The news of the passing of Paddy Hopkirk was received with much sadness by MG members in South Africa. He was of all our special guests, by far the most loveable and fun loving of all. This proved by the description in his autobiography, showing how much he and Jenny enjoyed their trip, when he led an MG Johannesburg Centre team to victory in the 19992 Pirelli Classic. His trip with us to the Kruger Park, was a time of frivolity and laughter, as was his TV interview at the bottom of the stairs of a stationary Jumbo, creating the illusion of 26 MGs under the wings actually being on the runway. The skill he displayed against Bob Olthof in a Cobra was mind blowing, as was his sense of humour shown in his reply to the speech of Fangio, at the Pirelli Dinner without notice.
He will be remembered with great fondness in this country, and to Jenny and Kate with whom my daughters stayed, and the rest of the Hopkirk family, go our love and condolences at their sad loss.
As forwarded to Safety Fast magazine in the U.K.