595 replies to this topic

[Richard Jenkins]

According to this:-
http://www.southjers...d=101835&page=1

Mike Magill has died. I can't find anything else on this yet, though after a little more research, the guy who posted it is from New Jersey, so I no reason to doubt it may have just happened.

[Richard Jenkins]

Charlie Bradberry

[rdmotorsport]

I am somewhat surprized that your list include Bonnie Henn who was the daughter of Preston Henn.
I am not therefore sure of the circumstances of her demise but she could not have been very old. I remember Bonnie from the days I worked in IMSA for John Paul Racing a very vibrant,cheerful and attractive young lady who enjoyed her racing and as the IMSA toured the States like a circus all the major players seemed to stay in the same hotels and motels so it became very friendly and social without taking any edge of competition.
She will be sadly missed.
Any information would be appreciated.

Rodney Dodson.

[ReWind]

@Rodney: Have you seen post # 28?

[rdmotorsport]

I have now,thanks for that.

Rodney

[Richard Jenkins]

Please note, as proved here, Charles E "Mike" Magill was born on the 8th, not the 18th of February.

[ReWind]

@ Richie: Duly noted & corrected.

[YankeeRacer]

Bobby Sprague (January 4, 1928 - October 17, 2006)

He was the 1958 Norwood (Mass.) Arena Non-Ford champion.
He was 8th all-time in Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway wins with 37 wins between 1954 and 1973.

"He was an ardent stock car racer from the age of 16 until retiring from the track in the late 1970s and often participated in races held in Norwood, Seekonk, Westboro, Lakeville, Lonsdale, R.I., Thompson, Conn. and Hudson, N.H." -
Link.

[YankeeRacer]

George Greco, (February 23, 1937-October 18, 2006)

Former driver at West Haven (Conn.) Speedway, and long-time owner/mechanic of the #43 Modified driven by his brother Bill.

Link

[Disco Stu]

U. S. National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Famer Johnny Coy died on October 28th. Here's his Hall of Fame bio:

http://www.worthyofh.../Johnny_Coy.htm

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Disco Stu
U. S. National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Famer Johnny Coy died on October 28th. Here's his Hall of Fame bio:

http://www.worthyofh.../Johnny_Coy.htm

Oh, that's a shame & a surprise too, actually, he was relatively active a short while back, including a reunion 8 yrs ago.
RIP John

Coy & Klar at reunion in 1998.

Nice tribute to him as well: Mr Excitement

[Richard Jenkins]

From Autosport:

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/55486

[Richard Jenkins]

and another tragically early death:

Lucho de Castro

[kevthedrummer]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
and another tragically early death:

Lucho de Castro

That is extremely sad. I hate to hear of children dying. RIP to them all.

[Richard Jenkins]

Oscar Gonzalez, who nearly everyone, including the Uruguayan Motorsport Federation, though had died in 1999, actually died earlier this week. Link

[Richard Jenkins]

Eugene Martin, one of the last pre-war drivers, and one of only 3 starters of the 1st GP remaining, has died. News (in French)

[ReWind]

Autosport, November 30, 2006, p. 102, "Final Fever" question # 1:
Which three drivers who competed in the 1950 British Grand Prix - the inaugural world championship race - are still alive?

Hmm, I wonder what the answer will be in next week's issue.
Should be a good test whether Henry Hope-Frost reads TNF or not.

[Tim Murray]

There is of course a difference here between 'competed in the race' and 'started the race'. Now, sadly, only one race starter is still with us, as Tony Rolt did not actually start the race but acted as relief driver for Peter Walker.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by ReWind
Autosport, November 30, 2006, p. 102, "Final Fever" question # 1:
Which three drivers who competed in the 1950 British Grand Prix - the inaugural world championship race - are still alive?

Hmm, I wonder what the answer will be in next week's issue.
Should be a good test whether Henry Hope-Frost reads TNF or not.

Obviously not, going by the answers. I have sent a strongly worded e-mail ;) , though there's 0% chance of it ever being read.

