Gerry Marshall - The Ultimate Pistonhead
Discussion
It is with very sad tidings that I must tell you that Gerry Marshall died yesterday afternoon while testing at Silverstone.
The ultimate pistonhead was not only a great racer but a great lad and a great gentleman.
He still holds the record for the highest number of professional racing wins (over 600) and will be missed by everyone who ever raced with him or saw him race.
He was one of the greatest entertainers the sport has ever seen and with him goes a depth of knowledge on racing cars over the last 50 years that will never be replaced.
He was a man who knew everyone in the sport and everyone certainly knew him.
His car came to a halt in the gravel just outside the BRDC. He passed away doing the one thing that he had lived for all his life.
His life will no doubt be extensively documented in the magazines over the coming weeks and the stories of his his life are both hugely fascinating and hugely entertaining. Pubs, women and race cars. His lifestle would almost certainly have taken any of us a long time ago if we had tried to follow in his footpath.
It is a very sad day for British Motorsport and he will be hugely missed.
I shall be raising a glass to him this evening and I hope you will follow.
The ultimate pistonhead was not only a great racer but a great lad and a great gentleman.
He still holds the record for the highest number of professional racing wins (over 600) and will be missed by everyone who ever raced with him or saw him race.
He was one of the greatest entertainers the sport has ever seen and with him goes a depth of knowledge on racing cars over the last 50 years that will never be replaced.
He was a man who knew everyone in the sport and everyone certainly knew him.
His car came to a halt in the gravel just outside the BRDC. He passed away doing the one thing that he had lived for all his life.
His life will no doubt be extensively documented in the magazines over the coming weeks and the stories of his his life are both hugely fascinating and hugely entertaining. Pubs, women and race cars. His lifestle would almost certainly have taken any of us a long time ago if we had tried to follow in his footpath.
It is a very sad day for British Motorsport and he will be hugely missed.
I shall be raising a glass to him this evening and I hope you will follow.
At my sister's wedding, I had just graduated and the TVR Griffith had been launched about a year earlier.
He arrived in this gorgeous Mica Blue 4.3 modified BV. I borrowed the keys off him and sat in it with a mate and said: I'm going to have one of these.
Exactly a year later I was driving the very same car back from a pub lunch with Gerry and have owned it ever since. 11 years of great motoring.
He arrived in this gorgeous Mica Blue 4.3 modified BV. I borrowed the keys off him and sat in it with a mate and said: I'm going to have one of these.
Exactly a year later I was driving the very same car back from a pub lunch with Gerry and have owned it ever since. 11 years of great motoring.
That is indeed very sad news and my thoughts are with his friends and family 
I will be at Silverstone tomorrow and I'm sure that there will be a minutes silence for him, or at least I do hope so.
At times like this we should think of the good times (Big Bertha etc) and be thankful that his last day was spent doing something that he so obviously enjoyed.
I will be at Silverstone tomorrow and I'm sure that there will be a minutes silence for him, or at least I do hope so.
At times like this we should think of the good times (Big Bertha etc) and be thankful that his last day was spent doing something that he so obviously enjoyed.
Have to echo everything that's on here.
I never met him but have been to quite a few classic motor racing events at Oulton Park over the last 10 or so years - seeing his name on the grid for a race made it an event not to be missed. I particularly remember him chucking a big, red Healey 3000 around the international circuit.
I also read an interview in Motor Sport with him last month - sounded a top bloke and a real racer.
I never met him but have been to quite a few classic motor racing events at Oulton Park over the last 10 or so years - seeing his name on the grid for a race made it an event not to be missed. I particularly remember him chucking a big, red Healey 3000 around the international circuit.
I also read an interview in Motor Sport with him last month - sounded a top bloke and a real racer.
I remember, many years ago, watching him through binoculars from the grandstand at Woodcote. Big Bertha was braking when I think a pad came out or loose, and he had an almighty spin, but I don,t think he went over. (He also drove a Firenza at the same time, was that Baby Bertha?) As previoulsly mentioned, to see his name in a programe always made you rub your hands together in anticipation of a great drive. He will be missed.
Blimey, I'm gutted. Stylish end though.
I first saw Gerry back in 1979 dicing with the late Tony Lanfranchi at Mallory Park. The pair of them were an inspiration to me. It later turned out my crew chief won his first championship with Gerry in the 60s and I found that many people in motorsport had a "Gerry story" - Gerry really was a proper legend in his lifetime.
Gerry's driving style and results are the disproof of "sideways ain't quick" and his showmanship - right up to hurling the Alvis Grey Lady around Goodwood last year and sideswiping people with a 330 Ferrari - reminded us what F1 et al are so badly missing: entertainment and excitement.
I shall miss watching Gerry in action.
RIP Gerry.
I first saw Gerry back in 1979 dicing with the late Tony Lanfranchi at Mallory Park. The pair of them were an inspiration to me. It later turned out my crew chief won his first championship with Gerry in the 60s and I found that many people in motorsport had a "Gerry story" - Gerry really was a proper legend in his lifetime.
Gerry's driving style and results are the disproof of "sideways ain't quick" and his showmanship - right up to hurling the Alvis Grey Lady around Goodwood last year and sideswiping people with a 330 Ferrari - reminded us what F1 et al are so badly missing: entertainment and excitement.
I shall miss watching Gerry in action.
RIP Gerry.
Hi Nik,
Long time no speak.
It's a huge shame but as mentioned above, what a way to go. Absolutely text book.
He's practically the last from that era when motorsport was seriously dangerous (more to do with the booze and birds than the cars).
How are things with you? Drop me an email at the work address.
Tim.
Long time no speak.
It's a huge shame but as mentioned above, what a way to go. Absolutely text book.
He's practically the last from that era when motorsport was seriously dangerous (more to do with the booze and birds than the cars).
How are things with you? Drop me an email at the work address.
Tim.
Ahh Gerry, a life lived less ordinary!
Grateful to have had Goodwood for the last 5yrs and Gerry getting off his mobility thingy, into a Lotus Cortina and then spending most of a lap of Goodwood on 3 wheels and at some distinctly odd angles
Sad that he is gone? Perhaps. Glad that he lived to entertain as long as he did? Absolutely.
All lives end folks and there aint much you can do about, just be grateful we have what we have and do your best to enjoy it.
On the plus side Whizzo Williams is still alive
Grateful to have had Goodwood for the last 5yrs and Gerry getting off his mobility thingy, into a Lotus Cortina and then spending most of a lap of Goodwood on 3 wheels and at some distinctly odd angles
Sad that he is gone? Perhaps. Glad that he lived to entertain as long as he did? Absolutely.
All lives end folks and there aint much you can do about, just be grateful we have what we have and do your best to enjoy it.
On the plus side Whizzo Williams is still alive
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