John Smith

[ClaireSmith]

It is with the utmost heavy heart.... I am so numb I cannot speak, but its my sad sad duty to inform you all , that one of the great lights in grass roots Motorsport... and indeed international historic motorsport... motorsport in general, has been extinguished.

John Smith, former International Clerk of The Course, former Race Director HSBC and Masters, Co Founder of The 360 Motor Racing Club, and one of the most genuine men in Motorsport, passed away in the early hours of this morning.

I am understandably numb in truth , I will keep you all posted on things such as wake/ memorial.

God Bless all
Claire

[delta]

So so sorry Claire. RIP John.He was a top bloke.

[chunterer]

Huge condolences Claire.

[Cliff Ryan]

My deepest condolences Claire, I just saw your post on FB and had a horrible feeling, so came on here and my fears were confirmed. RIP John.

[Peter Mallett]

Terrible news Claire. Thanks for letting us know. Was hoping to see him at Donington. RIP John, you will be sorely missed.

[John Turner]

It was good to know you, John, RIP

[Teletubby]

RIP John.

[midgetman]

Sadly missed. Goodbye John.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Alan Raine]

So sad to hear that Claire.

Another of the unsung heroes of British Motorsport passes away. RIP and thanks for everything.

[Aysedasi]

I'm very sad to hear the news Claire, my condolences and thoughts are with you.

[Mike Bell]

The first 360MRC 6 hour race at Snetterton. John is C.O.C., and I’m racing my Escort. After a pit stop near the top of the pit lane, the engine bogs down, so I dip the clutch and give it the beans- resulting in a fishtailing burn-out past the exit lights. Quite rightly, the marshal reports the ‘dangerous driving’ incident to John, and at the end of the race I am summoned by him. After a severe faced reprimand regarding said pit exit, John grins, and quietly says ‘looked spectacular though!’

Top bloke, and will be sadly missed. RIP John, it was a pleasure and privilege to have known you.

[ClaireSmith]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

The first 360MRC 6 hour race at Snetterton. John is C.O.C., and I’m racing my Escort. After a pit stop near the top of the pit lane, the engine bogs down, so I dip the clutch and give it the beans- resulting in a fishtailing burn-out past the exit lights. Quite rightly, the marshal reports the ‘dangerous driving’ incident to John, and at the end of the race I am summoned by him. After a severe faced reprimand regarding said pit exit, John grins, and quietly says ‘looked spectacular though!’

Top bloke, and will be sadly missed. RIP John, it was a pleasure and privilege to have known you.

Thats brought a tear to the eye... I remember it well

[Paulaweybridge]

6.00 am this Monday morning I received a phone call from St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey saying that John was not good. He had been in there since last Tuesday. I rushed over and the staff there did all they could to revive him but to no avail.

The tragedy is that when I saw him Sunday evening, he was feeling much better and looking forward to going home to his new flat in the next couple of days.

John as some of you may know moved to Whiteley Village in Hersham last month and was looking forward to a long and happy retirement in this wonderful place. When he first came to the village last July, he fell in love with the place and put his name down to come here. It is not easy to get in but they immediately liked him, who wouldn’t, and were looking forward to him taking part in some of the village activities such as the car club and his hobby photography with the camera club. One of the staff here is into drag racing and also knew dear Barry Sidery-Smith well, so John had lots to talk about with all his vast experience. Some of the less able bodied residents go around on mobility scooters and the staff here were thinking of reviving a race for them around the village again and were going to ask John to organise it. He found that highly amusing.

He was already getting to know some of the residents and leaving his old apartment in Lightwater where he was too isolated, made him exceedingly happy and the old John that we all love and respect was back again.

All the staff and residents who got to know him are very sad and shocked.

The sad part is that he only had a month in the village and it’s so cruel that this has happened to one of the sweetest men that I have ever met. I am going to miss John so much and it’s been a huge privilege to have been part of his life.

Rest in Peace sweetie and see you on the other side. 💕💕

[Paulaweybridge]

This morning I received these two emails from my closest friends in the USA and wish to share them with you all.

The first one said, ‘Try and get some rest and not be too sad. Hopefully he is off in some racing afterlife with the great and the good, being his old self. Try to think of him that way, as starting a new career with old friends’.

The second one said, ‘I am so sorry to hear of John’s passing. Why these things happen and the timing of them is not up to us. We are merely bystanders on our time on earth. Our own character will try to understand, but as the saying goes “Life goes on” for those left behind. You have some beautiful memories over the years you have known John. I can remember you telling me these things in our conversations.

Stay strong and remember the good times.

[GORDON STREETER]

Very sad news, anytime that I was "hauled up" before the clerk of the course I just hoped that it was John. He would give you a b******ing and then give you a smile and send you on your way as he would always see both sides of an "incident" RIP John.