Colin Mcrae - Thoughts And Memories

[iainc]

I've read a fair bit about this today on various sites and newspapers. Was late hearing about the accident itself until I was speaking to a mate late on last night.

Got to say that I still feel like I'm in a bit of shock despite hearing about it last night. I never knew him or met him personally like some on here, but I do remember following all of his rallying exploits (even after he left Subaru). There's little more that can be said that hasn't already on all of the various forums. He was still quite young and had plenty of rallying days left in him IMO.

He'll be missed by us all and thoughts have to go to the families of all involved in the accident, to lose one person in an accident must be hard but when you lose a husband and a son (or son and grandson) it must be terrible.

Iain.

[Spaceman]

Gutting is all that describes these events for me.

Been a a fan of Colin and his driving since i was about 10 years old and he won the World championship, and like most from then on wanted a Subaru. Will be sadly missed and my thoughts are With all involved with the Tragic events.

Greig

Edited September 17, 2007 by Spaceman

[grant@AWD]

SO SO sad

My thoughts are with the familys

[scientific steve]

i always wondered how a person with such a calm, quiet, laid back manner was such a wild entertainer behind the wheel of any car he was driving.

stunning to watch and behold but alas no more

gone is one of the true greats of scottish and world motor sport

not a waste, just such a sad loss

RIP

[vicki]

My thoughts are with Colin's family and friends at this very sad time.

Rest in Peace Guys.

[Robbie09]

Still cant believe it what a true legend

been a terrible few years for rallying

with the loss of both Colin and Richard so close together

like many others on here if it wasnt for Colin

i probably wouldnt of had a Subaru

watched you rallying many times and you have made rallying what it is today

also played for many many hours on numerous of your playstation games

you will be sadly missed

Condolences to all the families involved in the terrible accident

R.I.P Colin, young Johnny, Graeme and Ben

[terzo neil]

my thoughts are with the family and friends who perished

the guy was a god behind the wheel, no one could match him

Edited September 17, 2007 by Terzo Neil

[steves scooby]

what more can we say that has not been said already.RIP COLIN MCRAE,JOHNNY,BEN,GRAEME,what a loss

[DR Motosport]

I've been reading the comments above in these pages for 2 days now, and I still don't think it's sunk in yet.

I've been a big rally fan since the days of Group B back in the mid 80's, and I first remember watching Colin rally his Nova about 20 years ago. But it wasn't until a few years later when i joined the Coltness Car club that he became a friend.

He would turn up at the club meetings in Hamilton with his new company car, a black LHD Legacy RS. This was at the time he joined the Subaru team to rally the Rothmans Legacy in the British Championship.

For those that didn't know him he may have come across as quiet and shy, but in reality he wasn't like that. If there was mischief to be done, he and his brother were usually at the centre of it. Here's a few of the stories that I've remembered today - that can be repeated.

Colin and Derek Ringer once used a Nova to compete in a local road rally late one Saturday night on the back roads of Lanark. But the poor car was hammered that close to death, the plastic wheel trims had started to melt due to the overheating brakes.

How Derek ever explained that to his wife I don't know. It was his wife's car they had borrowed.

Years later Colin was doing the course car duties on the McRae stages rally in his 6R4 Metro at the time he worked for Ford. One of his engineers had agreed to do the co-driving for him. Half way through the day I spoke to Colin and asked how it was going. He said his co-driving friend started the day by being sick after the stages, but he was now that worried he was now being sick going to the stages. It probably didn't help when Colin took the pace note book and rubbed out a full page of pace notes and replaced them with the words "Flat 2 1/2 miles".

Now where in Scotland is there a road that's straight for 2 1/2 miles never mind a track through the forrests. No wonder he was ill.

While we have all lost a hero and a friend; my thoughts are with all three families who have lost so much more.

David

[markymark]

A tragic waste of four lives

[kloon]

Apologies if this has been posted already, lifted from another board. Say's it all really.

Up at five and really so keen,

To see the bond of man and machine

3 hours to drive to get to the start

We all have a laugh and so full of heart

We know it is early, the weather is damp

But we need to see cars come off the ramp

Through fog and rain we push on with style

We know the main man is due in a while

Then comes a whistle, the marshal says time

A car is now coming through forests of pine

Its howl is so frightening, like a banshee on heat

There is no escape, as we shuffle our feet

And suddenly now its why we are here

McRae over crest of course in top gear!

