145 replies to this topic

[alansart]

Thank you, Simon, for a job well done and a race well run.   The Mallory Park cafe, where he so much enjoyed his breakfasts, should be renamed in his honour.

That's a good idea. Although not vegetarian, Simon didn't tend to eat meat, but Mallory Breakfasts were irresistible

[Doug Nye]

Too soon - just too soon...  As I confessed earlier, I did not have the pleasure of knowing Simon at all well - but sometimes...you know the rest...

 

DCN

[LittleChris]

Grew up reading his MN reports and enjoying his tenure at MS which I've been re-reading over the last couple of years. Really happy when he joined us on TNF and now very unhappy that he's left us. RIP to a good bloke. My condolences to Lucy and Tom who've lost both parents in a very short space of time, hope you find some strength in the love shown here and on Twitter amongst other places.

[bsc]

So very sad to hear the news and condolences to his family.

As a kid I'd regularly creep out of school at lunchtime to buy MN and Autosport as I wanted to read his F3000 reports.

Years later, it was a delight to meet him at a variety of race meetings. I remember seeing him at a fairly ropey club meeting at Silverstone between two to fly away F1 races. I was surprised that he'd fitted the meeting into his schedule but he was enthused to be attending his first Silverstone clubbie in a while.

I'm sure in the future I'll be re-reading his work - his Motorsport 'on the road' columns are such a joy.

[PaulButler58]

God Speed Simon Arron, a life well lived, and a legacy left to be proud of.

 

Sincere condolences to his family 

[GMiranda]

Simon Arron was an inspiration to me as a writer and photographer. But he also gave me a lot of advice and ideas to further professionalize my writing style and progress. I always thought one day I'd have the chance to travel to the UK and meet him personally. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be.

 

R.I.P. Simon Arron. My deepest condolences to your family and friends.

[DouglasM]

RIP Mr Arron.

[257gary]

I will always remember Simon for his voice. I didn’t recognise him when I met him briefly at Thruxton some years ago.

 

After he spoke, I said, “Ah, I’ve seen you on the Motorsport Podcasts, I recognise your voice!”.

 

Smiling, Simon relied “Unfortunately most people only recognise me because of my voice!”

 

You had a great voice Simon, RIP.

Edited by 257gary, 13 November 2022 - 09:18.

[SamoanAttorney]

The Guild of Motoring Writers has just published the following tribute to Simon. I trust it is OK to repost here.

 

jb

 

 

Simon Arron

 

We are sad to report the passing of our member Simon Arron at the age of 61 on Friday 11th November following a short illness.

 

Simon was a well-known figure to many Guild members, particularly those working in the motorsport arena. He started his career on the editorial staff of Motoring News in 1982, having provided reports and photos for the weekly newspaper while still at school. He then moved to Fast Lane magazine as first production editor and later road-test editor.

 

He was appointed editor of Motor Sport magazine in 1991 before turning freelance five years later, concentrating on Formula One from 2001. Simon edited two editions of the annual motorsport bible Autocourse in 2011 and 2012, then returned to Motor Sport in 2013 as features editor. In recent times he had been freelancing again, while continuing as the magazine’s Editor at Large.

 

“I first met Simon, who was just six months older than me, when he was at Motoring News and he was a constant presence throughout my motorsport media career,” News Briefs editor Andrew Charman said. “While he was renowned in the rarified world of F1, you were just as likely to find him trackside at a clubbie at Brands Hatch and enjoying the day no less – if he was there you knew you were in for a good chat and a laugh.

 

“On my own return trackside last month I was looking forward to catching up with Simon at the Formula Ford Festival, one of his favourite meetings, but sadly it was not to be.”

 

 

Guild member David Tremayne, a long-time friend of Simon’s, penned the following tribute;

 

“ “So, Tonio…” – I haven’t heard that opening remark, spoken in a relatively high pitch, ever since our mate Tonio Liuzzi graduated to F1 back in 2005. Up to 2004 that would be how FIA interviewer Simon Arron would usually begin the post-race F3000 press conferences. And, of course, we would hop from foot to foot as if our heels were sprung, twiddle with a forelock, and mimic him mercilessly vocally too, when he walked back into the press room. Our hilarious mirth would be met with an inevitable and good-natured vee sign.

 

I think he joined Motoring News early in 1982, one of then editor Mike Greasley’s last hires before I took over in August. I left in February 1995, and in all those years together, and since whenever we would hang out at F1 races, we never had a cross word or a crossed sword. We took the mickey out of one another, sure, but you always knew you would win that because, fundamentally, Si was a very proper bloke. He would quietly get, not offended, but bemused, by bad language or if he heard tales about people we knew who might not be behaving themselves correctly, so his repertoire for ribald comebacks was always limited.

