TRIBUTE TO TIM MAYER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 11

TRIBUTE TO TIM MAYER

[By

BRUCE McLAREN]

wrE sat on top of the pits " in the sun at Longford waiting for the first practice session to start—Timmy Mayer, his wife Garrill, the mechanics—our team.

We had a view of the picturesque countryside and immediately below us was the paddock area, colourful with polished sports and racing cars and trade tents in the background. We were all happy. This was the last event of our tour. For two months we had worked, raced, and relaxed together, and perhaps more than anyone else, Timmy was enjoying himself.

He told me he really liked Australia.

Intelligent and charming, he had made dozens of friends. As often occurs, to look at him you wouldn’t take him for a racing driver. You had to know him to realise his desire to compete, to do things better than the next man, be it swimming, water ski-ing, or racing. So when, during the second practice session, he crashed at high speed and we knew immediately that it was bad, in our hearts we felt that he had been enjoying himself and “having a go.” The news that he died instantly was a terrible shock to all of us. But who is to

say that he had not seen more, done more, and learned more in his 26 years than many persons do in a lifetime? Tragic It is tragic, particularly for those left. Plans half-made must now be forgotten, and the hopes must be rekindled. Without men like Tim, plans and hopes mean nothing. To do something well is so worth while that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. I can’t say these things well, but I know this is what I feel to be true. It would be a waste of life to do nothing with one’s ability; life is measured in terms of achievement, not in years alone. To those who have shown Garrill, his wife, Teddy his brother, indeed all of our team, so much kindness and consideration I want to say “thank you.” Telegrams that arrived from all parts of the world bore testimony to Timmy’s wide circle of friends and the loss they felt Timmy was a true friend and a fine team-mate.