (73)

Great Britain (54)
Bernard Baxter (c.57) Richard Bensted-Smith (81) Bill Boddy (98) Richard Bond (71) Roger Brookfield (65) Raymond Burton (93) Phil Chapman (90) Roberta Cowell (93) Vernon Davies (70) Cyril Doherty (44) Hugh Dunsterville (96) Jim Endruweit (82) Tony Everard (88) Derek Gardner (79) Peter Gethin (71) Justin Haler (60) Adrian Hall (c.68) Reg Hargrave (75) Paul Harmer (61) Martin Hines (65) Martin Jubb (71) Soames Langton (43) Chris Lawrence (78) Evelyn Leece (??) David Leslie Sr. (c.84) Adrian Liddell (87) Eric Liddell (81) Martin Madge (60) Ray Matts (70) Tim May (c.71) Gary Midwinter (54) Charlie Moody (55) John Myerscough (75) Felicity Nicholson (68) Rodney Peacock (92) Connie Riches (90) Willie Rutherford (63) Jimmy Savile (84) Tony Shaw (c.79) Alan Smith (??) Jimmy Somervail (87) Mike Stephenson (??) Herbert Stilborn (91) Eddie Stobart (56) Ian Sutherland (83) Sheridan Thynne (72) Don Truman (89) Jack Turner (94) Roy Watling-Greenwood (91) Darryl Weidner (60) Dan Wheldon (33) Doug Wilson-Spratt (89) Spike Winter (??) Barry Woodall (92)

Greece (5)
Athanassios Kostopoulos (??) Mihalis Kriadis (59) George Moschous (67) Michalis Tsagaras (52) Spyros Tsapalos (c.58)

Guatemala (1)
Jaroslav Juhan (89)

Hungary (2)
János Klink (68) László Szuhanyik (52)

Ireland (2)
Shane Mitchell (34) Peter O’Shea (53)

Italy (20)
Luca Arlotta (c.28) Riccardo di Bona (86) Angelo Caffi (80) Massimo Concaro (40) Roberto Gianello (66) Tiziano Gimondi (54) Sal Incandela (61) Ferdinando Latteri (66) Pietro Laureati (c.89) Roberto Lippi (85) Mario Mannucci (79) Umberto Pavesi (c.81) Daniele Pedrotti (c.20) Pino Repetto (86) Sergio Scaglietti (91) Marco Simoncelli (24) Giampaolo Tosi (c.49) Gino Valenzano (91) Luciano Viaro (c.68) Arturo Zanuccoli (72)

Japan (2)
Tamotsu Futamura (70) Shinichirō Sakurai (81)
 
Kazakhstan (1)
Bolat Aktayev (62)

Kenya (1)
Jaswant Singh (76)

Netherlands (4)
Sytze Douma (72) Hans Kitsz (63) Charles Ritzen (c.59) Charles Zwolsman (55)

New Zealand (4)
Roly Crowther (c.88) John Hawkins (59) Harold Heasley (85) Jason Richards (35)
 
Norway (1)
Torkel Trønnes (86)
 
Peru (1)
Nico González (??)

Poland (3)
Sylwester Olszewski (30) Wojciech Pepłowski (65) Marian Przetakiewicz (70)
 
Portugal (3)
Fernando Afoito (??) Heitor Morais (c.86) Fernando Peres (73)
 
Puerto Rico (1)
Diego Febles (82)
 
Romania (1)
Eugen Ionescu-Cristea (72)
 
Russia (2)
Alexey Grigoriev (66) Viktor Shavelev (81)
 
Serbia (1)
Vladimir Djenić (??)

Singapore (1)
Philip Seow (69)

Slovakia (2)
Miroslav Kmeť (c.34) Henrich Kollárik (48)

South Africa (5)
John Conchie (74) Alan Domingo (c.64) Dawie Gous (84) Ron Hickman (78) Spotti Woodhead (??)

Spain (10)
„Aledi“ = Agustín Alemán Díaz (??) Sigfredo Ascanio (c.68) Carlos Blázquez (c.44) Enric Burrull (c.49) Paulino Díaz (63) Mauro García (??) Wilfredo Jovellar (67) Rubén Saiz (c.33) Mario Scanavino (c.61) „El Vaquero“ [= Manuel Rodríguez] (??)
 
