Home  
Site Partners: SpotterGuides Veloce Books  
Related Sites: Your Link Here  

Go Back   TenTenths Motorsport Forum > Single Seater Racing > Formula One

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 1 Nov 2009, 15:27 (Ref:2573468)   #1
bjohnsonsmith
Race Official
20KPINAL
 
bjohnsonsmith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
United States
London, England
Posts: 23,144
bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!bjohnsonsmith is the undisputed Champion of the World!
Tom Wheatcroft has died.

I'm very sad to read that Tom Wheatcroft has died.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79938

This news seems particularly sad, considering what has happened to Donington.
bjohnsonsmith is offline  
__________________
"If you're not winning you're not trying."
Colin Chapman.
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 15:40 (Ref:2573476)   #2
JeremySmith
Veteran
 
JeremySmith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
United Kingdom
Austin Texas
Posts: 11,402
JeremySmith is going for a new world record!JeremySmith is going for a new world record!JeremySmith is going for a new world record!JeremySmith is going for a new world record!JeremySmith is going for a new world record!JeremySmith is going for a new world record!
I agree it's rather sad. RIP Mr Wheatcroft...
JeremySmith is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:04 (Ref:2573496)   #3
strider
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
 
strider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
England
Middle Earth
Posts: 8,408
strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!
It's really very, very sad. Tom was one of those larger than life characters and an incredible enthusiast.

His ambition was to have a Grand Prix at Donington and as we all know it happened in 1993 and Ayrton Senna won one of his most famous victories.

I think it cost Tom a seven figure sum to achieve that ambition, but he didn't begrudge a penny of it.

He had an inimitable guffaw that, if you were in the vicinity, you could hear from halfway across the room. British motorsport has suffered a great loss.
strider is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:10 (Ref:2573499)   #4
Ubique
Racer
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Falkland Islands
Watching penguins in the South Atlantic
Posts: 119
Ubique should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
RIP Tom!

British motor sport has lost one of its truly great personalities, it's a sad day for Donington park and all of those involved with the circuit. As a member of the Donington Emergency Services Team I would like to pass on my condolences to Tom's family and also to thank him for providing such a fantastic circuit where I fell in love with motor sport and marshaling.
Ubique is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:11 (Ref:2573500)   #5
MrTTraces
Veteran
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Zimbabwe
A place where the coffee is cold!
Posts: 978
MrTTraces should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Very sad. Thoughts go out to friends and family.
MrTTraces is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:15 (Ref:2573502)   #6
strider
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
 
strider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
England
Middle Earth
Posts: 8,408
strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!
A nice tribute from Martin Whitmarsh.
strider is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:47 (Ref:2573529)   #7
foreversideways
Veteran
 
foreversideways's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
England
Bramhall
Posts: 2,132
foreversideways should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridforeversideways should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Another one of the old school has passed away. He will be much missed. RIP Tom.
foreversideways is offline  
__________________
"Racing is Life. Anything before or after is just waiting"
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:56 (Ref:2573535)   #8
Rennen
Veteran
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
United Kingdom
Hertfordshire
Posts: 2,056
Rennen should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridRennen should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridRennen should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridRennen should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
Tom Whetcroft

I meet Tom Wheatcroft when my son was doing a Jim Russell couse at Donington in 1995. Tom was on some sort of pit lane garage inspection and I took the opportunity to speak to him. As an ordinary enthusiast, I was impressed that he stopped to chat, to me and my son.

You could always spot him on the road in his BRG coloured Audi, sporting his cherised V16 BRM number plate.

If fellow Tenthers, havn't yet read Tom's book 'Thunder in the Park' they should it's a real page turner, of real Boys Own fun stuff from start to finish! One little story, that somes up his mavorick character, was when he had just aquired Donington Park and was running his ex Nuvolari Maserati...a sitting tenant, came out of one of the makeshift workshops shouting at Tom..."If you don't switch off that noisey contraption, I'm going to demolish it"!...Tom, phoned one of his blokes to bring up a Bulldozer, and instructed his driver to bulldoze down all the workshops! adding to the shocked tenant..."I'm pretty good at demolishing things myself"!

