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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Martin_1962 on 13 December 2010, 15:00:20

Title: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Martin_1962 on 13 December 2010, 15:00:20
Died at 64 with Cancer.

Very sad - this means a bit to me.

I remember Arrows and TW taking on Damon Hill after Williams dumping, Williams are still not forgiven >:(

The nearly win in Hungary 10th August 1997 will not be forgotten - also the day before my daughter was born.

He also took a majority share in Gloucester RFC, I grew up near Gloucester and always like to see their results.

Finally he ran the Holden racing team - with the V8 saloons.

To me a very sad loss. :'( :'(
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 13 December 2010, 15:08:30
Pretty good behind the wheel of a Jaguar if memory serves.......a sad loss...
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Banjax on 13 December 2010, 15:12:14
sad loss to motorsport  :(
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: bluey on 13 December 2010, 16:32:10
Terrible news.  Tom was a strong character, in some eyes a rebel and a borderline troublemaker with his at times very clever (and at times also very naughty) observation of racing rules, but his impact on racing in a number of series was tremendous. 

Although he was latterly better known for his controversial days in F1 at Benetton (taking Schumacher from Jordan and several skirmishes with the FIA, including the pitlane fire at Germany), for many people it will be the success he brought for Jaguar back in the 80's (and employing some young bloke called Ross Brawn at the time) that wil be the stand-out period.  From Silverstone to Le Mans to Bathurst, Walkinshaw stamped the Jaguar name firmly back into the forefront of saloon and sportscar racing, bringing them series wins after a 30 year absence.

He was a tidy racer himself, often getting behind the wheel of the racing XJ-S and setting some mean times in his own right.  Here's a clip of him tearing round the mountain 25 years ago.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9I7GWllPFY[/media]

Deepest sympathies to his family, and all the best Tom.  You'll be sorely missed.
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Banjax on 13 December 2010, 16:44:55
great clip bluey - TW in an XJS on the ragged edge  :y
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Richgm on 13 December 2010, 17:45:33
I have a memory of him racing the XJS around Donington in an absolute monsoon of a rain shower.
Mind you I also remember his young co driver was pretty tasty behind the wheel too. His name was Martin Brundle. I wonder what happened to him?
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Varche on 13 December 2010, 17:58:07
Thanks for the clip. Real racing.

No age 64.
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: hercules on 13 December 2010, 18:43:26
its only when you see clips like that with the in car cam that you realise how fast their going(theyve got some big love blob holders)RIP :y
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: the alarming man on 13 December 2010, 19:41:27
very sad news and a loss to motorsport...nice guy as well  :'(
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: Martin_1962 on 13 December 2010, 20:13:22
Quote
Terrible news.  Tom was a strong character, in some eyes a rebel and a borderline troublemaker with his at times very clever (and at times also very naughty) observation of racing rules, but his impact on racing in a number of series was tremendous. 

Although he was latterly better known for his controversial days in F1 at Benetton (taking Schumacher from Jordan and several skirmishes with the FIA, including the pitlane fire at Germany), for many people it will be the success he brought for Jaguar back in the 80's (and employing some young bloke called Ross Brawn at the time) that wil be the stand-out period.  From Silverstone to Le Mans to Bathurst, Walkinshaw stamped the Jaguar name firmly back into the forefront of saloon and sportscar racing, bringing them series wins after a 30 year absence.

He was a tidy racer himself, often getting behind the wheel of the racing XJ-S and setting some mean times in his own right.  Here's a clip of him tearing round the mountain 25 years ago.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9I7GWllPFY[/media]

Deepest sympathies to his family, and all the best Tom.  You'll be sorely missed.


I remember seeing XJS vs the Holdens & Fords
Title: Re: Tom Walkinshaw RIP
Post by: cleggy on 13 December 2010, 20:29:23
This is a shock, my other half worked for ASTEC the Composite manufacturing arm of TWR, who did the moncoques for Arrows, and Prost among others, as well as bespoke parts for the likes of Aston Martin. I met Tom on several occasions the last one being the 20th anniversary party of TWR.
A sad lost of a great contributor to motorsport, and of course Rugby.
RIP Sir  :(