RE: Gerry Marshall dies at Silverstone
Friday 22nd April 2005
Gerry Marshall, 1941-2005Many in the motorsport world are today grieving over the death of Gerry Marshall, of one of the sport's most flamboyant drivers.
Gerry Marshall dies at Silverstone
A flamboyant driver and great human being has left us
Gerry Marshall, 1941-2005
 Old Nail in action, 1971 |
 |
 Old Nail in retirement |
He died of a fatal heart attack at the wheel of a Camaro at Silverstone. He's been described as "a wonderful driver who was "a personal inspiration and a great raconteur with an excellent sense of humour and a generous spirit."
Born 16 November 1941, he was a British saloon car racing driver, considered by many to be one of the best drivers of all time, according to a recent magazine poll. His professional driving career spanned four decades, in 2000 chalking up his 600th win in a race at Snetterton, Norfolk in an Aston Martin DB4. His first win was in 1964, driving a Mini.
However, he is probably best remembered for his flamboyant and crowd-pleasing style during the 1970s driving for Dealer Team Vauxhall in the racing Firenzas "Old Nail" and "Baby Bertha", and also the ill-fated V8 Holden-Repco Ventora, "Big Bertha".
He also won the 1971 Escort Mexico championship, driving for the same team as the equally respected rally driver Roger Clarke. Marshall's style has been described as "sideways, on-the-edge cornering style that was to distinguish his driving in any car, large or small, front or rear drive.” This outward appearance belied an extraordinary cool-headed ability and intelligence behind the wheel. His biography, published in 1978, is titled Only Here For The Beer.
Our sympathies go to his family and his many, many friends.
Discussion
Very sad news.
Gerry was a genuine character and one of the most entertaining drivers ever to get behind the wheel. I have spent many enjoyable days at Brands Hatch and Silverstone watching Gerry drive a variety of machinery sideways through every corner.
Whatever he was driving, be it Vauxhall or (someone else's
) Aston Martin Gerry always seemed to believe that it wasn't enough just to win, you needed to have a good time doing it and to entertain the crowd as well. A great philosophy.
RIP big man.
Gerry was a genuine character and one of the most entertaining drivers ever to get behind the wheel. I have spent many enjoyable days at Brands Hatch and Silverstone watching Gerry drive a variety of machinery sideways through every corner.
Whatever he was driving, be it Vauxhall or (someone else's
) Aston Martin Gerry always seemed to believe that it wasn't enough just to win, you needed to have a good time doing it and to entertain the crowd as well. A great philosophy. RIP big man.
My God, what a legend. Such a shame he's gone 
I saw him racing at Oulton Park Gold Cup, the other year, in that Camaro, the best sounding thing on the grid. One of the last of the 'greats' - Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Carroll Shelby, Paddy Hopkirk, John Rhodes ...Gerry Marshall.
One of motorsport's greatest characters. At least he died doing something he loved.
I saw him racing at Oulton Park Gold Cup, the other year, in that Camaro, the best sounding thing on the grid. One of the last of the 'greats' - Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Carroll Shelby, Paddy Hopkirk, John Rhodes ...Gerry Marshall.
One of motorsport's greatest characters. At least he died doing something he loved.
Very very sad.
Attending a track day at Brands organised by Mole Valley in '99 he took me on a 'fast lap' in my then fairly newish Griff. Overtook everything on the track, Fezzas, Caterfields, Loti, you name it
. Really opened my eyes to what the car would do, highly enjoyable and sh1t scary at the same time. Then instructed with me driving on a few more laps, thoroughly top bloke. A great loss.
Attending a track day at Brands organised by Mole Valley in '99 he took me on a 'fast lap' in my then fairly newish Griff. Overtook everything on the track, Fezzas, Caterfields, Loti, you name it
. Really opened my eyes to what the car would do, highly enjoyable and sh1t scary at the same time. Then instructed with me driving on a few more laps, thoroughly top bloke. A great loss.Very sad news.
Had the pleasure of lapping the old Grand Prix circuit at Brands with Gerry in a Griffith some years ago. Extraordinary level of car control that comes from natural ability.
A thoroughly nice chap that will be missed. My condolances go out to family and friends.
RIP.
M.
Had the pleasure of lapping the old Grand Prix circuit at Brands with Gerry in a Griffith some years ago. Extraordinary level of car control that comes from natural ability.
A thoroughly nice chap that will be missed. My condolances go out to family and friends.
RIP.
M.
Oh no....what a great loss....a wonderful character and an ex adversary on the track.
The only time I ever was in front of him was back in the early 70s when Baby Bertha stalled on the front row of the grid at Thruxton. I nipped through in the old Harry Potter special and spent the rest of the lap looking in my mirror. Sure enough, Bertha's nose and flanks started to loom large and I almost braked to get out of his way.
A great driver who will be sadly missed. The next Goodwood Revival will not be the same.
The only time I ever was in front of him was back in the early 70s when Baby Bertha stalled on the front row of the grid at Thruxton. I nipped through in the old Harry Potter special and spent the rest of the lap looking in my mirror. Sure enough, Bertha's nose and flanks started to loom large and I almost braked to get out of his way.
A great driver who will be sadly missed. The next Goodwood Revival will not be the same.
What sad news.
I spent one of the most terrifying laps ever, with Gerry instructing me at Snetterton in the Griff.
