1788 replies to this topic

[Alan Lewis]

Pennsylvanian dirt racer Bobby Bottcher has died...

https://en.wikipedia.../Bobby_Bottcher

I don't pretend to be an expert in this area, but he's clearly notable enough to have an (apparently well-sourced) Wikipedia page. Perhaps some here can add more to his story.

[Bob Riebe]

Bobby Bottcher (June 26, 1939 – August 11, 2024)

 

Bobby Bottcher, Orange County’s 1973 Modified champion and the winner of 26 feature races between 1970 and 1979. Among the victories were the 1978 and ’79 Super DIRT Modified Series Syracuse Qualifiers and, even more significant, the 1974 Eastern States 200. For much of his racing career, both at Orange County and especially Nazareth Raceway, Bottcher drove No. 97 for the Higbie Brothers, and the No. 666 for the Ritter-Kleintop team. He was equally successful for both organizations.

 

 

Edited by Bob Riebe, 13 August 2024 - 03:06.

[Alan Lewis]

I do like the idea of running car 666. 🙂

[Ray Bell]

Especially at Nazareth...

 

He could say, "The devil made me do it!"

[ReWind]

Bobby Bottcher (June 26, 1939 – August 11, 2024)

Just for the record: He died on August 10, 2024, according to his obituary.

Edited by ReWind, 14 August 2024 - 08:21.

[E1pix]

I do like the idea of running car 666.

I ran that number on my kart once, in 1978.

The number plate fell off, only time that’s happened in several hundred starts.

[john aston]

I do like the idea of running car 666.

I saw a T shirt which said -  " 665 - The Neighbour of the Beast" 

[Tim Murray]

The posts relating to Peter Procter have been moved to his tribute thread.

[Lemnpiper]

Roy Hendrick son of Ray Hendrick passed away Sat Aug 3rd at age 70


Multiple time Southside Track Champion who raced up and down the east coast , including one Winston Cup start at Dover.


Roy Lee Hendrick Dec 25 1953 - Aug 3 2024

Actually in Sunday's paper it showed he was born December 25th 1952 so he was 71 when he passed August 3rd 2024

[Alan Lewis]

Hot rodder and Bonneville regular Alex Xydias died on Saturday aged 102:

https://www.autoweek...ed-away-at-102/

There have been a few motorsport centenarians before, of course, and they're likely to become more frequent as this century passes, but still worth noting, I think.

Quite apart from which, what a full and varied life he had.

[Ray Bell]

Almost as old...

 

One of the great patrons of Australian Motor Racing was Laurie O'Neill and he was approaching his 99th birthday when he passed away. I haven't been able yet to find any notification to confirm this.

 

Laurie was a neighbour and friend of Alan Tomlinson, watching as the Western Australian built up his MG TA to become the winner of the Australian Grand Prix in 1939. Having moved to the East Coast by the beginning of the fifties, he admired Doug Whiteford and they became lifelong friends through his Lago Talbot era, during which time, of course, he won the Australian Grand Prix at both Albert Park and at Bathurst.

 

As his business interests prospered, Laurie could well afford to put cars under drivers who impressed him, one such being Frank Matich. The Lotus 19B carried his 'Laurie O'Neill Peterbilt' name on its flanks and the Traco-Olds which replaced it was built in Laurie's premises. Later the F5000 era saw them still close as Matich wrapped up two Australian Grand Prix wins at Warwick Farm, and when he retired Laurie made it easy for John Goss to take over a couple of the Matich cars. One of these, of course, was to win the 1976 Australian Grand Prix at Sandown Park.

 

Another who benefitted from Laurie's friendship were Ian  Geoghegan, the Monaro Sports Sedan being built with Laurie's help and a couple of Porsches owned by Laurie being raced by him.

 

And this is the man who, if the story told me by Frank Matich is reliably remembered, who turned up to pick up his future wife for their first date in a tip truck from his quarry...

[Ray Bell]

And with sadness we have to note the loss of someone else connected with a blue car which once contested the Australian Grand Prix...