Sweden (2)
Börje Björkqvist (87) Leif Mohlén (67)
 
Switzerland (8)
Martin Bartek (44) Roger Brunnschweiler (76) Yves Debraine (85) Gebi Lippuner (90) Aimé Pouly (62) Rita Rampinelli (87) Arthur Strahm (83) Raynald Strickler (c.63)
 
Ukraine (1)
Oleg Gurov (39)
 
Uruguay (1)
Ernesto Quincke (85)
 
USA (239)
Robert Aaron (52) Fred Alexander (92) Fuzzy Anderson (89) Jimmy Andrews (59) Ben Arnold (74)
Ben Basinger (28) Dick Beauregard (85) Gene Bergin (78) Ray Bergthold (59) Bernie Beydler (74) Don Bierschwale (78) Dean Blagowsky (77) Don Blair (89) Sherry Blakley (48) Darwin Blankenship (69) Bertie Blanot (73) Walt Bohren (63) Don Boorse (80) Bob Booth (74) Jim Bouchard Sr. (71) Bruno Brackey (90) Larry Brazil (79) Mark Bridges (60) Mike Brinegar (57) Darrell Brown (66) Paul Brown (54) Hully Bunn (91) Bernie Burnworth (81) Duane Burrows (56) Art Bunker (83)
Billy Cannon (70) „Tom Carnegie“ (91) Bif Caruso (82) Bill Castle (91) Phil Castronovo (69) Tom Cecil (72) Ciddi Cinelli (55) Don Clar (71) Paul Clark (58) Jesse Clendenin (83) Dave Condit (64) Jackie Cooper (88) Bob Copley (60) Dink Cornell (86) Dale Crane (63) Bob Creitz (81)
Ray Damitio (83) Tom Davey (80) David E. Davis (80) Elmer Davis (82) Bill Deakin (90) Harry Dean (97) Forrest Deininger (84) Glen Dennee (75) A.C. Denton (76) Bob Derrington (80) Gleb Derujinsky (86) John DiBurro (58) Al Disney (89) Frank Dominianni (87) Red Droste (85) Tommy Dunford (51) Jim Dunn (83)
Dan Eames (93) Jimmy Edwards Jr. (57) Ray Elder (69) Dick Emerson (80)
Alma Facer (76) Joy Fair (81) Norm Floyd (63) George Fox (68) Werner Frank (75) Harvey Fuson (66)
Gary Gaddis (65) Earl Gaerte (67) Cam Gagliardi (82) Lyle Gale (82) Ken Gandy (75) Richie Garuti (83) Lee Gaug (87) John Gluckin (64) Dick Greenawalt (71) Chris Griffis (45) John Guttormson (81)
Chick Hale (83) Harold Hall (88) Doug Hammer (49) Butch Harris (71) Penny Harris (66) Don Hartman (82) Johnny Hayes (69) Bill Hendren [from North Carolina] (68) Mary Hendrick (88) Terry Henson (50) Fran Hernández (88) Mark Hillestad (57) Butch Hobling (53) Jack Holloway (86) Ray Hooper Jr. (48) Al Horger (75) Hal Houston (78) Steven Howard (36) John Hoyt (37) Jack Humphrey (64) Chuck Hurn (68) Rick Huseman (38) Dick Hutton (80)
Joey Inglin (54) Bert Jackson (52) Al Johnson (68) Johnny Johnson (75) Victor Johnson (44) Dee Jones (77)
Reds Kagle (79) Joe Kennelly (97) Charles Kepley (57) J.T. Kerr (81) Clayton Kibbe (95) Jack Knab (81) Billy Knight (56) Tracy Knighton (53) Brian Koski (53) Lin Kuchler (94) Jerry Kunze (67)
Max Lagod (41) Roy Large (74) Dick Layne (73) Cho Lee (56) Jimmy Leeward (74) Dick Leppla (86) Burke LeSage (76) Rob Lewis (51) Lou Ligino (86) Pete Lovely (85)
Leon MacKechnie (82) Don MacLaren (75) John Maddox (75) Neil Mahr (72) Jerry Malloy (78) Frank Manley (90) Joe Mares (67) Matt Marker (31) Don Maxwell (71) Allen May (72) Tommy McAndrew (77) Sonny McCoy (71) Travis McDonnell (38) Mel McGaughy (94) Bill McGowan (64) Dallen McKenney (42) Larry McLaughlin (72) Bob McLees (86) Heller Meerapfel (90) Willie Mefford (49) Bob Miley (85) Buddy Moberly (68) Tommy Montes (69) Ricky Moore (58) Jerry Morese (c.82) Tommy Morrow (83) Larry Moyer (60) Mike Murphy (58) Neil Murray (70)
Don Naman (75) Orville Nance (83) Bill Noble (69) Doug Noe (54) John Norwood (90) Bob Nowicke (89)
Jimmy O’Brien (69) Aubrey O'Connor (72) Don Ostendorf (85) Scott Overbey (47)
Pete Palladino (83) Joe Palmieri (80) B.J. Parker (77) Larry Pickelheimer (68) Arlene Pittman (43) Huston Platt (79) Doug Plue (72) Larry Pries (72)
Sonny Rabideau (82) Mike Ramsey (47) Jim Rathmann (83) Wayne Redmond (52) Jerry Reigle (43) Walt Renner (90) Harold Rhodes (83) Bert Robbins (80) Hershel Roberts (68) Chuck Rogers (56) Dennis Rubino (86) Warren Ruffner (90) Ken Rush (80)
Fred Sabatini (90) Tony Sansone (80) Stan Scheidecker (86) Bob Schroeder (85) Craig Scott (52) Don Seike (81) Charlie Shoudt (76) Rick Sipes (62) Betty Skelton (85) Beau Slocumb (26) Marion Smiley (71) Jimmy Smith (72) Larry Snellbaker (73) Gene Spaulding (86) Byron Stauffer (71) Harold Steele (67) Keith Stepke (73) Jeff Stevens (66) Jim Streicher (86) Jimmy Summerour (77) Bill Summers (75) Bill Sweet (81)
John Tenney (75) Bob Thompson (59) Alvin Tignor (70) Ray Tilley (77) Jeff Tillman (46) Dick Trajnowski (74) Jim Tunstead (75)
Mike Van (67) Chic Vandagriff (82) Jerry Vandermeir (81) Davey VanValkenburg (65)
Augie Walackas (92) Russ Wallace (77) Glen Ward (64) Al Weber (83) P.J. Wiggins (35) Joy Wilkerson (81) Roy Winkelmann (81) Gordon Winters (70) Billy Wooldridge (61)
Cliff Yiskis (82) Skip Zeigler (75) Harro Zitza (83)