A WW2 soldier, a post war house Builder, a collector of F1 racing cars, and the saviour of Donington Park, he has left his mark. God bless him.
Rennen is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 16:57 (Ref:2573536)   #9
fangio
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location:
Holland
Posts: 213
fangio should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
What a sad loss.
One of the true great enthousiasts who has done so much for Motorsports.
Sad to know he had to live through the recent events at Donington.
RIP
fangio is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 17:13 (Ref:2573545)   #10
Ted bennett
Racer
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
England
Derbyshire
Posts: 153
Ted bennett should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Very sad news, Tom will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Ted bennett is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 17:16 (Ref:2573547)   #11
Marbot
Retired
20KPINAL
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
United Kingdom
Posts: 22,897
Marbot is going for a new lap record!Marbot is going for a new lap record!Marbot is going for a new lap record!Marbot is going for a new lap record!Marbot is going for a new lap record!Marbot is going for a new lap record!
Very sad, hopefully something good will come out of this.
Marbot is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 17:21 (Ref:2573551)   #12
RCMADD
Racer
 
RCMADD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
England
derby
Posts: 481
RCMADD should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
very sad to hear, rip tom.

would be a nice tribute to have a full working track now.
RCMADD is offline  
__________________
if u aint madd u aint normal
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 17:25 (Ref:2573553)   #13
VIVA GT
Veteran
 
VIVA GT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
England
Leicestershire
Posts: 5,647
VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!
Very sad news indeed, the man was a true motorsport enthusiast.
I think it's particularly sad that his passing has coincided with the terrible distruction of his beloved Donington Park race circuit.
Another big man who will be sorely missed.
RIP Tom Wheatcroft
VIVA GT is offline  
__________________
Incognito: An Italian phrase meaning Nice Gearchange!
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 17:30 (Ref:2573557)   #14
GroupOfOne
Racer
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 334
GroupOfOne should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Sad news indeed, as other have said, particularly with all the current shenanigans going on at the circuit.

A massive loss, as someone who has contributed a lot to British motorsport, whether it be restoring Donington, the superb museum or his help to young drivers like Derek Bell and Roger Williamson. RIP Mr Wheatcroft.
GroupOfOne is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 18:46 (Ref:2573593)   #15
Derwent Motorsp
Veteran
 
Derwent Motorsp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Scotland
Cumbria
Posts: 509
Derwent Motorsp should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
It is very sad that he left us at a time when all he had achieved seemed to be ruined literally.

Simon Gillett has a lot to answer for.
Derwent Motorsp is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 19:58 (Ref:2573642)   #16
Jamesy-18
Veteran
 
Jamesy-18's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
United Kingdom
Derbyshire
Posts: 1,136
Jamesy-18 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
It jsut gets worse for Donington doesn't it? R.I.P.
Jamesy-18 is offline  
__________________
A touring car and sportscar forum poster. The F1 sub forum is terrible! :P
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 20:03 (Ref:2573645)   #17
mark_l
Veteran
 
mark_l's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
England
Posts: 1,646
mark_l should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridmark_l should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Thanks Tom

I remember being in the pitlane at Donington during a VSCC meeting. In a garage was a chap in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up working on an oily engine. The shirt had oil all down the front, when the chap stood up up he had the biggest grin on his face. It was Uncle Tom, he was in his element like a kid in a sweet shop.

I was also lucky enough to be given a guided tour of the Donington Collection by Tom, I tried to take a photo of a car but the rope was getting in the way, so I looked around and said to Tom, "Do you think anyone will mind if we move the rope", he replied "I think it will be ok, but don't tell anyone" and then let out that distinctive laugh.

