41 replies to this topic

[P.Dron]

My brother has died. My sorrow is inexpressible.

[Odseybod]

So very, very sorry to hear this. Commiserations and condolences.

[Richard Jenkins]

So very sorry to hear this.

Tony was very helpful with his recollections of Geoff Lees and the Triumph Dolomites but we ended up having a much longer conversation about all things racing including Alan Mann and Mike Spence.
Tony did tell me he wasn't in the best of health as I would've liked to have met him in person.

Sincere condolences to you, your family and Tony's friends.

A terrific enthusiast from start to finish, with a fine legacy both on the track and off it with his book writing.

[GMiranda]

My deepest condolences.

[Tim Murray]

I'm so very sorry to read this. I saw him race many times, most notably when he was doing his regular giant-killing act in the Dolomite Sprint against the bigger cars. Sincere condolences to you, Peter, and to all Tony's other family and friends.

[Weaverbird]

I'm so very sad to hear. I first met Tony when he was covering the European FF Championship in 1970 when I accompanied Colin Vandervell to all the races. I have a photo of them at Anderstorp, but unable to find a way to post. I'd be happy to email to you if you would like.

In 1971, in Nick Brittan's 'Motor Racing the International Way', Tony wrote a brilliant article on Colin - 'The Loner with a Mission' - 9 pages with photos. Tony was a wonderful journalist.

The last time I saw him was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (I think '09) - I have a lovely photo of him sitting in the Silver Arrows pit (with Jochen Mass looking on). Again I can send if email provided.

Fabulous sense of humour - I just wish we hadn't all lost touch in those intervening years.

Wishing you and all your families the very best - and peace in the difficult times ahead.

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[Doug Nye]

Devastating news.  I spoke to him last about a month ago, and he was telling me how entertaining his pet jackdaw(s) was/were proving to be...

 

A sometimes edgy really good man - and in another era, I am sure, easily talented enough to have become a Grand Prix driver.  Sincerest condolences Peter, other family and many, many friends...

 

RIP Tone.

 

DCN

[sstiel]

Sincere condolences to you Peter. Tony was very helpful to me too and what a career and life.

[Nick Planas]

I'm very sorry to hear this news - please accept my condolences to you and all of your family

[cooper997]

Tony's era in the big chair at (Thoroughbred &) Classic Cars (as it's known in Oz) meant he got to write, share and commission some great features.

 

He was also involved with the 1990s era of the Mini revisiting a few old motorsporting haunts .

 

Shown here with the ex Barretts Rover Cooper at Alexandra Palace - that he competed with.during the 90s. Detailed in Bryan Purves 'The last Works Minis' book.

 

My condolences to Tony's family and friends.

 

 

Stephen

[RCH]

So sorry to hear this. I always enjoyed his writings. Pretty good at driving a Dolomite Sprint too.

[zoff2005]

Very sorry to hear this. Condolences.

Marcus

[RobertE]

Peter, I am so sorry to hear this news; Tony was one of my favourite people. 

[P0wderf1nger]

I am sorry, Peter. Best wishes to you and the family.

[AJCee]

May I also add my sincere condolences Peter and my best wishes to family and friends.

He gave so many of us many happy memories.

[Dick Dastardly]

Very sorry to hear this Peter. Sincere condolences to you and all your family and friends..

I never actually got to speak to Tony but we took part in some early historic rallies in the early 90s....Tony at the front in an MGB, me towards the rear in a mini..Longleat springs to mind as one such occasion.

[john winfield]

Very sorry to hear this, Peter. As Tim mentioned, Tony gave us so much pleasure. Visions of him hurling the Dolomite around are forever etched in this spectator's mind. 

[wolf sun]

I am so very sorry to hear this, Peter.

 

My sincerest condolences to you and your family.

[foxyracer]

So sorry to hear this news.  I was inspired by Tony's driving of a Dolomite Sprint to buy one myself for road use.  I owe it to Tony that I became a pretty good mechanic.....  RIP.

[arttidesco]

Sincerest condolences to you Peter, to your family and his many friends, fans and admirers. I used to love watching Tony in the endurance events with Richards Cleare and Lloyd in the early 80's. RIP

[mikeC]

Sad news. Condolences to Clarice, you Peter, and the rest of his family from the Austin Seven fraternity in Cambridge and beyond.

[cpbell]

My brother has died. My sorrow is inexpressible.

