NOTICE OF DEATH - JOHN YOUNG (1927 - 2017)

It is with great regret that we have to advise Members that Full Member John Young passed away yesterday at the age of 90.

Like so many in the immediate post World War Two era, John began racing his road-going sports cars, first a MG TC and then a Healey Silverstone at Goodwood in the early 1950s.  However, it was in 1955 that he became more widely known on the national racing scene when he acquired the ex-Bill Whitehouse, ex-Roy Salvadori Formula 2 Connaught A-type.  Although from 1954 Formula 1 was for 2.5 litre cars, there were numerous non-championship F1-type races around the United Kingdom in which the Connaught was competitive.  At Goodwood’s Easter Monday meeting in 1955 John finished sixth in the Richmond Trophy, he was third at Ibsley and fifth in the Daily Telegraph International Trophy at Aintree later in the year, on each occasion the races being won by his great friend Roy Salvadori in the Gilby Engineering Maserati 250F.  At the following year’s Easter Goodwood John came third in the Lavant Cup for 2-litre F2 cars in a race which was also won by Roy Salvadori, this time in a Manx-tailed Cooper-Climax T39.

After 1956 John raced little although he was invited by Maurice Charles to share the latter’s Jaguar D-type (XKD502) in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1958.  Unfortunately the owner was involved in a multi-car accident at Maison Blanche early on so John never had the chance to drive in the race. A great enthusiast for all kinds of motor sport, John also persuaded Roy Salvadori and another very good friend John Coombs to share a little Ford Anglia in the 1956 Monte Carlo Rally.  As recounted in Roy’s autobiography, the arguments about who should drive, and the ultimate reason for retirement, tested friendships all round.

At the end of the 1950s John retired from active competition to concentrate on the family business Rose and Young, a main Mercedes-Benz dealership based in Caterham. However, he never lost his passion for classic cars owning at various times a Maserati 250F, one of the few Mercedes-Benz 300SLs imported new into the UK, nine Rolls-Royces, a couple of Ferraris and Bentley R-type Continental amongst others.  He was a proud BRDC Member and was a regular visitor to Silverstone and other BRDC events.  The BRDC offers its sincerest condolences to John’s partner Linda and stepson Mark.

John's funeral will take place at 1pm on Tuesday 2 May at St John the Baptist Parish Church, Findon, Worthing BN14 0RF.  A wake will be held after at Cissbury House, Nepcote BN14 0SR.  Family flowers only but donations most welcome to Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service c/o Chalcraft Funeral Directors Ltd, Chequers Yard, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RE or collection in the church on the day.  Please confirm to the Club office on 01327 850922 lisa.benamore@brdc.co.uk if you are planning on attending.