Sad News - RamJam (Read 3,674 times)

[gazman]

It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform that my good mate and Speedway buddy Al Buxton ( RamJam ) passed away today.

Al was a major contributor to this site for many years and is known by many in the NZ Speedway family.

He died peacefully at home in Lower Hutt.

I will post funeral details when they are known.

Rest in Peace Brother.

[theothermikeyb]

Very sad. Was definitely one of the characters on here.

[Macgor]

Sad news indeed, rest easy my friend.

[Stumo]

Aw mate our ole Rammers...
A true character of speedway commentary and really the reason you all put up with me now on the mic was because of Al.
Will sure miss the weekly phone chats about results from the countryside

[Tapped]

Sad news indeed. A true character of the world, and the sport always ready with a funny yarn and a quick joke.

RIEP my friend.

[nakifans]

Your Quotes, one liners and knowledge are legendary
R.I.P. RamJam

[tiroto]

Awe gee Rammy Jammy gonna miss you buddy. Ngā mihi nui e hoa! Haere atu kei tua i te arai i roto i te aroha nui o te Atua. Moe mai! Here's a smiley face for you brother.

[Tony]

I've just woken to the news about Allan. Stu and I were talking about him with Andrew McKeeman at Harrisville last weekend, and had decided to find a way to get him to Te Marua next year to at least be a part of the New Zealand Stockcars. We traveled together a few times, to Huntly, Kihikihi and a fantastic road trip to Gisborne; Allan was wonderful company, with a huge catalogue of stories, one-liners and not-so-gentle putdowns to keep you in your place, but always delivered with the best intentions. I am honoured to have been able to work with him and done speedway with him, but more than anything, to have called him a friend.

I know Rammers was a big Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, and this song seems especially appropriate today; fly free my buddy

[midway]

He had a great heart of gold .Rest in peace my friend ,thanks for the phone calls .

[Sharns With Sparky]

Absolutely blown away, this man was the reason I had so much passion in the sport with his wealth of knowledge (encyclopaedia some would say)

You’ll be dearly missed friend NZ Stockcars next season won’t be the same without seeing your face

[BarryB]

Apr 6, 2024 6:40:49 GMT 12 Tony said:

I've just woken to the news about Allan. Stu and I were talking about him with Andrew McKeeman at Harrisville last weekend, and had decided to find a way to get him to Te Marua next year to at least be a part of the New Zealand Stockcars. We traveled together a few times, to Huntly, Kihikihi and a fantastic road trip to Gisborne; Allan was wonderful company, with a huge catalogue of stories, one-liners and not-so-gentle putdowns to keep you in your place, but always delivered with the best intentions. I am honoured to have been able to work with him and done speedway with him, but more than anything, to have called him a friend.

I know Rammers was a big Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, and this song seems especially appropriate today; fly free my buddy

Tony, I'm not going to be able to find any words better than yours. To awake just before noon - which is usual for me these days - to such news is extremely sad. Thank you Mintie for letting me know. The last time I commentated with Rammers was actually at Wanganui, along with yourself Tony, and from memory I was only there because Mintie was unable to make the date. A rainout then meant Big Al had to leave before the second night, and thus missed the Rees family 1/2/3 in the NI Superstocks, Asher, Ethan and Pete.

From memory Allan missed Palmy Teams Champs one year to go see his favourites Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert in Taupo, and he's also never let me forget an afternoon at Kihikihi where I was commentating - when he called in to the comm box say hello while on the way to Auckland to a concert by The Cult - and how I dropped him in it by suggesting he call the next race and wandered off. He's always reckoned since that I gave him the Peewee Solos or some such thing, but I'm sure I wouldn't have been that cruel.

I'm so glad Al got to make his trip to America before his health got too bad. He said it was the trip of a lifetime, and so it has proved. R.I.P. Rammers.

Barry B

[Tony]

It's our Memorial Night tonight Barry, and I plan to add Allan's name to the list of those we remember, and observe a moment's silence for. I know he'd absolutely hate that! But he did a number of meetings at Oceanview and has a lot of friends around the place who will be sad to hear he's no longer with us.

[TonyT]

RIP. Had the pleasure of meeting Al and talking over commentary strategies a few years back. He was an interesting and significant part of speedway culture.

[numbum]

I first met Alan at Palmy in the late 1970's and have had a great friendship since, I was also able to help him with his books when he had a Taxi business, speedway will not be the same knowing that we won't catch up at events in the future, my son is starting out with commentating and I hope that he will carry some of Alan's wisdom with him.
Rest well my friend you have earned it.
Peter Gibbs (Numbum)

[wildcatsfan]

Deepest sympathy to the family, will be sadly missed by so many of us in the speedway family. 

[shayne293]

Absolutely gutted to hear this news earlier today. Although I only met him in person a couple of times I was blown away with how much this absolute gent would go out of his way to help and promote his sport and country. Tony Stuart introduced us to him back in 2013 we met up at a bar in Palmy before the teams had a beer and soon learned banter was gonna be the menu for a friendship of the north south hemisphere 😁. A few days later after running from palmy teams south towards Wellington he let us know he would be up for a meet and a coffee if we wanted too. We ran late so couldn’t make it that night. It would have been good but not to be. However we said we would be about in Welly for a full day due to the delay. He actually asked if it was ok with us because he didn’t want to impose on our holiday if we wanted to he would meet us the next day. Sounded fine with us a coffee and a bite would be nice….No this gent had booked off work and spent the day driving us around Wellington showing us all the sites he was proud of took us to proper food places we would never have found and even accidentally introduced us to the NZ prime minister at the time 😂.
I have continued to keep in touch for the past 10+ years because he genuinely was a friend through all of our good and bad times
Such a humble gent I will miss him so much 😞
RIP My Friend Al Ramjam

[Tapped]

Nice touch at te marua tonight with the superstocks rolling out griding up and a minutess silence, followed by a few hotlaps.

[conrod]

Very sad to log on and see this, most of us have interacted with his knowledge and wit he was 2nd to none and a great lose to speedway and even more here on Macgor’s RIP Ram jam


Peter Bennett

[Tony]

From Donna:

A memorial service for Allan Buxton will be held at 2pm on Thursday 11th April 2024 at St Peter and St Paul Catholic Church, 60 Knights Rd, Lower Hutt. Although being held in a church this is not a religious service more a time for friends, colleagues, and family to share their memories of good times with Allan.

The celebrant will be Brian Ross.

See you tomorrow, I guess

[Tony]

I’m just back from Wellington and Ramjam’s memorial service. He was adamant he didn’t want a funeral service so was privately cremated earlier in the week. Lots of stories were shared this afternoon at the service and the aftermatch. Many of them started with “True story” Allan’s trademark introduction to a tall tale! There was a strong Speedway presence there and it was great to catch up with a couple of people from Macgors.

Despite not wanting a fuss made, I suspect Allan would have privately been chuffed with the service. We’re all going to miss you mate, but we’re all happy you’re now at peace. Rest well Ramjam.