 

He was completely dedicated to motor racing. He loved it, just like we all did. He had been hooked on cars since he was a toddler, and while still at school had persuaded the editor of his local newspaper that it was crucial that he published race reports from Oulton Park, Aintree and anywhere else he had been spectating. But with his calm and even-tempered nature he made a better fist of putting up with the nettlesome meddling of MN proprietor Old Man Tee than the rest of us. So long as he was doing something to do with racing, whether it be covering F1, F3000 or just a clubbie at his beloved Oulton, he was content with life. And in recent years he had added being a snapper to a long list of talents which included an encyclopaedic knowledge of even the most arcane aspects of British club racing.

 

It was no surprise that his innate correctness was matched by a sweet nature. He was one of the most good-natured people I’ve ever known. I cannot remember a single time in the 40 years I was lucky to know him that I ever saw him angry. Temporarily discombobulated, perhaps, bemused, as noted, but never angry. Even the time when he and I had journeyed to Crondall to visit Denis Jenkinson and a truck driver deliberately rubbed down the side of his company Ford Sierra in a roundabout. Si behaved as if it had been entirely his own fault, and remained affable and courteous. Just as he had been with Jenks, who was being wilfully cantankerous throughout our meeting.

 

Si was one of those rare people who just see the good in everyone and every situation. His sunny disposition was always highly prized amid all the weekly madness at MN, and, I’m sure, at Motor Sport magazine where he was editor-at-large. We are lucky that, via those publications and others to which he contributed as a freelance, he leaves a huge body of work that will endure.

 

We nicknamed him Tubber, though actually he wasn’t tubby at all. But as I learned to my cost one time I tried to pass him down the inside at Coffee Corner at the Motoring News office, collision with him was more painful than inverting a jet dragster at 250 mph. He was fit and… solid.

 

And now he is gone. It will take a long time to sink in that the serious heart attack he suffered at home while we were in Texas for the US GP created problems that could not, as we had all prayed, be alleviated with a pacemaker.

 

And so we lose another good friend, another loved and valued team-mate. It hurts, and our thoughts are with his family, especially Tom and Lucy, who lose their father so soon after their mother, Michelle.”

 

The Guild sends its sincere condolences to Simon’s family and very many friends.

Edited by SamoanAttorney, 12 November 2022 - 12:57.

[BarryJohnson]

It made me smile to read him extolling the virtues of the breakfast at Mallory Park and I always thought he wrote the kind of articles that I would have liked to write if only I had the talent to do so.

 

I never met him personally but he was clearly a thoroughly decent chap and if there is one thing the world is short of it's thoroughly decent chaps.Sincere condolences to his family 61 is no age at all.

[Duc-Man]

R.I.P.

[Alan Cox]

How I will always remember Simon 

 

[Slurp1955]

That's a lovely photo Alan, thanks for posting it. Pete's photo of Simon at Lodge should on a Gallery wall. Sadly we've also lost Andrew Swift this year ~ if we are supposed be part of some bigger plan it don't impress me much. I first met Simon at 2008 Kilton GP, my first TNF meet. Over the years I had many conversations with him about F1, John Martyn, Half Man Half Biscuit, Paul Weller and the Madness Of Ron Dennis.. And other stuff too. My only contribution to his writing was identifying the Korean rat snake that he came across on the circuit at the first Korean GP. It was a non.venomous, medium sized constrictor, probably looking for lunch. By the time his race report reached The Telegraph I had become "an informed friend" and the snake " a threat to long wheelbase hamsters". Brilliant. I was luckier than Simon, having survived emergency heart surgery two years ago when I was already in Stepping Hill.

Edited by Slurp1955, 16 November 2022 - 17:03.

[jonpollak]

oh no...

Just heard this news.

 

He was a friend and advised me on finding a new literary agent. (He then read some chapters and said..'Oh, well..maybe not publish just yet then')

I got him and Mark Hughes into the Steely Dan show at the NEC and we drank, sang and danced on the tourbus till the driver kicked them off.

 

Great times and he'll always be remembered as one of the good ones.

 

RIP Simon.

[milestone 11]

God speed Simon. My thoughts are with your loved ones.

[john aston]

I interviewed Simon for the Lotus Seven Club magazine in about 2012 and we met many times after then - typically at Brands , Goodwood , Cadwell, Mallory , Thruxton and especially at Oulton . He very kindly wrote the foreword for my book , and the text below is an extract from a chapter where I was musing on the standard of F1 reportage . He really, really knew his stuff but unlike  nearly all of his  modern peers, he remained the enthusiast and never became the breathless , star struck fan , as this unimprovable description of Kimi Raikkonen attests .  

