Geoff Richardson

The BRDC's web-site has an announcement that Geoff Richardson died yesterday.

http://www.brdc.co.u...N/flag/2/id/575

He was a few days short of his 83rd birthday.

How sad to hear that, another bit of the past gone. Ran a Riley engined special in British GP in 51(?). Tremendous battler with the RRA etc in the grand days of formula libre

Raced his Ferrari 250GT in New Zealand during 1963 and drove same between the various events ...... but sad that he has passed away.

Originally posted by Sharman
Ran a Riley engined special in British GP in 51(?)

His only British GP start was in the 1948 race, when he drove an ERA-engined special

David
Which is why there is a question mark following the year. How closely did the RRA resemble that first special and what was his background? He would have been 21 at the end of the war so where and with whom did he serve?
John

His 1948 car was the ERA-Riley raced before the War by Percy Maclure
The first RRA, which appeared in 1950, used its mechanicals
Later RRAs appeared in 1952, 1957 and 1960
Sorry, can't help with his War record. He walked with a limp, but whether that was from a war injury, a racing accident or something else entirely I don't know

Richardson married a New Zealand girl, and his NZ trip with the Ferrari was in the nature of a 'Bus-Man's' holiday....to visit the in-laws, hopefully sell the contents of the car.....brand new disc calipers and rotors, and the car itself. He hoped to receive 1500 pounds for the Ferrari..no takers. Shame really, as, from what he told me, it had a significant race history, prior to his purchase. When I last heard of the car, some years ago, I spoke to a fellow who assured me it was in California, under restoration
Richardson drove the car from England to Modena, where it was fettled, receiving fairly significant engine repairs in the process. It was then shipped by sea from an Italian port to Auckland NZ.
Whilst in Pukekohe he used the facilities of Comrie and Hood ( general engineers) to prepare the vehicle.
And so he raced his way through New Zealand with quite some success, against spirited but mostly outclassed competition; at the same time fulfilling family obligations...........not a bad holiday, all things considered.
neville milne

Unknown source/copyright:

Geoff Richardson in the RRA a bit "off course" at Goodwood (sometime in the mid-1950s), but pressing-on unpreturbed.


(Click the thumbnail for a larger version)

Is there any reason why he didn't get to the British GP in the 50s?