72 replies to this topic

[john aston]

Obit in Autosport today.Saw him race many times at Croft, Rufforth and elsewhere.75 but a life well lived I think

[petefenelon]

Just seen it on dailysportscar

Tony was a hero of mine, has been ever since the day he smashed the outright lap record at Aintree in the Chevron B24. Then I found out about his other exploits on and off the track...

Very sadly missed, great driver and great sportsman.

[ian senior]

This is very sad news, and from an entirely selfish point of view, that's another one of my heroes gone.

But what memories, though... the one that sticks in my mind most of all is of an utterly insignificant Libre race at Rufforth, in an absolute deluge of rain. Most other drivers were sensibly taking a very circumspect approach to the race, but not Mr Dean. He was driving as fast as he possibly could in his Brabham BT 23C, having a real good go, and indulging in a few beautifully controlled slides as the car did its best to get away from him. He was obviously really enjoying himself, but probably not as much as I did watching him. That's one of the best displays of driving I've ever seen, from any driver at any level.

Thanks, Tony. For that and all the other good times.

[Jerry Entin]

Can someone post the orbit?

[rdmotorsport]

Farewell to a real Yorkshireman

Rodney Dodson.

[Nanni Dietrich]

Impressive fourth place overall in the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen in 1972 with Bobby Brown in his aged Porsche 908/02, behind the Ferraris of Andretti-Ickx and Schenken-Peterson and the Mirage M6-Cosworth of Pace-Bell.
Good driver.


Did Tony Dean even drove as works driver for Porsche?

[MPea3]

I saw him win the first public race at Road Atlanta in 1970 when the McLarens, the Chapparal 2J and everyone else who was fast fell out and the little 908 was left to take the victory.

[Hugewally]

I was 13 at the time and unfortunately most of my slides have long since disappeared...

http://www.racingspo...0-09-13-008.jpg

[JacnGille]

Quote

Originally posted by MPea3
I saw him win the first public race at Road Atlanta in 1970 when the McLarens, the Chapparal 2J and everyone else who was fast fell out and the little 908 was left to take the victory.

So was I.

[HDonaldCapps]

Quote

Originally posted by MPea3
I saw him win the first public race at Road Atlanta in 1970 when the McLarens, the Chapparal 2J and everyone else who was fast fell out and the little 908 was left to take the victory.

It took my brother and I few laps to grasp that our lap chart was correct, that the yellow Porsche, a 908 driven by the Brit guy, Tony Dean, who we had met in the paddock earlier in the day, was really leading the race. Scarcely anyone around us believed it, including us, but.... It made up for missing John Cannon at Laguna Seca.

[Richard Jenkins]

Oh dear, I'm very sorry to hear of this. Yet another sad passing in this already terribly sad year.

[fines]

[gerard BARATHIEU]

very sad news:I tried to join him manytimes about the imbroglio of his PORSCHE 908 and their chassis

number.

the mystery and the history will be at ever unknown.

he owned many of good cars during his tacing days and perhaps one day somebody could tell abour their


history.

sad news.

[Allen Brown]

A hero of mine too.

[Thundersports]

[Alan Cox]

Tony breaking the outright lap record for the Aintree club circuit. I, too, enjoyed many of his outings in a selection of interesting cars. Condolences to his family, in particular to his son Richard who followed in dad's tyre-marks.

[Stephen W]

1974 and Tony Dean tackles Harewood hillclimb course. I believe there was a rather large bet involved!;)

[Alan Cox]

Tony Dean from 1974

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Here's an annecdote indirectly involving Tony Dean.

I was spectating at an FA/F5000 race at Mosport. Can't remember exactly which year but I see by OldRacingCars that Tony was participating in the 1975 running there so that has to be the year. My buddies and I were placed on the outfield right up to the fence to view on the exit of T3. Mid-way thru the race, we all watched in horror as a couple of beered-up lads on the infield decided that their veiw was perhaps all that it shouldn't be and yes...hopped the spectator fence with aims to cross the track. They both arrived at the inside track verge in unison but hesitated. Shortly, one of them broke and ran across. Safely. The other, portly and carrying his T-shirt in hand, waited til the other made it over. He then took a step or two from the gravel verge just as Tony roared around the bend at speed. The Chevron had to doing about 100mph at that point with the power well up. Tony whizzed by in a flash and it stopped this clown in his tracks a couple of metres out on the tarmac. The boozer thru his hands up in the air, turned around and beat a hasty retreat to the infield.

If it weren't for a second or so, we could have witnessed a Tom Pryce-like disaster. PHEW!