Edited by ReWind, 15 April 2024 - 14:46.

[E1pix]

Hello, Rewind.

Question... under the USA entries I see "Tom Davey (80)," is this the Tom Davey who raced Formula Ford and Super Vee for many years? I can't imagine he would have been 80, so another Tom Davey?

I surely recognize many on that list, including Jerry Malloy who owned a stock car I lettered in 1980... the first race car I did after leaving my parents for Denver when 19. It's a bit shocking to read that Max Lagod passed, I did not know that and saw him race as recently as 2008. Another curious note involves Walt Bohren, who died at 63... and that was his lifetime car number as I recall.

Always rough to read these, but appreciated regardless.

Edited by E1pix, 04 January 2012 - 22:29.

[ReWind]

Is this the Tom Davey who raced Formula Ford and Super Vee for many years? I can't imagine he would have been 80, so another Tom Davey?

Yes, another one: Veteran Motorsport Photographer, 2006 Belleville High Bank Hall of Fame inductee and RMMRA Midget driver from Denver, Colorado.

Tom raced midgets in the 1950's in the Rocky Mountain region, primarily with the RMMRA. He also raced Big Cars in the BCRA. Tom is probably best remembered though, as a photographer and writer for NSSN and Open Wheel Magazine. For the last thirty years Tom, and his partner in crime Jerry Miller covered every Belleville Midget Nationals, as well as the Chili Bowl on several occasions, and many other midget events, including races in RMMRA, USAC, SMRS, SWIMS, MARA, and POWER-I among others.
Tom was inducted into the Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame with his best friend Jerry, and the BCRA Hall OF Fame.
TD became gravely ill with Cancer, and heart problems, but recently was able to visit with many of his longtime friends in racing.

