Mark Dixon
04-12 2021 00:13
wrote:
Tony gave me my first job in motoring journalism late in 1989, as sub-editor on Classic Cars magazine when he was editing the title. He was literally a larger-than-life character, slightly scary to a tyro hack, but a great boss with a wicked sense of humour and some brilliant anecdotes, usually involving successes or failures with the ladies in his younger days… I remember a 'works outing' to France in a Ford press-fleet Transit, with Tony at the wheel; on the return trip, coming down a twisty section of dual-carriageway, a Cavalier-driving rep made the mistake of trying to burn him off, resulting in us younger members of staff cowering on the floor in an attempt to lower the van's centre of gravity – needless to say, Tony 'won'. He was always the racing driver. While our paths diverged over the next 20 years or so, I'm pleased to say we rekindled our friendship when he started freelancing for my current title, Octane, and even more pleased that we managed to get out to his favourite pub a couple of times during his crippling illness. That's how I'll always remember him: appreciating a good pint and sharing a laugh.
Mark Dixon
04-12 2021 00:13
wrote:
Tony gave me my first job in motoring journalism late in 1989, as sub-editor on Classic Cars magazine when he was editing the title. He was literally a larger-than-life character, slightly scary to a tyro hack, but a great boss with a wicked sense of humour and some brilliant anecdotes, usually involving successes or failures with the ladies in his younger days… I remember a 'works outing' to France in a Ford press-fleet Transit, with Tony at the wheel; on the return trip, coming down a twisty section of dual-carriageway, a Cavalier-driving rep made the mistake of trying to burn him off, resulting in us younger members of staff cowering on the floor in an attempt to lower the van's centre of gravity – needless to say, Tony 'won'. He was always the racing driver. While our paths diverged over the next 20 years or so, I'm pleased to say we rekindled our friendship when he started freelancing for my current title, Octane, and even more pleased that we managed to get out to his favourite pub a couple of times during his crippling illness. That's how I'll always remember him: appreciating a good pint and sharing a laugh.