RIP, Tony.

[ReWind]

I think he was 77 (instead of 75). Although the AUTOSPORT obituary says "1932-2008" it is also stated that he claimed a British Formula 3 title in 1965, aged 35, and was voted runner-up to Piers Courage, 12 years his junior. Both facts point to 1930 as the year of his birth. (In my book he was born on 23 July 1930.)

BTW: Does anyone know his given names? He was "A.G. Dean" - "A." should stand for "Anthony", what does "G." stand for?

[sterling49]

A sad reminder of the passing years, I grew up watching Tony in so many cars, I cannot begin to remember them all, do I recall a Porsche 906? The Chevron F5000, the Lotus Cortina, and he was nearly always at the sharp end of the field where all the action was. Godspeed Mr A.G.Dean Racing Ltd

[Giraffe]

Tony Dean was one of my early racing heroes in the late 60's, when I started marshalling (the day before my 14th birthday!) At the time, Tony campaigned a full race Ferrari Dino, which was somewhat exotic at the time! I remember seeing him in it, and many other race cars over the years at Oulton Park.
Me and my pal who marshalled with me actually found him in the phone book and rang him up to tell him how great we thought he was, and he was very courteous and pleased to take our call!!!
I remember him pitching up at Oulton with a F1 McLaren M14 in F5000 spec, but still in works colours. I saw his Porsche 908 spyder at either Oulton or Croft at the Interserie, but it never seemed to be running properly.
I know he had problems importing cigars some time back in a racing trailer which he declared to customers with some tobacco based wittisism, and speaking in a Yorkshire pub a couple of years ago to a group of local well known race mechanics, learned that he had befallen a similar fate with dubios products at an airport!
I was told that he had become something of a fitness fanatic in restrictive circumstances, but I can't really confirm any of this....
However, sadly, they don't make them like Tony any more; a true character of the racing scene!

[d j fox]

I did actually post this before on another Tony Dean thread--but I think it's worth repeating--

I actually meet Tony Dean twice in one day - the first time was somewhat alarming!

Brands Hatch - Monday 27th December 1965 for the traditional “Boxing Day” (although in this case the day after….). I was marshalling at the entry to Paddock Bend on a beautiful bright and sunny but very frosty morning.
In those days we marshals were protected by a concrete block about 4-5 foot high by some 12 foot wide and about 4 foot deep. This particular marshal post was on the inside of the track, more or less at the braking point for Paddock, facing the track at a 45degree angle. At the front of the post was a stack of very frozen hay bails attached to which, nearest the track, was a large yellow and blue wooden Lucas sign.
Practice as under way for the Guards sports car race—everyone treating the frosty track , still icy in places, somewhat gingerly. The usual gaggle of Lotus 23s were out, plus the new Felday (Mac Daghorne?) with 4wd, ideal for these conditions. Tony Dean was having a first outing in what was said to be the ex Ben Moore/Vic Wilson Lotus 30.

My attention was drawn to a spinner coming out of Bottom Bend away to me my left down the hill. Then a fellow marshal shouted something; someone nudged me and I looked up to see the green Lotus 30 heading very rapidly sideways towards our post, but facing the wrong way. Dean had lost control , or something broke, spun around on braking and swapped ends and now hurtled towards us. I remember he was looking over his left shoulder staring at the oncoming Lucas board.
I turned to run-somehow I’d thought the Lotus was actually going to roll over the top of the post…I took about three steps when there was an enormous crashing sound. The air was full of flying frozen straw and bits of advertising hoarding. Then, inches from my right foot , something hit the ground with a loud thump. It was the spare wheel! It had been ejected through the front “bonnet” and hurtled through the air.
It all went quiet and then we all jumped around and rushed to help Dean.
The car was write-off. It was embedded in the straw and concrete and the entire passenger left hand side of the car was crushed up almost to the centre. Tony was so lucky , if he’d have gone in on his side I shudder to think what would have happened.
Dean was shocked but OK—one marshal, unlike all the others, hadn’t ducked quickly enough and had some slight cuts on his forehead , but we were essentially all OK—if a little shaken!
Nick Syrett (the BRSCC Guv’nor) came around later with a large brandy for each of us—this time it was medicinal!
Much later in the day we were very pleased when Tony himself came up to us and said, with a smile, “Sorry lads but I bet I gave you all a bit of a fright this morning!”

