Richard Thorpe / RT Racing
Discussion
I’ve just found out about the sad passing of one of the Legends in the TVR world. Sadly Rich passed away three days ago. I thought some of you might want to know.
The TVR world has plenty of Charlatans in it, but I always found Rich to be honest and an absolute gent. He did me many favours when he didn’t have to, some small, some big.
Krystina, (his fiancé), has asked for old stories, funny quips and anecdotes about Richard. I thought here might be a good place to post them so I can send her the link. I’ll post a couple myself later on when I’ve got over the shock of this.
God speed Rich. You’ll be sadly missed mate.
The TVR world has plenty of Charlatans in it, but I always found Rich to be honest and an absolute gent. He did me many favours when he didn’t have to, some small, some big.
Krystina, (his fiancé), has asked for old stories, funny quips and anecdotes about Richard. I thought here might be a good place to post them so I can send her the link. I’ll post a couple myself later on when I’ve got over the shock of this.
God speed Rich. You’ll be sadly missed mate.
Very sad news. He repaired my Chimaera and arranged for it to be painted. I asked him if he welded other cars and he said he did but preferred doing TVRs. I told him I was buying a Rover SD1 which would probably need welding. To which he answered there was always room for one of those in the garage.
A nice genuine bloke.
A nice genuine bloke.
N7GTX said:
Very sad news. He repaired my Chimaera and arranged for it to be painted. I asked him if he welded other cars and he said he did but preferred doing TVRs. I told him I was buying a Rover SD1 which would probably need welding. To which he answered there was always room for one of those in the garage.
A nice genuine bloke.
Was yours the SD1 that was parked on the right hand side of the workshop for a few years ? A red one IIRC?A nice genuine bloke.
I was so sad when I learned of Richard's passing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TVR-MP said:
N7GTX said:
Very sad news. He repaired my Chimaera and arranged for it to be painted. I asked him if he welded other cars and he said he did but preferred doing TVRs. I told him I was buying a Rover SD1 which would probably need welding. To which he answered there was always room for one of those in the garage.
A nice genuine bloke.
Was yours the SD1 that was parked on the right hand side of the workshop for a few years ? A red one IIRC?A nice genuine bloke.
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 RT Racing is now called Central RT Racing (sorry if I'm quoting old news here) https://www.rtracing.co.uk/.
Sadly none of us will be allowed to attend the funeral, unless we are really close to him.
A great loss to the Marque.
Sadly none of us will be allowed to attend the funeral, unless we are really close to him.
A great loss to the Marque.
Chatting with Richard one year, and he mentioned he had put 3 stage Nitrous on a Griffith 500, giving an extra 100, 200 and 300 bhp respectively. He said that +100bhp was about right, as when he tried the +300bhp, he was glad he was in the middle of an empty motorway as it was a full on brown trouser moment!!
A true gentlemen and will be sadly missed.
A true gentlemen and will be sadly missed.
One thing that always struck me about Richard was his friendliness and willingness to help.
He did me a big favour allowing me to rent a ramp off him during the resto of my Land Rover, allowed me to store my toolboxes down at his whilst I was working away and gave me a job when I came back to Sheffield,
The kettle was always on down at RT, Rich always available for a friendly chat or to offer advice, and the workmanship from Pete, Russ, Steve and the other guys at RT was second to non.
Yep, he’ll be sadly missed. I always enjoyed having a nose about down there and seeing what crazy projects were on the go and what rarities of the TVR world were down there.
He did me a big favour allowing me to rent a ramp off him during the resto of my Land Rover, allowed me to store my toolboxes down at his whilst I was working away and gave me a job when I came back to Sheffield,
The kettle was always on down at RT, Rich always available for a friendly chat or to offer advice, and the workmanship from Pete, Russ, Steve and the other guys at RT was second to non.
Yep, he’ll be sadly missed. I always enjoyed having a nose about down there and seeing what crazy projects were on the go and what rarities of the TVR world were down there.
Richard became a friend when I moved to Sheffield 6 years ago - my Chimaera needed a bit of chassis welding for an MOT, which turned into a full body off restoration. Since then hrs helped me out many times by phone in minor problems, I helped him with his move to the new unit, his fish pond and a parking ticket!
He was genuinely gutted to have to leave the business, but his last few months were full of adventures to the USA and great happiness with Krystina.
I believe there's going to be a memorial meeting when all this has settled down, and I'm sure there will be the obligatory 1 minutes V8 rumble.
His funeral is April 14th at 3.30pm, but as above, very limited numbers able to attend.
I'll be raising a glass of red at home though.
He was genuinely gutted to have to leave the business, but his last few months were full of adventures to the USA and great happiness with Krystina.
I believe there's going to be a memorial meeting when all this has settled down, and I'm sure there will be the obligatory 1 minutes V8 rumble.
His funeral is April 14th at 3.30pm, but as above, very limited numbers able to attend.
I'll be raising a glass of red at home though.
Mutley00 said:
Very sad.
A great loss to the Marque.
100% agree, Richard's association with the marque and the club goes back decades. A great loss to the Marque.
Really sad to hear this, he was always happy to help out even an incompetent mechanic, like myself. I recall speaking to him several times back in the early 1990s when he was TVRCC helpline for 350i
I have only just heard the sad news and wanted to add my immediate thoughts.
Rich was a key founding member when we started the TVRCC Tasmin Challenge aiming to bring affordable racing to TVR drivers and fans.
I have too many memories to put in a short note but to put it bluntly.
Big guy...
Big heart!
RIP Bud.
Steve Lewis
Rich was a key founding member when we started the TVRCC Tasmin Challenge aiming to bring affordable racing to TVR drivers and fans.
I have too many memories to put in a short note but to put it bluntly.
Big guy...
Big heart!
RIP Bud.
Steve Lewis
To coincide with Richards funeral, noise was duly made.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJ4rTf0tkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJ4rTf0tkE
KKson said:
To coincide with Richards funeral, noise was duly made.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJ4rTf0tkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJ4rTf0tkE
I only found out via FB last night, I'm genuinely shocked.
Very friendly guy gone far too soon.
I haven't seen him for 20+ years but we always used to meet during the classic TVR events during the early to mid 90's.
I remember when he bought a white 450SE, lovely car. One of my mates had pre-printed a sticker to be placed on his rear number plate.
Knowing he was always up for a laugh we stuck it on when he wasn't looking....it read "SWL One Thorpey"
Not realising the sticker was on the car he overheard a young lady say "Oh look, that's Thorpey's car"...he was dumbstruck how she knew his name!
Great times, RIP mate.
Very friendly guy gone far too soon.
I haven't seen him for 20+ years but we always used to meet during the classic TVR events during the early to mid 90's.
I remember when he bought a white 450SE, lovely car. One of my mates had pre-printed a sticker to be placed on his rear number plate.
Knowing he was always up for a laugh we stuck it on when he wasn't looking....it read "SWL One Thorpey"
Not realising the sticker was on the car he overheard a young lady say "Oh look, that's Thorpey's car"...he was dumbstruck how she knew his name!
Great times, RIP mate.
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