53 replies to this topic

[hipperson]

Just had a call from Peter's wife of 50 years Ricky.
Peter died this morning from a respiratory disorder.
I saw him a few weeks ago and he did look very ill.
He was 75 last November

[Andrew Kitson]

Thanks for letting me know Michael, sad news. As you said, stories there that we'll now never know the answers to. RIP Peter.

[Tim Murray]

Oh dear. We lose yet another great driver from my formative years. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[sterling49]

A guy I saw race a long time ago, and coincidentally, we were talking about last night, at the Baldock meeting with Cedric. R.I.P. Peter.

[Coral]

I'm very sad to hear this. RIP Peter.

[ac_Masaryk]

RIP Peter. i was a great fan of him...

[Andrew Kitson]

I just called Jack Sears to let him know Michael, he had no idea he was so ill and he said he always got on well with him back then. An interesting character he said and 'He was bloody quick too' were Jack's parting words.

[D-Type]

RIP Peter

My condolences to Ricky and his family

[petestenning]

When i was very young i saw Peter at the Brands Boxing day meetings along with Roy Salvadori, Graham Hill , etc.

Allways thought he was a quick driver maybe even underated at times.

RIP


Pete

[Jack-the-Lad]

Maggs, Kolb, Arundell...my goodness.

May their families be comforted.

Jack.

[Macca]

"He still had it, Colin."

RIP, Pete.


Paul M

[Barry Boor]

And we lose another hero from my youth. This is all getting too much.....

[Doug Nye]

I am very sorry to hear this sad but far from unexpected news. Pete was the first star driver with whom I ever got to spend real time, including visiting him in hospital after the Reims accident which (as we feared at the time) destroyed his career. His drive on an icy Monza to win the famous Richard von Frankenberg libel wager at the end of 1962 was an epic performance which few others could ever have matched. Sincere condolences to widow Rikky and to their family and friends. He's comfy now.



Pete in his pomp - 1964 Monaco GP, Lotus 25...

Photo strictly Copyright: The GP Library

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 16 June 2009 - 22:38.

[RA Historian]

I only met Peter one weekend. He was the co-Grand Marshall of the 1989 Road America Fall Vintage Festival. The theme was the 30th anniversary (give or take a year!) of Formula Junior. Count Gianni Lurani was the other co-Grand Marshall. There was a reception for them at the Como Inn in Chicago a few days before the race weekend, and Peter was very gracious, answering questions that he had probably been asked countless times before.

At the race weekend he drove a Lotus 22 in the FJ race and won. This story has been told before, and I am paraphrasing here from memory. After the race Arundell said words to the effect, "See Colin, I can still win!" That is a rough memory; perhaps somebody else has a clearer recall of the occasion.
Tom

[Kingsleyrob]

Yes, sad news to lose another link to a rapidly diminishing generation, RIP.

Do I recall him being mentioned in another thread as the potential Lewis Hamilton of his time in terms of immediate impact in F1, enjoying two podium finishes in his first two starts? If I'm not mistaken (and I frequently am, apologies if so this time), it might have been Doug that offered that opinion.

Rob

Edited by Kingsleyrob, 16 June 2009 - 22:26.

[Arturo Pereira]

RIP Peter. God bless you and your family

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

How very sad. One of the names that struck me as I was introduced to F1 back in 1962.

RIP, Peter.

[Direct Drive]

Sad news indeed.
Sympathy for his family and friends and,
RIP racer.

[raceannouncer2003]

Very sorry to hear this.

Here are some photos from the 1962 Monaco Formula Junior race, leading and celebrating:



Photos by Ted Langton-Adams, copyright Eric Faulks

Vince H.

[Greatest]

Yet another great driver gone...! R.I.P., Peter! My sincere condolences to his family & friends!

[Rob29]

RIP Peter.Was only yesterday watching him in action on old movies from 60s.

[Mansell Madgwick]

Terribly sad news - condolences to his family.