(Source)

[E1pix]

Yes, another one: Veteran Motorsport Photographer, 2006 Belleville High Bank Hall of Fame inductee and RMMRA Midget driver from Denver, Colorado. (Source)

Thanks, Rewind, and interesting... and that "this Tom" was from Denver... where I am right now.

But good to know that "my" Tom Davey is still kicking around, maybe still in Tenafly, New Jersey (IIRC).

I appreciate your efforts.

[ReWind]

Tom Davey who raced Formula Ford and Super Vee for many years? I can't imagine he would have been 80

Good to know that "my" Tom Davey is still kicking around, maybe still in Tenafly, New Jersey (IIRC).

"Your" Tom Davey is a little bit younger, yet he will turn 70 this coming March. According to the WWW Thomas D. Davey currently resides in 20 Castle Road, Piermont, New York. There's even a telephone number available...

Regarding Max Lagod, Lymphoma claimed the SCCA Champion & Trans-Am Racer:

TOPEKA, Kan. (March 14, 2011) -- SCCA Champion Maxwell "Max" Lagod passed away Saturday, March 12, following a battle with Lymphoma. He was 41.

Known in the SCCA circles as "Mad Max," Lagod was a two-time SCCA National Champion in GT-1 (1996-1997) and recorded 75 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series starts. Spending most of his Trans-Am career in an era of Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge factory-backed teams, Lagod and his father Jerry fielded their own privateer effort, first with a Chevrolet Camaro, and later a Corvette.

In addition to winning his second-consecutive Runoffs in 1997 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lagod enjoyed his best season of Trans-Am competition, recording an 11th-place finish in the final standings and closing the season with a second-place finish at the Reno Grand Prix, his first series podium finish. He later scored another podium finish, had six top-fives and 29 top-10s in his career.

"Max and I were fiercely competitive with one another," fellow GT-1 and Trans-Am competitor and SCCA Inc. and Pro Board Member Michael Lewis said. "He was the one guy I always wanted to beat. If nothing else went right on a race weekend, as long as I beat Max, I had something. I think he may have felt similarly. But there was always respect. I think the thing that drove he and I was that we were both club guys that graduated to Trans-Am and we both wanted to be top dog.

"Over the past couple years, the fire had cooled and Max and I developed a rapport. I will miss Mad Max on the track and in the paddock. He was a true racer's racer."

Lagod is survived by his partner Jennifer Brennan, his parents Jerry and Linda Lagod, a brother and a sister.

(Source)

Edited by ReWind, 05 January 2012 - 18:56.

[Haine Kane]

Henri CACHIA at the age of 95 die 13 december 2011.
He was a PORSCHE driver at LE MANS 74-75-76.

Edited by Haine Kane, 07 January 2012 - 15:07.

[ReWind]

Thank you very much!
Are you sure about his age?
According to my records he was born in 1926 which means he was 85 instead of 95.

[Haine Kane]

Thank you very much!
Are you sure about his age?
According to my records he was born in 1926 which means he was 85 instead of 95.

Hello ReWind,

You're right, I confuse ... my apologies

[ReWind]

Two notable additions:

I have been told that Roberto Lippi passed away on 31 October 2011 at the age of 85. (Confirmation)

At the age of 86, but as early as 31 March 2011 Dick Leppla passed away.

"For people who loved cars and racing, Dick Leppla was the guy you wanted to be when you grew up. He had resources, taste and the yearning for velocity that came together in some amazing cars," said Christopher Jensen, a former Plain Dealer auto writer.