[YankeeRacer]

Bobby Santos, Sr.
The former Hobby champion at Norwood (MA) and Stafford (CT), also the 1976 Westboro (MA) Modified champion; Won many races including the 1972 Cardinal Classic at Martinsville.
Died Wed. Dec. 20th after a battle w/ cancer.

Bob Ramstrom
Former car owner of the McFee & Newton Modifieds from the 1960s through the 1980s.
Died on Wed. Dec. 20 after a battle w/ kidney disease, age 68.

More information forthcoming ...

[D-Type]

I have just found out that John Day, pioneer manufacturer of 1/43 model cars, died in February or March aged 78. The linked obituary (bottom right of the page) is all the information I have.

[YankeeRacer]

Former Swiss F1 driver, Gianclaudio "Clay" Regazzoni (September 5, 1939 – December 15, 2006) killed in a car crash.

[Rob Ryder]

Originally posted by D-Type
I have just found out that John Day, pioneer manufacturer of 1/43 model cars, died in February or March aged 78. The linked obituary (bottom right of the page) is all the information I have.

This is sad news. I have many of his white-metal kits, bought in the 1970s.
I remember him sponsoring Ronnies March and Chris Amon's Ensign in 1976
Rob
Note to self : I must get around to building the BT46, P160, Lotus 76 etc...

[ReWind]

Summary 2006
 
Argentina (6 passings)
Pedro Alvaro (83 years old) Roberto Lamela Díaz (71) Guido Maineri (94) Gastón Perkins (78) Abel Tannuré (83) Federico Urruti (67)
 
Australia (15)
Alan Barrow (??) Errol Bognuda (65) Peter Brock (61) Peter D'Abbs (c.84) Michael Figliomeni (43) Peter Knights (38) John Large (67) Barry Mulholland (65) Eddie Perkins (86) Murray Rainey (88) John Taylor (??) Anthony Trevean (??) Ken Ward (70) Bill Wyllie (73) Stanislav Zovko (76)
 
Austria (2)
Robert Reiterbauer (46) Walter Schatz (75)
 
Belgium (4)
Paul Moonen (58) Antoine van Reet (54) Henri Sonveau (64) Jacques Thenaers (79)
 
Bosnia-Herzegovina (1)
Miro Solomunović (35)
 
Brazil (5)
Zoroastro Avon (77) Deco Bammann (60) Alcides Diniz (63) Juzy Fittipaldi (85) Paschoal Nastromagario (70)
 
Canada (5)
Tom Ashwell (73) Martin Chenhall (70) Dave Lawrence (c.41) Rick O’Dell (57) Bill Visser (65)

 

Chile (1)

Sergio Santander (80)
 
Czechia (4)
Jan Chalupný st. (65) Antonín Císař (68) Alois Gbelec (90) Martin Vodehnal (23)
 
Denmark (1)
Viggo Petersen (84)
 
Estonia (6)
Rein Hanni (59) Jaan Küünemäe (86) Robert Lepikson (54) Kalju Nurme (70) Meinhard Paas (73) Hans Rüütel (81)
 
Finland (2)
Maria Manninen (42) Tabe Slioor (79)
 
France (25)
Marie-Françoise Arnaud (52) Raymond Bertramnier (93) Jean-Claude Bertrand (46) Ludovic Chantre (29) Bernard Chedor (52) Thierry Chevallier (35) Pierre Cibié (98) Pierre Clostermann (85) Serge Drouilleau (77) Michel Dubois (58) Éric Dupont (46) Bernard Flis (58) Bertrand Frémaux (46) Henri Magne (53) Steeve Marcel (32) Jean-Baptiste Maretti (24) Eugène Martin (91) Édouard Michelin (42) Marc Mignotet (96) „Sarayac“ [= Guy Flayac] (95) Jérémy Seret (19) Grégory Serres (26) Johnny Servoz-Gavin (64) Raymond Touroul (67) Thierry Vincent (33)
 
