Hi Guys and Galls
Last summer I went to a pal's garden party about 50 miles north of my home.
There were several racing guys there and whilst talking to the caterers one
of the ladies said they'd recently catered for a local old gentleman called
'Merrick' who'd been in motor racing years ago. Wondering if this was the
same Merrick I knew from years ago from the midlands I decided to trace
him. To my delight it turned out to be Ray Merrick who's E type I looked
after on the 1962/3 Monte Carlo Rally. I hadn't seen Ray since, so I
decided to pop over to Newark to see him last Saturday.
We had a marvelous afternoon which was only marred for me when I learnt
that Ray's son Mike, who co-drove with him on the Monte, sadly died twenty
years ago.
It also came to light, to my complete surprise and delight, that Ray drove
a TR2 in the Tourist Trophy race at Dundrod in Ireland in 1954 when six
TR's finished and won the first and second team prize. I must admit I knew
that a 'Merrick' drove a TR in this race with Maurice Tew - but I had no
idea it was Ray. He also drove a Standard Ten in the 1955 Monte Carlo rally
and finished unpenalised but can't remember where he finished.
He also raced single seaters in F2 and F1 and he told me, with tears
welling in his sparkling blue eyes that, due to burglaries at his homes
over the years, every one of his forty five cups - some gold - have been
stolen. He also said he'd attended every British Grand Prix (he's a life
member of the BRDC) since the event started, but this year he thinks he'll
sadly give it a miss because of the long journey and his failing sight.
As I left he asked me if I would come back to see him again soon. I will
pop in to see him regularly from now on of course - and he doesn't know it
yet but he's also going to the Grand Prix this year.
All the best
Paul
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