Richard "Dick” William Leppla, was born June 28th 1924 to Margaret (Bricker) and Erimine William "Bill" Leppla. Dick was the oldest of two sons, his younger brother is Albert Leppla.
He spent his childhood years in Northeast Ohio. One of his favorite memories of his youth that he often talked about was when his father gave him $300 dollars for a 1937 Ford Coupe http://tinyurl.com/678k9zu in 1940. That was the car that triggered his life long love affair with automobiles.
Dick was drafted into the Army during World War II in 1943. After being trained to work on truck and tank engines, he shipped out with the 3rd Army 4th Armored Division http://tinyurl.com/3rzmjtc 271st Ordnance Medium Maintenance Co. and fought in the Battle of Bulge.
He and the men in his unit were charged with using welding machinery to extract bodies from bombed tanks and trucks. It was gruesome work. "I didn't have an appetite for months after that duty," he said of the experience. In 1945, he and his company helped to liberate Buchenwald Concentration Camp http://tinyurl.com/43bmum6
After a tour of the Pacific Theater, he was in Japan three weeks after the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Leppla returned to Cleveland in 1946 and to his 1937 Ford Club Coupe convertible.
"With my background in running and repairing heavy machinery, I found a job as a bulldozer operator," he said. Dick was always proud to be one of the oldest living members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18 with a membership date of 04/07/1947. Dick also attended night school after the war to earn his high school diploma from Cleveland Heights high in 1947. During this time he courted Mary Hibben, the daughter of John and Susan Hibben, of Ashtabula, Ohio. They were married April 12, 1947.
With his knowledge of engines, Leppla developed an interest in race cars. In 1950, a friend owed him $800 and didn't have the cash. Instead he gave Leppla a home-built midget race car. Leppla wasted no time taking the car to the Canton Motor Speedway and totaling the vehicle in a high-speed crash. He injured only his hands when the car turned over. "Those cars had no roll bar. All we wore were T-shirts," he said.
A few years later, Leppla took a job selling heavy-duty cranes. He would go on to sell more than $200 million worth of cranes in his 50-year career in the company he founded, Crane & Shovel Corp. in Cleveland http://tinyurl.com/3hk4778
He began a hobby of importing Chevron race cars http://tinyurl.com/3q3cm7p from England. In the 1980s, he imported and sold more than 100 of them. He also spent lots of time behind the wheel. As an amateur race car driver he competed in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), International Motorsports Association (IMSA) events and other circuit events. He spent countless days at Nelson Ledges road course http://tinyurl.com/3onnefs becoming a permanent part of its growth and history. His passion also took him across the country and the world, from Florida to Europe, the Bahamas and Africa. Dick won or placed in numerous local and regional events in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s including a 1980 SVRA Road Atlanta victory in one of his favorite cars a Ford GT-40. In 1989 Leppla returned to Germany to race at Nürburgring http://tinyurl.com/yubkyh 44 years after his army service had taken him there.
“I know I don’t belong out there. What happens when you get older is you know your supposed to keep your foot on the accelerator, but your foot wants to keep reaching for the brake.” Richard Leppla. Bedford Sun July 22nd 1993.
In January of 1982, Dick, along with Jim Trueman (founder of Red Roof Inns) and Michael Rahal (Bobby Rahal’s father), started Truesports Red Roof Inns Indianapolis Racing Team. Each of the three men, all originally from Cleveland, and all from humble beginnings, contributed to the team. Rahal supplied the engines, Trueman supplied the sponsorship, and Dick (along with his wife Mary) purchased two new March Indy cars and leased them to Truesports. Bobby Rahal wash hired as the teams driver, and in 1982 this new crew, now six in number, won the first Cleveland 500 race (The winning car was donated by Dick and is on display at the Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum). Dick was also part of the group of race-enthusiasts who worked with the City to bring Indy Racing to Cleveland at Burke Lakefront Airport.
The remainder of 1982 saw the continuing success of Truesports and the team finished second in the National Championship that year. Jim Trueman passed away in 1986, and his wife dissolved the Truesports team in 1992. In 1993, Steve Horne, former team manager and President of Truesports, formed Tasman Motorsports Group. Dick and Mary Leppla supported this team from the beginning and purchased one of the Indy Lights cars that ran for Tasman. In 1993 and 1994, the team took first place in seventeen of twenty-four races, thereby winning the series championship each year. When the “Leppla” car was sold with all of Tasman’s Indy Lights cars at the end of the 1994 season, Dick and Mary reinvested with other Tasman supporters to purchase a new Indy 500 race car, to be driven by Andre Ribeiro, for the 1995 season. Ribeiro won the New Hampshire race that year, and the Brazil race (his home country) in 1996.
Dick also enjoyed showing the automobiles as much as racing them. His two favorite trophy winning autos were a 1955 aluminum body Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing (one of only 29 ever produced) and of course his original Ford GT-40.
Dick sold Crane and Shovel & Sales Corp to his son in law in 2001 and retired from both racing and heavy equipment. He died March 31, 2011 in his home in Bratenal, Ohio. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Leppla, his brother Albert, his three daughters; Susan Steiner, Robin Moore, and Lori Aurelius. His eight grandchildren Jason Goodrick, Danyelle Madsen, Justin Steiner, Matt Steiner, Shaun Manos, Michelle Manos, Jenelle Goodrick, and Adam Aurelius, his 7 great grandchildren, and his closest friend Jim Kersey.
Portions of this biography were taken from an article in the Plain Dealer written by Michael Heaton that was published just one week prior to Dicks passing http://tinyurl.com/3ubjljr

“Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves and then we have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos. “
~From Peanuts (Charlie Brown) one of Dick’s favorite shows.

(Source) Attention: This Memorial Website will remain online only until April 15, 2012.
© Scott Shaw

[Richard Jenkins]

Amazed that Leppla's death was missed for so long. Sad news about Lippi, but 85 is not a bad innings. Thanks for your continued work here Reinhard, even if what is in the posting is not the best news to read.

PS - I have checked the main SSDI database and the two mentioned above aren't on there yet, but I'll check when they are.

[Ray Bell]

It just shows...

There are thousands of very interesting stories out there. Uncountable. Thanks for that.

[hhh]

Sammy (S.C.H. Davis) passed away 50 years ago today at the age of 94.
Great racing driver, Bentley Boy, fantastic journalist ("Casque" for Autocar) and artist.
Winner of the 1927 Le Mans with the works Bentley 3-litre, co-driver Dr. Benjafield.

[D.M.N.]

Professor Rainiero Gianotti passed away today - he entered F1 in '92 with Minardi and worked with Barrichello, Magnussen, Verstappen, Herbert, Zanardi. Barrichello paid his respects to him on his Twitter:

Rubens Barrichello
it was so sad when I received the news that my great friend and fisio Raniero past away this morning.Heart attack while he was on his bike
3 hours ago

[Tim Murray]

Sammy (S.C.H. Davis) passed away 50 years ago today at the age of 94.

He died on the morning of his 94th birthday, 9th January 1981.

[ReWind]

Another loss from last year that went nearly unnoticed:
Arnold Wagner, member of a triumvirate of Germans who came to California and founded ANDIAL – the others being Dieter Inzenhofer and Alwin Springer –, died on 22 September 2011 at the age of 75.



Recently I learned that back in 2010 some South African racing drivers passed away:

• Gordon Briggs, born 29 January 1943, died 27 July 2010
• Colin Burford, birth date unknown to me, d. 12 July 2010
• Barry Flowers, no dates known to me
• Giv Giovannoni, no dates known to me
• Fanie Viljoen, b. 1933, month & day unknown to me, d. 25 April 2010

1) I would like to learn the missing dates of birth & death.
2) Can anyone confirm that Giv is identical to Angelo Giovannoni?

[ReWind]

Bob Nowicki, veteran Midget owner

Meanwhile I found out that the spelling was wrong .
In fact Robert G. Nowicke was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2010:

Nowicke competed as a car owner during one of the most competitive stages in the sport's history, 1946 thru 1969. His career highlights include 30 USAC National Midget victories and 20 AAA Feature wins, by drivers Bob Tattersall, Tony Bettenhausen, Gary Bettenhausen, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Lloyd Ruby, Billy Garrett and a host of other top names over the 23 year span. Foyt captured the 1961 Hut Hundred for Nowicke, while Bettenhausen won the prestigious Inaugural Houston Astrodome event in 1969. In 2009, Nowicke was inducted into the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Neil Murray, Massachusetts, b. May 1941, died 20 December 2011

This case is closed as well. I discovered that “Nasty” was born on May 5th.

[Richard Jenkins]

Thank you very much, Richard! (.. and Happy New Year!)

Can you look up the exact birthdates (i.e. the missing days) for the following ones, too?
Clifford Cornell, Illinois, b. December 1924, died 16 December 2011
[

Clifford Cornell b. 18 December 1924 d. 16 December 2011, just shy of his 87th birthday.

[ReWind]

Many thanks, Richard.
Now, if anyone would care about the South Africans…

[Gabrci]

Awful news today as Bitito Mieres has died at 87. My sinceres condolences to his friends and family, particularly his lovely young daughter Florencia.

