74 replies to this topic

[davidbuckden]

One of my first motor racing books was Michael Keyser's "The Speed Merchants," which included, peppered throughout the book, paragraphs and paragraphs of narration by Vic Elford (as well as by Mario, Brian Redman, and perhaps Helmut Marko.)  Soon after that came the documentary of the same name, which had large chunks of narration by the aforementioned drivers.  In this manner, I felt that I got to know Vic Elford, as well as one can through such means, but much more so than just reading the occasional race report or article.  He quickly became one of my favorite drivers, though he had mostly retired by the time I started watching.  Like others, I admired his versatility.  He could and would drive anything with wheels, and do it well. 

 

I think that a lot of the mid- to upper-level F1 teams around '69 and '70 missed out by not hiring Vic Elford.  I think he was an excellent development driver who would have improved any car he spent time with.  In addition to being seriously competitive. 

 

When he drove the original Shadow Can-Am car in 1970, that tiny little go-kart thing with a huge Chevy engine, he told Nichols that he'd stay in the car as long as he felt that he wasn't a danger to the other cars.  No mention of his own safety.  See Kayemod's post above. 

 

My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fans.  We lost a truly great one yesterday. 

Good observations Dave.  I was in touch with Michael last year and he was exceptionally helpful whilst I was researching my write-up on Jo's 1971 season pre-Brands.  His The Speed Merchants (both book and film) is I think a very underrated record of that wonderful era which had so much terrific driving, fabulous cars and hardly any of today's over-commercialised pomp and circumstance. And Vic was very emblematic of all that, seemingly able to retain a very likable personality unspoiled by excessive ego.  I too think he could have achieved much with consistent running in a good F1 car.  And when you look again at the Shadow - which I remember as being so sensational when first unveiled - you think that not many would have been prepared to get in and drive it, let alone get a tune out of it.  Telling isn't it that the same can be said for Follmer. I reckon that Vic and George had a lot in common and wouldn't it be good in 2022 to see a contemporary newcomer embodying their spirit and abilities.

[Emery0323]

Very sad news!  Another boyhood hero of mine, gone.

 

The news is not unexpected, given what we have heard about his medical issues over the past couple of years. I was pleased to have participated in the gofundme for him last year.

 

His wife Anita ran an online Ebay store selling motoring books and other memorabilia, which you could have autographed by Vic or his contemporaries like Brian Redman, Derek Bell, et al.  I was enjoyed doing business with her!

He was a great competitor - time to watch that footage of the Salzburg 917LH from "LeMans" again.

RIP, Quick Vic!

Edited by Emery0323, 14 March 2022 - 18:44.

[Henri Greuter]

This is very sad news.

 

One of the most, if not the most versatile driver ever in racing.

When one can win a Rally Monte Carlo with a 911 but also almost win Le Mansin 1969  with the very first version of the 917 ..... (When that cars was still scaring the hell out of everyone)

Enough said about versatility and capabilities.

 

 

RIP Vic Elford, a true racer every time, everywhere, if there ever was one

[Vitesse2]

Times obituary: https://archive.ph/SRYSn

[LittleChris]

Hmm, didn't realise he managed the Inaltera Rally team ( as well as the Le Mans squad of course )

[AllanL]

A sad loss of a true gentleman.

 

Doug's comment about Vic at Goodwood in '07 reminded me that I was sitting further down a very soggy hill and managed a shot of Vic paddling by with some enthusiasm.

Quick Slick Vic.

 

Apologies If it needs to be reduced in size. I could not find the instructions on any maximum width, which I well know does not mean that I should have!

 

Edited by AllanL, 15 March 2022 - 16:39.

[Henri Greuter]

Times obituary: https://archive.ph/SRYSn

After reading that obituary, what a career and achievements.

 

To me, Quick Vic is one of the greatest drivers ever in racing of his era and maybe of all time.

Period.

[West3]

Monterey Historics 2005. Chaparral reunion.

