Sad passing of Mr John Leek
Discussion
I am not a regular poster here, but have registered with your forum so that I can pass on the sad news of John Leek's demise, and specifically to try and contact special saloon and GT afficionados who he may have known.
John was involved in club motor racing as a marshal, a racing driver, and a race mechanic. He built several very successful cars, and was particularly well known for his outrageous Skoda special saloon creations, and his racing exploits with Tony Sugden and Jim Evans, to name but a couple.
I had the privilege of spending many, many years in a cold Yorkshire barn alongside John, whilst he patiently taught me the proper way to build and maintain racing cars, including a Cobra, a replica McLaren M1C which he built from scratch, and latterly a full race Ultima GTR. John could turn his skills to virtually anything from exquisite fabricating (and repairing) expensive monocoques, to designing a venturi and underfloor. And in true John Leek fashion he would always create some remarkable racing part from scratch... and it would cost buttons.
John was a gentle giant who has helped many, many people with their broken racing cars in paddocks. John's old BRM F1 transporter was a regular sight at all kind of racing events, and he always seemed able to work miracles out of the various collection of old parts to be found inside his transporter. Nothing was ever thrown away...he always had just the bit you needed "in stock".
John fought a long battle with illness, all the while continuing to work on his latest racing project. He never ever complained about his difficulties, and shortly before he passed away he was still working out how best to design and create a low-cost honeycomb chassis in the barn to replace the tube frame he had just made.
He gave his skills for free, and would help anyone genuinely in need. You will be sadly missed , John
Read more: http://specialsaloons.proboards.com/thread/288/sad...
John was involved in club motor racing as a marshal, a racing driver, and a race mechanic. He built several very successful cars, and was particularly well known for his outrageous Skoda special saloon creations, and his racing exploits with Tony Sugden and Jim Evans, to name but a couple.
I had the privilege of spending many, many years in a cold Yorkshire barn alongside John, whilst he patiently taught me the proper way to build and maintain racing cars, including a Cobra, a replica McLaren M1C which he built from scratch, and latterly a full race Ultima GTR. John could turn his skills to virtually anything from exquisite fabricating (and repairing) expensive monocoques, to designing a venturi and underfloor. And in true John Leek fashion he would always create some remarkable racing part from scratch... and it would cost buttons.
John was a gentle giant who has helped many, many people with their broken racing cars in paddocks. John's old BRM F1 transporter was a regular sight at all kind of racing events, and he always seemed able to work miracles out of the various collection of old parts to be found inside his transporter. Nothing was ever thrown away...he always had just the bit you needed "in stock".
John fought a long battle with illness, all the while continuing to work on his latest racing project. He never ever complained about his difficulties, and shortly before he passed away he was still working out how best to design and create a low-cost honeycomb chassis in the barn to replace the tube frame he had just made.
He gave his skills for free, and would help anyone genuinely in need. You will be sadly missed , John
Read more: http://specialsaloons.proboards.com/thread/288/sad...
John first started marshalling in the early 70's. He was asked by Jim Evans to mechanic his Escort in 1974, but had promised himself to the marshall's club, and so loyally carried on making Jim wait until he'd finished the full year, before helping out with the winter rebuild
I am still in very regular touch with Tony and Rose Sugden. Tony still has a National A Race License and was still driving Course Cars very quickly last year. His final Skoda special saloon (red) is still in pieces awaiting its rebuild. He's very keen to drive the last car John built.
Marcus Pye wrote a piece in the current Autosport for anyone interested, and will attend John's funeral on Wednesday 27th.
John was a very dear friend.
I am still in very regular touch with Tony and Rose Sugden. Tony still has a National A Race License and was still driving Course Cars very quickly last year. His final Skoda special saloon (red) is still in pieces awaiting its rebuild. He's very keen to drive the last car John built.
Marcus Pye wrote a piece in the current Autosport for anyone interested, and will attend John's funeral on Wednesday 27th.
John was a very dear friend.
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff