1852 replies to this topic

[Ray Bell]

Not for his Alfa Romeo period?

I never saw him race because he went to America before I ever went to a race meeting.

[D28]

Link for Horst Kwech is here:

 

https://racer.com/20...tar-dies-at-82/

Edited by D28, 31 December 2019 - 00:50.

[E1pix]

Not for his Alfa Romeo period?I never saw him race because he went to America before I ever went to a race meeting.

The video indeed is about his Alfa period.

[GreenMachine]

A belated report of FF racer Gerry Witenden death in August 2019, from cancer.  Gerry will be remembered firstly as nice bloke, one of nature's gentlemen, and for his second place in the 1978 Driver to Europe series.  Competing on the proverbial smell of an oily rag, Gerry finished one point adrift of that year's winner, John Wright.  Compounding his loss, his 'spanner' in that effort, Gos Cory, died the previous month of undiagnosed coronary heart disease.  Gos was a NSW club racer for many years, before stepping away after a big shunt in an Elfin FF at Amaroo.

[Ray Bell]

Yes, he made up for that oily rag smell with a lot of determination...

 

One very nice guy. I can't say I knew Gos Cory, but I think he hillclimbed didn't he?

[GreenMachine]

A little Ray.  I suspect he holds a record for the Lakeland climb outside Bungendore, set in the Voodoo-Datsun at I think the last meeting there, may have run Silverdale also.  He ran the Elfin 600(?) FF, a TC-engined Europa and I think the TC Escort from which the Europa's engine came when it was sold with (from memory) a cross-flow.  The Lotus was only sold a few years ago when he moved to Noosa, though it hadn't been used in anger for a long time. 

 

Members of this forum may also be interested in another of his projects, the Polaris, an aluminium bodied Buckle, which was nearing completion when he died and has now been sold.  For those interested: http://www.bucklecou...m.au/nota01.htm  One of the photos there also shows the Lotus.

[Ian G]

Yeah,not that it matters but Lakeview,we had several great years competing there in the 1970,Social side of things were great as well.

I can't say i know Jerry but i remember the 'Voodoo',created a lot of interest back than.

[Ray Bell]

The 'Voodoo' you're thinking of might be a different car...

 

Well, was it a car? A go-kart would be a closer description and definitely not something that would hold a Datsun engine.

 

At least, that's the one that ruffled a lot of feathers. Was it Dick Shoebridge?

[GreenMachine]

Dick campaigned the original gokart Voodoo, then (I gather) build a successor as a more conventional two seater(?)sportscar.  Started with a VW engine/transaxle and FS, with a spaceframe in between.  By the time Gos got it, it had a L16 out of a Datsun 1600.  He campaigned it for a while then, experimenting with aero put it into the wall at Oran Park.  The frame was bent, the VW front suspension was bent, but all he had was abrasions where his arm had rubbed on the concrete of the wall.  Lucky.  After that I think it was sold off for parts.

[Wirra]

I knew Gerry Witenden as a good friend when he raced Vees and I remember him as a really decent chap.

 

 

My belated condolences. 

[B Squared]

I don't believe that this passing has yet been mentioned. 

 

Longtime Foyt team member Cecil Taylor recently passed away. He was a familiar face in the Foyt pits from the mid-1960s. Condolences to all the team along with friends and family. 

 

https://meyersfunera...8/cecil-taylor/

[ReWind]

It should be noted that John Paulson who is mentioned in Taylor’s obituary as Parnelli’s chief mechanic was in fact John Pouelsen who sadly died in a plane crash in September 1967.

[cooper997]

I see it recorded elsewhere that New Zealand racing driver, Kerry Grant has passed away.

 

 

Shown here during the 4/1/64 Levin Tasman meeting. If memory serves correct this LC ran minus its twin cam with a pushrod Cortina lump filling the engine bay in that era..

 

My condolences to his family and friends.

 

Stephen

[ReWind]

Strangely his homepage says Kerry Grant was born in 1942 while his obituary states he was 79 years old. Is anyone able to clarify this?

[cooper997]

Within our TNF community perhaps Ardmore might be able to assist on this. Or wait until the family have Kerry's funeral out of the way and contact his daughter via the email address posted in his New Zealand Herald death notice.

Another means might be via Allan Dick and his Classic Auto News facebook page.https://www.facebook...classicautonews

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

This note...

 

Please contact myself (Andrew) on 021 309448 for more info. Text or phone call is fine.

 

...was in the Roaring Season thread when Andrew (his son) notified that Kerry was in a coma and he wanted people to contact him.

[GMACKIE]

Sad news. Former owner/driver of the Nalla, Henry Walker passed away last night at Bowral.
 
 
Henry will be missed.

[wenoopy]

Strangely his homepage says Kerry Grant was born in 1942 while his obituary states he was 79 years old. Is anyone able to clarify this?

 

Kerry Grant's age would appear have been 79. In a "Local Personalities" profile of him in Donn Anderson's (NZ) "Motorman" magazine of February 1965 Grant gave his age as 24 years. This would tally with the obituary.

 

Stu Buchanan 

[Wirra]

I wouldn't normally post without absolute assurance but I fear this is 'DanTrac'.

 

[Tim Murray]

The photo certainly shows ‘our’ Daniel Tracey driving the ex-Spike Jones SM Special, which he said he had to sell to finance the purchase of an engagement ring.

Sad news - condolences to his family and friends.

[cooper997]

I recall the photo of Daniel posting that and him in a Cooper S being towed on an A Frame. However it was probably a decade ago and that means it's highly likely they're long gone from the otriginal host site and hence TNF.

 

It's been a while since I've seen a post on TNF from Daniel, but I do recall his name appeaaring on the FB site wirra has re-posted from.

 

My condolences to Daniel's family and friends.

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

Indeed, I sent him a PM a while back and got no reply...

 

I'm guessing he's been ill for several months.

[rasimmo]

Ray, Danny has been fighting Cancer ( skin Cancers ) for several years. His funeral is tomorrow the 29th. January at Hansen & Coles rooms at Kembla Grange at 2.30 pm. The photos that Cooper 997 mentioned and Wirra posted are mine. I posted them on this forum way back before Photobucket turned to crap.

[Ray Bell]

I think his loss will be felt here, Simmo...

 

He didn't say a lot but he'd been around and knew people in many corners, he had some experiences.

[Cirrus]

I've just been told that Ian Briggs, aka "Briggo" has died recently. He was extremely quick in anything he drove - Minis, F4, Formula Atlantic etc. I couldn't get close to him in F4 but I do remember one race in 1979 at Lydden where I made a great start but spun at the end of the first lap. Briggo was heading straight for a head-on collision with me. His eyes were like saucers but he skilfully avoided me and went on to win the race... RIP Reading's fastest newsagent.

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[E1pix]

I wouldn't normally post without absolute assurance but I fear this is 'DanTrac'.
 

Very sorry to read about Dan.

A good friend here is friends with Dan, so heartfelt condolences to him and everyone else that Dan knew.

[Jerry Entin]

 

Bill Fuller the ex D Jag Chevy racer has passed away at 94.

 

 In 1956, Bill became involved in Sports car racing with the Sports Car Club of America. This career took him across the United States, the Bahamas and El Salvador. He followed his racing career for 42 years and was an avid Indy car fan, attending Indy 500 for 49 years.

 

Bill leaves his loving wife of 50 years Judy and daughter Ann. Family and Friends.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 15 February 2020 - 00:48.

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[alansart]

I've just been told that Ian Briggs, aka "Briggo" has died recently. He was extremely quick in anything he drove - Minis, F4, Formula Atlantic etc. I couldn't get close to him in F4 but I do remember one race in 1979 at Lydden where I made a great start but spun at the end of the first lap. Briggo was heading straight for a head-on collision with me. His eyes were like saucers but he skilfully avoided me and went on to win the race... RIP Reading's fastest newsagent.

That's sad news. Remember the Mini and F4 when I was a marshal. He was quick but fair and didn't crash a lot

[bradbury west]

Coming to this a bit late, but I am sorry to hear of the passing of Daniel Tracey. He always struck me as one of the good guys.
My condolences to his family and friends, from someone over here
Roger Lund

[P.Dron]

The recent death of Bill Fink in a house fire does not seem to have been mentioned on TNF. He modified and raced Morgans and his ingenuity in getting past US regulations helped the MMC to survive. A graduate of Harvard and Oxford (where he was a rowing Blue), he was probably the most highly educated car dealer in history. R.I.P. a fine man.

[brucemoxon]

Holden.

 

 

 

BM

[GMACKIE]

It wasn't me!

 

 

GM

[ReWind]

Neal Charge passed away on February 15 at the grand old age of 101 years.
Source

Edited by ReWind, 03 March 2020 - 18:26.

[Ray Bell]

If I recall, he was one of those involved in building the Altona circuit...

 

A grand life well-lived by the sound of it.

[cooper997]

I've been a bit slow on the details, but social media reported Jon Leighton died around mid-February too.