 

'Simon Arron epitomises the enthusiast turned journalist and despite having reported on  Grands Prix for  Motoring News for many years he still writes in Motor Sport about grass track racing and club bike racing with just the same affection and knowledge  as he applied to describing the ‘riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an  enigma ‘  that is the driver who answers (if  you’re lucky, it isn’t guaranteed )to the name of Kimi Raikkonen . Arron’s description of the charmless, but bafflingly popular Finn  reads  -‘ ...lawnmower raspberry trifle Trojan T101 watercress Dijon mustard double dip recession pantomime horse Ford Corsair 2000E  albatross Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Mesopotamia binoculars cement mixer Van Der Graaf Generator butterscotch .’ I couldn’t have put it better myself .'

 

Simon would have been amused by the Veloce sub editor's bemusement on his words . She remained utterly baffled that the description made sense - if you shared the same sense of humour. And I bet  a lot of people  on TNF do just that ... 

Edited by john aston, 14 November 2022 - 07:33.

[Gary C]

Brilliant, John, brilliant.

[PaulButler58]

A lovely tribute to Simon by Gordon Cruickshank on the Motor Sport website here : Simon Arron: 1961-2022 - Motor Sport Magazine. Not sure if you need to be a subscriber to read it

[Tim Murray]

It worked for me and I’m not a subscriber. Beautiful tribute.

[Vitesse2]

Yes, it works as one of your five free monthly articles.

 

(If you have already read five this month just delete all motorsport.co.uk cookies.)

[alansart]

A lovely tribute to Simon by Gordon Cruickshank on the Motor Sport website here : Simon Arron: 1961-2022 - Motor Sport Magazine. Not sure if you need to be a subscriber to read it

It's very well done isn't it and much of it is how I remember him. His knowledge and writing ability was amazing and he was happy to share it. I even took his advise on what camera equipment to purchase!

[guiporsche]

Terrible, sad news. I never met Simon, but other than for his articles, I will always remember his video interviews for Motorsport Magazine: always composed, always coming up with funny one-liners and most intelligent questions. I remember thinking that he must be someone quite interesting and fun to talk with, and judging by all testimonies of those who knew him, that was indeed the truth.

Farewell Simon, RIP. My condolences to his family.

Edited by guiporsche, 15 November 2022 - 14:00.

[PCC]

A lovely collection of tributes in Motor Sport at this link.

[Doug Nye]

This is wonderfully evocative, touching, stuff.  I just kick myself for never having made the chance to get to know him...

 

And I feel for my peers who, so gratefully, did.

 

DCN

[Michael Ferner]

Utterly devastating news!

 

Condolences to all who had the privilege of knowing him personally.

[absinthedude]

Oh gods, I haven't been in these pages much in recent weeks. So I missed this. I only knew Simon Arron as a name at the bottom of wonderfully written articles on motor races and more recently I occasionally listened to a podcast. What struck me was his enthusiasm for pretty much anything involving four wheels and an engine. It's an enthusiasm I once had myself, and that was fuelled by his writing. 

[MCS]

Very upsetting to be reading this, for so many.  It is not an exaggeration to say that he brought pleasure and enjoyment into so many racing people's lives.

 

Compared to others I hardly knew him, but I did know him and I am grateful for that.  His unbridled enthusiasm was infectious.  He was adamant I should re-visit Oulton Park - my local circuit in my much younger days - and I will never forget that.   This morning I came across emails we had exchanged on all manner of racing topics and I have saved these as a happy reminder and memory of him.

 

There is a saying that somebody reminded me of the other day which is "a good man measures his life not by the number of years he has lived but by the quality of his friends".  Simon had made many.

 

He will certainly be missed.

Edited by MCS, 24 November 2022 - 17:19.

[BRG]

Good to see that MotorSport has used elansprint's wonderful photo of Simon at Lodge Corner to head its obituary for our lost friend.

[john aston]

And what delighted me was the 'parting shot' picture at Brands - a caption on subject, when and where but no clue who took it until the end - Photograph Simon Arron. What young folk would call an easter egg.

[SamoanAttorney]

And what delighted me was the 'parting shot' picture at Brands - a caption on subject, when and where but no clue who took it until the end - Photograph Simon Arron. What young folk would call an easter egg.

 

John, many thanks for pointing that out, I missed it first time round that I scanned the magazine when it arrived.

 

I met Simon some four decades ago when we were both on the British F3 beat. He went on to greater things than I, to put it mildly. However, to me he was the modern embodiment of Jenks, an enthusiast to his core, be it F1 or 750MC, Monaco or Mallory Park. 

 

His sense of fun and eccentricity were undimmed by the years, he was a one-off and we are all poorer for his passing.

 

Enough sadness, let's celebrate the memory of a remarkable person.

