Title: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: powermite on November 26, 2005, 09:03:55 am
Terribly sad new this morning that Richard Burns has passed away.
This From the BBC website
Richard Burns, who won the world rally championship in 2001, has died at the age of 34 after a long illness, according to The Times Online website.
Burns had not competed since he passed out at the wheel of his road car on the way to the Wales Rally GB in 2003.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery in April.
Burns was championship runner-up in 1999 and 2000 before becoming the first Englishman to land the coveted world title 12 months later.
Burns made his rallying breakthrough in 1990 when he won the national 205GTI challenge series and he then lifted the Mintex National series title.
He then joined Subaru and became the British Championship's youngest winner in 1993.
After a spell in the Asia Pacific Championship and the occasional world championship drive, he entered for his first full season in 1998, partnering world champion Tommi Makinen for Mitsubishi.
Twelve months later he moved to Subaru and he made his first title challenge as wins in Greece, Australia and Britain helped him finish second in the final standings.
In 2000 he looked on course to win the world title, having led the championship race for some time, but he was pipped to glory by Marcus Gronholm - even though he won the season-ending Rally of Great Britain.
However he was not to be denied and in 2001 he became the first Englishman to take the championship.
After a poor start to the season, he finished second behind Colin McRae in Argentina to spark his challenge. Two more runners-up spots followed before he earned his first victory of the campaign in New Zealand.
Another second spot - this time in Australia - set up a thrilling finale at the Rally of Great Britain where Burns delighted his home fans by finishing third, which was enough to clinch the title.
PM
This From the BBC website
Richard Burns, who won the world rally championship in 2001, has died at the age of 34 after a long illness, according to The Times Online website.
Burns had not competed since he passed out at the wheel of his road car on the way to the Wales Rally GB in 2003.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery in April.
Burns was championship runner-up in 1999 and 2000 before becoming the first Englishman to land the coveted world title 12 months later.
Burns made his rallying breakthrough in 1990 when he won the national 205GTI challenge series and he then lifted the Mintex National series title.
He then joined Subaru and became the British Championship's youngest winner in 1993.
After a spell in the Asia Pacific Championship and the occasional world championship drive, he entered for his first full season in 1998, partnering world champion Tommi Makinen for Mitsubishi.
Twelve months later he moved to Subaru and he made his first title challenge as wins in Greece, Australia and Britain helped him finish second in the final standings.
In 2000 he looked on course to win the world title, having led the championship race for some time, but he was pipped to glory by Marcus Gronholm - even though he won the season-ending Rally of Great Britain.
However he was not to be denied and in 2001 he became the first Englishman to take the championship.
After a poor start to the season, he finished second behind Colin McRae in Argentina to spark his challenge. Two more runners-up spots followed before he earned his first victory of the campaign in New Zealand.
Another second spot - this time in Australia - set up a thrilling finale at the Rally of Great Britain where Burns delighted his home fans by finishing third, which was enough to clinch the title.
PM
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Nordic on November 26, 2005, 09:24:33 am
Very sad to hear.
A talented guy behind the wheel, who was by all accounts a truly good and frendly person.
A talented guy behind the wheel, who was by all accounts a truly good and frendly person.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Fran on November 26, 2005, 10:47:45 am
A proper sporting gent, what a shame. :'(
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Steve Pyro on November 26, 2005, 10:48:42 am
A very sad premature death of a highly talented driver.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Paddy_NL on November 26, 2005, 11:08:24 am
Only 34, what an age. Rest in peace.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Lancs Se7en on November 26, 2005, 12:10:58 pm
Rest in Peace Richard Burns.
You are now alongside Roger Clark, Tony Pond, Henri Toivonen, Beefy, Sergio Cresto Des O'Dell et al in the greatest of all special stages.
RIP
You are now alongside Roger Clark, Tony Pond, Henri Toivonen, Beefy, Sergio Cresto Des O'Dell et al in the greatest of all special stages.
RIP
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Lorry on November 26, 2005, 01:29:05 pm
He'll be sadly missed by the local rally enthusiasts and his old friends in and around Reading. He was seen as a real local hero
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Snoring Rhino on November 26, 2005, 03:05:23 pm
Richards passing is truly tragic, especially when all the focus will be on George Best in the coming weeks, they were complete opposites as men – not taking anything away from Best’s footballing genius, shame he pissed it up, he was given a second chance with his Liver Transplant and went out and got pissed up and wasted it, OK its his life but it should have gone to somebody who would have appreciated it more. Fate did not give Richard a second chance, life can be very cruel, and why we should all be in awe of Mr Zarse and follow his example.
Not that Best's example should stop us, anybody who's not registered, It literally takes 2 minutes
https://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp
Not that Best's example should stop us, anybody who's not registered, It literally takes 2 minutes
https://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: 20vmk2_dub on November 26, 2005, 05:45:59 pm
Very sad news indeed, a tragic loss for such a talented young man.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Fax on November 26, 2005, 06:36:38 pm
Very sad news indeed. Its always a terrible tragedy when someone dies young but it always seems worse for a racer who lives in such an electric, high risk environment to be struck down by illness. It reminds me of Gunnar Nilsson or Tim Richmond, just not the way a born racer should go out.
Fax
Fax
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: rcutler on November 26, 2005, 09:06:13 pm
My condolences indeed. I was very shocked to hear the new this morning. He was a great sportsman and a huge loss to rallying worldwide.
Rick
Rob Pettafor
Tink.
Rick
Rob Pettafor
Tink.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Chris24 on November 27, 2005, 02:57:08 pm
I was driving my car across a lakeside car park in Nottingham, having spent the night in the car when I got a text message telling me the news. It stopped me dead in my tracks and i was unable to drive for a few minutes.
A very sad loss, we had taken the no news to be good news on Richards recovery, but sadly this was not to be the case.
Rest In Peace Burnsie !
A very sad loss, we had taken the no news to be good news on Richards recovery, but sadly this was not to be the case.
Rest In Peace Burnsie !
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Doris on November 27, 2005, 07:15:19 pm
Like Chris I was of the no news is good news belief. Sad news indeed. He seemed such a likeable chap.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Rhino on November 27, 2005, 09:12:55 pm
Sad sad news.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: Bobblehat on November 29, 2005, 12:30:57 am
Top bloke Burnsie, he made a point of waving at my kids when Rally GB came through town. R.I.P.
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: hgb on November 29, 2005, 08:16:50 am
Very sad news, RIP Burnsie.
http://www.richardburns.com/memorials/
http://www.richardburns.com/memorials/
Title: Re: Richard Burns has Passed Away
Post by: NormanD on November 29, 2005, 03:40:35 pm
Myself and my two sons were sorry to hear Richard had past away the other day.
We new him in the 80s when Richard and my sons Davis and Paul were all members of the Under 17 Car Club driving their fathers cars arround in their early teens at many venues including Castle Coumbe.
RIP Richard you will be greatly missed
We new him in the 80s when Richard and my sons Davis and Paul were all members of the Under 17 Car Club driving their fathers cars arround in their early teens at many venues including Castle Coumbe.
RIP Richard you will be greatly missed
