Castle Combe legend Terry Sanger dies, aged 79

As well as a highly accomplished racing driver and development engineer, Mr sanger was a familiarv face around the circuit.

In 1953 as an apprentice at the then Bristol Aero Engines, he intended to make his competition debut at his local circuit in a modified Ford 5cwt van, but was instead quickly commandeered into marshalling.

One of his many evocative tales is of his first meeting with Stirling Moss, who crashed his 1100cc Cooper-JAP at Quarry where Terry and his friend had been stationed.

His Combe debut came a little later in a 500cc Tiger Kitten, which had a tendency to blow its excess fuel from the carburetor over the face of its hirsute driver.

Not content with honing his four wheeled skills, he also raced motorcycles into the early 1960s.

As his engineering and racing career developed, the machinery got bigger and hairier and amongst numerous successes were three outright race wins in ‘Special Saloons’ at ‘Combe’ in 1967, 69 & 72 in ‘Fraud’ Cortina V8, Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, respectively, cars which typify the man.

Meanwhile, he had also become a works driver for Marcos cars, based in his then home town of Bradford on Avon.

Appreciated as much for his engineering skills as his driving, Terry was spotted by Ford and following his development of the amazing V8 ‘Fraud Cortina’, which brought him 4 British titles in one year, an unofficial ‘works’ drive in a GT40 came along in 1968. This was followed up with an outing in the car on the 1969 Targa Florio.

In later years, Terry’s knowledge and intelligence were put to good use at Castle Combe as an instructor and race official, his larger than life character and ever present humour making him popular with everyone he came into contact with.

Terry’s cremation will take place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, Pembrokeshire at 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27.

A memorial event is planned for some time in October in the Bath area.