18 replies to this topic

[Roryswood]

Rosemary passed away today after a short illness

[Henri Greuter]

Is she by chance the Rosemary Smith that was part of the London-Sydney of 55 years ago?

[Vitesse2]

Is she by chance the Rosemary Smith that was part of the London-Sydney of 55 years ago?

That's the one, Henri. A legend of Irish motor sport.

 

https://www.independ...a704203033.html

[flatlandsman]

When you think about the garbage put out by modern f1 teams around female racing drivers, here was one who went out there ad did it in an era when women were considered not much more than housewives!  Bravo m Lady!

[Tim Murray]

Oh no. I’m so sorry to read this, as Rosemary was one of my favourite motor sport people, not least because she did such great things with Imps. Here are two nice photos:




With Jim Clark at Oulton Park on the 1966 RAC Rally


… and in 2017 she drove an F1 Renault:

Rosemary Smith, F1 driver

Sincere condolences to her family and friends.

[Dick Dastardly]

Rosemary was a lovely lady, very sociable and always ready to chat whenever we met.

I have an autographed copy of her book, Driven, must re-read it now.

RIP Rosemary  

[Henri Greuter]

That's the one, Henri. A legend of Irish motor sport.

 

https://www.independ...a704203033.html

 

Thanks Vitesse. I have an interest in the original London-Sydney and I know about her exploits in that.

But not much about anything else she did I'm afraid.

 

Bit that 1968 marathon alone made her a hero for me.

Sad news indeed.

 

R I P  Rosemary

[Vitesse2]

Oh no. I’m so sorry to read this, as Rosemary was one of my favourite motor sport people, not least because she did such great things with Imps. Here are two nice photos:




With Jim Clark at Oulton Park on the 1966 RAC Rally

Sincere condolences to her family and friends.

An amused Paddy Hopkirk behind Jim, I think?

[Roryswood]

Not Hoppy , looks like David Stone

[Fred Gallagher]

Not Hoppy , looks like David Stone

Brian Melia behind on the right.

[LotusElise]

A lovely lady, always chatty, funny and very glamorous. Her Speedqueens profile is here.

[BRG]

That's the one, Henri. A legend of Irish GLOBAL motor sport.

 

When you think about the garbage put out by modern f1 teams around female racing drivers, here was one who went out there ad did it in an era when women were considered not much more than housewives!  Bravo m Lady!

Just so. Back in those days, when men were men and women were confined to the kitchen, nobody thought it unusual to see women competing at the highest levels.  But today, when women are equal to men in all respects, they seem to need special treatment.  

 

We will remember Rosemary, a rallying life well lived.

[Doug Nye]

Brian Melia in that photo - correct - to the right behind lucky Jim. Brian was his navigator in the Lotus-Cortina. He told me once how he had doubts about Jimmy's rallying capability early in the event, but when he suddenly realised he had got out of phase on his forest pace notes, recognised a familiar stage turn and bawled "RIGHT!" (or maybe left, I can't recall which) he was staggered by Clark reaction time, the car slamming in the direction demanded before he'd really finished the command... Despite their failure in the event he was left with enduring respect for Jimmy, both as driver and as man.

DCN

[Roryswood]

Thank you Doug I knew he was a navigator

[RTH]

We were so lucky to have her as a gust speaker  3 times  she was always great fun with loads of stories  she will be much missed  Here she is Wit Alec Poole Paddy Hopkirk and Michael Hipperson 

 

and with the late Graham Robson .

 

[RTH]

Here is a little film she made  7 years ago   

[WonderWoman61]

Rest in Peace Rosemary Smith

[FrankB]

A belated obituary in The Times today.

Rosemary Smith obituary: Doyenne of rally driving in the Sixties

https://www.thetimes...c0d91af93e22d83

[kevins]

I just picked up a DVD of an Irish program called Reeling In the Years, an archival clip show. One of the clips was Rosemary and Danny Keany (Irish Yamaha importer) setting land speed records for car and bikes. She seemed to have a cheeky sense of humor, Danny was sipping his champagne and she grabs the bottle and tilts it upwards, Danny's face is covered in the  champagne

 

Found this clip but is a different edit to the DVD so does not show it.

 

https://www.rte.ie/a...d-speed-record/