Edited by SamoanAttorney, 25 November 2022 - 20:12.

[Roger Clark]

There was a wonderful memorial event for Simon at Silverstone yesterday, attended by many notables from the motor racing world and TNF members, past and present. There were moving and humorous tributes from Phil Rainford, several former editors of Motoring News and Motor Sport and some bloke who used to run the Arden Formula 3000 team. Simon’s son and daughter were very impressive. 

[john aston]

Damn - I had been trying to find out when it was taking place and am sad I missed it . 

[alansart]

There was a wonderful memorial event for Simon at Silverstone yesterday, attended by many notables from the motor racing world and TNF members, past and present. There were moving and humorous tributes from Phil Rainford, several former editors of Motoring News and Motor Sport and some bloke who used to run the Arden Formula 3000 team. Simon’s son and daughter were very impressive. 

Tom and Lucy did a wonderful job putting that together. There were a few tears but lots and lots of laughs as well, so it was a tremendous send off. Made even better by the new F1 McLaren testing on the circuit at the same time. Simon would have liked that

It was an honour to be there.

[Myhinpaa]

Some photos here: https://twitter.com/...686545443934213

[Giraffe]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

[Slurp1955]

A heads-up for anyone heading up,down or across to the Oulton Park Gold Cup this weekend. There are two races for The Simon Arron Trophy, for Classic and Historic Formula Fords. The second leg closes the event on Sunday

[GazChed]

Sadly, according to the latest version of the meeting timetable, the Simon Arron Trophy has been dropped, presumably due to a lack of entries. It was a late replacement for the Derek Bell Trophy Thundersports race, a series which has struggled for entries this season.

[Roryswood]

I understand only 3 entries
Were recieved for the race

[E1pix]

Not knowing how these things work, I wonder how we might all pull together to continue *any* race being titled for Simon.

If a money thing, I’m good for a hundred USD.

[Slurp1955]

That's disappointing news.I shall be attending,the 1970 Gold Cup was my first race meeting and I've been to many since. Thanks for the updates lads. JP

[GazChed]

Not knowing how these things work, I wonder how we might all pull together to continue *any* race being titled for Simon.

If a money thing, I’m good for a hundred USD.

Unfortunately, it was all a bit last minute and I suspect most drivers couldn't afford the expense of an extra race as well as the fact that the school summer holidays have begun in the UK and drivers would be away. As far as the other races are concerned, most of them have pretty full grids so a good weekend's racing should be had by all.

There are a couple of other Formula Ford races at Simon's beloved Oulton Park and of course the end of season Formula Ford Festival and the HSCC's own Walter Hayes Trophy so maybe someone will commemorate Simon's life at one of these events.

[Roryswood]

Yes I agree , adding an extra race after competitors have decided what they can afford to spend for the season was not a smart move , nowadays competitors have to budget , gone are the days when competitors would enter an all comers or grased scratch race for Formula Ford's Astley did in the70s and 80s

[flatlandsman]

Having workedwithr the man very briefly a long time ago, he was a genuinely decent fellow. As a  minor in my position he was always helpful, (unlike most of his peers who were selfish, jealous and rude) thoughtful and offering advice. Aswell as good fun and genuinely forward in offering advice on his craft.

 

I was very sad to see he had passed, and the world is a slightly lesser place without him, his enthusiasm for all sorts of racing was boundless as was his love of all things I think it was Altrincham FC!

[GazChed]

Yes I agree , adding an extra race after competitors have decided what they can afford to spend for the season was not a smart move , nowadays competitors have to budget , gone are the days when competitors would enter an all comers or grased scratch race for Formula Ford's Astley did in the70s and 80s

It was also quite expensive being based on the number of entries received. Apparently if the HSCC received a full grid of thirty four cars the entry would cost £450 which works out at £15,300 per grid. Also the Formula Ford race would have had qualifying on Friday afternoon, one race on Saturday and the second race was scheduled to be the last on Sunday. Not ideal if you live a long distance from Oulton.

[john aston]

Having workedwithr the man very briefly a long time ago, he was a genuinely decent fellow. As a  minor in my position he was always helpful, (unlike most of his peers who were selfish, jealous and rude) thoughtful and offering advice. Aswell as good fun and genuinely forward in offering advice on his craft.

 

I was very sad to see he had passed, and the world is a slightly lesser place without him, his enthusiasm for all sorts of racing was boundless as was his love of all things I think it was Altrincham FC!

 I liked Simon , and knew him a little - he was kind enough to write the foreword for my book in 2019. But although I've met a fair few motor sport(lower case)  journalists I must have been lucky , as only one was an  ocean going a*** . 

[flatlandsman]

Haha, Oh I would love to know!