29 replies to this topic

[GMiranda]

Sadly I have to tell you another driver passed away recently. Ysterday by night I received a message from the daughter of Barry Collerson telling me he had died, with 83 years old.

I don't know much on his career, I found his name while I was doing my degree project on the Circuit of Lordelo, in Porto, as he used, for some years, to be part of the circus of the F3 Screamers around Europe, even if most of his career was spent on Australia and New Zealand, but he competed in Portugal. He had some health issues for a long time.

His daughter asked me if there was any way this sad news could reach his fellow competitors outside Facebook, so I found no other way than TNF, being the best forum of the speciality.

[Ray Bell]

And it has now reached us...

 

Barry was only a little bloke, but he raced a big car before he graduated to the Brabham FJr and the F3 cars he raced in Europe.

 

This was the Lago Talbot, which he raced for a couple of years when it was well out of date. His entry at Bathurst in October, 1957, was in an MG TF, then he moved into a quicker car in an MG TC Special the following year and in which he competed in the Australian Grand Prix. The Lago Talbot came next and he raced that at Bathurst and also early meetings at Warwick Farm.

 

Then he moved into rear-engined cars with the Jolus Minx, in which he put in some good performances before getting the Brabham.

 

He was one of three or four Australians drifting from circuit to circuit with F3 cars in the mid-sixties. The stories they all told on their return were of relaxed living and great racing at exotic circuits.

 

It's very sad to hear of his passing, I had actually been hoping to talk to him some time soon. He did write and self-publish a book about his racing, by the way.

[Tim Murray]

Here’s an earlier thread, started to mark the publishing of Barry’s book:

Mount Druitt to Monza - Barry Collerson Book

[GMiranda]

And it has now reached us...

 

Barry was only a little bloke, but he raced a big car before he graduated to the Brabham FJr and the F3 cars he raced in Europe.

 

This was the Lago Talbot, which he raced for a couple of years when it was well out of date. His entry at Bathurst in October, 1957, was in an MG TF, then he moved into a quicker car in an MG TC Special the following year and in which he competed in the Australian Grand Prix. The Lago Talbot came next and he raced that at Bathurst and also early meetings at Warwick Farm.

 

Then he moved into rear-engined cars with the Jolus Minx, in which he put in some good performances before getting the Brabham.

 

He was one of three or four Australians drifting from circuit to circuit with F3 cars in the mid-sixties. The stories they all told on their return were of relaxed living and great racing at exotic circuits.

 

It's very sad to hear of his passing, I had actually been hoping to talk to him some time soon. He did write and self-publish a book about his racing, by the way.

Yes, I know he wrote a book. I tried to trace every driver that drove at Lordelo. Sadly John Fenning never replied to my letter.

[cooper997]

April 1960 AMS cover with the then Barry Collerson owned Lago Talbot - chassis number 110007 - at Castlereagh Sprints.

 

 

My condolences to Barry's family and friends.

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

I'm told that there's something on Faecesbook about Barry...

 

And that it says that he was involved in an accident at Sandown where a young spectator lost her legs.

 

Pretty sure this isn't true.

 

If it's the accident I recall, then it was in 1966 and Barry had sold his car to Kevin Pinkstone. Pinkstone did go into the crowd just after the Dunlop Bridge and there were ambulances and tow trucks everywhere with lights flashing the whole time. They'd all been making a show of their flashing lights all day, in fact.

 

And a number of them had to be towed back to the pits to get jumper leads hooked up to enable them to restart.

[Tim Murray]

Here’s the relevant Facebook page - scroll down to the post from Andrew MacGregor.

https://m.facebook.c...DE5ODU1MTQyMDky

Someone has already questioned it, but as Ray is on Facebook I’m sure he could go in and provide chapter and verse directly.

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, Tim...

 

I just cannot get the hang of finding things on that site.

[The Mountaineer]

Before the Brabham Barry Collerson also raced a Cooper T76 in Europe. His team partner was Kurt Keller, a Swiss expat living in New Zealand. That was in 1966.

[Ray Bell]

That was actually after the Brabham...

 

He sold the Brabham to Kevin Pinkstone as noted above and went to Europe to have his adventure. This led to him publishing the book, Mt Druitt to Monza, while he was in good company racing around Europe as Wal Donnelly was also there along with Jim Sullivan.

 

For the record, here are the details of the crash at Sandown when Pinkstone was in the car:

 

Adrian Ryan's race report in RCN

 

A Bits & Pieces item about two of the injured.

 

Vic Clark's comment in Mainly Melbourne

 

I found no mention of it in AMS.

[The Mountaineer]

Thamk you, Ray. Of course you're right.

[Ray Bell]

And Kurt Keller raced here too, a Lotus 20 IIRC...

