Re: RIP Jason Richards
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 05:16 am
Bottom post of the previous page:
That's a shame, RIP.Incorporating Farzad's F1 Gallery & F1Onboard.com
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Bottom post of the previous page:
That's a shame, RIP.Inspirational was one thing Jason was to the max. To me he was in his own way getting up towards the Zanardi's of this world in terms of inspiring others facing major battles, by treating his own suffering with a smile and a positive outlook that is so important in the fight for a quality of life when the going gets tough.Jason Richards wrote:I've had some negatives - and you have to feed yourself positive energy.
"Cancer, depression, I'm sure there are a whole bunch of things in the world. Anyone who is not feeling happy in life needs to find the thing that makes you happy and go do it.
"For me, my clarity is racing a car. It's so refreshing. If I can inspire people who have what's happening for me, that's a real positive.''
I wish that just one of his three runner up trophies at Bathurst could have been a win. Sadly his talent far outweighed what the stats show, as Brad Jones highlighted. He spent too much time in poor teams, but always seemed to punch well above his weight when it came to the many times he put ordinary cars in places they rightfully should not have been."In the competitive world of V8 Supercars Jason was a rare breed - a driver that could tread the fine line between rivalry and friendship."
"He was never secretive, selfish or bad-tempered and had endless enthusiasm and energy for his job and team."
“The history books will not do him justice. Given the right equipment, ‘JR’ was easily a front-runner but chose team loyalty over personal gain, determined to work with his crew to reach the front of the grid together.
"Through the highs and lows of racing, JR's uplifting presence and casual, self-effacing wit were unwavering and his effect he had on team morale is irreplaceable. He will forever be a member of the Jones family and this is a tragic day in the team's history."
This is an interview with Jason and Mark Beretta from the Sandown round of the championship. I think, perhaps, deep down in his heart, even if he wouldn't admit it, Jase knew his time was coming to an end. But he faced that with real courage and always with a smile. That is how he should be remembered.Everso Biggyballies wrote:
He raced in the support races at Bathurst, just two months ago in October.....Cheeveer wrote:Super sad news, especially since he was racing just this past summer. Very bummed about this.
Everso Biggyballies wrote:Jason Richards WILL compete at Mount Panorama
OK, before we all get overly excited, yes he will be appearing at Mt panorama to drive, but not in the feature 1000k event. Instead he has been confirmed to be driving an HQ Holden in the Touring Car Masters class for the support races.
Richards has planned on attending the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 with his regular V8 team Brad Jones Racing, but says he is looking forward to the trip even more now that he has a race seat.
A friend of mine I know from my days of racing in the Historic Tourers, Tony Hunter, who happens to be the owner of Sunliner Caravans (probably the largest caravan and motorhome supplier certainly in Victoria) and regular competitor in the Historic Touring Car Masters driving a 280kph 1971 Holden HQ Monaro, with 600+ bhp 350 Chevy engine has kindly offered Jason not only the use of the Monaro at Bathurst, but thrown in a motorhome as well so Jason can make it an event for his whole family to enjoy.This is the car he will be driving:Jason Richards wrote:“John Bowe and Tony Hunter were the instigators of it. They’ve got it up and running,”
“Tony is lending me his HQ Holden, and a motorhome, so we’re going to do a bit of a family trip up to Bathurst.
“I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy racing those types of cars. I enjoyed racing in the Muscle Car Masters in the Torana, and that is one of the reasons why this came up.”
Race 1 Video onboard with JasonIn another outstanding drive Jason Richards was in a battle with the experience of Seton as Youlden’s HQ had serious focus on the tarmac ahead. Coming through the chase to complete the opening lap, Bowe went around the outside of Matt O’Brien who soon cruised into the run off, his gearbox having failed towards the end of the most competitive lap the car has completed so far.
While Jason Richards was making the pass on Abelnica, ahead was Seton all out of shape on the run up the mountain, while Youlden now had Bowe hot on his bumper. Jim Richards was revelling in the action behind, extending his lead to three seconds while still driving the Sprint hard, determination a key.
