Mr Rust said
one of the best passengers i ever had, if anybody comes across him say hi from me. cheers
I always found Tony really good company,,,,,,,,,, I am sure us here in West Lancashire were always on Tony's list of places to call into on his way North when traveling round to see friends from the sidecar scene. In fact he would tend to call into my old chaps place as he lives closer to the M58 Motorway than we do..............Quite often a beer a meal and a bed were there if he needed a break and was welcome anytime of day or night... They often ask about you Tony....
As an electrician he would work each and every moment he could to enable himself to travel around the world to follow the sport he loved to be involved in,,,he also liked to visit loved ones abroard such as his sister and her family. Being the cunning fox he is he would wait till the price of a return ticket to Aus was at it's lowest and only then would he buy it. Then he would turn up unexpected -out of the blue- as he would he in the UK,,,,,,,,I liked him for this, and never got sick of him turning up like a bad penny.
Then some time ago Tony decided to sell his flat in Edgbaston , use the money to travel and then rent a room from the chap in the flat opposite who happened to be 'Bernie the Bolt' from the late 60's game show......The Golden Shot...
I also saw Tony take a bath in the cattle trough when there was bugger all in the way of proper toilets/showers/Bar at Gedinne,,,,,,,and when the covered bar was built Tony would insist on being dowsed with the ice water from the fridges after each race,,,,,,,,unless you have been to this Belgian circuit I can't explain how hot this place can get.
Tony was a prize guy, the sort of chap who would borrow a push bike and ride round the old Nurburgring track at 6am and then turn up for practice as if it was nothing,,,,people would be amazed at his gaul, guts and determination.
I will never forget Tony pointing out my bit of a paunch, this really hurt me as I admired Tony seeing he was a bit older than me but twice as fit,,,,he really did look after himself.
My circumstances changed during my association with Tony, I met a new girl, got married and then had our first child named after my all time solo hero Freddie Spencer,I resigned my self to having a family rather than racing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Tony visited us one one or two occassions en route to see the Bakers in Cumbria.
The last time I saw Tony was after an over night stay at our place in Ormskirk en route up North, after that we have never seen him since....
I admired Tony and his philosophy, from the first time we met I felt like he was the brother I never had, I always looked up to him and enjoyed every minute of his company.
Regards
Fritz,,,,,,
PS, I hope someone has invited him to the Festival of Sidecars, if not I would like to see him there.......