Germany (15)
Jörg Bastuck (36) Helmut Bein (74) Oliver Bleich (28) Richard Bremmekamp (62) Max Bronner (83) Hans-Jürgen Bud-Monheim (84) Klaus Buhlmann (c.55) Theo Frick (c.53) Klaus Hesse (c.53) Willy Knupp (70) Erwin Kremer (69) Franz Kummetat (68) David Langheinrich (27) Peter Therstappen (70) Karl von Wendt (68)
 
Great Britain & Northern Ireland (36)
Allan Barker (60) Raymond Baxter (84) Nick Brittan (70) Creighton Brown (68) Fred Bushell (68) Mike Coombe (65) Jane Cowling (46) Don Cressy (74) Tom Delaney (95) Arthur Deramore (95) Mike Dickin (63) Steve Fell (40) Eric Fenning (93) Geoffrey Goddard (76) John Hopwood (73) John Jordan (84) Chris Leeming (49) Graham Lewis (c.53) Frank Lockhart (87) Michael Lovell (83) Robin Lyons (c.59) Colin Malkin (63) Leslie Margetts (64) Gilbert „Mac“ McIntosh (81) John McKerrell (65) Ellen Morgan (62) Donald Morley (75) Martin Morris (74) Ian Norris (??) James Prochowski (52) Perry Roe (46) Gerry Ruddock (90) Averil Scott-Moncrieff (90) Peter Scott-Russell (86) Nikki Stevens (41) David Strathcarron (82)
 
Greece (5)
Chrístos Douros (31) Athanassios Goumanis (??) Giórgos Makris (c.29) Evdokimos Papaioannou (48) Dimítris Spanos (??)

Hungary (1)
Imre Nagy (c.35)
 
Ireland (3)
Mary Ahearne (54) Liam Caplis (28) Redmond Gallagher (92)
 
Italy (18)
Paolo Arrigo (c.40) Franco Bertani (93) Alessandro Bordignon (??) Giuseppe Busso (92) Nello Cafasso (39) Francesco Capuzzo (59) Guido Daccò (58) Fabrizio Dordi (c.41) Carlo Dusio (84) Walter Finzi (54) Livio Lorenzelli (58) Umberto Masetti (80) Vincenzo Mirto-Randazzo (64) Francesco Scaramozzino (??) Enrico Sterzi (78) Antonino Stracuzzi (28) Luigi Tabaton (86) Clavio Terenzi (52)
 
Jamaica (1)
Dean Panton (39)
 
Japan (1)
Tomoji Kawano (c.44)
 
Kenya (1)
Shekhar Mehta (60)
 
Latvia (1)
Gatis Vilciņš (29)
 
Malta (1)
Louis Manduca (c.85)
 
Netherlands (3)
Nancy Meijer (38) Flor Schilte (49) Henk van Zalinge (83)
 
New Zealand (2)
Mark Porter (31) Ralph Watson (88)
 
Norway (3)
Kjell Bjørnstad (79) Kaare Kopperud (88) Finn Thrana (90)
 
Peru (1)
Raúl Orlandini (54)
 
Poland (5)
Bogdan Drągowski (58) Ryszard Makuch (61) Andrzej Nytko (72) Marek Skrobot (c.47) Andrzej Żymirski (83)
 
Portugal (1)
Henrique Rosado (??)
 
Romania (1)
Alexe de Vassal (96)
 
Russia (4)
Dmitriy Chicherin (46) Anatoliy Kozlov (c.44) Viktor Lapin (73) Aleksandr Lesnikov (46)
 
South Africa (4)
Luki Botha (76) Johan Jacobs (c.40) Eddie Pinto (69) Doug Serrurier (85)
 
Spain (9)
Emilio Fernández (c.54) José Manuel Granda (c.25) Raúl de León (c.35) Manuel Lojo (39) Cristián López (25) Jon Oskoz (c.20) Juan Luis Paradela (??) José Rodríguez (c.32) Josu Ugarte (35)
 
Sweden (4)
Christer Flodin (32) Carl-Gunnar Hammarlund (85) Charlie Lohmander (90) Lillebror Nasenius (65)
 
Switzerland (2)
Hans-Jörg Gilomen (82) Clay Regazzoni (67)

Tanzania (1)
Nasir Khan (??)
 