[Stephen W]

Indeed a sad start to the day. Peter Arundell was one of the drivers to beat in Formula Junior and this was in an era when some really great drivers were coming through the ranks. His passing will sadden motor sport fans round the world. RIP

[Twin Window]

Posted on behalf of Peter Darley

[Andrew Kitson]

A super picture, Jimmy & Bob in the shot too.

[Barry Boor]

A sobering thought....

I just checked the 1964 British Grand Prix at Brands and found that of the 25 drivers who attended, I think, only seven are still with us.

[Paul Parker]

I watched Peter race and win at Goodwood during his FJ days and he was indeed very quick.

Alas his full potential (in 1964 he finished 3rd at Monaco and Zandvoort, 4th at Rouen and 9th at Spa in his first four GPs) was never realised thanks to the dreadful Reims shunt.

My condolences to all involved. R.I.P. Peter.

[hipperson]

This photo from The Revival.
Peter was really pleased that Martin Walford looked after his all conquering Type 22 so well and won with it.




On my last visit Peter gave me this oil painting of his very first race. I would be very interested to learn a bit about it.
Where is this MG now ?
He suggested it was painted by Michael Turner. Michael told me it was not but suggested Claude Tipper as the artist which indeed it was

[Nanni Dietrich]

Sad news.

[Derek Pitt]

I too was an Arundell fan here in far off Australia and I remember clearly, my dissapointment as I read Autsport and Motor Sport and saw his poor qualifying times and poor race results upon his comeback in 1966.

I note the "see Colin I can still win" comments but I must confess I have always thought that the Rheims accident had finished him, but now I feel obliged to pose the question - "Was Peter Arundell's ability destroyed by his huge accident or did he suffer under the dreaded Lotus No2 syndrome that prematurely destroyed so many careers?"

Derek

[Barry Boor]

Both!

[Paul Parker]

Derek Pitt

I note the "see Colin I can still win" comments but I must confess I have always thought that the Rheims accident had finished him, but now I feel obliged to pose the question - "Was Peter Arundell's ability destroyed by his huge accident or did he suffer under the dreaded Lotus No2 syndrome that prematurely destroyed so many careers?"


In fact he was going really well as no.2 before the Reims crash, and Mike Spence's subsequent performances were pretty good bearing in mind that you are not comparing like for like, Clark being THE driver post Moss. Arundell's return in 1966 was I understand to fulfil a promise made by Colin Chapman and in my opinion he was not up to F1 standards any more, what with nearly 2 years away and the aftermath of his injuries.

Others better informed may care to comment but the Reims accident was pretty bad (several major bones broken, head injuries IIRC) and he was a long time recuperating. I doubt anybody would have been the same after something like that.

[Frank Verplanken]

Sad news

[Kerb Bouncer]

Just saw this, very sad news. I remember Pete from my earliest days of reading about the sport. Too few are left from an era in which too many did not grow old.

[Richard Jenkins]

Although, without doubt, it is very sad, Peter has been SO ill lately that one is comforted by the fact that he is now at peace and at rest. It is typical of his sprit & determination that he has lived as long as June in all fairness, as it was possibly not expected that he would make it to his 75th birthday in November.

A fine driver - two podiums in the first two races, yes - but he achieved a heck of a lot more than that & it was a shame injury curtailed that.

Considering the lack of motor racing obituaries in the mainstream press, I do hope we can see one for Arundell. I have written to The Times on this, as well as Marsh, Ruby, Maggs & Rice & I'll see what they say.

RIP Peter.

[David M. Kane]

RA Historian:

A few years ago Shairon contacted Peter to see if he knew anything about her Lotus 22 or had he ever driven it. She said he was a real gentleman in handling her inquiry. This household will miss Peter a lot.

God bless his soul.

