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9 Jan 2013, 14:29 (Ref:3186862) | #1 | ||
Racer
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 242
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Gabriel Konig
Gabriel Konig
The Committee of Management is deeply saddened to learn of the passing on Tuesday (January 8) of Gabriel Konig, as she was known when she first visited Barbados, later Gabriel DeFreitas. While many younger members will not recognise the name, there are those who will acutely recall the 1970s, when Gabriel first arrived in the Caribbean. In the days when the BRC ran Bushy Park, she was a member of the BOAC Speedbird Team in November 1972, racing alongside Dave Brodie and Gordon Spice. These three helped launch the long-term relationship between our small island and the motor sport community in the UK, which lasts to this day. Club Chairman Trevor Gale’s programme notes referred to her as “the biggest drawing card at this meeting” . . . and you couldn’t argue with that, as the Caribbean had not previously seen a Chevrolet Camaro raced by a woman. A founder member of the British Women Racing Drivers Club, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2012, Gabriel was one of the pioneers of female participation in a largely male-dominated sport. Having started competing at Goodwood in 1962 in a Lotus Elite, she also raced an Elan, Nathan Imp, Sebring Sprite and MG Midget before the Camaro. In 1968 Gabriel collected 18 wins and nine lap records, winning the BWRDC Embassy Trophy and BWRDC Championship, and continued to compete at various levels until quite recently. While she had won twice at South Dakota in Guyana on the first leg of the Caribbean tour, her American ‘muscle car’ was not suited to the tight confines of Bushy Park, where her best result was a second-place finish to Harry Watkins. Gabriel had an outgoing personality, so making friends was easy . . . among them were Club members Simon Gillmore, who then lived in Trinidad and raced against her in Guyana in 1973 in the ex-Gordon Spice Austin A40, and the late Andrew Phillips, against whom she raced more than once across the region. And it was through her friendship with Phillips that the next stage of motor sport development in Barbados evolved, this time in rallying. Visiting Gabriel on holiday in Ireland with wife Wynona in 1993, Phillips met television producer ‘Plum’ Tyndall . . . from that chance meeting came the first visit to Barbados of Kenny McKinstry, also the first International win on the island’s premier event. Gabriel and her partner Malcolm Clark, himself an accomplished motor sport competitor, had become regular visitors once again in recent years, having bought a house in Church Village, close to Bushy Park, where they enjoyed Christmas and New Year holidays. They had also been regular visitors to Rally Barbados, along with other ‘70s names, such as Mike Crabtree. The Club has sent a message of condolence to Gabriel’s partner Malcolm and her daughter, Cara, on behalf of the entire motor sport community in Barbados. Neil Barnard Barbados Rally Club PRO Last edited by MagnetON; 9 Jan 2013 at 14:41. Reason: Tidy up formatting. |
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9 Jan 2013, 15:01 (Ref:3186865) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 867
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Gabriel Konig
Just learned from TNF and Doug Nye that Gabriel Konig has passed away. With her husband Mark she was a great supporter of national racing and was very competitive in the old John Brittan MG Midget.
RIP |
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9 Jan 2013, 15:41 (Ref:3186877) | #3 | ||
Admin
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,022
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9 Jan 2013, 20:41 (Ref:3187020) | #4 | ||
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,400
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I can remember her being a good looker back in my youth, Rip Gabriel
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
12 Jan 2013, 16:57 (Ref:3188233) | #5 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,697
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If you don't mind i'll move this to the obituary section.
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"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
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