[RangerCarrot]

Forgive me if these entries have been mentioned, I didn't see them in the lists on the first 2 pages:

Tony Marsh (GBR), 20th of July 1931 - 4th of May 2009, Privateer in the late 50's / early 60's in Formula 1
Frank Gardner (AUS), 1st of October 1930 - 19th of August 2009, Drove for John Willment Automobiles (Brabham BT11 with a BTM V8) in 1965 in F1
Heini Walter (SUI), 28th of July 1927 - 12th of September 2009, drove once for Ecurie Filipinetti (Porsche 718) at the 1962 Germany GP (When F2 entries were allowed to compete with F1)

Johnny Servoz-Gavin, you have him as died on the 28th of May 2006, but I have his date of death as the 29th?

Thank you for making this thread by the way, and to see the tributes made by many members of this forum to the various heros of the sport risking their lives for our (the fans) entertainment is truely heart warming.

[ReWind]

They are there. Tony Marsh died on May 7th, Frank Gardner on August 29th, Heini Walter on May 12th.

Regarding Johnny Servoz-Gavin I saw his date of death as 28th as well as 29th. But one has to commit to one date. In most cases I'd go with Richie Jenkins.

[Tim Murray]

Welcome to TNF, Ranger Carrot.

As Reinhard says, your first three drivers are listed in post 1 of this thread under the following dates:

Tony Marsh 7th May 2009

Frank Gardner 29th August 2009

Heini Walter 12th May 2009

These seem to be the generally-accepted dates of their deaths, but if you have evidence to the contrary we'd love to see it (but obviously your date for Walter has to be wrong). See their obituary threads:

Tony Marsh, Obituary

RIP Frank Gardner

RIP Heini Walter

Servoz-Gavin is less clear cut. Many references say 29th May, but the first post in his obituary thread:

Johnny Servoz-Gavin, 1942-2006

indicates 28th May as the correct date, as does this usually-reliable French site:

http://memoiresdesta...s.html#comments

PS: Walter's drive in the 1962 German GP was in an F1 Porsche 718. F1 at the time was for 1.5 litre cars, and there was no F2.

[Haine Kane]

François MIGAULT is dead today from cancer ...


RIP François ...

[Richard Jenkins]

François MIGAULT is dead today from cancer ...

RIP François ...

Oh, how terrible. My sympathies to all who knew him, including Barry Boor - Connew's only Grand Prix driver after all. A shock, too, as I didn't know he was ill. What a terrible last couple of days. I know there are people who knew him better or saw him more but I always had the understanding that he was a far better driver than his Grand Prix career deserved.

[HistoryFan]

Erwin Derichs, former member of F1 team Eifelland died:

http://www.inside-ra...verstorben.html

[Gabrci]

Yesterday I was very sad to receive an e-mail from Kurt Adolff's charming Hungarian wife, Ágnes, informing me that her husband passed away peacefully on 24th January. He will be buried in Budapest, as he wished.

If interested, please see some pictures and my tribute that I wrote about him earlier, thanks to the wonderful stories and photos kindly provided by Ágnes: http://www.oldracing...hy/kurt-adolff/

[Richard Jenkins]

An email we'd been expecting for a while, I'm afraid, but I am pleased that thanks to Agnes and Gergely, that we were able to produce a tribute page to Kurt whilst he was still alive. This also made me appreciate much more a driver of whom there is precious little on the internet/written text but had a enjoyable and long career in the sport.

I'll update the page accordingly in the next day or so. RIP, Kurt. Did Kurt die in Achenkirch or in Budapest, Gergely?

[Richard Jenkins]

Roger Dowson has died - http://www.brdc.co.u...---Roger-Dowson

Edited by Richie Jenkins, 06 February 2012 - 23:20.

[Gabrci]

Did Kurt die in Achenkirch or in Budapest, Gergely?

Unfortunately I don't know, I guess neither - certainly not in Budapest, either in Austria or Germany. I'm not sure the retirement home where he lived in the last couple of years was in Achenkirch.

[ReWind]

Kurt Adolff died in Germany (Kreuth am Tegernsee, Bayern).

Some time NASCAR racer James Lee "Jim" Tobin died three weeks ago at the age of 69.