"He wanted to go..." Max Stahl told me...
Max has been pretty close to Gordon since moving to the Central Coast of NSW about 15 years ago. He's been visiting him regularly as his health has declined recently and rang me tonight to advise of his death.
Gordon is probably best known as a car builder and preparer, having one Australian Grand Prix to his credit (John Crouch, Delahaye, 1949) and been mentioned in many other despatches. He built the rear engined Stewart MG among other cars.
John Medley can probably fill in more detail. Max will be advising me of funeral arrangements when they are made.
Gordon Stewart dies at 92
Started by
Ray Bell
, Oct 08 2004 13:34
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6 replies to this topic
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#2
Dick Willis
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Posted 08 October 2004 - 23:10
Gordon was a great friend of mine from his Coffs Harbour days and, until his recent illness, we corresponded regularly. Unlike a lot of others, he had a vivid memory of his racing and earlier days in the motor business and motor sport and was always greatly respected. He was always a great friend of John Crouch, especially with that memorable trip to WA for the 1951 AGP, and it is sad that they both passed away in the same year.
Please post his funeral arrangements when you find out, Ray.
Please post his funeral arrangements when you find out, Ray.
#3
john medley
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Posted 09 October 2004 - 01:11
Thanks, Ray, for advising us of Gordon's death..... and well said, Dick, re your brief comments on Gordon.
Another remarkable man from another time, whose memory of detail was amazing; I'll not easily forget his seemingly endless dissertation last year on the rear hub nut on the Stewand that sheared at Lobethal 1948 and smote a small boy on the head ( Barry Lake found himself in conversation at a Return to Lobethal thing in recent times with another remarkably knowledgeable local citizen who, when asked by Barry how he knew so much about those days long ago, replied " See this dent in my head? I was the boy who stopped the Stewand's hub nut with my head in 1948".... it was appropriate that Barry was selected as MC for Gordon's 90th Birthday party , doing a " Gordon, This is Your Life" presentation.)
The earliest photo I have of Gordon shows that characteristic hair style in a hard driven Wolseley Hornet competing at a 1930s hillclimb at Hornsby. He and his brothers had a business that dealt in Nuffield products , and that's what Gordon used in competition. In later life he actually built a replica of his Stewart MG, and was rebuilding Stuart Schofield's MG Magna ( which Gordon had raced in the 1940s.)
Another remarkable man from another time, whose memory of detail was amazing; I'll not easily forget his seemingly endless dissertation last year on the rear hub nut on the Stewand that sheared at Lobethal 1948 and smote a small boy on the head ( Barry Lake found himself in conversation at a Return to Lobethal thing in recent times with another remarkably knowledgeable local citizen who, when asked by Barry how he knew so much about those days long ago, replied " See this dent in my head? I was the boy who stopped the Stewand's hub nut with my head in 1948".... it was appropriate that Barry was selected as MC for Gordon's 90th Birthday party , doing a " Gordon, This is Your Life" presentation.)
The earliest photo I have of Gordon shows that characteristic hair style in a hard driven Wolseley Hornet competing at a 1930s hillclimb at Hornsby. He and his brothers had a business that dealt in Nuffield products , and that's what Gordon used in competition. In later life he actually built a replica of his Stewart MG, and was rebuilding Stuart Schofield's MG Magna ( which Gordon had raced in the 1940s.)
#4
Dick Willis
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Posted 11 October 2004 - 02:56
Gordon's funeral details were in the Sydney Morning Herald today ; Wed. Oct 13, 1.30 pm at the Rose Chapel, Palmdale Crem. Palmdale Rd. Ourimbah which is just up from the Northern Gosford exit on the F3.
#5
kevinbartlett
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Posted 11 October 2004 - 04:57
Ray, Dick, thanks for info on Gordon, sad news, Bumped into him at Eastern ck historics, looked frail but sounded full of beans. had an association with him in early 60's when I drove a Healey Sprite for him in production sports races.
#6
Ray Bell
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Posted 12 October 2004 - 02:37
Yet another of the cars he prepared that was way faster than its competitors...
#7
Ray Bell
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Posted 13 October 2004 - 23:27
Well, he had a good sendoff...
Max just rang to tell me there was in excess of seventy attended, including Dick, Johnny Martin and others. Not bad for someone who has outlived all his contemporaries!
Max did the eulogy and will be sending it to me to put on this thread. It included the 'this is your life' stuff Barry put together for him...
Max just rang to tell me there was in excess of seventy attended, including Dick, Johnny Martin and others. Not bad for someone who has outlived all his contemporaries!
Max did the eulogy and will be sending it to me to put on this thread. It included the 'this is your life' stuff Barry put together for him...