[gilbylt3]

Very sad news , my car has lost one of her pilots : Peter drove her in july 1960 to win the ARCHIE SCOTT-BROWN TROPHY race for Formule Libre.
Rip PETER , say hello to JIM.

[BMacG]

I feel rather indelicate in having to do this at such a sad time for you all. I'm an Italian sports journalist writing for a sports website and working on the Obituaries section. I would like to know the place of death of Peter Arundell. I also would like to know who to ask permission to publish part of Peter Darley's pic, as posted by Twin Window.

Thank you very much and sorry once again for such an inadequate and indelicate request.

Edited by BMacG, 17 June 2009 - 15:56.

[Richard Jenkins]

I feel rather indelicate in having to do this at such a sad time for you all. I'm an Italian sports journalist writing for a sports website and working on the Obituaries section. I would like to know the place of death of Peter Arundell. I also would like to know who to ask permission to publish part of Peter Darley's pic, as posted by Twin Window.

Thank you very much and sorry once again for such an inadequate and indelicate request.

He lived in King's Lynn, Norfolk, I believe. Michael would probably know the actual place hopefully.

[hipperson]

He died in North Norfolk.

Martin Walford has been asked by the BRDC to provide Peter's 1962 winning FJ car for a tribute at Silverstone this weekend.
He has of couse obliged

[hipperson]

He died in North Norfolk.

Martin Walford has been asked by the BRDC to provide Peter's 1962 winning FJ car for a tribute at Silverstone this weekend.
He has of course obliged

Edited by hipperson, 17 June 2009 - 19:50.

[Speeder_76]

Too bad, indeed. It's another 60's legend that now, is part of motorsport history.

My simpathies to his family.

[Doug Nye]

I trust he wears a bright red open-faced helmet.

DCN

[cpbell]

I was greatly saddened to read his obituary this morning in my copy of Autosport at the breakfast table. A few years ago, at the Goodwood Revival Meeting, I purchased a copy of Crombac's Chapman biography, and was astonished to see images of Peter Arundell completig the "libel" drive at Monza after salt had been put-down at the Lesmo curves to clear frost and ice. The thought of an F3 or GP2 driver agreeing to do the same today would make me laugh if it were not in bad taste.

RIP.

[hipperson]

Peter's funeral will be held on Friday July 10th at 4.15pm at

St Faiths Crematorium
75 Manor Rd
Horsham St. Faith, Norwich NR10 3LF

Anyone wishing to attend should contact Jo Arundell

jo@nra.demon.co.uk

No flowers are requested but donations would be most gratefully received to the charity "Nystagmus Network".
This is a serious eye condition that afflicts Peter's granddaughter .
The website for donations is ...www.justgiving.com/nystagmusnetwork/donate

Thank you

Michael H

[27GV]

RIP

[PeterTRoss]

Dear Mr Hipperson,

Mike Costin is trying to contact you re Peter Arundell's funeral.

Could you please ring him on 01604-820132.

Thank you

Peter Ross 14.00 hrs Monady 6th July 2009

[hipperson]

Thanks Peter...he got me

Dear Mr Hipperson,

Mike Costin is trying to contact you re Peter Arundell's funeral.

Could you please ring him on 01604-820132.

Thank you

Peter Ross 14.00 hrs Monady 6th July 2009

[ReWind]

That will be sad circumstances for Mr. Costin to celebrate his 80th birthday on Friday.

[Hames Junt]

I am very sorry to hear this sad but far from unexpected news. Pete was the first star driver with whom I ever got to spend real time, including visiting him in hospital after the Reims accident which (as we feared at the time) destroyed his career. His drive on an icy Monza to win the famous Richard von Frankenberg libel wager at the end of 1962 was an epic performance which few others could ever have matched. Sincere condolences to widow Rikky and to their family and friends. He's comfy now.



Pete in his pomp - 1964 Monaco GP, Lotus 25...

Photo strictly Copyright: The GP Library

DCN

Crikey! Look at the lack off barrier/hay around the harbour!