Not F1, but Tony Pond has lost his battle with cancer.
www.autosport.com/newsitem.cfm?id=17909&series=8
I remember him best coming third on the RAC Rally in a Metro...we thought British Leyland had a world beater in our midst, but they changed the rules...Godspeed, Tony.
Sad news - Tony Pond
Started by
ensign14
, Feb 09 2002 10:17
19 replies to this topic
#3
david_martin
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Posted 09 February 2002 - 11:32
Terribly sad news. Tony and Fred Gallagher in the Triumph TR7 and later the monster TR8 were an unforgettable combination in many tarmac rallies in the late 70's and early 80's.
#4
dmj
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Posted 09 February 2002 - 11:34
Sad. How not to appreciate anyone who had to race a TR7?
#5
William Hunt
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Posted 09 February 2002 - 12:14
Very sad. I loved him when I was a kid. I remember him driving the Austin Metro.
Can anyone give a good resumé that pays respect of his carreer ?
Can anyone give a good resumé that pays respect of his carreer ?
#8
The Kanisteri
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Posted 09 February 2002 - 15:42
Rest in Peace
#9
Rob Ryder
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Posted 09 February 2002 - 20:41
Sad news indeed.. RIP
Edited by Rob Ryder, 24 April 2019 - 10:49.
#10
BRG
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Posted 11 February 2002 - 18:10
A desperately sad piece of news.
I first met Tony Pond when he was an up and coming driver in the Ford Mexico challenge series. He was a late entry on a small night navigation rally that my club was running. Because he already had a reputation, we ran him at car zero and he unsurprisingly won easily. But he was very pleasant and easy going with none of the airs that some drivers have once they have started their rise to the top. No prima donna stuff at all.
Later I saw him at what I reckon was his best, competing in Belgium on the Ypres rally, firstly in a Sunbeam-Lotus and then in the mighty TR8. In both cars, he was all action, at maximum attack al the time. The Belgians, who are a nation of great rally fans and who respect a real tryer, absolutely loved him.
I remember standing at a staggered crossroads in the depths of Flanders, where the rally used all four roads and which spectators could only reach by walking across country. There was a huge crowd (and , being Belgium, naturally, there was a beer tent as well!). The cars arrived down a long straight road that was barely 2 metres wide. The TR8, which was at its best on tarmac, where the power of the V8 could really count, was well over 2 metres wide on its huge tarmac tyres. Pond hove into sight flat out, which must have 130-140mph in tarmac rally spec. With the tyres partly on the grass on both sides, Pond still left his braking later than anyone else for the tight narrow right hander, with the big car bucking and weaving before setting off with the back sliding wide, wheels spinning and the V8 bellowing. The Belgian fans were hugely impressed and entertained. We then timed him until he re-appeared at the other half of the crossroads - when we saw how quick he was compared to the rest of the entry, it was clear that this was just a formality.
Later, I saw Pond's infamous RAC accident at Longleat on the first stage when he slid off the road on animal droppings (oh, OK, s**t) and got stuck on the lion's feeding tray - a bulky wooden structure. Then on another RAC, in another safari park at Knowlton, he slid off again (more s**t) and into a tree, severely crunching the Rover SD1. There was never any driving for results with Tony, it was always s**t or bust or rather, in these cases, s**t and bust.
Pond harnessed his wagon to British Leyland and stayed faithful to them despite their decline and their failure to provide him with decent cars. If he had gone elsewhere for a drive, he might well have been Britain's first World Rally Champion, whilst Colin McRae was still in short trousers. Although a great forest rally driver, he was equally at home on tarmac, at a time when the rally world was still very much split into gravel and tarmac drivers. The all-rounders, like Walter Rohrl, were at a premium, and Pond was just such an all-rounder.
A sadly wasted talent, but I will always remember him at his best, in full flight in the TR8 over the back roads of Flanders.
RIP, Tony, you checked into the final control much too early....
I first met Tony Pond when he was an up and coming driver in the Ford Mexico challenge series. He was a late entry on a small night navigation rally that my club was running. Because he already had a reputation, we ran him at car zero and he unsurprisingly won easily. But he was very pleasant and easy going with none of the airs that some drivers have once they have started their rise to the top. No prima donna stuff at all.
Later I saw him at what I reckon was his best, competing in Belgium on the Ypres rally, firstly in a Sunbeam-Lotus and then in the mighty TR8. In both cars, he was all action, at maximum attack al the time. The Belgians, who are a nation of great rally fans and who respect a real tryer, absolutely loved him.