Its been worth the wait, the weather, the toil,

To see the brave Scot here on home soil

But now there is silence, and its deafening too

Cos you and the wee man have bid us adieu.

So rest in peace Colin you and your lad

You gave us your best, John be proud of your dad.

The memories you left us are all just the best

You shone like a star, just simply the best.

Colin you"re a mate and thats what we all thought

It made you our hero and that just cant be bought.

Now your in heaven with your boy and at rest

But you left us the true meaning of FLAT OVER CREST!

[Big P UK300]

I've been reading the comments above in these pages for 2 days now, and I still don't think it's sunk in yet.

I've been a big rally fan since the days of Group B back in the mid 80's, and I first remember watching Colin rally his Nova about 20 years ago. But it wasn't until a few years later when i joined the Coltness Car club that he became a friend.

He would turn up at the club meetings in Hamilton with his new company car, a black LHD Legacy RS. This was at the time he joined the Subaru team to rally the Rothmans Legacy in the British Championship.

For those that didn't know him he may have come across as quiet and shy, but in reality he wasn't like that. If there was mischief to be done, he and his brother were usually at the centre of it. Here's a few of the stories that I've remembered today - that can be repeated.

Colin and Derek Ringer once used a Nova to compete in a local road rally late one Saturday night on the back roads of Lanark. But the poor car was hammered that close to death, the plastic wheel trims had started to melt due to the overheating brakes.

How Derek ever explained that to his wife I don't know. It was his wife's car they had borrowed.

Years later Colin was doing the course car duties on the McRae stages rally in his 6R4 Metro at the time he worked for Ford. One of his engineers had agreed to do the co-driving for him. Half way through the day I spoke to Colin and asked how it was going. He said his co-driving friend started the day by being sick after the stages, but he was now that worried he was now being sick going to the stages. It probably didn't help when Colin took the pace note book and rubbed out a full page of pace notes and replaced them with the words "Flat 2 1/2 miles".

Now where in Scotland is there a road that's straight for 2 1/2 miles never mind a track through the forrests. No wonder he was ill.

While we have all lost a hero and a friend; my thoughts are with all three families who have lost so much more.

David

He was the best at what he did , the guy was a driving masterclass !

He will be remembered by my generation forever , and sadly missed

Paul

[jason751]

My Nan passed away this week so it's been difficult for me as it's really hit me hard.

But Kaz gave me a poem to remember her by and I'd like to share that with Colin's family.

My deepest thoughts are with all the families who knew Colin and his Son.

"If tears could build a staircase,

and memories a lane,

I'd walk right up to heaven,

and bring you home again"

I love the poem Frenchy. Nice one.

[Mako]

Some wonderful touching comments. This just hasn't sunk in yet. So So sad.

The man as has already been said was a Hero, a Legend.

Colin, you and Johnny are forever in our thoughts.

Russ & Jackie

[Pepsi]

I have joined this forum to say how sorry and saddened i am to hear of Colin McRae`s tragic passing.I am a member of the Ford RSOC and we are doing something special to celebrate the life of Colin(Flower tribute and Car sticker) and I still can not believe he has gone, so cruel too with the added heartache of his son, and the other child and friend.......

I was watching the news24 and a load of scoobies went into the road where i guess Colin lived,and there was about 15/20 of the cars, it made me cry even more.VERY VERY TOUCHING......

I live at the bottom end of the country(Cornwall) and Colin had the ability to touch people all over the world.......R.I.P.Colin you were a driving God , from one still shell-shocked lady.............hope you dont mind me sharing my feelings with you guys/girls.

[muddy]

Sad loss of a great man.

My condolences go out to all.

R.I.P

Craig & Tanya

[P1Daveyboy]

A very sad loss to the familys involved. My heart and thoughts go out to them. A great person a great personality a great driver. He will be missed and remembered by many of his fans around the world. RIP Colin, one of the best.

[paddy247]

Very sad loss of life, my thoughts go out to the family's and friend's,

Gone but never forgotten!!

