Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - RIP Richard Shepperd-Barron

Today I read an announcement that an important person in the history of Morgan, the TOK driver and co-pilot of the winning PlusFour at LeMans 1962 passed away!
Condoleances for his family and everyone who knew him well!

Thanks, missed that, just did read it today!

Richard Shepherd-Barron (in Memory and Gratitude)
with the help of Historicracing.com by Lorne Goldman

Richard raced professionally for 5 years in the late Fifties and early Sixties, driving a variety of cars including Fiat-Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Cooper, AC-Bristol, DeepSanderson, Taraschi-Fiat, Chevrolet, Porsche, Ferrari, Ford GT40, a Mini and our beloved Morgans
.
He came from a distinguished family. His mother Dorothy was an international tennis player and between 1920 and 1939 she participated in 15 editions of the Wimbledon Championships and the Olympics in 1924 winning a bronze medal in the women's doubles event and reaching the quarter finals in the singles. His older brother John is credited with inventing the ATM machine. Dorothy sadly was killed in a car crash in 1953 when Richard was just 16.

Richard started motor racing early in 1958 driving a Fiat Abarth 750 switching the following year to an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce competing in GT and Sportscar Races in the UK and on the Continent. He raced in International GT and Sports Car races on circuits such as Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Nurburgring, Monza, Le Mans plus Formula Junior (like today‟s Formula Ford) at Pescara and Reggio Calabria.

In 1959, Richard competed in 42 different events, winning 15 and finishing in the first 3 in more than 50% of the time.

In 1960 he continued racing Alfa Romeos but switched to racing a Morgan Plus 4 in 1961 though, he had limited success. He also raced in Italian Formula junior with a Taraschi-Fiat and a RAM-Fiat. In 1962 he teamed up with Chris Lawrence to race at Le Mans with a Morgan Plus 4 Supersport in the 2 litre class. They had been entered in 1961 but the authorities believed the car was too vintage and therefore too slow. Their entry was refused. That lead to the legendary support of Peter Morgan and the factory. With increased success with the marque with Chris Lawrence at the wheel, the entry in 1962 was accepted. The car (TOK 258) was modified and lightened with an aluminum body, modified bonnet, various engine alterations and improved aerodynamic with a hardtop.

Yet that splendid adventure did not start well however. Chris and his wife Penny departed for LeMans from England with TOK 258 on a trailer towed behind his Jaguar estate. Richard and Penny left 30 minutes later aiming to catch up with him. They hadn't been driving for long when they found TOK abandoned by the side of the road. There was a message attached explaining that the trailer had a bearing failure and he should drive the Morgan to the track! Thus the car made it's way to the track under it's own power!

In the race they crossed the line in 13th place overall and 1st in class. They had run trouble free the entire 24 hours while more modern and faster machinery fell by the wayside. They finished with a well over 90mph average speed performance. Richard Shepherd-Barron retired from racing at the end of the year. He become a good will ambassador for the MMC and other, racing concerns.

I met him at the head table at a OhMog Meet at an incredible Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn Indiana. We bonded instantly and struck up a rigorous regular correspondence that lasted until tfour weeks ago when he was diagnosed. We would see each other often when while Audrey and I were mogging the east side of the Atlantic. I miss him deeply already. I have never discovered a classier gentleman.

Lorne

P.S. Below is the famous picture of Morgan taking the flag at LeMans. Yes, that is Richard in the car.