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John Sprinzel RIP

Started by cooper997 , May 27 2021 08:58

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12 replies to this topic

#1 cooper997

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Joined: December 08

Posted 27 May 2021 - 08:58

Another prolific member with huge motor sport, rallying and modified motoring (in both car conversion Hot Up kits and journalism) history, John Sprinzel has passed away earlier this week.

http://sebringsprite...latestnews.html

Speedwell John - Hawkins and Bennetto are waiting with tuned Sprite for the next chapter.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Stephen

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#2 Tim Murray

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Joined: May 02

Posted 27 May 2021 - 09:39

Very sorry to read this. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

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#3 Dick Dastardly

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895 posts
Joined: August 09

Posted 27 May 2021 - 12:09

Very sad news indeed. He knew me through my Dad and ECF. He came up with the name Rallycross when that sport started.

In his later life, he lived in Hawaii and was a surfing instructor.

When I bought his biography [he wrote 3 books I believe] a few years ago, he signed it with "Aloha".

RIP John

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#4 garyfrogeye

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627 posts
Joined: May 08

Posted 27 May 2021 - 13:36

I had the honour of taking John, his lovely wife Caryl and Jack Wheeler along to the Ace Cafe a few years ago, when he was last over in the UK. It had been over 60 years since his last mug of tea there. It's an evening etched on my memory. A thrill for me as he is one of my heroes. RIP John

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#5 cooper997

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Joined: December 08

Posted 28 May 2021 - 01:15

Here's John and Willy Cave between sections at the gruelling 1958 Alpine Rally and heading for Class honours.

As shown from BMC's factory journal 'Worldwide News Exchange' Oct-Nov 58 edition - cooper997 collection

Stephen

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#6 d j fox

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Joined: November 05

Posted 28 May 2021 - 19:51

Yet more sad news...I never got to see the Speedwell A35s but saw plenty of Sebring Sprites.
Condolences to all friends and family

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#7 cooper997

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Posted 29 May 2021 - 03:37

'John Simpson' aka John Sprinzel's early days of magazines. Plus Ray English's 'Marque One' Sprite magazine with Tony Bennetto's cover photos and story after he arrived in Hawaii for John Sprinzel's 80th birthday.

cooper997 collection

Henry N Manney wrote for MM under his Gentilhomme pseudonym

Stephen

Edited after grey matter failed to retrieve the correct motoring writer. As noted by DCN.

Edited by cooper997, 29 May 2021 - 09:52.

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#8 Doug Nye

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Joined: February 02

Posted 29 May 2021 - 06:07

I believe that 'Henri B. Gentilhomme' was actually American writer, and former ballet dancer, and all-round good bloke Henry N. Manney III - pre-dating 'Long John Kickstart'?

DCN