Ukraine (1)
Sergey Vukovich (60)
 
Uruguay (2)
Astrúbel Bayardo (83) Óscar González (82)
 
USA (184)
Donnie Adams (55) Les Adams (74) Romie Alderman (68) Bruce Alexander (88) Herb Aley (62) Andy Allard (51) Gar Amparan (52) Neil Archambeau (67) Jack Arute Jr. (78) David Ash (83) Tommy Astone Sr. (88) Roger Attard (80)
Walter Ball (70) Gail Barber (63) Bob Barkhimer (90) Luther Baughman (79) Jack Beckley (87) Ben Benz (92) Domenick Billera (59) Chuck Billington (65) Dave Black (58) Bunkie Blackburn (69) Harry Blaze (70) Billy Bookout (70) Jack Bowsher (75) Edward Boyd (84) Jim Boyd (86) Charlie Bradberry (24) Jim Briggs (80) Bob Brooks (69) Dick Brooks (63) Pat Brown (69) Fred Brownfield (53) Frank Byrne (66)
Otis Chandler (78) Spencer Clark (19) Denver Cornett (80) Johnny Coy (81) Elizabeth Cramer (101) P.B. Crowell Jr. (79)
Paul Dana (32) Walt Day (71) Lucho DeCastro (44) Carl DeGeorge (73) Dickie Deis (70) Bob DeJong (73) Stan Dodd (91) Jerry Draper (82) Michael Drobot (46) Lee Drollinger (78)
Jerry Eisert (74) Ron Erfurth (76) Colin Forbes-Robinson (34) Maynard Forrette (69) Pat Frazier (60) Jack Frost (76)
Bill Gazaway (76) Gene Gennetten (63) Scott Geoffrion (40) Bud Gilbert (68) Brad Gray (75) George Greco (69) Al Grinnan (76)
Bill Haenelt (71) Gordon Harvey (82) Bonnie Henn (49) Dave Hirschfield (75) Larry Honey (69) Ed Hugus (82) Creighton Hunter (86) Ralph Huntsinger (76)
Gary Jacob (57) Pete Jenin (89) Ted Johnson (72) Byron King (74) Steve King (33) Billy Kourafas (52) Buddy Krebs (74)
Jim LaManna (73) Jack Lawrence (74) Dan Lawson (54) Phil Libby (78) Frank Lies (79) Rich Lindaberry (55) A.J. Little (68) Josh Lofton (25)
Mike Magill (86) Ed Mailo (59) Don Maxwell (61) John Mazmanian (80) Jack McCoy (78) Harry McKown (83) Paul McWilliams (66) Bobby Meeks (85) Dick Miller (86) Gordon Mineo (61) John Mitchell (78) Lew Mood (89) Gene Mooneyham (75) Bob Moore (85) Frank Morimoto (90) „Spud Murphy“ [= George Gordon] (79)
LeRoy Neumayer (75) Don Nicholson (78) Bob Nock (55) Vince Novotny (47) Don O’Keefe Sr. (70) Pete Ogden (69) Ken Onka (59) Howard Osborn (85) Wade Osborne (67)
Barbara Parks (86) Bobby Payne (59) Don Payne (70) Elizabeth Petty (88) Pegi Plue (72) Rich Polenz (48) Fred Ponzini (87) George Poulos (74) Bill Pratt (80) Rory Price (41) John Protinick (30)
Dick Ralstin (81) Bob Ramstrom (68) Dick Raven (79) Joe Raymond (72) Joe Rebman (21) Dale Reed (71) Josh Rehm (27) Johnny Reynolds (64) Ron Roseberry (70) Bruce Ruth (73)
Bucky Sager (82) Bobby Sands (59) Bobby Santos (69) Dell Schmidt (67) Roger Schuur (61) Charlie Scruggs (67) Jim Secor Jr. (28) Howard Segur Sr. (93) Bill Seidelman (74) Len Seroka (60) Wilson Shanks (75) Dennis Shatto (63) Paul Shaver (65) Ed Sheckler (66) Bernie Shires (79) John Silverthorne (45) Tom Skinner (75) Robert Slensby (75) Louise Smith (89) Ronnie Sox (67) Allen Sparks (56) Bobby Sprague (78) George Steitz (58) „Buddy Stewart“ [= Raymond Batts] (65) Bill Streeter (81) Len Sutton (81) Clyde Suydam (79) Bob Sweeten (71)
Larry Taylor (63) Al Terrell (75) Don Thompson (81) Scott Thompson (21) Jack Thoms (77) Luigi Tiripicchio (78) Richard Toland (81) Bob Tomlinson (67) Dick Treloar (81) Hank Trice (83) Moe Tweedie (61)
Jack Veach (63) Bob Veith (81) Frank Vigliarolo (67)
Al Wagoner (84) Beryl Ward (91) Ed Watson (67) Paul Weaver (77) Ed Weschler (84) Dwayne Wilcox (66) Jack Williams (69) Ted Wise (74) Cliff Woodward (64) John Wyckoff (83)

