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Post by nzrscene on Mar 15, 2019 11:08:30 GMT 12
Ron Willoughby a past president of the ASSCC passed away on Sunday 10 March. Ron was an engine builder on the North Shore and raced a very potent Ford Cortina 22A. When Cowan and Black Promotions pulled out of Waikaraka Park, the ASSCC took over the lease of the track with Ron at the helm. They were hard times as the Club had to clear all of Cowan and Blacks debt in order to get newspaper and radio advertising plus the overdue rent of the Park owed by the previous promoters. Ron and the Committee worked hard at reducing this debt and to get the confidence of suppliers. I was co-opted onto the committee in 1980 and spent three years working under Ron's Presidency. Ron finally stepped down in 1983 when Mike Lynn was elected President. Many great memories working alongside Ron on the Committee plus watching him taking many wins on the track. The chequered flag has finally fallen. R I P Ron.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2019 11:31:01 GMT 12
Sad news indeed, the hard charging 22a is etched into my memory banks for ever . R.I.P Ron  |
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Post by Colin E on Mar 15, 2019 11:42:46 GMT 12
RIP Ron, some great memories of that car and your driving. Used to love the battles you had with the likes of Mike Whale, Ray Wright, Allan Pellow in the Escort just to name a few.
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Post by hienekenno1 on Mar 15, 2019 11:44:49 GMT 12
Very sad,remember the white no22 Cortina well,alot of great drivers leaving us at the moment,R.I.P Ron.
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Post by racin14a on Mar 15, 2019 11:51:29 GMT 12
RIP Ron, use to look after my Hemi engine back in the mid 70’s and was a great president of the asscc
Kevin Jamieson
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Post by nzrscene on Mar 15, 2019 13:24:23 GMT 12
Ron was also responsible for bringing American NASCAR drivers Donnie Allison and Neil Bonnett to Waikaraka Park in 1983 to race against Mike Whale, Ray Wright, Ron Willoughby, Geoff Fletcher plus many more. It was a meeting that TVNZ covered as an outside broadcast that was replayed a week later on the Sunday Sports programme on TV1. Still have a clean BETA copy of the meeting all thanks to Ron.
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Post by midway on Mar 15, 2019 19:39:17 GMT 12
He was a very pleasant gentleman to talk too about many of the interesting happenings in not only the ASSCc,but life in general .
Peter Church and his good lady with Ron ,always made a effort to say hello on race day ,as years pass by the memories dont .
R I P. Ron .
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Post by panicstations on Mar 17, 2019 12:29:06 GMT 12
Sad to hear Ron has passed... I really appreciated his engine building expertise and rye humour 😊
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