|
|
Post by smithy on Nov 11, 2010 22:11:22 GMT 12
Just wanted to put in a plug for the fantastic story of Tony Gaze by Stewart Wilson.
Tony was a Victorian who flew Spitfires with the RAF during the war and was also a very successful racing car driver in the post war years. It's a real "Boy's Own" story and I'm sure many members here would enjoy it.
Well worth picking up.
As an aside, Tony is still knocking around and recently was in the UK for the 70th anniversary Battle of Britain celebrations.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 12, 2010 8:16:02 GMT 12
What are the details of the book? Is "Almost Unknown" the title?
|
|
|
|
Post by yak2 on Nov 12, 2010 8:43:23 GMT 12
The man himself. Remarkable WW2 career that culminated in him leading the RAF's first operational Meteor squadron. After the war he was into motor racing and partcipated in 4 GP's (equivalent of Formula 1). Pic taken at Point Cook by ABC TV 'Talking Heads' program. For more details, check out the 'On The Roger' forum. ontheroger.proboards.com/ |
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Nov 12, 2010 9:34:08 GMT 12
I can recall seeing him racing in the early NZ GPs (when they were held at Ardmore)
|
|
|
|
Post by kb on Nov 12, 2010 15:14:55 GMT 12
Ah the Ardmore GP's. If I remember correctly he raced a 250F Maserati with the straight line nose rather than the later model with the downward curve as raced by Prince Bira (Sp?) and I think, Stirling Moss. Ken Wharton would have driven one also if he hadn't killed himself.
|
|
|
|
Post by smithy on Nov 12, 2010 16:09:21 GMT 12
Dave, "Almost Unknown" is the title of the biography of Gaze written by Stewart Wilson. Fantastic read and what a life. Keep an eye out for it. Yak2, that photo is from that "Talking Heads" programme which was on ABC1. They covered Tony earlier this year. The full transcript from it is here at the ABC site: www.abc.net.au/tv/talkingheads/txt/s2932723.htm |
|
|
|
Post by yak2 on Nov 12, 2010 18:23:15 GMT 12
Thanks for that Smithy. Have updated my earlier post accordingly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 12, 2010 19:05:15 GMT 12
Regarding the Ardmore GP, my Dad once got to hang out with Bruce McLaren and his team mate Timmy Mayer at the GP, back in the days when The Paddock really was just a paddock and all the security was relaxed. Timmy Mayer even let Dad sit in his Formula One car! How cool would that be.
|
|
|
|
Post by smithy on Nov 12, 2010 19:28:15 GMT 12
Timmy Mayer even let Dad sit in his Formula One car! How cool would that be. Stingy bugger could have let your old man have a once round the track ;D There's several mentions in the text of Gaze racing at Ardmore and the Lady Wigram Trophy race in Christchurch. He got to drive a mouthwatering assortment of cars although he was very lucky to survive a bad prang in a DB3 in the Portuguese Grand Prix of '53. Here's the cover Dave and others so you can keep an eye out for it  |
|
|
|
Post by steveh on Nov 13, 2010 10:27:35 GMT 12
These come up on Trademe occasionally, they always seem to conincide with my "poor" periods, ie most of the time, I should probably get it from the library as it has always sounded to me like a good read. Nice to read that Tony gaze is still with us. A living treasure.
Steve.
|
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Nov 13, 2010 17:46:27 GMT 12
Ah the Ardmore GP's. If I remember correctly he raced a 250F Maserati with the straight line nose rather than the later model with the downward curve as raced by Prince Bira (Sp?) and I think, Stirling Moss. Ken Wharton would have driven one also if he hadn't killed himself. The night before the 3rd NZ Grand Prix that Ken Wharton got killed in there was an event at one of the theatres in Auckland where you could meet the drivers. I got Ken's autograph and Jack Brabhams too. I don't know about Tony's without fishing out my autograph book and right now I have no idea where it is. The Gypsy Major powered Stanton Special was in the GP also. Great days (but a long time ago.) |
|
|
|
Post by Andy Wright on Nov 14, 2010 23:09:03 GMT 12
Lovely, big, heavy book. I always used to drool over the copy they had at the Temora museum shop but, like with Steve, it always coincided with a poor period (or, more correctly, a blown out month already). That was until I bumped into a couple of Spitfire veterans at a Temora show. Ten minutes later my copy of Almost Unknown had two signatures in it. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks!
|
|
|
|
Post by smithy on Nov 16, 2010 12:24:10 GMT 12
Actually for those interested, the latest airfreight issue (December) of English classic car mag, "Octane" has a bit with Gaze in it. It's in their Goodwood Revival feature and has an interesting piece about wartime RAF Westhampnett and has reflections and memories of some of the fellows who flew from Goodwood/Westhampnett during the war, including Tony.
On a Kiwi note, the article includes a photo of a couple of the 485 boys.
|
|
|
|
Post by boblace on Feb 5, 2011 18:53:53 GMT 12
I recently bought signed print No. 84/1000 of "Downing the Messerschmitt" by Jiri Strouhal.  |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 31, 2013 21:30:25 GMT 12
|
|