Edited by ReWind, 06 December 2024 - 18:01.

[Jim Thurman]

Some drivers that made starts in NASCAR passed away in 2006. (Reinhard, Jim Boyd was in your "Still Alive?..." thread as well)

Jan 14 - Buddy Krebs - b. Mar 13, 1931

Jan 30 - Dave Hirschfield - b. Jul 5, 1930

Mar 3 - Romie Alderman - b. Mar 26, 1937

Oct 3 - Jack Lawrence - b. Oct 14, 1931

Oct 22 - Jim Boyd - b. Mar 31, 1920

Nov 7 - Robert Slensby - b. Dec 21, 1930

Nov 8 - Frank Lies - b. Nov 19, 1926

[ReWind]

Thank you very much, Jim!

Originally posted by Jim Thurman
Oct 3 - Jack Lawrence - b. Oct 14, 1931

This puts an end to the implausible tale of the 11-year-old NASCAR driver (discussed here).
Obviously someone messed up Lawrence’s birth day „14 Oct 1931“ and came out with „13 Oct 1941“.

The correct birth date also confirms that Jack Lawrence was identical to „Johnny Wynn“ (1966 NASCAR regular).

[Tim Murray]

Originally posted by ReWind
Dec ?? Ellen Morgan (GBr) c.64 1942

Very sad news about Ellen Morgan - as I no longer read the 'weeklies' this was the first I knew about it. This site has an obituary, which contains the following:

Ellen Morgan, born 27th April 1944, died peacefully 8th December 2006

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by ReWind
Thank you very much, Jim!This puts an end to the implausible tale of the 11-year-old NASCAR driver (discussed here).
Obviously someone messed up Lawrence’s birth day „14 Oct 1931“ and came out with „13 Oct 1941“.

The correct birth date also confirms that Jack Lawrence was identical to „Johnny Wynn“ (1966 NASCAR regular).

I originally had down Jack "Johnny Wynn" Lawrence, but lost it in editing (oops, sorry about that). I knew there was no way there was an 11 year old NASCAR driver. 15 or 16, maybe, but not 11. Yes, my thoughts exactly. Appears to be a case of reversing the dates.

I have some other revised data I'll get to you.

[Richard Jenkins]

From Autosport: Catalina Dallara 1966-2007 and from Yahoo Racing History:-


Sad to report that racin lost another of is alumni within the past
week. We discovered Billy dead in his home yesterday.

