RIP VIVIAN CANDY

[MONDELLO MAN]

I learnt today that Vivian has just passed away, he was the Guy Edwards of Ireland introducing a number of big money sponsors o the sport in Ireland , in particular Marlboro .He was succesful in FF160 special saloons and FAT before moving to sports carson the world stage , including two runs at Le Mans , and a run in Bob Akins K3 at Watkins Glen .

[Peter Dunne]

Very sad news. RIP.

[davyboy]

This is terrible news... really awful. Vivian Candy was a legend in Irish motorsport back in the 1970s and together with Eddie Jordan ran the Marlboro Captain America team in Formula Atlantic and of course the famous Imp. Leo Nulty's actually restored the Imp and was in the process of getting it back out this year. Really very sad.

[Motormouth]

Can't believe this. Got a text from Davyboy earlier (cheers).
I spoke to "The Candyman" about 2 weeks ago about the Imp and he was an absolute gentleman. He dug out 2 pictures while we were on the phone and offered to have them copied for me. When we were chatting I told him I was one of the kids who queued up for his autograph at The Phoenix Park in '79, and I still have it! He thought that was hilarious.
Looks like I won't get to meet him for that pint now.......
RIP Candyman.

[dublinguy]

Great to see the post's about Vivian. I worked for him on the Imp, FF and F Atlantic's
He was a great guy for getting Irish Racing professional. His marketing skills were ground breaking. But the work he did in the background to have his car's looking and performing right,,,, I remember driving from Leeds to Edinburgh with a Ford BDA jammed into the rear seat ..
Sadly missed. RIP Viv you were a great friend and a great man. Thank you for some really happy years.

[candycandy]

As a member of Vivian's family i just want to say how moving it is to see that Vivian is fondly remembered by many who were around to see his successes. Many thanks. Viv would have loved to see these messages.

[MaryD]

As a member of your extended family we will love and miss you forever. A total gentlelman and loved by all. x

[Jet Provost]

A few personal memories of Vivian when we were racing FF1600

My first practice session in the Phoenix Park, I was following Viv(Crosslé 20F) in my Lotus 61 on a damp track. I reckoned he was a good guy to follow & learn the track. Coming up to the Ratra chicane I was going to brake when he did! Viv got into a 'tank slapper' & exited stage left, leaving me facing a row of sandbags. Somehow I got through the chicane!

Lining up on the second row of the grid at Mondello behind Joey Greenan & Martin Boyle & giving each other the thumbs up

His generousity in letting me have a few laps in his newly acquired Crosslé 30F when there was icy patches on the Mondello circuit

[ghinzani]

Did he take the Irish LSR in a Shadow DN3 F1 car at the end of the 70's?

[Motormouth]

Lovely tribute to Vivian during Setanta's coverage of The Monaco GP by Declan Quigley and David Kennedy just now.
David said that "without Vivian's input, EJ would not have made it to the world stage, as he was heavily involved in bringing Philip Morris/Marlboro on board"
and also that "Irish motorsport owes a debt of gratitude to Vivian Candy"
Great stuff.......

[davyboy]

A few pictures of Viv, including the iconic Marlboro Captain America Formula Atlantic. RIP Vivian.

[dublinguy]

Yes in 1979 (I think) Vivian competed against the late Danny Keaney on the The Carrigrohane Straight is a straight segment of road that stretches for 2.75 miles (4.43 km), from the edge of Cork City.
(Due to the flat surface of the Straight, it proved suitable for speed trials. The Straight, together with Model Farm Road, forms a circle, which proved very suitable for racing. During the 1920s and 1930s, both motorbikes, such as the Yamaha 750 cc, and cars, such as the Ingersoll-Rand Formula One Shadow, featured in speed trials and racing competitions. Drivers in these competitions came from across Europe, and crowds came from all over Cork and Munster to see the trials. In more recent years the Straight has been used for only speed trials, including land speed records for motorbikes and cars.)
It was held at 7 am and was over measured mile each way. Vivian got the record at about 176 mph avg. Danny Keaney had a problem with the clutch on the Yamaha and could not match the speed. I was in a chase car as I had been working on the Shadow and following it down the straight at speed with all the people standing at the side is still an abiding memory. Scarey !!!!
The record was beaten by Rosemary Smith in a Jaguar V6 and possibly by Martin Birrane but there are no records that I can find.
The Dubonnet Shadow (?) in the pictures was when Vivian was trying to raise funds to race the car in the Aurora F1 series in 1980 but it was impossible to raise sufficent funds.
Below is the B42 that was raced in F Atlantic in 1980's

http://tentenths.com/forum/attachmen...7&d=1196083728

[davyboy]

This was the Ingersol Rand Shadow.

[Motormouth]

This one says it all. 18 times a winner in the Imp!!!

[scott-mcgarrity]

Very sad news. He use 2 race with my Granda Patsy my Dad and Granny told me all about him sounded a very nice man! R.I.P Vivion Candy!!!!

[wiseguy]

There were so many facets to Vivian Candy. Obviously everyone has mentioned his commercial nous, the high profile sponsorship deals, but to concentrate on this is to overlook the obvious – he was a FANTASTIC racing driver.

I would cite the following;

In FF1600 he raced against and beat the likes of Joey Greenan, Trevor Templeton, Colin Lees, Kenny Acheson, Martin Boyle et al.

In Atlantic he did an eleventh hour deal to buy EJ`s chevron and blew away everyone else at Kirkistown.
In 1979 he beat Gary Gibson in a better car and very nearly beat Derek Daly, at the time a Grand Prix driver when they raced in Atlantics.

Early in Vivian’s career he suffered serious burns in a racing accident yet in 1980 he alone stopped his F1 car AT Thruxton to rescue Ray Mallock from his burning Surtees.

RIP Vivian.

[Motormouth]

A few more Candyman Imp Pics........

[jamesie]

Very sad to hear of Vivian Candy's passing,I remember having my photo taken with both him and Trevor Templeton in the Phoenix park in 1979,i was only 7 at the time.he was always a gentleman and always made time for a quick word and photo.they were the great days of motor racing here.Rest in Peace Vivian.

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by wiseguy

Early in Vivian’s career he suffered serious burns in a racing accident yet in 1980 he alone stopped his F1 car AT Thruxton to rescue Ray Mallock from his burning Surtees.

RIP Vivian.

Yes I had forgot that fact, very brave it was too. I know later on in the season Ray presented the marshalls involved with commemorative plaques or suchlike to say thanks, I expect he bought Vivian a few pints also, eh?

[SAMD]

I never met the man, but I do have a memory of him that has been with me since the early to mid 70s. My Dad had brought me to Kirkistown and the Atlantics were the main race of the day. I saw Vivian Candy from a distance with a couple of drop dead gorgous girls around him, standing beside an Atlantic with his name on it. It was the most glamorous sight I have ever seen and I still remember it. Lasting impressions!

[feminina]

As an ex girlfriend of his living abroad I first found out about his death recently. Vivian was an enthusiastic, funny, sensitive, generous person. Did you know he wrote songs?
Do you remember how he always began telling you something with the words: "Basicaly..." and then "number one..."
He can't have been more than 60 when he died...

He was just a wonderful wonderful person.