Edited September 17, 2007 by paddy247

[bogie]

What a major loss in so many ways.

Colin you'll never be forgotten

RIP Colin, Johnny, Ben & Graeme

[andy]

Websites all over the world are carrying tributes to the genius that was Colin McRae. I've taken a couple of tribute posts from my Motorcycle Trials website to post here that show another side to Colin.

The first is posted by a guy known as "Big John". He's as anal as it gets on the sport of Trials. He could tell you what colour underpants any given rider, out of 270 riders was wearing on any given day in the 1964 Scottish Six Days Trial!

Just to add a little more information on Colin McRae that is not widely known and will no doubt be of interest on this, a trials website. We all know Colin McRae as being the 1995 World Rally Champion, but he started out his motorsport career as a Scottish trials rider in the then "schoolboy" (now known as youth) ranks.

It was at the instigation of his father Jimmy, who, as a member of the Avon Valley Club was foremost a Scottish scrambles rider who actually came second in the 1969 Scottish ACU Scrambles championship riding a 25cc Y4 AJS, the winner being Roy Black on a Jimmy Morton sponsored Bultaco.

Jimmy McRae realised the benefits of his son Colin riding trials as it was an excellent way to learn about different surfaces and what can happen if you do not read the ground in front of you. There was a really nice photo made very large of Colin riding a 200cc Montesa Cota twinshock, well actually a photo of him picking the bike up having had a big five in a section. It appeared at one of the Scottish Motorcycle Shows not too many years ago. Colin was more than a little embarrased when he called in on his way home and spotted it on display at the McRobert Pavillion at Ingliston that year!

Colin did go on to win the Jack Gow Trophy for the 1981 Scottish Intermediate Trials Championship. Colin maintained an interest in the sport of trials, but never really made a comeback to it, having sampled motocross and latterly some enduros.

Colin as a youth was a member of the Lanarkshire MCC during his trials riding career.

From humble beginnings, but with the aid and assistance of his five times British Open Rally championship winning father, he went on to greater things in the four wheel arena, but that has all been spoken about in various books and publications over the years.

Rest in peace Colin, you have made a lot of Scottish people proud to be Scottish having achieved greatness in the world of motorsport.

Sincerest condolences to Jimmy and his wife Margaret who have not only lost their eldest son but also a grandchild in this terrible accident and of course not least of all to his widow and the rest of the McRae family.

The other story isn't about Colin and Trials at all. It comes from a Trials rider, yes, but shows the fun side of Colin we never really got to see as, publicly, he remained the consummate professional.

"Was skiing in Verbier earlier this year - the guy who had been teaching me stopped to chat to some bloke parked up on a quad when we were walking back into the village from the lift. The guy happened to be Colin McRae who was sussing out one of the long pistes to drive UP it in a Nissan pickup the following day as a publicity stunt. He didnt make it all the way up, but lordy if you had seen what he was having a go at!!

Colin had apparently caused chaos the day before by setting fire to some paper napkins under his mates seat in a restaurant."

Two totally different views of Colin and two totally different people, neither of whom were rally fans. Just just two tiny examples of how Colin affected people, as he affected the lives of so, so many others. The world is, without doubt, a poorer place without him around.

Colin - word of warning - if you're setting fire to napkins under chairs up there, there's this really big bloke called God. He's a bit scary and apparently knows quite a bit. It's not advisable to do it under his chair

[dec14n]

So so sad, such a terrible end for such a talented man.

Thoughts to his wife and family on losing colin and his son.

Thoughts to for the families of the 2 others lost in this accident.

[hosstheboss]

As Sir Jackie Stewart said on the national news yesterday Colin was a true ambassador for Scotland and for Motorsport in general, liked by all who knew him.

RIP Colin, Johnny, Ben and Graeme.

[sKunk]

Absolutely gutted at the news

A true loss to Scottish motorsport and world motorsport.

My thoughts are with the families involved in this tragic accident.

[ScoobyDav]

Very sad news

My heartfelt condolences go out to the families involved

R.I.P

[the squiggle]

Scotland has lost one of its favourite sons but god has gained one hell of a chauffeur

RIP Colin and wee Johnny Gavin