Sorry to hear this - my condolences.

[LittleChris]

I'm so sorry to hear this Peter. My condolences to you and your family.

[PaulButler58]

Sad news indeed , one of a kind in many ways - I'm so sorry to hear this Peter. My condolences to you and your family.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Sincere condolences to the Dron family and to his many friends.

[68targa]

Very sad news indeed. Although I never met him he always seemed to crop up in a variety of interesting cars during his racing and journalist career.  A very talented person.  Condolences to his family and friends.

[Macca]

Very sorry to hear this sad news, Peter - sincere condolences to all the family. He was a top driver and a top journalist. RIP.

 

Paul M

[Paulleek]

I'm very sorry to hear this news Peter...Tony's writing was always entertaining and perceptive; his time at Classic Cars coincided with the (rapid) development of my lifelong interest in classics. It was always good to see him around the paddocks and on the track.

[mikeC]

A fitting memorial for a great racer:

 

[David Birchall]

Very saddened to hear this news.  I always enjoyed his drives at the Revival and his knowledgeable, entertaining writing-if he said a car oversteered it was because he knew what that meant, not because he had read it somewhere else.

 

He will be greatly missed.

 

Condolences to family and friends.

[D-Type]

My deepest condolences.  I never knew him - Only his writings.

[MCS]

Sorry to see this.  I enjoyed his writing and he certainly drove some different cars. 

 

Remember him in the Dolomite-engined March in British Formula 3 in 1976 - a tall man in a small car for sure! - and he came so close to winning the British Touring Car Championship after that, not once but twice as I recall.  One of the best.

 

Edited to include this link:  https://www.motorspo...-dron-1946-2021

 

RIP "Drone"

Edited by MCS, 19 November 2021 - 20:46.

[cooper997]

Over on The Sporting Minis social media page...

https://www.facebook...?type=3

 

 

Stephen

[Myhinpaa]

What a great photo from Sporting Minis!

 

 

Very sad to hear that he had passed away, a very rare combination of a very capable driver and talented journalist/writer.

I subscribed to T&CC when he was the editor between '83 and '92. The magazine was never as good again after he left.

 

His enthusiasm for his 2CV through Fiat Strada 130TC to the restoration of the TR6 was so genuine and infectious for us readers.

His article (T&CC Nov '87) about the BRM V16 test at Silverstone was one of many great articles, including the story about the old man

who'd heard the noise from Towcester (when out shopping with his wife) and drove down straight away to see it. (He'd been at the '51 GP)

 

How he drove that Dino 246S at Goodwood Revival in '01 to '03 is another great testament of his driving skills, and human qualities.

 

Many kind words about him here : https://remembr.com/tony.dron  Andrew Frankel's entry particularly : https://remembr.com/...on/memory/66890

 

 

[cooper997]

A member of a select group given the chance to sample the BRM. Here's Tony in the V16 referenced by Myhinpaa.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

[Greatest]

I'd like to express my warmest condolences for your and your family's great loss. During the years Tony brought joy among the racing enthusiasts. I will remember him fondly. 

[GTMRacer]

I remember reading about his MkII Zephyr race car that he built in the 80's in T& CSC, got the teenage me very excited! A proper enthusiast. 

my sincere condolences for your and your family's loss.

[Dick Dastardly]

Would that be the Zephyr that Tony drove on an early 90s Historic Monte? IIRC, there were 3 in the car..Tony, a navigator and a travelling mechanic [sorry, can't remember any names].

[Nanni Dietrich]

Sad sad news.

[mariner]

So sad, many of the all too frequent death notices here have no direct impact on me as I was not deeply into racing but , as a member of the 750 Club, I met Tony  several times  and he came to give talks so this time I do feel a personal loss.

 

A great guy who used to amaze people by folding his very tall frame into a tiny Austin 7. He was also very helpful on some Lotus 30 research i did and replied so quickly to my query.

[kayemod]

A nice obituary to Tony in today's Sunday Telegraph,  you'll find it in that paper's sadly fast diminishing Cars section.

 

 

The photo shows Tony in the Lister Jaguar that many of us will remember him driving expertly at Goodwood, apparently wearing a helmet on loan from J M Fangio. I only met Tony once, and that was a few years ago at the Goodwood Festival. We had a pleasant extended chat, partly discussing Nick Brittan, who I knew slightly, and Tony much better, and as Nick might have said, "Farewell Tommy Droon".