Brian Ricketts, RIP (ex-GTi Engineering / BR Motorsport)

A.N. Other · Jun 15, 2012

Sad news through from Brian's brother Chris.

Please find the lovely obituary below, and salute one of the original UK VAG tuners.

Born 27 April 1946
27 Chapel Row
Tuckingmill
Camborne
Cornwall

Brian son of George Henry and Elizabeth May Ricketts

Christened at the Methodist chapel in Tuckingmill

After Father came out of the RAF, when Brian was only 7 months old the family moved to Little Alne in Warwickshire and lived with Gran and Granddad Ricketts for 3 years. On the 5 march 1950 they moved into a brand new house at Sunnyside Aston Cantlow, 22 July 1950 Christopher arrived on the scene, followed by Deryck 12 months exactly to the day, then after four years Margaret arrived.

After his school years Brian started work as an apprentice at the Fleet Motor Company at Alcester.
He served his time and went to work at Rover but did not like it because they were always going on strike.
While there he made contact with Fort Dunlop and managed to get a job as a tyre fitter, he was that good at his job that they offered him a chance to go around the world on the First London to Sydney Rally. This then led to him travelling all over the world changing tyres at the Formula One circuits. While on the road he made friends with a lot of the F1 drivers and also found good contacts for later projects in life.

Needing a break from all the travelling he decided to give it up and set up a small repair and body shop near Stratford upon Avon called Black Hill Motor services this went well.

He then went into a partnership with Richard Lloyd and set up G. T. I. Engineering at Silverstone making racing cars; at one time they had the fastest cars in the world in their class, and ran cars in 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as competing around the world. With famous drivers taking the wheel, just to name a few Sterling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Steve Macqueen and Paul Newman.

On the 25 October 1980 Brian married Tina and also gained a readymade family Ann and David, this made his life.
In 1985 on the way to work Brian with David in the car was involved in a fatal accident having his leg severed below the knee, caused by a car traveling in the opposite direction on his side of the road (not his fault) this left him with one good leg and one not so good, this is when his body shape changed from the slim fit Guy to the rounder figure that we all got to know and LOVE.

After parting company with G. T .I. Brian set up another company called B.R. Motorsport at Leamington spa this again went very well. He became famous and was sometimes referred to as the Professor in the motoring magazines.
Unfortunately, due to the steep rise in car insurance for converted cars, trade dropped off.

This led to the creation of B. R. Motor services with Son David, which he still runs today, alongside B. R. Motability, adapting vehicles for the Disabled.

Unfortunately his loving wife Tina Passed away suddenly in Jan 2010 this broke Brian's heart, he was then diagnosed with other problems, and on top of that he had a fall and broke his shoulder. With all this he attended the Stratford Hospice for a short time, but Brian never fully recovered, after having a setback and another fall breaking his only good leg he returned to Shipston.

On the 10 June 2012, after a long stay at the Ellen Badger Hospital Brian lost the fight for life. Just like our father G. H. R. we never had a cross word and were Best Mates, Brother Chris, To say we were close is an understatement;

I will remember him with a smile on his face as in this picture.

-----------------------------------------

Brian's funeral is on Tuesday 19 June @ 1:30 pm at

Oakley Wood Crematorium,
South Chapel.
Bishops Tachbrook
Leamington Spa
CV33 9QP

All welcome to attend

http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/WDC/Your-Council/Births-deaths-marriages/Deaths/
Cremation/Finding+Oakley+Wood.htm#map

and Afterwards at The Granville at Barford http://www.granvillebarford.co.uk/locationandcontact.php
Click to expand...

pascal77uk · Jun 15, 2012

Cheers Brian

Admin · Jun 15, 2012

Sad news and as Mike said a big 'cheers' because they made VWs even better and I'm a huge fan of GTi Engineering. RIP Brian.

Jommanjo · Jun 15, 2012

Sad news. I remember chatting to Brian when I had the cylinder head refurbed on one of my old Mk1 Gti's, 94/95? Straight down the line and friendly bloke. I remember lusting after one of the BRM152 conversions, and Tina saying you don't drive Mk1's, you wear them.

Rest in Peace.

dragonfly · Jun 15, 2012

Sad news.

HPR · Jun 15, 2012

Brain , You will be missed...

Rest in Peace

OSV · Jun 15, 2012

RIP in Brian, a genuine man from a great time for GTIs

mk1. · Jun 15, 2012

A sad loss,RIP

Ade.Mk1 · Jun 15, 2012

I loved chatting to that bloke - RIP

GTD · Jun 15, 2012

Met him a couple of times. Lovely fella. It was a feature in a magazine on his silver MK1 16v that convinced me to get mine done. RIP

murph81 · Jun 16, 2012

RIP

fthaimike · Jun 16, 2012

RIP Brian

BRM what a legend

Crispy 8V · Jun 16, 2012

good bye to a legend, whos name is known to many with greatness

fthaimike · Jun 16, 2012

I have been in touch with Tim Stiles, he was quite sad to hear the news.

retrowhore · Jun 16, 2012

Tuning Legend. RIP

VR6T · Jun 18, 2012

RIP

GTXTRA · Jun 18, 2012

Genuinely sad story - a great man who I can 'blame' for a lot of things re this whole car modding game.

Used to love spending whole days up there hearing his old motorsport tales, taking the **** out of people who wore out brake pads after a mattter of weeks while Tim and others worked on my Rocco.

RIP Brian.

As it happens i'm getting a set of old brmotorsport stickers made up in the proper font at the moment. They will, eventually, go on the long term restoration project based around the BRM152 and BRM38 servo conversion running gear I had applied to the original shell back in 90/91.

wfarrell · Jun 28, 2012

rest in peace Brian, one of the top guys

turbotommy · Jun 28, 2012

Crispy 8V said: ↑

good bye to a legend, whos name is known to many with greatness
Click to expand...

This!

Had a few very good chat's with Brian many years ago @ Inters and in Lemington,muchos knowledge,some i fear taken to the grave :-(

alonzo · Jul 10, 2012

Very sad news. I've owned a few cars built by BR Motorsports and have kept an engine he built to go in the last mk1 golf I'll build for myself when I have a bit more free time. All the cars I've had that he'd worked on just felt so good to drive, not just fast but refined too. I meet him on several occasions and found him a lovely chap to talk to who was always happy to offer advice. RIP

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Brian Ricketts, RIP (ex-GTi Engineering / BR Motorsport)

A.N. Other Banned after significant club disruption Dec 5th 2

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A.N. Other Banned after significant club disruption Dec 5th 2

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