Thanks for all the good times Tom.
mark_l is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 20:29 (Ref:2573661)   #18
Tim the Grey
Veteran
 
Tim the Grey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Wales
Across the M40 from Gaydon...
Posts: 3,834
Tim the Grey has a real shot at the championship!Tim the Grey has a real shot at the championship!Tim the Grey has a real shot at the championship!Tim the Grey has a real shot at the championship!Tim the Grey has a real shot at the championship!
My deepest condolences to all the family. He will be much missed by every real racing enthusiast.
Tim the Grey is offline  
__________________
Tim Yorath
Ecurie Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Fan of "the sacred monster Christophe Bouchut"...
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 20:31 (Ref:2573663)   #19
BuiltForSpeed
Rookie
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 15
BuiltForSpeed should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Nothing whatsoever on the Donington website for poor old Tom. Plenty still about Formula One and 'sharing our vision' though, despite everything. Shameful.

RIP Tom - a good man.
BuiltForSpeed is offline  
Quote
Old 1 Nov 2009, 22:39 (Ref:2573766)   #20
strider
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
 
strider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
England
Middle Earth
Posts: 8,408
strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!strider has a real shot at the championship!
Everyone here has rightly been very respectful of Tom and mourned his loss, but for anyone who doesn't perhaps know his full story it's worth reading this.
strider is offline  
Quote
Old 2 Nov 2009, 09:38 (Ref:2573958)   #21
Hesketh
Racer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location:
Bloody Milan
Posts: 188
Hesketh should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Now with old pal Roger Williamson.
Farewell Tom Wheatcroft.
Hesketh is offline  
Quote
Old 2 Nov 2009, 10:13 (Ref:2573991)   #22
Lotusonpole
Veteran
 
Lotusonpole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
United Kingdom
NW England
Posts: 758
Lotusonpole should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridLotusonpole should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
A sad day indeed.
Tom Wheatcroft was what Motorsport was all about.
He'll be greatly missed.

Sincere sympathies
Lotusonpole is offline  
__________________
Madness is a normal condition interupted only by spells of sanity.
Quote
Old 2 Nov 2009, 10:21 (Ref:2573997)   #23
old man
Veteran
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
England
UK
Posts: 2,007
old man should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridold man should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridold man should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
This big guy was able to fund his passion and did so to the benefit of all enthusiasts, not just for himself. His investment on the racing car collection allows us all to see cars that we have marvelled at on the track and his rebuilding of Donington created the UK's best circuit that is loved by drivers and fans. You can actually watch the cars through long sections of the track because of the bowl through which it runs and seeing top drivers come down the Craner Curves, through the Old Hairpin and up the hill is one of the best views I know.
Tom Wheatcroft was the epitome of the true enthusiast who shared his love of the sport with us all, thanks Tom for all you did

RIP
old man is offline  
Quote
Old 2 Nov 2009, 11:16 (Ref:2574023)   #24
sparkione
Racer
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
England
Oxfordshire
Posts: 264
sparkione should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridsparkione should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridsparkione should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
All of us who have enjoyed racing at Donington owed Tom a huge debt of thanks. Such a pity he didn't live to see the current mess -- literally -- sorted out. RIP, and sympathy to his family.
sparkione is offline  
Quote
Old 2 Nov 2009, 12:09 (Ref:2574063)   #25
JEP
Rookie
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
United Kingdom
Nottingham
Posts: 47
JEP should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I am very sorry to hear of Tom's death.

I attended the first race meetings at Donington in 1977 and in 1978 joined the BMMC and volunteered with the Donington ES Team. If Tom had not re-opened Donington Park my life would have been the poorer; his actions led to me meeting through marshalling, some of my best friends and until ill health curtailed my marshalling in 2005 I had many happy days on the "bank." He always had an "owdo" for you if you saw him in the paddock.

It's a shame that he had to see Gillett ruin what he and his family had strived to create. Hopefully the family will regain control of Donington Park and make it into a fitting tribute to a true enthusiast and gentleman.

R.I.P Tom.
JEP is offline  
Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Tom Wheatcroft Dies aged 87 Peter Mallett Tributes Forum 13 21 Nov 2009 04:39
Wheatcroft cars davemorganfan Motorsport History 14 24 Nov 2003 14:31
The SAAB died EERO Road Car Forum 24 26 Oct 2000 00:11


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:39.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Original Website Copyright © 1998-2003 Craig Antil. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2004-2021 Royalridge Computing. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2021-2022 Grant MacDonald. All Rights Reserved.