Rally History (part II)

**ReWind** · 9th August 2008, 08:09

@seacasa:
Geraint "Gerry" Phillips was a rally co-driver (look here for Tjeerd's statistics on him) & a journo.
He was born in 1931 (I don't know the exact date but would like to learn it) and died in Kenya in a traffic accident in December 1996.

**ReWind** · 9th August 2008, 10:22

From AUTOSPORT's (short and uncredited) obituary (12 Dec 1996)

Rallying lost one of its most endearing characters last Wednesday when Gerry Phillips was killed in a road accident in Kenya. The veteran journalist was in the country he loved for the memorial service of a friend when the accident happened.
Phillips, like Denis Jenkinson, was a lynchpin of reportage in Motor Sport and for many his reports from the World Rally Championship were a vital link with the series.
His experience was vast and it should not be forgotten that he was Ari Vatanen's co-driver when the fiery young Finn made his overseas debut on the Rally of Jamaica in 1975.
Whether it was recounting outrageous and hilarious stories in his own blend of Welsh and Swahili, puffing on his trademark pipe or enjoying his second love of fying a helicopter, Gerry was the life and soul of many a party.

Unfortunately there are no hints at his family members.

**FAL** · 9th August 2008, 15:43

Originally Posted by seacasa

Sorry to bother you, but you've come up in my search. The Geraint Phillips listed in one of your posts - did he have a house in Ditton, nr Maidstone, Kent and another place in Naivasha, Kenya, a son called Allin and a daughter named Kerry (?), and was he a helicopter pilot as well as an ex rally driver?? IF so, then I guess that sadly he must be the same Gerry Phillips who was a very dear friend of mine, until I lost contact with him during 96 and have been trying to get back in touch with ever since.I would be SO grateful for ANY information you might be able to give me on this PLEASE.

I cannot think of anyone else in rallying with the same name who would remotely fit your description. Apart from co-driving the likes of Ove Andersson, GP was Rallies editor of Motoring News (now Motorsport News) under the same pseudonym "Verglas" used by his predecessors back to Stuart Turner.
The only place of residence I have seen was Glynnedd, Morgannwg in early 1970s but it would fit that he had to live somewhere nearer London later on when working for Motorsport as well as MN. He developed a passion for Kenya after first reporting on the Safari, made friends there with people who flew light aircraft and I think I recall him eventually having a place there.
The best forum I could suggest asking on is :
http://www.britishrally.co.uk/rally/
Some older rally people post there regularly, although many are too young to be able to give you a definitive answer.

**dkone** · 10th August 2008, 21:54

Originally Posted by Juha

Here's the Nissan list. All codrivers are belgian, unless specified otherwise

Juha thank you very much for the great list. I have compared these files to the ones in my records and found some variations:
1) Everett - Circuit des Adrennes 1983
According to my records he finished 3rd, not fourth
2) Everett - Haspengouw 1983
I think he retired with a broken gearbox
3) Roothaert - Hannut 1985
My records say he finished 3rd and not 6th
4) Roothaert - TAC 1985
I have found a source saying he retired because of "voortrein", but would not know how to translate it correctly.

Again thanks for you help so far. Doing some further research on the web I found images of the 240RS on two events in Belgium in 1987. Hopefully someone can fill the gaps:

Rally Hautes Fagnes 1987
No. 1 was a red Nissan driven by Duez Was this Marc Duez? And would anybody know the result and the name of his codriver?
Also Flory Roothaert drove a Nissan on this event. I am missing the result of him, the name of the codriver and the start number.

Rally Hannut 1987
I am missing the result and name of Flory Roothaerts codriver
Also Mondron drove a 240RS, would anybody know the registration, result and name of his codriver?

Finally I am looking for the dates of some events:
Snowman Rally 1988
Wydean Stages 1988
Cork 20 1988

Sorry for asking so many questions. Hopefully I will be able to help other users of the forum in the future. I should have a lot of sources to answer questions about WRC events in the 1970s and 1980s.

Thanks
Dkone

**Juha** · 11th August 2008, 00:36