Mercer’s run was interrupted early when a clip came loose causing an electrical fault that saw the GTHO cruise into the pits for a quick fix, re-entering the circuit only to have the same clip add Mercer to the DNF list. Back on track the battles were continuing with Bowe keen to pass Youlden’s HQ, the Mustang firing up the inside of the HQ seeing Youlden spin, and as Bowe moved to go around through Forrest Elbow, Miedecke came flying into view with contact between the series front runners leaving Bowe’s headlight on the track.
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Action everywhere had Jason Richards still battling with Brad Tilley and Seton as they went three wide out of turn one, but it was the reigning champion out front running his own race and still posting the fastest lap.
Race 2 Video onboard with JasonThe lead group was looking settled, Jim Richards continuing to lead the field, with Seton in second with a decreasing split, followed by Jason Richards and Bowe after Bowe went wide through the chase and moving into fourth. Jim Richards wasn’t letting up, almost touching the wall across the top of the mountain as Seton closed the gap to be all over Richards’ bumper through the chase and looking around the outside of the Sprint through the final turn, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Jim Richards brought it home with a lead from start to finish, but he took the glory by a mere 0.27 seconds from the hard charging Seton having missed all the drama behind but happy with the race win saying,
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Jason Richards, Bowe, Brad Tilley, Miedecke and Abelnica pushed each other to the line, before Mason and Cameron Tilley crossed the line in a battle royale of their own, three tenths apart in the run to the flag.
Race 3 Video onboard with JasonAs the lights came on one last time, the classic engines roared to life and it was go. Miedecke had another slow start seeing a mad scramble once more, Jason Richards forced his way right to left leaning on Bowe, action man of the weekend Stillwell went to the grass to pass O’Neill, Keene pushed to the centre for room, as pole sitter Bowe, Seton and Abelnica charged into the first corner. A crush of muscle hot on their bumpers.
Three wide up mountain straight, Abelnica was charging to the fore with the experienced Seton and Bowe pushing hard. It was the two Falcon XB’s leading the way across the mountain, Seton making his move to take the lead at Bathurst through the chase, Bowe pushing to the inside to take second through the final turn, Abelnica now heading series guest star Jason Richards. The action was raging through Murray’s corner, Mason moving under the Tilley GTHO for sixth, and seconds later Miedecke rounded up the Tilley Mustang through the same turn on his charge pack to the front.
Starting lap two, the leaders were streaming away as undoubtedly the strongest field yet on the mountain grew battle packs around the circuit. Karanfilovski looked under the Kassulke HQ into Hell corner, taking the position on the run up mountain straight as he went on to fight to 11th. Out of shape and struggling, O’Neill dropped from 26th to the rear of the field while at the front Jason Richards made his move on Abelnica for third, the top five now some two seconds further on track.
Miedecke continued to push on, under Mason into the chase as up ahead Jason Richards posted the fastest lap of the race......
.....The #10 HQ of Richards was hunting down neighbour and fellow enforcer Bowe, making the pass along Conrod straight for second, going on to set a new record on lap four with a 2:22.6622 in the hunt for Seton and the lead. Keene was back in the yellow #33 and carving up the bigger muscle ahead, gaining on Kassulke with a safe gap on McAlister. Out of sorts, Sparks was well back in the field, teething concerns with her new ride keeping her near garage mate Buik down in 26th.
With two laps to go, Richards was all over the back of Seton’s XB through the cutting, but all eyes were on the cutting where Wilson was all out of shape forcing Nelson wide onto the grass but fighting the mountain, all continued from the moment. The top four were now five seconds adrift as they crossed the line, Richards still all over Seton, pushing hard for a maiden race win in his maiden event with the series.
The drive through Murray’s corner for the second to last time saw the battle for 20th throw massive drama when Nittis’ GTHO went off the circuit, rejoining in the Wilson versus Whiteside battle. As Nittis returned from his off, Wilson was put out of shape on the inside of the corner, the Charger back on the tarmac and tagging the rear of Whiteside, sending the Mustang into the tyre wall at speed. The impact launched Whiteside, destroying the front and giving the Class B runner a massive shake up, the incident immediately bringing out the red flag to attend to Whiteside stranded in his destroyed machine.