I remember standing at a staggered crossroads in the depths of Flanders, where the rally used all four roads and which spectators could only reach by walking across country. There was a huge crowd (and , being Belgium, naturally, there was a beer tent as well!). The cars arrived down a long straight road that was barely 2 metres wide. The TR8, which was at its best on tarmac, where the power of the V8 could really count, was well over 2 metres wide on its huge tarmac tyres. Pond hove into sight flat out, which must have 130-140mph in tarmac rally spec. With the tyres partly on the grass on both sides, Pond still left his braking later than anyone else for the tight narrow right hander, with the big car bucking and weaving before setting off with the back sliding wide, wheels spinning and the V8 bellowing. The Belgian fans were hugely impressed and entertained. We then timed him until he re-appeared at the other half of the crossroads - when we saw how quick he was compared to the rest of the entry, it was clear that this was just a formality.
Later, I saw Pond's infamous RAC accident at Longleat on the first stage when he slid off the road on animal droppings (oh, OK, s**t) and got stuck on the lion's feeding tray - a bulky wooden structure. Then on another RAC, in another safari park at Knowlton, he slid off again (more s**t) and into a tree, severely crunching the Rover SD1. There was never any driving for results with Tony, it was always s**t or bust or rather, in these cases, s**t and bust.
Pond harnessed his wagon to British Leyland and stayed faithful to them despite their decline and their failure to provide him with decent cars. If he had gone elsewhere for a drive, he might well have been Britain's first World Rally Champion, whilst Colin McRae was still in short trousers. Although a great forest rally driver, he was equally at home on tarmac, at a time when the rally world was still very much split into gravel and tarmac drivers. The all-rounders, like Walter Rohrl, were at a premium, and Pond was just such an all-rounder.
A sadly wasted talent, but I will always remember him at his best, in full flight in the TR8 over the back roads of Flanders.
RIP, Tony, you checked into the final control much too early....
#11
GMiranda
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Posted 11 January 2022 - 23:11
I researched Tony Pond since I read the article John Davenport wrote about him for Motor Sport, and here is the first version of my article. I hope you enjoy and find it a fitting tribute to an esteemed and prestigious driver and man: https://realmofmotor...fectionism.html
#12
wolf sun
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Posted 12 January 2022 - 09:05
Very sad.
RIP Tony.
#13
Derwent Motorsport
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Posted 12 January 2022 - 09:39
I researched Tony Pond since I read the article John Davenport wrote about him for Motor Sport, and here is the first version of my article. I hope you enjoy and find it a fitting tribute to an esteemed and prestigious driver and man: https://realmofmotor...fectionism.html
Excellent write up. Is that article copyright? I'd like to add it to our local club magazine?
#14
F1matt
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Posted 12 January 2022 - 11:56
I researched Tony Pond since I read the article John Davenport wrote about him for Motor Sport, and here is the first version of my article. I hope you enjoy and find it a fitting tribute to an esteemed and prestigious driver and man: https://realmofmotor...fectionism.html
Nice article, the sound of the 6R4 coming towards me in a dark North Yorkshire forest in 1985 is something I will never forget.
#15
GMiranda
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Posted 12 January 2022 - 12:26
Nice article, the sound of the 6R4 coming towards me in a dark North Yorkshire forest in 1985 is something I will never forget.
Many Thanks!!!!
#16
GMiranda
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Posted 12 January 2022 - 12:29
Excellent write up. Is that article copyright? I'd like to add it to our local club magazine?
Many Thanks!!!!
No, the article is mine and it is published only on my website. The photos aren't many, most of them are of unknown origin, but I have no wonership over them, but the writing contents yes, it's original. You may use it, but I'd like to be referred as the author.
Edited by GMiranda, 12 January 2022 - 12:30.
#17
Derwent Motorsport
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Posted 13 January 2022 - 12:06
Many Thanks!!!!
No, the article is mine and it is published only on my website. The photos aren't many, most of them are of unknown origin, but I have no wonership over them, but the writing contents yes, it's original. You may use it, but I'd like to be referred as the author.
Great Thanks
#18
GMiranda
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Posted 13 January 2022 - 12:12
Great Thanks
Will you publish?
#19
Derwent Motorsport
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Posted 13 January 2022 - 13:15
Will you publish?
Yes please. It's the monthly magazine for our local motor club which goes out to 800 members here in Cumbria.
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#20
GMiranda
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Posted 13 January 2022 - 13:35
Yes please. It's the monthly magazine for our local motor club which goes out to 800 members here in Cumbria.
OK, you may do it. Please show me when publishing or send me if it isn't too costly.