 

Edited by West3, 15 March 2022 - 18:06.

[Doug Nye]

 

I think that's the Howmet on the left.

 

And that's Santa on the far right, talking to Jim Hall.  He was very near the top of our very first draft 'wants' list when we dreamed up the inaugural FoS in 1991-92.  It took us ten years to persuade him to come and bring his Chaparrals, and it was a double bonus when he brought Vic along with the 2J.  

 

Whenever they attended FoS one theme was common, awe at the knowledgeability of the Goodwood crowd.  

 

Jim memorably told me once, pushing his stetson back, then shaking his head in wonderment: "Darg - Some o' these fans here know more about what ah've done than even ah can remember!".  I think Vic really enjoyed his times at Goodwood for similar reasons.  Both these outstanding people just "got it".

 

Which was nice...

 

DCN

[Henri Greuter]

And that's Santa on the far right, talking to Jim Hall.  He was very near the top of our very first draft 'wants' list when we dreamed up the inaugural FoS in 1991-92.  It took us ten years to persuade him to come and bring his Chaparrals, and it was a double bonus when he brought Vic along with the 2J.  

 

Whenever they attended FoS one theme was common, awe at the knowledgeability of the Goodwood crowd.  

 

Jim memorably told me once, pushing his stetson back, then shaking his head in wonderment: "Darg - Some o' these fans here know more about what ah've done than even ah can remember!".  I think Vic really enjoyed his times at Goodwood for similar reasons.  Both these outstanding people just "got it".

 

Which was nice...

 

DCN

I think it was 1997 or 1998 that he came over for the first time, I was there on both years and either one of them I saw the `Chappies`.

[wolf sun]

Oh no, how sad.

 

RIP Quick Vic.

[cooper997]

I think it was 1997 or 1998 that he came over for the first time, I was there on both years and either one of them I saw the `Chappies`.

 

First up was 1997 - they were there on the only time I've been to FoS.

 

 

Stephen

[DeKnyff]

Always a gentleman, Vic Elford stops at the track to help a driver he believed trapped in a burning car. Related by himself.

 

 

Unfortunately, this accident claimed Jo Bonnier's life (not seen in footage).

 

[Emery0323]

Always a gentleman, Vic Elford stops at the track to help a driver he believed trapped in a burning car. Related by himself.

 

...

 

Unfortunately, this accident claimed Jo Bonnier's life (not seen in footage).

It's sobering to realize that the "Speed Merchants" film is now 50 years old!

 

Edited by Emery0323, 17 March 2022 - 16:18.

[ensign14]

Nice letter in this week's Autosport from the world's fastest Lancastrian.

[2F-001]

The world feels an emptier place now that Vic has gone: he embodied much of the spirit of the sport I fell in love with as a youngster.

 

 

(There are not many works Chaparral pilots left now: just Jim, Roger Penske, and Jackie Stewart. Not sure about Tom Dutton - though he never actually raced the 2H. Have I forgotten anyone?)

[john winfield]

This is a superb interview made of him by Autohebdo (en francais at Monsieur Elford's request, according to the journalist) at Goodwood in 2019:

 

https://www.autohebd...ur-la-lune.html

 

You're quite right, it's a lovely interview. Interesting to hear what good mates Vic and Gérard Larrousse were, right up until the end. I hadn't realised that Vic recommended Gérard to Porsche who, at the time were looking for the best French driver, for the Martini cars presumably. The two of them had a good battle on the 1968 Monte until some idiots chucked a load of 'artificial' snow in front of Larrousse's Alpine.

 

Nothing to do with that but I've just come across an Autosport snippet from Vic's varied career. May 1962, Snetterton, and a bid for the Commander's Trophy, awarded to a standard family saloon costing less than £1,000, with an engine of less than 1500cc, travelling furthest round the track in 24 hours.  Vic was part of a six man DKW 1000 team aiming to beat the record, held at the time by a team of Mann Egerton employees driving a Mini-Minor.  All was going well, the Mini's total of 550 laps was within reach when, after 221/2 hours and 514 laps, Vic overdid it at the hairpin, hit the bank and damaged the cooling system beyond repair!  No mention is made of Vic being lynched by his team-mates - he was probably the driver keeping the DKW on target!