Never a big time winner, Billy was a journeyman big car driver from
about 1946 in the Central Indiana area. He actually drove a track
roadster in the Southern Indiana Roadster Association against the
likes of O'Conner and Crockett but early on spent most of his time on
the "Kerosene Circuit" of the Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association.
He ran at places like Franklin, Scottsburg, Mitchell, and, of course,
Jungle Park. He won the last big car feature at J.P. in 1955 drivng
Bill Anglick's Rutherford. Some of the owners(and their cars)he drove
for included Dale Chastain-HAL(later Studey V-8), John Laux-DeSoto V-
8, Walt Flynn-Dreyer, Pop Dreyer-DeSoto V-8, Speedy Helms-Offy,
Howard Hamilton-International 6, and many more. He built several of
his own cars-actually pioneering the use of the Chevy V-8 back in
1956.(A fact that we never allowed him to forget given his almost
religious fervor for Fords). In the '60s he worked at the Speedway
for Joe Langley who was the crew chief for Sachs and Marshman. In
1981 he made a "swan song" effort at the Hoosier Hundred driving a
car he had built in the living room of the house on N. Sherman Dr. in
Indy. Built on a very limited budget and running a carbureted Ford he
was a D.N.Q.

Always old school, Bill thought it was part of the racing game to
drink, carouse, and philander. The past several years most of his
seat time was a bar stool at one of his haunts on 21st St. where the
bench racing was always good, the conquests frequent, and the high
finishes were many. He was an avid supporter of vintage racing in the
area and had built several replica cars over the years-two of which
are in his garage now.

I just hope he was running in 1st when he took that final checker.
I'll certainly miss the many hours of listening to "The Racing
History Professor" lecture on the days of dust, old race cars,
country music, and beer.

Dale Fairfax in Indy

[ReWind]

Sorry, Richie. Billy who?
(I cannot find any hint at his surname.
Or is it just me being dense?)

[Richard Jenkins]

Ah, sorry, I realised it was on subject header on YRH but not here.

Billy Earl. Was aged 79, apparently at death. Guess that more or less fits in, but he clearly started early.

By the way, I may have missed it posted elsewhere on here but Harry Webster's obituary was in the Daily Telegraph today.

[YankeeRacer]

Malcolm "Johnny" Thompson (1928-2007)

He was known as Johnny Thompson, although his formal name was Malcolm. He was among the winningest drivers at Norwood Arena and ran other tracks like Stafford old dirt layout, Thompson and Waterford among others. Thompson, the 1962 Norwood Arena Modified champion, retired in the 1970s. When he passed away earlier this week, he was 78 years old.

Obituary
Photo Gallery

[Richard Jenkins]

I have no idea if Rewind is still doing his "In Memoriam" list, but sad to say Jeff Uren has passed away, according to the BRDC, at the age of 81.

http://www.brdc.co.u...N/flag/2/id/525

[ReWind]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
I have no idea if Rewind is still doing his "In Memoriam" list

I would like to do it but the silly 7-days-limit for the editing of posts effectively ruined the intention of this thread.

Maybe one day I will try to update the first post of this thread with the help of our host...

Since my posting from 25 Jan 2007 I learned of the deaths of Steve Fell (16 Nov 2006), Marc Mignotet (23 Dec 2006) and – apart from those mentioned here by others – Michel Meunier (February 2007), Robin Richards (03 Feb), Harry Webster (06 Feb), Herbert Hofmann (14 Feb), Leroy Donley (17 Feb), Dave Helm (17 Feb), Jack Birmingham (24 Feb), Jack McAfee (10 Mar), David Stone (22 Mar), Eric Medlen (23 Mar), Geoffrey Anstead (25 Mar), Heinz Schiller (26 Mar), Herbert Nosek (27 Mar), Raoul Martin (March), Robin Montgomerie-Charrington (03 Apr) & Roxie Lott (05 Apr).