David Fox

[maxgregory]

Hi all, i'd like to thank you all for your kind comments about tony dean who is my grandad. im the son of his first born girl beverley. i came across these posts looking on the internet for stuff about my grandad for my mum. just to answer one of the questions i saw his full name was Anthony Gordon Dean.

his service was held last thursday mainly comprising of some words from my uncle (richard dean), frank logan and a small but teary effort from my little brother ross (11).

thanks again for all your comments and i will pass them on to the rest of the family.

max gregory

[ReWind]

Sincere condolences, Max.

Thank you very much for your answer to one of my questions.

Would you mind to tell us also whether your grandad was born in 1930 or 1932?
Please pardon me for making those statistical requests!

[Giraffe]

Oh Wow Max! This is where the internet really pulls it off!
Your grandad may have been a bit of a maverick, but he had fans all over the world, and still has!
A huge talent, a great character, a charming man to me and my starstruck mate! I think he made his dreams come true, but had to be a bit of a Robin Hood to do it!
I'm so glad you found this site: are your family still Yorkshire based?

[maxgregory]

thanks again for all the kind comments!! after consulting my mum i can confirm that he was born on the 23rd july 1932. and yes most of us are still yorkshire based, im studying at university in leeds, my mum lives in lincolnshire and richard and karen are still in the leeds area.

its nice to hear that he was a hero to other people and that he had so much interest and i'll be more than happy to answer any other questions if you have them - this is quite strange for me as to me he was just my grandad, i never had the priviledge to ever see him race.

[guru_1071]

i read tony deans obit in the yorkshire post the other day

i only recognised his name thanks to this site, as there are some photos of his bedford coach transporter in the 'transporter' section (both when it was in its prime in the usa, and much later, unloved in sweden)

ive got a similar bedford my self, hence my interest in him

and i was born in Beverley, so i guess he was a 'local' yorkshire man!

[Giraffe]

Hi Max,
Where was your grandad living during his last days? I think I remember finding him in the Wakefield phonebook a few years ago: how the hell we found his number in the 60's, I'll never know!
I lived in Dewsbury/Batley for many years, and was aware of Richard at Team JLR, but alway's got the feeling that Richard & Tony were a bit distant, if you know what I mean?
I suppose I liked Tony because he drove the glam cars of my dreams, but drove them so well too! Had he have been more pragmatic and picked the regular motors, he may have done even better than he did! Once in a Chevron, he flew, and of course became a legend after his Can-Am win in the Porsche 908 Spyder!
I shall get all of my programmes out and see how many different cars I saw him compete in!

[chris shaw]

Sad to read of Tony's passing. My local hero as a teenager watching him race at Cadwell and Mallory. fantastic cars - Dino 206, 908, 906, B24 - all raced to wins. And then the CanAm win - story book stuff ! Yet still friendly enough to approach for a chat in the paddock. Sincere condolences to family and friends. No longer with us but not forgotten.

[Chris Townsend]

Sad that another one of the real characters of motorsport has moved on. The world is a duller place.

Tony Dean was also a very useful F3 driver in the 1960s - something that perhaps gets neglected because of the exotica and heavy metal that he also drove. 3rd in the Monaco F3 race of 1965 [having qualified 3rd for his heat and finished 2nd in it, so no fluke]. Not something you do every day...

Chris

[Stephen W]

Quote

Originally posted by sterling49
A sad reminder of the passing years, I grew up watching Tony in so many cars, I cannot begin to remember them all, do I recall a Porsche 906?

Tony Dean in his Porsche 906 at Oulton Park in 1968.

[Prototype]

Didn't Tony Dean serve some time "at her majesties pleasure" as a result of some importing / exporting exploits which funded his racing; or have I mistaken him for someone else??

[rdmotorsport]

These were for the importation of cigars obviously only for personel use and he never inhaled!

[Giraffe]

The mechanics I met a couple of years ago in Dewsbury, West Yorks who had worked for Tony Sugden and other local racing cronies insinuated that he had tripped up again, and was once again detained at Her Majesty's pleasure due to another attempted importation of illegal matter at an airport.
I never tried to confirm this, and hope that it was idle gossip......

[rdmotorsport]

When you say met in Dewsbury I assume it was actually Birstall just a little further down where JLR Racing is based the former Jim Lee Racing now run by Richard Dean and Paul Haigh and rumours or not does it really matter now?

[Giraffe]

Actually no; I wish they hadn't mentioned it.
It wasn't Birstall; it was one of there rare forays into Dewsbury, the Bath Hotel. They were impressed that I knew some of the old mechanics from F1: Dave Simms etc. Got pissed, and told me things I didn't need to hear. Such is life.