 

I don't recognise the other drivers' names. Perhaps I should. Tony Atkinson, Roger Enoch, Erik Johnson, Charles Russell Scarr and driver/team manager Charles Horsfall.

[Doug Nye]

If it was the same Erik Johnson - now the late - he became Mercedes-Benz's UK head of public and press relations.  I would guess he was involved with DKW PR at that time in 1962.

 

DCN

[LittleChris]

There's a letter from an Erik Johnson of Poole in the Oct 2005 Motor Sport who was searching for the remains of an Opus which he drove at Silverstone in 1963.

[Doug Nye]

Very sadly, I understand that Anita Elford passed away a couple of days ago...

 

DCN

[ReWind]

That is sad, indeed.
It should be noted that Anita Simone Fol (b. 1944) was a rally co-driver on her own merit.
As far as I understand she and Vic married two times - having been divorced for some time in between.
 
Click on the following links to see them both:
 
Link 1   Link 2

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[ReWind]

Her obituary:

 

Anita Fol Elford

July 10, 1944 -- May 26, 2022

Anita Fol Elford, beloved mother and grand-mother, wife, and Siamese cat enthusiast, died of lung cancer on May 26, 2022 in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, Anita adored her mom Zoe Borms, and grew up with brother Jean and sisters Liliane and Jeanine. She married Alain Desmet in Belgium in 1968, had two sons, Thierry Desmet, an attorney in Miami, FL, and Olivier Desmet, a photographer in Mill Valley, CA. After a friendly divorce with Alain (who remained a friend), Anita married British-born Victor ("Vic") Elford, a former race car driver who won many races in the 1960s, including the Monte Carlo Rally, the Daytona 24 Hours, the Sebring 12 Hours, the Targa Florio, and the Nurburging 1000KM. Anita moved to the United States in 1985, and settled in south Florida in 1993.

Anita and Vic lived in Plantation, FL for over twenty years. Vic also died of cancer, at age 86, just two months before Anita. Anita adored animals, especially Siamese cats, and over the years deeply loved a series of felines, including Sonny, Pili Pili, Rama, Berlioz, Rama II, Sita, Prince, Sophie, and Rama III, and dogs, including Afi, Shiva, and Danae. She had a successful career managing furniture stores in Belgium and the US and later ran an online store selling car racing memorabilia. She loved good food and desserts, especially chocolate; music, especially Queen and Prince; watching tennis, especially Rafa Nadal, and travel, especially to Sicily and the south of France. She despised fast food, phonies, Donald Trump, guns, large crowds, and anyone mean to animals.
She is survived by her sons, Thierry and Olivier, her daughters-in law, Lainie and Irene, two grand-daughters she adored (and who loved her so much), Emma and Josie, her brother, Jean, and nieces and nephews in Belgium, including Joelle, Nathalie, and Vincent. Although very shy, she was a great friend to her friends and was loved by many. Her pleasant personality was contagious to everyone she met. She did not want a funeral or a service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Humane Society, the World Wildlife Fund, or the American Cancer Society and try to live life to the fullest.

 

[Jack-the-Lad]

I had the pleasure  of meeting Anita in person when I purchased books and DVDs from her.  Since we lived only a few miles apart I was only too happy to pick them up in person.  This is how I got to know Vic, although I’d met him at some Porsche club events, and when he became service manager at the local Range Rover dealership.  I remember saving a front row seat for her at the Amelia Island Concours Drivers’ Symposium in which Vic participated several years ago.  What I I recall is how grateful she was for such a small gesture.

 

My sincere condolences  to the Elford and Fol families. 

[elansprint72]

Quick Vic at Le Mans Classic 2012.