Peter Gethin has died.
Discussion
RIP
Peter Gethin.
Here are the highlights for his win in 71.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
Peter Gethin.
Here are the highlights for his win in 71.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
My parents got me a single seater experience at Goodwood around 1993/4, back when the pits were still corrugated iron sheds. He took an interest in all of us there and made sure we all, even my mother, enjoyed our day. That day probably set me on the course that brought me to PH, Le Mans and much more.
A lovely guy. RIP
A lovely guy. RIP
Streps said:
RIP
Peter Gethin.
Here are the highlights for his win in 71.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
Apparently, after the race, either on the way to the prize giving, or on the way back, the car that Gethin and team boss Louis Stanley were in suffered a puncture and the winner of that afternoon's Italian GP wound up changing the wheel himself with 'big Lou' standing over him chuckling.... Peter Gethin.
Here are the highlights for his win in 71.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
Met him at Autosport International a few years ago - no big hoo hah - the fastest Grand Prix winner in history was just there to meet a few chums and do a deal or two. He was remarkably small I recall and very modest
Peter Gethin won the Italian Grand Prix as - all wide eyed - I was discovering Motor Sport, so he'll always be a hero.
It's a sad loss but I guess he'll be able to spin a yarn with Gerry Marshall in Motor Sport Valhalla!
Peter Gethin won the Italian Grand Prix as - all wide eyed - I was discovering Motor Sport, so he'll always be a hero.
It's a sad loss but I guess he'll be able to spin a yarn with Gerry Marshall in Motor Sport Valhalla!
PG won the closest GP finish (that was a race) as well.
When I was in charge of a police driving school I arranged for him to take my instructors out on circuit and then he took us out in a 4x4 Sierra. This latter one seemd a good idea at the time.
Some doubts arose in my mind as we drifted, on full opposite lock, around a corner that to me was blind. I felt it reasonable to mention his overtake into a closing gap with a tanker coming towards us. It was so close I turned my head away from the window as I expected the glass to shash during the collision.
When asked about it he replied: It was only a milk tanker.
So we'd be crushed, but not burned by some chemical.
Very pleasant chap, helpful and accessible. He didn't talk down to us in any way and my instructors were very impressed - as was I of course, and as they should be. He signed a copy of a motor racing book for me with a smile and a thank-you.
The most notable thing about him, apart from his impressive car control, was his size. I sat behind him in the Sierra and even at 6'3" had masses of leg room.
That was the fastest I'd ever been on a road given the conditions. He was awesome.
When I was in charge of a police driving school I arranged for him to take my instructors out on circuit and then he took us out in a 4x4 Sierra. This latter one seemd a good idea at the time.
Some doubts arose in my mind as we drifted, on full opposite lock, around a corner that to me was blind. I felt it reasonable to mention his overtake into a closing gap with a tanker coming towards us. It was so close I turned my head away from the window as I expected the glass to shash during the collision.
When asked about it he replied: It was only a milk tanker.
So we'd be crushed, but not burned by some chemical.
Very pleasant chap, helpful and accessible. He didn't talk down to us in any way and my instructors were very impressed - as was I of course, and as they should be. He signed a copy of a motor racing book for me with a smile and a thank-you.
The most notable thing about him, apart from his impressive car control, was his size. I sat behind him in the Sierra and even at 6'3" had masses of leg room.
That was the fastest I'd ever been on a road given the conditions. He was awesome.
Jasper Gilder said:
He was remarkably small I recall and very modest
Derek Smith said:
The most notable thing about him, apart from his impressive car control, was his size. I sat behind him in the Sierra and even at 6'3" had masses of leg room.
His dad Ken was a jockey - won the 1000 guineas and Coronation Stakes in the late forties...thanetspeedshop said:
Jasper Gilder said:
He was remarkably small I recall and very modest
Derek Smith said:
The most notable thing about him, apart from his impressive car control, was his size. I sat behind him in the Sierra and even at 6'3" had masses of leg room.
His dad Ken was a jockey - won the 1000 guineas and Coronation Stakes in the late forties...On the parade lap for the second start all that one could see of Gethin was the top of his helmet. There was no way he could see the road. He pulled in and didn't start.
(Minor editing to correct date.)
Edited by Derek Smith on Tuesday 6th December 10:55
RIP mate!
