The end of the year is a time for looking back at all the highs of the previous 12 months – but also to remember those we’ve sadly lost. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but these are the people whose deaths were most poignant to us at Magneto.
Some were friends, some were distant heroes, some were colleagues. Almost all of them have been personally involved with Magneto or with previous publications or events in the lives of Magneto staff.
Rest in peace to every single one of them.
Pat Appleyard 1927-2025
Daughter of Sir William Lyons, rally great in her own right
Gene Winfield 1927-2025
Custom car legend
Ed Pink 1931-2025
Drag race engine builder known as the old master
Dennis Adams 1932-2025
A car designer immortalised by a Clockwork Orange. More here.
Nigel Allen 1932-2025
Instrumental in the early days of Lotus
Bob Garretson 1933-2025
WEC Great and FIA Hall of Famer
Stuart Turner 1933-2025
BMC and Ford comps genius, author and raconteur. More here.
Fred Lorenzen 1934-2024
NASCAR driver dubbed The Elmhurst Express
Michael Turner 1934-2025
Renowned motorsport and aviation artist
Bill Price 1935-2025
BMC/BL Competitions manager and author
Ian Fraser 1936-2025
Australian magazine editor and publisher
Ercole Spada 1937-2025
Chief stylist at Zagato, a true design great. More here.
Humpy Wheeler 1938-2025
Charlotte Motor Speedway president
Enzo Osella 1939-2025
Ran his team in 132 Formula 1 Grands Prix
Allan Moffat 1939-2025
Canadian-Australian touring-car racer and multiple championship winner
Bob Sharp 1939-2025
Datsun Ace who introduced Paul Newman to racing
Michael Bowler 1939-2025
Aston Martin Lagonda director, racer and journalist
Victor Riley 1940-2025
Key custodian of Riley Heritage
Andrea de Adamich 1941-2025
Italian racing driver and pundit who competed in Formula 1 and the World SportsCar Championship
Colin Crabbe 1942-2025
Motoring archaeologist collector, dealer, racer, entrant. More here.
Aubrey Finburgh 1942-2025
Classic car hunter, collector and restorer
Claudio Lombardi 1942-2025
FIAT and Lancia engineering icon
Bobby Allen 1943-2025
US Sprint-Car legend and karting world champion
David Bishop 1944-2025
Saviour of British Motor Heritage
Jochen Mass 1946-2025
German Formula 1, endurance and historic racer. More here.
Penny Woodley 1946-2025
Jaguar aficionado and author
Peter Wright 1946-2025
Ground effect pioneer and F1 safety champion. More here.
Tom Matano 1947-2025
Father of the Mazda MX-5
Eddie Jordan 1948-2025
F1 team owner and television pundit
Anders Ditlev Clausager 1949-2025
Author and British motor industry heritage expert
Robin Hamilton 1949-2025
Aston Martin dealer and racer. More here.
Robert Clarke 1949-2025
Revered builder behind Honda Performance Development (HPD)
Al Speyer 1952-2025
Mastermind Firestone’s return to IndyCar
Julian Grimwade 1953-2025
Vintage and historic racer
Gordon Cruickshank 1955-2024
Motorsport journalist and historian
John Kraman 1956-2025
US auction stalwart, the voice of Mecum
Quentin Willson 1957-2025
Journalist, broadcaster and former Top Gear presenter
Suzanne Kottulinsky 1960-2025
Top-level Swedish rally driver
Ian Khan 1960-2025
British racing driver who competed in BTCC, FIA GT and FIA GT3
Marc Sonnery 1964-2025
Journalist, author and Maserati specialist
Greg Biffle 1969-2025
Named one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers in 2023
