Discussion
Others who enjoyed his driving and his journalism will no doubt be saddened by Tony Dron's passing.
I first came across his writing as a car mad youngster reading my father's T&CC magazines which he took over as editor. That was about the time he secured a class win at Le Mans in a Porsche 935. A motoring journalist with the credentials to really tell us how the cars handled on the limit.
Some years later I was passed on the A316 coming into town by a fast moving 105E Anglia, Dron at the wheel. Later when I had the chance to speak to him he told me how much he enjoyed 'slower'; cars like the Anglia and Morris Minors. Quite the opposite of the Le Mans Porsches. Since then a prolific winner in all sorts of diverse historics, and before I can remember a prolific winner in Dolomite Sprints.
RIP
Jon
I first came across his writing as a car mad youngster reading my father's T&CC magazines which he took over as editor. That was about the time he secured a class win at Le Mans in a Porsche 935. A motoring journalist with the credentials to really tell us how the cars handled on the limit.
Some years later I was passed on the A316 coming into town by a fast moving 105E Anglia, Dron at the wheel. Later when I had the chance to speak to him he told me how much he enjoyed 'slower'; cars like the Anglia and Morris Minors. Quite the opposite of the Le Mans Porsches. Since then a prolific winner in all sorts of diverse historics, and before I can remember a prolific winner in Dolomite Sprints.
RIP
Jon
I am sorry, you are right. When Tony was editor of T&CC I never missed an issue, he had deep knowledge and was obviously a talented driver, but the thing I really remember was the simple pleasure he took in all kinds of cars, not just racing monsters like the 935 Le Mans Porsche I remember him driving, and writing about.
His was an inclusive and eclectic passion - he wasn't a car snob or a slave to brand image but a real enthusiast.
His was an inclusive and eclectic passion - he wasn't a car snob or a slave to brand image but a real enthusiast.
I first became aware of Tony Dron when I started reading T&CC mag in the 80s. While I enjoyed the features he wrote, it was the "running reports" about his own cars I really looked forward to every month. Whether it was a 911 2.2 S, a 2CV or the white Zephyr his enthusiasm for such a disparate collection of cars always jumped off the page, and I'm sure many people enjoyed the glimpses of what it was like to actually live with these cars on a day to day basis
RIP
RIP
I shall truly miss my friend. When he came to Le Mans he stayed with us when Audi closed their "hotel" on the Salon des Expos opposite the entrance to the circuit. I have so many photos of him racing, especially at Goodwood and Le Mans, and when I was in the UK we had lunch at his favourite pub. In his later years he restored his own car, a 1930 Austin 7, and he was to be seen driving it on the motorway to London and to the RAC club. Once, he was late for our lunch, and it turned out that there were roadworks holding him up. Finally, as I looked out of the pub window, this blue Austin 7 appeared on opposite lock as Tony frantically tried to make up time.
I have so many memories of him, all good, and I am convinced that the Emphysema he suffered was probably caused by brake dust from his racing career. He drove my C-type at the Festival of Speed, he raced E2A at the Classic amongst other cars, and he and I exchanged emails to the end. I have so many photos of him racing, but I give you this one of him relaxing around the pool at our house, chatting to friends, enjoying a beer. It is how he would wish to be remembered. To T1 from T2, I hope that you are still racing with your friends in the sky. You will be sorely missed.
I have so many memories of him, all good, and I am convinced that the Emphysema he suffered was probably caused by brake dust from his racing career. He drove my C-type at the Festival of Speed, he raced E2A at the Classic amongst other cars, and he and I exchanged emails to the end. I have so many photos of him racing, but I give you this one of him relaxing around the pool at our house, chatting to friends, enjoying a beer. It is how he would wish to be remembered. To T1 from T2, I hope that you are still racing with your friends in the sky. You will be sorely missed.
Back in the late 80's we used to participate in the British Heart Foundation charity events held at Snetterton in the Autumn. Members of the public could stump up between £4 and about £10 for a few laps in the passenger seat of anything from a Mini to a pukka RS500 touring car. Our car was the "Trakway" TR4, in case anyone can remember that far back.
I was lucky enough to have a "spirited" ride with Dron in an MGB. He was laughing and joking all the way, particularly at the Russell Chicane, which in those days was a proper high speed affair, bouncing off the kerbs.
It was an experience I will never forget.
R.I.P. Dron
I was lucky enough to have a "spirited" ride with Dron in an MGB. He was laughing and joking all the way, particularly at the Russell Chicane, which in those days was a proper high speed affair, bouncing off the kerbs.
It was an experience I will never forget.
R.I.P. Dron
I first came across TD when he was a young writer for Motor in the early 70s .I think we were born in the same year Back then Motor was a little less buttoned down and old school than its rival Autocar, and TD was part of that . He was young , cool . wrote well, with a dash of iconoclasm and . best of all, he was a racer . Motor was good at employing them , with Paul Frere and the wonderful Roger Bell , and Dron carried on that tradition. I followed his career on track with interest, but he was far too tall to make it in single seaters (he looked out of place in the F3 car against the typical whippet like racer ) but shone in saloons and historics .
I have continued to enjoy his prose in the historic/classic press, and he was always a man with a well argued opinion . His brother was also a journalist of course but Tony was pre-eminent , in my book ,.
I have continued to enjoy his prose in the historic/classic press, and he was always a man with a well argued opinion . His brother was also a journalist of course but Tony was pre-eminent , in my book ,.
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