 

Ian Mountain built his Peugeot 203 Special with loving care. His fiance, Laurel Duguid, described to me the way the car came together: "I can still see the frame as he welded it together," delightfully adding her impression of its progress, of the life of the car coming into being. "Then it came up onto its wheels," she said. They had been a close couple for several years at this time, during Ian's competitive times in sailing and on motorcycles, then driving his V8-engined MYF Special and his one-off drive in the Diana Davison TC Special at Albert Park.

 

It was still almost-new when the newlyweds took it to Southport for the 1954 Australian Grand Prix - and their honeymoon:

 

In the pits. Though when this pic was published the woman leaning over the bonnet of the car was identified as Laurel, I'm sure she is the one standing erect with the sunglasses and broad-brimmed hat.

 

But it would not be long before tragedy would strike... they went to Gnoo Blas in January, 1955...

 

Fateful meeting. I believe that is Laurel Mountain concentrating her attention on Ian as he seems to be looking at a wheel being prepared for the car in practice at Gnoo Blas.

 

Laurel went to England to get away from the sadness, there coincidentally meeting her second husband. He'd approached her on the train on her way to work one morning in London, saying, "Didn't I used to see you every day on the 8:12 from Nunawading?" Ultimately she returned to Australia, having married this man, and writing about this car put me in touch with her about 23 years ago. She had long since forgotten her hatred for the car and she felt it important that its story be told.

 

"It was built at a time which is now forgotten," she said. Another statement she made, not about the car, was about going out to Phillip Island with Ian when the PIARC wanted members to see where they intended building their racing circuit. "It was a lovely day... I thought, 'what a beautiful place for a racing circuit.'" Which, of course, has always been true.

 

Laurel Hatch died last October and her son, Andrew, has passed that on to Dick Willis. Dick now has this fabulous little car, about its ilk Laurel was moved to comment, "They followed their dreams!"

[FLB]

Scuderia Ferrari mechanic Sergio Vezzali has passed away. He was with the team for 36 years, until 1992:

 

Lutto in casa Ferrari: morto Sergio Vezzali, storico meccanico di Maranello - News - Formula 1 (formulapassion.it) (in italiano)

 

Ferrari F1 Team 1975 - The Nostalgia Forum - The Autosport Forums

[Parkesi]

Sergio Vezzali - another member of the old Scuderia gone...

I visited him in June 2014 in his small apartment in Via Marconi/Maranello. The archetypal old school Italian.

Darkened salotto to receive guests, walls covered with old Ferrari photos and memorabilia.

His wife stayed in the kitchen until it was time to say bye bye.

In parallel there were the Ferrari Days 2014 and the whole centro of Maranello was full of the red cars and visitors.

Below his windows the exhibition of F1 Ferraris of Schuhmacher and Alboreto - of all places. 

He didn`t even open the shutters, it was not of interest for him any longer. He preferred to discuss the good old times. 

Before I left he gave me a children`s drawing of the cavallino rampante, yellow background and the Italian tricolore on top.

Drawn by his granddaughter! And he even signed it: "a Andrea con amicizia, Sergio Vezzali".

They don`t make them like that anymore...

[Ray Bell]

Sid has sent me this:
 

Just a short note from the O'Neil family. Australian racing car owner and enthusiast Laurie O'Neil has passed away at 98 years of age. His funeral will be held this coming Tuesday at the Kensington, Sydney, Catholic Church. R.I.P. Laurie, you were a great man.

[Ray Bell]

And a further little on Laurie O'Neill...

 

John Ellacott has sent through these pics:

 

Laurie hands-on. The patron with his latest charge, 1966. Laurie in the light shirt helping with the finishing of the Traco-Olds. Frank Matich in the car, Bruce Richardson in blue overalls.

 

 

Amidst his trucks. Laurie making some sort of adjustment while Bruce looks on and Frank tries it out.

 

These pics were taken at Laurie's Peterbilt yard near Mascot.

[FLB]

Former Grand-Am racer Chad McQueen has passed away: https://variety.com/...tch-1236142675/

[E1pix]

Damn, that’s just sad.

RIP.

[LittleChris]

Sad news.  Only last night I was reading an interview in the Dec 2015 Motor Sport that he did with Andy Marriott

[B Squared]

Filmmaker Dick Wallen has passed at age 90

https://www.usacraci...en-passes-at-90

[JacnGille]

Sad news.