From a race long battle, Seton would finally secure the long awaited Bathurst victory, more than two decades in the making. While all thoughts were on the health of friend and fellow competitor Whiteside, Seton was undoubtedly thrilled at finally conquering the mountain.
I have found Jason's passing probably more emotionally affecting personally than others, and it seems I am not alone. Perhaps it is because of his overall demeanour and the attitude with which he approached this awful sickness.FloP wrote:What an emotional read, what a tragic loss! RIP Jason, your legend will live on!
John Bowe wrote:Bowe says that he and other close friends of Richards were praying for a miracle cure to his rare and aggressive form of cancer – adrenal cortical carcinoma.
While the cure never came, Bowe says his mate fought until the very end.
“I knew the degree of his illness, as his inner-circle did, and we all hung on to this hope of a miracle drug,”
“He tried everything. He researched around the world, he went to America. He was about to start a new drug that was developed in Sydney. It was just going through ethics committee.
“Every time something else came up, we all had the hope that it was going to be the one to stem his bloody terrible illness. He just fought on and on.”
When Richards was diagnosed with the disease in November 2010, it became clear very quickly that the Kiwi was not going to let it stop him enjoying his life.
Despite the debilitating nature of the cancer, he continued to play an active role with both of his families – at home and at the race track.
Richards competed in two V8 Supercars races earlier this year while on a break from chemo, plus a number of selected races in other classes.
Every time he sat in a race car, he was competitive, remarkably winning on debut in the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series at the Clipsal 500, before finishing second in Race 2 of the Albert Park 400 main series event a week later. As highlighted in my previous post, Jason came very close to winning a couple of races at Bathurst driving in the Touring Car Masters support event only last month. He did win in September, when he piloted the Holden Dealer Team A9X Torana to an incredible win in the Muscle Car Masters (not to be confused with Touring Car Masters ) in front of a packed Eastern Creek.
One of Richards’ favourite sayings during his illness was that competing in a motor race was his own personal treatment.
When his body became too weak to race, he turned to his other sporting love – golf.
Jason Richards (far left) on Wednesday during the Australian Masters Pro/Am with Golfer Richard Green, Geelong footballer Tom Hawkins and NRL’s Sydney Roosters rugby league star Braith Anasta. Green had specifically asked to be in the group with Richards, with the pair being close friends.
Anasta said Jason was a "golf tragic", but could play too. "His short game was immaculate and he was still hitting the ball really well," Anasta said.
"My heart really goes out to his family. What a great bloke."
Bowe says that his golf gave him a competitive outlet in his final days. “On Tuesday, he spent the day practicing his golf, and then on Wednesday, he played with Richard Green, a good mate of his, in the Pro/Am Masters,” said Bowe. "Greeny and Jason were perfect for each other. One wanted to be a racing driver and one wanted to be a pro golfer.
"Greeny used to ask him what sort of driver he thought he'd make. Jason used to joke about the equivalent of a 15-handicapper.
“That was one of his goals. He loved golf and he got out there and did it.
“At the end of the day, he was absolutely stuffed, but I could tell that it was mentally helping him.” Jason used a buggy throughout most of the round but he seemed to cope well....
"It will take some time for the Australian and international motorsport communities to come to terms with Richards’ passing." Even for Bowe, who knew the full extent of JR’s fading health, his mate’s passing is hard to fathom.
“I’m devastated, but I’m not as devastated as his immediate family,” said Bowe.
“He’s an amazing bloke. I spent a lot of time with him. I saw a resilience, a determination and a passion that is very rare. I feel so much for his little kids, and for him, that he’s not going to see them grow and do all the things that a father should.
“There’s no words that do the situation justice. I’m still in shock. It’s just very tragic and very sad.
“I have awesome memories of our time together, as most do, because he was a hard bloke not to love. He was one very amazing individual.”