NOTICE OF DEATH - MAX TRIMBLE (1934 - 2017)
It is with great regret that we have to report that Life Member Max Trimble passed away yesterday at the age of 82 from Cancer. A Chartered Surveyor by profession, Max began circuit racing in 1954 with a Jowett Jupiter before acquiring an Austin-Healey 100 which he raced quite extensively throughout the 1955 season, results including a second place at Ibsley and third places at Oulton Park and Silverstone. Max also shared a Kieft, unusually powered by a 1.5 litre BMC ‘B’series engine, with Berwyn Baxter in the RAC Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, finishing 26th overall and sixth in the 1500 cc class in this final round of the World Sports Car Championship.
For 1956 the Healey gave way to a Jaguar C-type XKC046, originally owned by Sir James Scott-Douglas and raced under the Ecurie Ecosse banner before passing to Berwyn Baxter from whom Max acquired it. In a very busy season Max won at Oulton Park, was second at Silverstone three times and was similarly placed at Crystal Palace, Goodwood and Snetterton. He was also third three times at Silverstone and once at Crystal Palace and set fastest time of the day at the Firle hillclimb. The C-type was sold to Lord Ebury and replaced by a Jaguar D-type, XKD561/MWS 303 also ex-Ecurie Ecosse. First time out Max finished third at Snetterton. However, a few weeks later while practising for the Spa Grand Prix, which would have been his first European race, Max crashed heavily and sustained very serious leg injuries, from the effects of which he never fully recovered following a long spell in hospital.
Although the accident brought about the end of Max’s circuit racing at just 22 years of age, he entered a Lotus Eleven for Tony Marsh and David Shale during the 1958 season before returning to competition himself in hillclimbs and sprints, initially with an Alfa Romeo Giulietta and subsequently a MGA Twin Cam, E-type and Mk 2 Jaguars, Porsche 911 and Mini-Cooper S until 1967.
A passionate motor racing enthusiast, Max was heavily involved in various West Midlands motor clubs, being at various times President of the Morris Commercial Apprentices Motor Club and a committee member of the Midland Centre of the Ecurie Ecosse Association, the Hagley & District Light Car Club and the BARC Worcester Group. He was elected as a BRDC Member in 1956 and was a very regular visitor to Silverstone throughout his life. The BRDC offers its most sincere condolences to his wife Pauline and family. A funeral service will be held on Monday 3 July at 2.30pm at St Cassian's Church, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire DY10 4SD. This will be followed by a private family burial. Details of the venue for the wake will be printed on the order of service at the funeral for anybody who would like to attend.