[JacnGille]

Rocky Moran, Sr

https://racer.com/20...vQy6myozuZ5pMFg

Edited by JacnGille, 26 September 2024 - 13:03.

[JacnGille]

Sad news.

[Richard Jenkins]

Rocky Moran, Jr
https://racer.com/20...vQy6myozuZ5pMFg

Rocky Moran Sr. Jr is still alive.

[Lee Nicolle]

Robby 'Wacka' Stevens long time  speedway sedan competitor and  Sunline Waikerie Speedway promoter died on the weekend after a very long battle with cancer. 

He raced Super Sedans, HT Monaro then a HQ Monaro for many seasons and when health reasons stopped him from driving he put a variety of drivers in his cars. There was a late shape Monaro and a couple of others,, semi house cars for the speedway.

The HQ has recently been refurbished by a chap from Mildura and was presented to him in Febuary

25 years ago [and it does not seem that long] he took the lease on the closed Waikerie Speedway and gradually improved it every year, put in lights for night shows, improved the fence to run Sprintcars. Put on some decent  national level Super Sedan shows as well.

I hope his partner Jenny Lemar manages to keep the place running as it has been Wacka's legacy to SA speedway.

I last saw him a couple of years ago when leaving the speedway pits as he opened the gate for me. I nearly did not recognise him. If it had not neen his trademark light blue overalls and I recognised his voice. Very sad even then,, for most of the time he ran the track he drove the grader, water truck, track packers kept the generators for the lights working and everything else. Plus had been known for welding a competitors damaged entry.

While I am now no longer running my classic as my geriatric body has said enough [I struggle to get in and out. Once in it is fine!] Robby will be missed.

I have known him for 40 plus years as a racer, engine builder, promoter. He also had Whyalla Speedway for a few years as well. 

That is now run by Geoff Brown who I sold a HQ racecar too near 30 years ago.

PS,, Wacker was also a DJ in pubs and clubs. How he met his partner. Just a little off pace for a speedway bloke.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 26 September 2024 - 08:21.

[JacnGille]

Rocky Moran Sr. Jr is still alive.

Thanks, fixed.

[brucemoxon]

Australian production car, sports car and sports sedan / GT stalwart Peter Fitzgerald passed overnight.

 

A very competitive driver who won lots of races and a few championships along the way.

 

https://autoaction.c...eter-fitzgerald

 

 

BRM

Edited by brucemoxon, 29 September 2024 - 00:29.

[Catalina Park]

Bill Munro the author of the book "Traction for Sale: The Story of Ferguson Formula Four-Wheel Drive" has passed away.
Bill also wrote a bunch of books on the history of London Taxis.
 

[Henri Greuter]

Bill Munro the author of the book "Traction for Sale: The Story of Ferguson Formula Four-Wheel Drive" has passed away.
Bill also wrote a bunch of books on the history of London Taxis.
 

 

 

I have had the pleasure and honor to assist BIll with two of the chapters in his book about Ferguson.

 

He was a delight to work for/with and a very pleasant person to deal with in the past years for me.

We had a few little plans in the works for within the FF fan groups, but that's over I'm afraid.

 

The FF fans worldwide have los a major supporter and historian.

 

Bill was a member of this forum BTW, though he did not post very often.   ( his alias was Earlwoodsbill  )

 

 

Rest in peace Bill, and thank you for the good times, the memories and the honour

 

 

Henri

Edited by Henri Greuter, 01 October 2024 - 09:21.

[Catalina Park]

I knew he was a member, but I just couldn't remember his username.
He was a terrific guy and a pleasure to have known. 

[Henri Greuter]

I knew he was a member, but I just couldn't remember his username.
He was a terrific guy and a pleasure to have known. 

 

 

Regrettably I don't know how to reach the FF fan club organisation he wrote for and organized so much for.

But if any of them reads this, (s)he/they may contact me so we might see if the little project Bill and I had in mind to to might be pulled off after all.

Not by him anymore, but in his honor.

Edited by Henri Greuter, 01 October 2024 - 09:49.

[Ray Bell]

Back in the mid-sixties there was a nasty crash at Oran Park...

 

Two of them came together and one driver was badly injured, he was Brian Pugh, who wasn't keen on living a long life with the subsequent paralysis and a few years later killed himself.