[Richard Jenkins]

Apologies if it's been mentioned before but Gordon Wilkins has died

[Jim Thurman]

Fritz Wilson, Colorado short track legend who acquitted himself quite well in the first NASCAR Grand National race at the new Daytona International Speedway, passed away May 1.

http://www.colorador.../crmwilsonf.htm

[Graham Gauld]

Richie I was not sure many people would have heard of Gordon but for the record Gordon was one of Britain's leading motoring journalists and died aged 93 in Spain.
Gordon was a technical journalist and one of his first jobs was with Motor magazine alongside the legendary Laurence Pomeroy. They went together to the famous press conference held by Volkswagen during the war and was one of the first people to drive a Volkswagen.
He competed in his first Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1939 driving a Singer but was better known in the post-war events driving for Jowett and twice winning the medium capacity sports car class.
During the war when working for the Bristol Aeroplane company he worked with Roy Fedden and helped Fedden with the Fedden car which had a radial engine but was never put into production.
Gordon was also a close friend of Rudolph Uhlenhaut of Mercedes Benz and was one of the handful of journalists who were loaned Uhlenhaut's own personal 300SLR Coupe. He was also very friendly with Count Maggi and for a time he and his wife Joyce lived in one of Maggi's castellos.
He was still writing up to his nineties and lived in the South of France but he and Joyce moved to an appartment in Spain. Two years ago I helped Joyce clear out Gordon's archives in France most of which were sold at Bonhams. The problem was that Gordon never threw away anything and the five "Caves" at his old house in France were two foot deep in moulding press kits. It was a great pity as a number of his collection of early motoring books were damaged by dampness and could not be saved. In recent years Gordon had stopped writing and was not very well. Last autumn his wife Joyce collapsed and died of a heart attack and Gordon went downhill from there and died two months ago.
I will always have fond memories of Gordon Wilkins for even at the height of his fame, in 1953, he took the time to help me and answer questions when we first met at the Tourist Trophy race in Ireland. He was a "gentle" man and a gentleman, a very quick and competent driver and though few of his contemporaries are still around those of us who knew him will miss him as a friend.

[Graham Gauld]

Why did I say the VW press conference was during the war it was in 1938 before the war. To make ammends here is a pic of Gordon Wilkins with Uhlenhaut's 300SLR Coupe and, appropriately, a Volkswagen. Senior Moment I am afraid

pg][IMhttp://img170.images...h6.th.jpg[/IMG]

[Graham Gauld]

[Richard Jenkins]

Sorry to have to report the death of former Indy 500 non-qualifier Frank Beardsley (note spelling), who died on the 8th May 2007, in Oakhurst, New Jersey. SSDI Link

[ReWind]

Last month (June 2007) the BRDC website reported the passings of Cedric Brierley, Vic Sparkes and Ken Coffey - but no details.
Anyone with more specific information?

[Nanni Dietrich]

July 2007, Vittorio Venturi, aged 71.
Popular sportscar and Formula 3 driver and hillclimber from Bologna, his career best result was a 4th place in the 1967 Targa Florio sharing a Ferrari Dino 206SP with Jonathan Williams.

[Jim Thurman]

Larry Burton, "The Roseville Rocket", who raced Jalopies, Super Modifieds and Sprint Cars in Northern California and Australia then became a promoter, passed away June 29th.

http://www.thepresst...rocket.txt?pg=1

[Vitesse2]

Frank Swanston, most recently Project Manager for the British Steam Car Challenge LSR project:

Lymington, England - It is with profound sadness, that we announce the sudden passing of Frank Swanston, Project Manager for the British Steam Car Team, who died unexpectedly on Wednesday 1 August 2007 from complications of lung cancer.

"He was taken so suddenly," said Team Administrator Lynne Angel, "he will be sorely missed. Frank was a dear friend as well as work colleague. When he arrived we all came together; he was the father figure of the team. We relied on him so much."

Team owner / driver Charles Burnett III, still stunned by the news, remarked, "Frank was such a font of wisdom; he seems to have driven every kind of race car under the sun. He was a huge resource of experience and knowledge for our land speed record project. This is a heavy hit for all of us."

