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
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Nordic
|
|
« Reply #1 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.
|
|
|
Logged
|
Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. H S Thompson 1937 - 2005
|
|
|
Fran
|
|
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2005, 10:47:45 am » |
|
A proper sporting gent, what a shame.
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Steve Pyro
|
|
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2005, 10:48:42 am » |
|
A very sad premature death of a highly talented driver.
|
|
|
Logged
|
Steve East Anglian cobras
|
|
|
Paddy_NL
|
|
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2005, 11:08:24 am » |
|
Only 34, what an age. Rest in peace.
|
|
|
Logged
|
Paddy's 2009: Spa LMS NBR 24 Le Mans 24 Spa24 NBR LMS Silverstone LMS =( Drinking for Holland
|
|
|
Lancs Se7en
CA Veteran
Sr. Member
Offline
Posts: 420
I love it sideways
|
|
« Reply #5 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
|
|
« Last Edit: November 26, 2005, 12:27:09 pm by Lancs Se7en »
|
Logged
|
Does it really only have full throttle
|
|
|
Lorry
|
|
« Reply #6 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
|
|
|
Logged
|
GENTLEMEN - Start your livers
For and on behalf of the Kent Kronenberg Owners Club
|
|
|
Snoring Rhino
|
|
« Reply #7 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 Bests 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
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
20vmk2_dub
|
|
« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2005, 05:45:59 pm » |
|
Very sad news indeed, a tragic loss for such a talented young man.
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Fax
Guest
|
|
« Reply #9 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
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
rcutler
Guest
|
|
« Reply #10 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.
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Chris24
|
|
« Reply #11 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 !
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Doris
|
|
« Reply #12 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.
|
|
|
Logged
|
Live imperfectly and with great delight.
|
|
|
Rhino
|
|
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2005, 09:12:55 pm » |
|
Sad sad news.
|
|
|
Logged
|
Never argue with an idiot, they'll only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
|
|
|
Bobblehat
|
|
« Reply #14 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.
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|