We had agreed, on the lap before, that I would not brake at the end of the Revett straight until he told me. As I passed my normal (i.e. mere mortals) braking point, willing my right foot not to lift, I glanced (very) nervously at Gerry, who yelled "not yet!".
The next 50m or so, before he decided I should hit the brakes, were some of the longest of my entire life. How I got through the following left-hander....
I feel very priviledged to have met one of my racing heroes - some of his TVR Tuscan Challenge performances in were simply awesome - but extremely sad that his character and driving style will not be seen again.
I spent one of the most terrifying laps ever, with Gerry instructing me at Snetterton in the Griff.
We had agreed, on the lap before, that I would not brake at the end of the Revett straight until he told me. As I passed my normal (i.e. mere mortals) braking point, willing my right foot not to lift, I glanced (very) nervously at Gerry, who yelled "not yet!".
The next 50m or so, before he decided I should hit the brakes, were some of the longest of my entire life. How I got through the following left-hander....
I feel very priviledged to have met one of my racing heroes - some of his TVR Tuscan Challenge performances in were simply awesome - but extremely sad that his character and driving style will not be seen again.
Sad news indeed..
He'll be missed by us all !
I hold Gerry responsible for getting me into motorsport
when I had the pleasure of being driven by, then driving him round Brands Hatch GP in a Griff.
His ability to control a rearwheel drive car was and will remain unbeatable.
Rest In Peace Gerry
Den Lyon
He'll be missed by us all !
I hold Gerry responsible for getting me into motorsport
when I had the pleasure of being driven by, then driving him round Brands Hatch GP in a Griff.
His ability to control a rearwheel drive car was and will remain unbeatable.
Rest In Peace Gerry
Den Lyon
Very sorry to hear about Gerry. He will be sadly missed. I and others used to compete with him in the special saloons in the 60's/70's and will always remember his never to be forgotten method of driving. I first met him on the streets of Wembley, (he lived in Barnet) and we had a bit of a dice on the road (you could in those days) and he ended up back at my Mothers house for a New Year's drink. He never changed.
Very sincere condolances to his family. The end of an era
Mike Berman (The Berpop)
Very sincere condolances to his family. The end of an era
Mike Berman (The Berpop)
What a sad loss.
I remember watching him at Brands in the 70s getting a Firenza ever more sideways each lap, until he overcooked it, the car rolled, ended on its roof and burst into flames.
Very prompt work by a track marshall put out the flames and dragged Gerry out of the car, whereupon Gerry nearly crushed the marshall to death with a very grateful bearhug.
I remember watching him at Brands in the 70s getting a Firenza ever more sideways each lap, until he overcooked it, the car rolled, ended on its roof and burst into flames.
Very prompt work by a track marshall put out the flames and dragged Gerry out of the car, whereupon Gerry nearly crushed the marshall to death with a very grateful bearhug.
What a sad sad day - my father-in-law sponsored Gerry in the Shaw and Kilburn Viva in 1970 and my wife who was a kid at the time says what ahoot he was to be around - her mother disapproved of Gerry which was always a good sign!
I remember that at some stage in the 1970's they organised a running race along the start/finish straight at Silverstone, all the fit young drivers lined up whilst Gerry rolled out of the bar and whipped them all.
A great character - we're all the poorer for his passing - nice he was doing what he loved best....
I remember that at some stage in the 1970's they organised a running race along the start/finish straight at Silverstone, all the fit young drivers lined up whilst Gerry rolled out of the bar and whipped them all.
A great character - we're all the poorer for his passing - nice he was doing what he loved best....
I'm with Den, Gerry Marshall was responsible for me taking up racing. Back in 1988 I had the pleasure of being drievn by him round Donington in a Lotus Excel, unbelievably sideways. The best of it, he was driving one handed, chewing on a cigar and wearing his flat hat!
Then it was my turn to drive, he egged me on ever more and more sideways. Told me he hated being a passenger on events such as this, but I had given him a very pleasant ride. I'd have been happy enough with that, but no, Gerry has to get out of the car in the pitlane and bellow to everyone there that "this guy knows what he's doing". A memory I'll treasure forever
Can't believe he's gone
Then it was my turn to drive, he egged me on ever more and more sideways. Told me he hated being a passenger on events such as this, but I had given him a very pleasant ride. I'd have been happy enough with that, but no, Gerry has to get out of the car in the pitlane and bellow to everyone there that "this guy knows what he's doing". A memory I'll treasure forever
Can't believe he's gone
Damn shame!
My Dad had a VX4/90, then a Victor 2.3 estate in the 70's and got me into Vauxhall when I was a kid. Natural progression was the DTV/Bill/Marshall Bertha's...Now I'm classic thundering, admittedly not in a VX but something big and V8.
All down to GM.
Not only was he great to watch, but on the couple of occasions I did actually meet him, he proved to be a proper old school gent..too few of those left these days!
He will be missed.
JWW
My Dad had a VX4/90, then a Victor 2.3 estate in the 70's and got me into Vauxhall when I was a kid. Natural progression was the DTV/Bill/Marshall Bertha's...Now I'm classic thundering, admittedly not in a VX but something big and V8.
All down to GM.
Not only was he great to watch, but on the couple of occasions I did actually meet him, he proved to be a proper old school gent..too few of those left these days!
He will be missed.
JWW
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