 

The other driver was Michael Rock, better known as Mick. He has been battling cancer for a few years and succumbed last week.

[ellrosso]

Also Tassy expat Gene Cook passed away from a long illness earlier this week - RIP. 1970 Aust Speedway Saloon Champ and circuit racer in various sedans and Sports Sedans. Very capable driver and engine builder in Melbourne. Condolences to his family and friends. I'll try and post some pics

of his career (on the circuits at least) over the weekend.

[Lee Nicolle]

Also Tassy expat Gene Cook passed away from a long illness earlier this week - RIP. 1970 Aust Speedway Saloon Champ and circuit racer in various sedans and Sports Sedans. Very capable driver and engine builder in Melbourne. Condolences to his family and friends. I'll try and post some pics

of his career (on the circuits at least) over the weekend.

I have seen Gene race Sports Sedans, early Falcon then a Torana, race speedway sedans, race speedway Chook sheds, Grand Nationals. As well as do well in Aussie Nascar. 

[Bleu]

Finnish motorsport journalist Erkki Vanhanen at the age of 84:

https://www.is.fi/ur...0010833089.html

[ellrosso]

Here are a few pics detailing Gene Cook's circuit racing career. Arguably more successful on the dirt in a national context, he was still very quick and capable on the black top. His one Bathurst 1000 appearance with Launceston's Johnny Walker in Walker's RX7 was not a great one, ending up classified 21st in 1983.

I remember him in the No 41 FX Holden back in 1968-9 where he was the quickest humpy (just) around in that period - Darryl Wilcox, Peter Lockley and Mike McIvor were snapping at his heels though.

[ellrosso]

One of my favourite memories of Gene Cook was from a Baskerville meeting in either 1968 or '69. He was in the FX Holden and was obviously very quick in practice as was 3rd on the grid alongside Hallam's EH S/R/C car and Pare on pole in the Don Elliot Mustang.

Gene had a huge start and led into the Esses after Pare lit up the rears and was slow off the mark. Anyway Gene held them out for 2 laps from memory till Pare finally powered past up the hill - was great stuff and the crowd loved it. Pare and Cook were brothers-in-law though

so not sure how much was staged...... good fun regardless.

[cooper997]

I've just picked up the latest Auto Action (#1899) that has a short tribute to Gene Cook.

 

The same issue also records the passing of Bill Jane, Melbourne-based racer and businessman, But probably best known as Bob's llittle brother. Noting a funeral service in the Jane family stomping ground of Brunswick this Wednesday.

 

 

Stephen

[ellrosso]

Just to put some accuracy into my Gene Cook anecdote above (and to remind myself my memory isn't as good as it used to be....), from RCN race report October 27th 1968. Front row over 1500cc scratch race : Pare on pole, David Hallam in Jim Miller's EH Holden Touring car, then Gene Cook FX Holden.

Hallam faltered off the start and dropped back to 6th. 1st lap into Esses Pare ahead of Cook then Cook passes the Pare Mustang UP the hill (! FX against Mustang 289). Pare repassed Cook down Shell Straight and Hallam up to 4th. 2nd lap, Cook and Hallam both passed Pare and on the 3rd lap the trio went 3 abreast across the grid on pit straight. Cook and Hallam touched going into the Esses and Hallam spun. Pare couldn't avoid and biffed Hallam solidly, resulting in the guard rubbing on the front tyre. Pare gets black flagged and Hallam gets back to the lead and narrowly beats Cook and Lockley (FX also).

Hallam did a 1.11.8, Cook was 1.12 flat and Lockley was 1.15 flat. Cook's time was the quickest a humpy had gone around Bask by miles. Very eventful race....

 

Significant for me personally was the Miller EH which was bought by my neighbour in Rose Bay, Roger Alomes in 1969.  My first racing car experience was in the passenger seat of this car at Bask private practice - big moment for the 12 or 13 year old me back then....

 

Also in Sept 1969 RCN issue the Sternberg's were selling the ex Jim Clark Lotus 32B Climax 2.5 for $5,000 and also their rebuilt 1963 Brabham Climx 2.5 - no price I'm afraid, but willing to trade an aircraft or car for either car.