Richard Thorpe has passed away.

[grahamw48]

(From cancer )

I was so sad when I learned of Richard's passing (via Facebook).

Just a lovely genuine bloke, who always made you feel important, and welcome, at his business...and of course a true TVR enthusiast and fount of knowledge. Wedge specialist for decades.

He will be really missed by so many, and I do hope that some sort of memorial for him can be organised, once this horrible virus situation has been wound down.

I'm told that his funeral will be April 14th. Sadly, I won't be able to attend, as I now live in the Philippines, but my thoughts will be with the big man.

[Mutley00]

Very sad. Met him loads of times when I popped in at dinner time for a chat and to get his recommendations on which Chim to buy. I loved his 'shoot from the hip' opinions. When I took the plunge he did a great job servicing my car. He'd not been well for a while and Adrian at Central TVR had been helping out running the business and I think RT Racing is now called Central RT or something similar (sorry if I'm quoting old news here).

Sadly none of us will be allowed to attend the funeral, unless we are really close to him.

A great loss to the Marque.

[2001se]

Absolutely gutted.. what a fantastic helpful man.. a big big loss to wedge owners and it’s a sad day

[Spanish S2]

When I first bought my s -series car, he was the first man I took it to, he checked it over and put my mind at rest that I got a decent car. I even drove over from spain a few times so he could service and improve it. A really nice, witty, tvr man through and through, he will be sadly missed.

[andymadmak]

Very sad. A lovely bloke and a real wedge expert. I wrote a piece fot PH years ago about how he set up the suspension on my 400se.
RIP Richard. I'll attend the service in spirit, i no longer have a TVR but i'll be starting a V8 at the time and revving in memoriam

[adam quantrill]

RIP Richard, I spent many a happy hour chatting over the phone about wedges, when I ordered a few parts from RT Racing.

A true character in the TVR world.

[andymadmak]

I remember when Richard rebuilt an old Tuscan Race Series car as a road car. The chassis and prep were a work of art. He fitted it with some sort of monster Chevy V8 punching out over 600bhp.
He told me that he was going to take it to Spa or Zolder or somewhere Belgium way for a track day as its first outing. Fast forward a week or so and I'm back at RT to pick up my car and I asked Richard how it went in Belgium. He looked very sheepish, and said, 'Never made it'.
Crikey, says I, wouldn't have thought it would break down given the care that went into building it!

Well, said Richard. "I was on my way to Hull for the ferry, and it just stopped dead on the motorway and I couldn't get it going again. Ended up being recovered. " The subsequent fault finding revealed that it had run out of fuel........Richard's monster V8 was doing 4mpg, and it had drained the tank. No fuel gauge meant he was unaware of the prodigious thirst of the beast he had created!

I think he detuned it a bit after that!

[Mr Tank]

Hi

This is very sad news, Richard was a great person, plus he was a great supporter of TVR's especially Wedges, he will be missed.

RIP Richard

[rev-erend]

That's very sad news.

RIP Richard and good wishes to your family and friends in these sad times.

You will be missed but remembered by many.

[taz turbo]

Such sad news.

I knew Richard pretty well and for a long long time, had some great times over a beer or three. Still think about his round the world in eighty days story quite regularly

Condolences to his family.

RIP Richard.

[Convert]

Just to add to Graham's post. Richards funeral is @ 3:30PM onthe 14th April.

I, for one, will be firing up my Wedge and giving it a good rev for him.

[KKson]

Convert said:

Just to add to Graham's post. Richards funeral is @ 3:30PM onthe 14th April.

I, for one, will be firing up my Wedge and giving it a good rev for him.

Sounds like a plan!

[rev-erend]

Hope it goes well tomorrow.

[SEvans]

Very sad news. Most of the suspension on my Wedge was bought from Richard years ago. Had many a chat with him about what options to fit. A really knowledgeable guy and always very helpful. A sad loss. I will be reving up the Wedge tomorrow in his honour. Steve

[colin mee]

I never met him.but will be giving the wedge a good rev for him.colin

[andymadmak]

So Guys, 3.30pm today. Wherever you are, REV IT FOR RICHARD!

[gas mart 1]

Count me in, I will Rev For Richard.

[KKson]

Yep, I'm on it. Just wondering how I rev the SEAC and 390SE simultaneously. Might have to get the teenager involved.......

Update - noise was duly made. RIP Richard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJ4rTf0tkE

Edited by KKson on Tuesday 14th April 15:59

[Spanish S2]

I did rev it for Richard RIP

[andymadmak]

KKson said:

Yep, I'm on it. Just wondering how I rev the SEAC and 390SE simultaneously. Might have to get the teenager involved.......

Update - noise was duly made. RIP Richard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJ4rTf0tkE

Edited by KKson on Tuesday 14th April 15:59

Magnificent!

My current V8 (Maserati) is nowhere near as noisy as these fine wedges!