Sad day

[big rumbly]

Just seen on the news That Tony Pond has died. For those like me that followed Tony in the 70's and 80's, the sight and sound of him in the TR7 V8, Vitesses, and 6R4's, will remain forever.
He will be sorely missed.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/motorsport/world_rally/newsid_1816000/1816544.stm

[Dave_H]

That's a real shame. He was one of the first drivers I remember watching on TV when I first got the motorsport bug.

Big shame.

[Ahonen]

Yes, very sad. Bloody quick and a decent bloke; not an arrogant tosser like some current drivers.

[andymadmak]

I have some wonderful memories of Tony Pond from when they were trying to rally the big Rover SD1 Vitesses. Tony was one of the first drivers to have a TV camera in the car. ITV (I think) were broadcasting the event and the overexcited commentator gave Pondy the big build up as he waited for the off. Cut to the in car camera as the big Rover launches away from the line. First corner and Tony leaves the road and hits a tree. End of rally! The silence was stunning and I swear I heard my first TV broadcast expletive!
Also, if my memory is correct, didn't he also do a thing for TV when he lapped the Isle of man TT circuit in the big Rover? Awesome stuff. I will miss him.
Andy

[phil hill]

Having been out of the country for a week I thought it was only me who had missed this, but maybe not. I found out yesterday when stooging on the Mini Se7en yahoo group, then confirmed with some rally news groups. A very sad day for all rally fans, Tony was an entertainer behind the wheel of some strange and difficult machinery (Rover Vitesse, TR8, 6R4, Datsun Violet).

[gnomesmith]

I remember seeing film of TP on the TT Course in a FWD Rover Vitesse, I think it was an update of previous laps in an SD1 Vitesse.

I met TP in the Autosport Tower at Silverstone, he was everything other Pistonheads have said. He told me that he had tried to talk Rover into a Short wheelbase 2 door SD1 Vitesse for LeMans badged as an MG. He thought it would top 170 on the Mulsanne and would really annoy the French. He had a wicked sense of humour, I wonder if he was winding me up...I found his story very credible at the time, doubt only set in back on the M40.

[straga]

I watched TP do the TT course in the Rover 'Fastback' and as I recall it was the first 100+ mph lap done by a car! Very impressove when you see the roads and also In a pretty standard car (uprated shocks only I think.)

[mags]

Ahhh old memories of when at school I used to go to the hairdressers and they had their walls covered in posters of Leylands finest being 'yumped' by TP.
Sadly missed

Mags