 

Jon raced his Scuderia Birchwood Lotus 11 in the UK before bringing to Australia and had a series of other Lotus 18 for Race Driver Training. Plus raced and hillclimbed Cooper Climax.

 

Leighton's were also behind Sandown in the early days.

 

Jon had a big shunt/rollover in a Cooper S at (then) XL Bend at 1973 Bathurst 1000. Car owner, John Dellaca got a replacement Cooper S from JL - no doubt from his MiniBits (business) stock.

 

My condolences to Jon Leighton's family and friends.

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Another of Australia's former Cooper drivers/mechanics has passed away.

 

In a brief comment from the VHRR, Ray Gibbs passed away on March 26.

 

In the mid-90s Ray was kind enough to bring the T53 to an event I was running for Mini enthusiasts. We had occasional chats over the years, although the last time was at Motorclassica in October 2012 when he had the T53 on display as part of the Tribute to Sir Jack Brabham. Four years ago I was told he was suffering dementia. I'm not sure of his exact birthdate, but he told me at that Motorclassica catchup he was 77. So either 84 or 85 now depending on birthday.

 

In 1996 Ray said he was planning on going to the UK. So I was able to tell him where he could find his old boss. The attached page is part of John Cooper's March 1997 MiniWorld column with Ray visiting Ferring. The other photo is one taken at the October 1996 Historic Sandown meeting. I was brave enough to ask Sir Jack if he'd sit in Ray's T53 for some photos, but too polite to ask the 2 chaps behind to move. That's Lady Margaret Brabham in the photo also.

 

 

My condolences to Ray's family and friends.

 

Stephen

 

 

 

 

[nexfast]

Roberto Angiolini of Jolly Club fame unfortunately passed way in Italy. R.I.P.

 

https://www.facebook...24791534230252/

[TerryS]

The death of Ray Gibbs noted in post #1088 yesterday had already been noted on the "gone but not forgotten " thread on 27 March, the day after his death. This post above is nine days later.

[ellrosso]

This is the pic of Daniel Tracey which rasimmo was referring to - RIP Daniel. Sincere condolences to his his friends and family (belated)

[cooper997]

It has been reported on social media that Tasmanian Cooper S racing driver from the late 60s Tony Watts passed away on April 3. He was 73.

 

Tony's brother Tim purchased a UK-built Cooper S from John Sprinzel in 1966. Then had BMC specialist tuner of the era, Don Moore modify the car before it was sent back home to Tasmania. Arriving early in 1967 to begin racing at Baskerville, Longford & Symmons Plains.  A year or so later Tony purchased the car from his brother and has had the car ever since. It also means that the Cooper S has not left Tasmania since its arrival 53 years ago. And long may it stay that way.

 

My condolences to his family and friends.

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 09 April 2020 - 23:35.

[Lola5000]

A sad day Peter (Pedro) Larner  passed away last night .

 

Another one of the good guys ,who will be much missed by the historic group.

 

 

[Catalina Park]

I just got the sad news. 

[john medley]

Thanks for this sad advice> Condolences to Jamie and  family and friends.

[SJ Lambert]

Peter tends to the Team Bennett Elfin 600B at the 2017 Mallala ANZAC meeting after Laurie’s off track excursion.

[Ray Bell]

Peter Larner was one of the 'old school' in racing...

 

Prepared his own cars, redesigned them for development, drove them hard and loved racing in general. All the while presenting a happy and outgoing self to the world.\

 

Jamie now has the tough job of living up to expectations formed around his father's example. He's been at it a while, so he should be able to do it.

 

Certainly a man to be missed.

[ReWind]

Is Wallace John (Wally) Henwood (1933 – 2018) the driver who entered the 1957 & 1958 New Zealand Grand Prix races in a 1-litre-Cooper?

[cooper997]

The 1958 NZ GP programme has him listed as W J Henwood. As far as I know it was a MkIV Cooper, but I don't have any photos.

 

He's listed in the 1961 NZ GP programme too. Event 1 for Formula Junior and single seater racing cars handicap race

53 W Henwood/W Henwood (handwritten in is 'Grant' - so one assumes Kerry Grant) NZ Cooper 995

 

Hopefully you can get the attention of 'ardmore' on here, or try a pm.

 

Stephen

[john medley]

Sadly, add a racer from the 1950s to this list: Ray Wamsley, who started with an MG TC and ended over 50 years later with Brian Gerard's Cooper MG. It was Ray who revived the Alfa-Alvis after its 1955 Bathurst accident, eventually inserting a Corvette engine. One of the good guys. Missed.