 

Later Kurt Keller Motors was in William Street near Kings Cross and they were the Jensen Healey distributors.

 

 Barry sent stories to RCN while he was racing overseas, some interesting stuff.

[cooper997]

Here's what must be Barry's first event in the Lago. By chance, yesterday I found the Boxing Day 1958 Phillip Island programme in an antiques centre and it has Barry listed in his MG Special.

 

 

For the record Barry ran 31.3 secs in the big car. Still some getting used to, almost 4 seconds off FTD at that meeting.

 

There's also August 1961 Sports Car World that ran Doug Blain's feature on the car, when still owned by Barry.

 

.Stephen

[Yakstarrr]

Fingers crossed this is or are pics of Barry in the Lago

[Yakstarrr]

https://i.postimg.cc...74832-E40-B.png.

Hoping this is collage of Barry Collerson & the Lago Talbot

[Yakstarrr]

https://i.postimg.cc...74832-E40-B.png

Barry Collerson has a FB page; I will summarise his career here soon. This is hopefully pics of his pride n joy the Lago

[Yakstarrr]

Before the Brabham Barry Collerson also raced a Cooper T76 in Europe. His team partner was Kurt Keller, a Swiss expat living in New Zealand. That was in 1966.

I know nothing about this Cooper. I’m his daughter. Any info or pics b great!

[Ray Bell]

This does look good, Rebecca...

 

[Yakstarrr]

And it has now reached us...

Barry was only a little bloke, but he raced a big car

This was the Lago Talbot, which he raced for a couple of years when it was well out of date. His entry at Bathurst in October, 1957, was in an MG TF, then he moved into a quicker car in an MG TC Special the following year and in which he competed in the Australian Grand Prix. The Lago Talbot came next and he raced that at Bathurst and also early meetings at Warwick Farm.

Watch the little bloke fly round in the Lago

Then he moved into rear-engined cars with the Jolus Minx, in which he put in some good performances before getting the Brabham.

He was one of three or four Australians drifting from circuit to circuit with F3 cars in the mid-sixties. The stories they all told on their return were of relaxed living and great racing at exotic circuits.

It's very sad to hear of his passing, I had actually been hoping to talk to him some time soon. He did write and self-publish a book about his racing, by the way.

I believe he drove the Cooper Minx between the Lago & the Jolus

[Yakstarrr]

Before the Brabham Barry Collerson also raced a Cooper T76 in Europe. His team partner was Kurt Keller, a Swiss
expat living in New Zealand. That was in 1966.

He also raced the Merlyn in Europe

[Ray Bell]

Three photos from John Ellacott:

 

The Nota Major of Barrie Garner and G Crawford's DPR Triumph lead Barry and the Lago here, with the Citroen Special in their wake. This is at Craven A corner at the opening Catalina Park meeting in 1961,

 

On a bigger circuit more befitting the Lago, Barry sweeps around the top of the Mountain at Bathurst. Easter 1961, I would say, probably Barry's last drive of the car.

 

Again from the opening Catalina Park meeting, this time heading down the hill from Craven A towards Bosch.

 

I'm sure everyone loves John's pics.

[Yakstarrr]

These are awesome & ive never seen them (dad only had b&ws).

[Yakstarrr]

 

[pete53]

He had a whole 2 page article in Autosport that he penned and was published in the April 28th 1967 edition in which he relates his exploits in his Cooper T76 during the previous season travelling across Europe. I think he continued to send occasional reports during 1967.

[Yakstarrr]

Pete53 most of Barry’s columns are in the nostalgia forum. I believe the two page article is there also somewhere, if you are after any info pls ask (I’m Barry’s daughter

[pete53]

Pete53 most of Barry’s columns are in the nostalgia forum. I believe the two page article is there also somewhere, if you are after any info pls ask (I’m Barry’s daughter

That's very kind of you.  I do still have copies of those Autosports in which Barry corresponded. I have just re-read the article that I mentioned above. My, it was a labour of love trekking around Europe from circuit to circuit with disappointments and frustrations 

( accidents, breakdowns, border guards!) intermingled with gratifying moments of success. It must have been great fun though. I don't remember Barry racing much in the UK though. 

[Yakstarrr]

That's very kind of you. I do still have copies of those Autosports in which Barry corresponded. I have just re-read the article that I mentioned above. My, it was a labour of love trekking around Europe from circuit to circuit with disappointments and frustrations
( accidents, breakdowns, border guards!) intermingled with gratifying moments of success. It must have been great fun though. I don't remember Barry racing much in the UK though.

Dad didn’t race much in England, but he did race the Cooper at Brands Hatch 1966 - would you like a photo & the page from his book re this?

[Yakstarrr]

[Yakstarrr]

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Yakstarrr

Barry even looks small in that car...