Bob Garretson passes...

[KS]

So sad to learn that Bob Garretson passed away over the weekend. Bob was such a great guy, so welcoming, so full of stories, such a font of Porsche knowledge, such a great racer and team manager. Such a huge loss - my thoughts go out to Ruth, his ever-loving wife... See you on the other side Bob.

[neilbardsley]

That is sad. Meet he a few years ago at Classics at the Castles. Very knowledgeable and nice man

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[Lightweight_911]

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Sad news indeed.

He really was a lovely guy - first met him ~ 35 yrs ago when he came to pick up some parts from a RHD 356B I was cutting up (!) for spares.

This is his Carrera Abarth GTL displayed at a PCGB sometime back in the late '80s:

[jwhillracer]

That is sad, although I heard he wasn't in the best of health the last time he was over here a couple of years ago. One of his friends said it seemed very much a farewell tour.........
He was a great guy, loved Porsches and motorsport. He appeared one Sunday morning years ago at Oddicombe hillclimb in Torquay. I had broken a drive-shaft, and it was the last round of the ASWMC Hillclimb Championship, and I had to put in at least one good run to clinch the Championship. Crispin Manners and Bob appeared over the horizon with another driveshaft, quickly removed from another 911 in CM's garage. I missed the first timed run, so had it all to do on the second. Thankfully it all worked.
On another occasion we went to Pembrey on a test day with Bob. I was treated to a couple of laps in the passenger seat of the Mohair 914/6 beside Bob around the circuit. He had never driven Mohair before, nor seen Pembrey. I can still remember drifting sideways towards the marshal's post on the tight left-hander near the paddock gate, while Bob chattered about how controllable a well set-up 914/6 is. At that point I realised the gulf that exists between a top driver and an enthusiastic amateur!
Cheers Bob, it was a delight to have known you.

JW

[911hillclimber]

Not sure, maybe Jonathan knows, but I think Bob had a hand in the flat fan design on my Lola along with Crispin and one other(?)

Can't be many of these founding fathers left.
RIP.

[majordad]

Sorry to see the passing of this legend , may he rest in peace

[sng45]

The first time I ever went in a Porsche was with Bob Garretson when he lived near Skipton and was selling a few cars from home. We had a twenty mile drive in an Irish green 356. At a guess I think this would be around 1988. I met him again at the 356 International in Harrogate a couple of years later when he had his Abarth displayed in the ballroom at Rudding House. A wonderful and very personable chap.
RIP Bob

[jwhillracer]

Not sure, maybe Jonathan knows, but I think Bob had a hand in the flat fan design on my Lola along with Crispin and one other(?)

Can't be many of these founding fathers left.
RIP.

Yes, Crispin, Bob Garretson and another wonderful Porsche-mad engineer Nick Speers all had a hand in the flat fan arrangement. Sadly Nick passed away many years ago, but he sourced the right-angle gearbox and machined all the pulleys and gears to fit it. That has to be 35+ years ago Terry Davison, who owned the Nomad that the flat fan engine was adapted for, drove our 911 several times while the transplant was being performed, and later allowed me to drive the Nomad at Prescott



Left to right, John Turpin, a youthful JW, Nick Speers at Tregrehan hillclimb near St. Austell probably in the middle 1990's

Happy Days!!

JW

[914-6]

WOW.
Really sad news, met Bob on numerous occasions, last time at Rennsport ....
RIP

[911hillclimber]

Thanks Jonathan for the details.
Lot of work and thinking went into the flat fan, and the main reason I bought the drivetrain for the Lola.
I well recall you driving the Nomad at Prescott.

[jwhillracer]

The flat fan is buried in there, between the Weber trumpets


JW