Peter took me up the Hill at Goodwood many years ago, it was brilliant fun. We were in an Aston Martin and Stirling Moss was trying to overtake in his GTO all the way up the Hill. Peter was not going to let Moss by!
Cheers for the memory.
Peter took me up the Hill at Goodwood many years ago, it was brilliant fun. We were in an Aston Martin and Stirling Moss was trying to overtake in his GTO all the way up the Hill. Peter was not going to let Moss by!
Cheers for the memory.
Edited by Mr Senna on Tuesday 6th December 12:19
Far too young to go, such sad news. Peter was my instructor when I first ventured into the sport, he gave me much encouragement and confidence which under his guidance allowed me to sail through the ARDS test in 94, if I have my dates right.
I continued to benefit from his instruction and experience but of all the things he taught me it was his air of complete calmness regardless of how badly I was driving, "shall we do that again" was a phrase I seem to remember. I will always be grateful for his support and belief that with some effort, I could be a half decent driver.
My sincere condolences to all his family and friends, RIP Peter, you will not be forgotten as either a great driver or a special person.
I continued to benefit from his instruction and experience but of all the things he taught me it was his air of complete calmness regardless of how badly I was driving, "shall we do that again" was a phrase I seem to remember. I will always be grateful for his support and belief that with some effort, I could be a half decent driver.
My sincere condolences to all his family and friends, RIP Peter, you will not be forgotten as either a great driver or a special person.
Edited by Racing Rod on Tuesday 6th December 17:28
Peter Gethin will always in my mind be sadly associated with the events in 1971 at the non championship race at Brands Hatch celebrating Jackie Stewarts World Championship. I was spectating at paddock when the noise of Grand Prix engines started to subside and a terrible black pall of smoke could be seen over the trees somewhere in the GP loop. A gloomy silence descended over the spectators as as everyone instinctively knew that this was very very bad. That Afternoon Jo Siffert died.
Why then does the sad death of Peter take me back all those years to that terrible afternoon? At the time it was impossible to take it all in, surely not another death, there had been so many that year.......why now when we are celebrating Stewarts success........ here and now on this pleasant afternoon.......it seemed so totally unreal.
Then the cars started to slowly return to the pits (I by then had walked around to Clearways)and Peter Gethin (who later was declared the winner and was of course Siffert's team mate)appeared in his BRM with his head bowed and almost buried into the steering wheel; at that point I understood that Jo was dead. That moment is seared into my memory like it was just yesterday, along with the unworldly silence that descended over the circuit that afternoon in 1971.
Ian
Why then does the sad death of Peter take me back all those years to that terrible afternoon? At the time it was impossible to take it all in, surely not another death, there had been so many that year.......why now when we are celebrating Stewarts success........ here and now on this pleasant afternoon.......it seemed so totally unreal.
Then the cars started to slowly return to the pits (I by then had walked around to Clearways)and Peter Gethin (who later was declared the winner and was of course Siffert's team mate)appeared in his BRM with his head bowed and almost buried into the steering wheel; at that point I understood that Jo was dead. That moment is seared into my memory like it was just yesterday, along with the unworldly silence that descended over the circuit that afternoon in 1971.
Ian
Edited by Ipelm on Tuesday 6th December 17:54
Derek Smith said:
When I was in charge of a police driving school I arranged for him to take my instructors out on circuit and then he took us out in a 4x4 Sierra. This latter one seemd a good idea at the time.
Some doubts arose in my mind as we drifted, on full opposite lock, around a corner that to me was blind. I felt it reasonable to mention his overtake into a closing gap with a tanker coming towards us. It was so close I turned my head away from the window as I expected the glass to shash during the collision.
When asked about it he replied: It was only a milk tanker.
So we'd be crushed, but not burned by some chemical.
There is an entirely 'other' way of thinking exhibited by many who drive quickly. Have you seen the (in)famous video of Ari Vatanen and Terry Harryman in the Opel Manta 400 on the 1983 Manx Rally? A different worldview. RIP PGSome doubts arose in my mind as we drifted, on full opposite lock, around a corner that to me was blind. I felt it reasonable to mention his overtake into a closing gap with a tanker coming towards us. It was so close I turned my head away from the window as I expected the glass to shash during the collision.
When asked about it he replied: It was only a milk tanker.
So we'd be crushed, but not burned by some chemical.
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