Frank Swanston was a consulting engineer well known in motor racing circles; his four-decade long professional engineering background was firmly rooted in race car design, vehicle development and build programs including prototype work.

From rally to touring cars, historics to Formula One, he was also a track test driver and top-notch fabricator - impeccable credentials to lead the final phases of the vehicle build, testing, development of the steam car record attempt.

His past postings included: Race Engineer at Hexagon, Technical Director at Turbo Tork, Chief Engineer / Race Engineer at Janspeed Motorsport, Technical Engineer at Janspeed Engineering and Consulting Engineer at Powertrain Developments. Further information can be located at: www.frankswanston.co.uk

Peter Candy, engineering consultant to the team, friend and colleague of Frank's since the late 1980's, reflected, "Anyone who worked with him benefited from the experience, I could trust whatever he told me. When Frank was Director of Janspeed, they pioneered turbo-charging conversions long before the OEMs woke up to power boost potential for engines. He also prepared dozens of MGF sports cars for a race series and helped develop a London taxicab prototype to run on propane that passed all applicable emission tests in force at the time. Frank also campaigned such iconic racing machines as the Lister Jaguar and Birdcage Maserati."

Team mate Peter Prove, who also worked with him at Janspeed, shared his observations, "Frank brought credibility to our steam project; he had earned such immense respect from everyone who knew him and worked with him in motorsport. People knew if Frank were involved, it was a serious project."

Peter continued "He was good engineer, good person and good friend. Frank created a comfortable working environment, one where you could come to him with problems and not feel you were going to be in trouble. Frank had an engineer's analytical mind and could sort out problems properly without fuss or drama. You knew where the lines were drawn yet he trusted you to do whatever job he assigned you. His management style was that of mutual trust."

Frank Swanston spent so many years leading many racing teams that he could sense when things were off kilter with people. Peter concluded with this insight: "He had the ability to help you through rough patches in your personal life and had wide shoulders that you could lean on if you wanted to."

Perhaps the words of Pam Swanston, Frank's wife, sum up how the team felt when the news slammed home earlier yesterday, "Why do they always take the most kind and generous of this world?"

The Steam Car Team mourns Frank Swanston's passing and extend the deepest sympathies to his entire family.

http://www.steamcar.co.uk/

[ReWind]

Philippe Maillard-Brune died on Monday, 27 August 2007, at the age of 97.

Source: Mémoire des Stands

[ReWind]

What a heavy blow to popular German driver and entrant, Olaf Manthey!

His son Marcel died in a traffic accident on Monday, 10 September, 2007, in the vicinity of the Nürburgring where the family celebrated a famous 24 h race victory just some months ago.

This is the police report. (WARNING: It shows the crashed car, albeit from a distance.)

Marcel Manthey
http://www.castrol-h...s/news/1056.jpg
who had turned 18 last month had some racing experience in karting and one-make series (Volkswagen Polo Cup 2005, position: 20).

[ReWind]

With the kind assistance - once again - of TwinWindow I updated my list in the initial post of this thread.

Please take your time and have a look.

Whilst searching for suitable web links I came across this one about Jack McAfee.

Isn't it great? If only more descendants of motor racing people would care to do something like that for the memory of their ancestors (at best while those are still alive...).

[ReWind]

Grover Clifton Spencer, better known as "G.C.", died yesterday.
Source 1
Source 2

[FLB]

NHRA founder Wally Parks has died

[Nanni Dietrich]

Salvatore Genovese died on 05 October 2007, aged 77.
Former Formula Junior driver, car tuner, founder with Flammini-Group of the Italian Superstars Series.
In the early 60 he managed a famous dark-blue Brabham BT21 and a Brabham BT28 Formula 3 driven by Claudio Francisci, Gianluigi Picchi, Giancarlo Gagliardi and others.
http://www.sportauto...ws.asp?id=10485