17 replies to this topic

[Graham Gauld]

I have just heard from my friend Rob Young in Durban that Colin Davis has died in South Africa at the age of 79. Colin, whose father was the legendary journalist and Bentley boy, Sammy Davis, was a quiet but genial pipe-smoking driver who moved from England to Italy and did most of his best known racing with an OSCA. I have attached a photo of him taken in Modena in 1957 driving Horace Gould's Maserati 250F.
Colin has been seriously ill for some months.



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Edited by Graham Gauld, 21 December 2012 - 15:39.

[Tim Murray]

I remember him best for his win in the 1964 Targa Florio with Antonio Pucci in a Porsche 904.

RIP Colin

[Eric Dunsdon]

I am sorry to read that. I saw Colin racing 500cc Cooper-Nortons many times and always admired him for his races in Italy with OSCA.
He was a skilled and stylish driver.

[hatrat]

Colin was also well known for his exploits in Formula Junior. Photo of him in the IRS Taraschi Formula Junior at Lake Garda in April 1961 where he came second to Jo Siffert in a Lotus 18 .

[cpbell]

R.I.P.

[Richard Jenkins]

Very sad news - I saw a recent picture of him with Rob and he looked sprightly and cheery and I was very pleased to see this as I'd heard that he hadn't been that well.
I always thought his move to Italy, especially back then, was a brave and unusual move. Maybe that was because being the son of SCH Davis wouldn't have been quite such a hindrance/distraction in Italy.

RIP.

[Sharman]

Colin was also well known for his exploits in Formula Junior. Photo of him in the IRS Taraschi Formula Junior at Lake Garda in April 1961 where he came second to Jo Siffert in a Lotus 18 .

He won a lot in Taraschis in 1959 which is when I met him,I hadn't realised he was still faithful to them in 61. There is a story which I read somewhere of "Sammy" buying Colin his first car. A V12 Lagonda of pre war vintage. A friend asked "Why haven't you bought him a modern sports car". !Sammy went round to the front of the Lag and opened the bonnet, he pointed to the mass of machinery thus revealed and said "If he hits anything then that does the work".
Another part of our youth gone Eric. RIP Colin

[ReWind]

Obituary from Classic & Sports Car by James Elliott

[Hieronymus]

I am extremely sorry to receive this sad news. I had the privelage to visit Colin from time to time. A very humble gentleman!!

[Paul Parker]

I remember watching Colin Davis skidding straight on with locked up front wheels into the bank at Druids at low speed during the very wet Peco Trophy at Brands Hatch August Bank Holiday 1962 in a GTO Ferrari and shouting at him to take his foot off the brake.

[Bjorn Kjer]

To me always a mysterious man , often popping up in reports , but never the big story. I am sure a book could be written on him , he tried out a lot of top machinery.

[simonlewisbooks]

To me always a mysterious man , often popping up in reports , but never the big story. I am sure a book could be written on him , he tried out a lot of top machinery.

My thoughts exactly Bjorn: an English driver who's won the Targa in a factory Porsche should, by rights, be a well known name among enthusiasts, but he remained beneath the radar even at the peak of his success, one assumes by choice. Fame clearly wasn't among his priorities, but no doubt in later life he could look back with justifiable pride on an impressive career.

[Hieronymus]

He was a man with many talents...trained pilot, businessman, radio presenter, script writer, racing driver. Extremely modest, though.

[barrykm]

Does anyone have some Targa pics to post, I hope yes..?

[D-Type]

What was the Italian connection? Was his wife Italian? Or did he simply like the country?

[Hieronymus]

His wife is Czech-born. I recall that they he had business interest in Italy.

[Eddie Knipe]

I was in Cape Town in December / January - just returned to the UK. I found this article in the local Cape Argus relating to Colin Davis as well as in The Times (SA version)
Visit My Website

Edited by Eddie Knipe, 05 January 2013 - 11:44.

[Allan Lupton]

There's a good, if rather belated, Obit. in today's Times. The Times website is subcription only, or I'd link it