[Giraffe]

Tony Dean was a driver who were passionate about motor racing: totally driven by it and it's heritage.
Every F1 driver in the 70's would have known who Tony was, from Fittapaldi to Jones, I suspect. That wouldn't happen today. Neither could you pick up the phone and call one of your heroes to tell him he was great he was these days as I did in circa 1968......

[Phil Rainford]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rdmotorsport
[B]When you say met in Dewsbury I assume it was actually Birstall just a little further down where JLR Racing is based the former Jim Lee Racing now run by Richard Dean and Paul Haigh

Two shots of Richard Dean in his Jim Lee Racing entered Reynard at Mallory Park






Kind regards

Phil

[rdmotorsport]

Dave (beaky ) Simms , good God I had forgot about him what is he doing now?

[Giraffe]

I'm not really sure about Dave Simms, but with Jim Clark's 40th anniversary coming up, surely he will emerge, as he was close to Jim. Bob Dance will know.

[rdmotorsport]

WITHOUT GETTING AWAY FROM THIS THREAD AND THE SAD LOSS OF THE DEAN,THE LAST TIME I SAW BEAKY WAS I THINK AT SOME CART EVENT IN THE STATES ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO,BOB DANCE I SAW WHEN WE BOTH ATTENDED THE 1984 GP AT ZOLDER BOB AT LOTUS AND MYSELF AT ATS GOOD GOD WE ARE ALL PENSIONERS NOW!

BY THE WAY I AM GOING THROUGH DEWSBURY TOMORROW WHERE IS THE MENTIONED PUB?

RODNEY.

[Giraffe]

Crikey! It's a Sam Smith's pub on Halifax Road; It's crap these days. If you want a decent pint, go to the West Riding on the railway station.
Bob Dance turn's out often at Classic Team Lotus events, and is doing the Clark film festival in Oxford.
I tend to swim in Bob's wake, as there's always a bunch of flowers on Jim's grave from him when I visit it!
I'd meet you for a pint, but I'm exhibiting artwork at the effin' NEC!

[petefenelon]

Quote

Originally posted by rdmotorsport
Dave (beaky ) Simms , good God I had forgot about him what is he doing now?

Beaky was last seen as team manager for Risi Competizione in the ALMS.

[petefenelon]

Quote

Originally posted by Giraffe
Crikey! It's a Sam Smith's pub on Halifax Road; It's crap these days. If you want a decent pint, go to the West Riding on the railway station.
Bob Dance turn's out often at Classic Team Lotus events, and is doing the Clark film festival in Oxford.
I tend to swim in Bob's wake, as there's always a bunch of flowers on Jim's grave from him when I visit it!
I'd meet you for a pint, but I'm exhibiting artwork at the effin' NEC!

Several of the best boozers in the Pennines are at railway stations - Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Stalybridge (over t'other side) all have excellent watering holes on the platform.

[Giraffe]

The WR at Dewsbury has won national awards: no motorsports heritage though, I'm afraid....

[Giraffe]

Attn rdmotorsport / Rodney

Did you work with Simon Hadfield at ATS?

[rdmotorsport]

No, Iwas there briefly with Jo Ramires after Alestair Caldwell I think at this time Simon was building some rather nice racing cars and assisting Arturio.

[Mallory Dan]

Quote

Originally posted by petefenelon


Several of the best boozers in the Pennines are at railway stations - Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Stalybridge (over t'other side) all have excellent watering holes on the platform.

Have you done the Trans-Pennine Rail Ale Trail Pete, or anyone else.

Start in York, the Maltings, then Leeds, the Scarboro' Taps, then Dewsbury, the WR, then Huddersfield, Head of Steam & Train Station tavern, then Marsden, the Springhead Brewery pub (I can't remember the name now), the Stalybridge, Station Buffet, then Manc, the Jolly Angler. Great long liquid day!!

[petefenelon]

Quote

Originally posted by Mallory Dan


Have you done the Trans-Pennine Rail Ale Trail Pete, or anyone else.

Start in York, the Maltings, then Leeds, the Scarboro' Taps, then Dewsbury, the WR, then Huddersfield, Head of Steam & Train Station tavern, then Marsden, the Springhead Brewery pub (I can't remember the name now), the Stalybridge, Station Buffet, then Manc, the Jolly Angler. Great long liquid day!!

I've done most of them individually but these days I prefer to do my drinking in one establishment per night!

Another station well worth your attention if you like a pint is Newcastle - the Centurion is pretty good (and very quiet most of the day - gets rammed in the evening).