A good friend of mine and the Boardwalk community died this week due to a heart attack. Tony Richards was a good friend and a genuinely nice guy. I learned a lot from Tony regarding road racing, circuit, and general car set up. I have never seen someone set a car up with a plum bob, duct tape and tape measures before....every time, spot on. You will be missed, thank you for what you taught me. I can no longer call his place of business (Autobahn Exotics) and leave messages about wanting to order birdseed. Lots of people called and thought it was related to the audobon society....it was a great source of humor for all of us. Tony was the crew chief for Boardwalk Ferrari Challenge (08'-09') and had great passion for making an ordinary guy and an extraordinary car come together. He also built engines, chassis set ups and crewed for many great race car drivers. He was in the game for a long time, and in my opinion one of the best. Godspeed my friend. ( I wish I had been able to answer the phone on Monday morning, it would have been nice to chat with you one more time) Tony is on the far right standing. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Roger that, Dan. A great man has passed. We'll miss his expertise, his wonderful, dry British humour and his white MG that perpetually ran on three cylinders.
Sounds like a neat guy, I'm sorry for your loss and regret not having met him, after reading your post.
I am truly saddened to hear about the loss of Tony. Although I had not spoken to him in about a year (cars and coffee I think), I considered him a friend. He was the primary reason I kept my Esprit as long as I did and why it ran as well as it did. He always made time for a visit and never tired of all of my stupid questions. He could talk about Formula 1 forever. I've never met anyone who knew as much about Formula 1. I'll never forget telling him that I was going to buy a Lamborghini Countach, and in a dry way that only Tony could say it without hurting my feelings, he said, "Why the hell would you want to do that" You will be missed my friend. RIP
Yes Tony will be missed. I have known Tony since he came to the states. He was also the last man I knew that never owned a cell phone. He was known to tease fellow drivers at stop lights that were engrossed in cell phone conversations by holding up a desk phone complete with coiled cord and acting as if he had just received a call.
He told me about doing that. I can see it in my head Greg. The first thing he always said to me at the transporter was...."morning....did you make any coffee?" I always had coffee ready as I enjoyed the conversation first thing in the morning. I left a farewell message on his answering machine this evening at the shop.
I remember his shop looking like my garage. One path through the middle We were on the same page there. RIP.
Sad news for sure, a great loss for the Lotus community in particular. He was the last one to touch my Esprit before I moved, and the only one I ever trusted. He was full of great stories of his racing days and always in a great mood. I was actually just discussing him with some friends at Le Mans over the weekend about how great of a mechanic I had. In his typical dry humor, when I told him I was moving to London he replied, "I've heard of the place." He will be missed.
Hi I live in Canada - I have been trying to find Tony Richards - the last I heard of him he was he was doing autobody for racing cars! Does anyone know if he had family in Canada - Thanks. Liz A
I met Tony a few years ago and he built a Lotus engine for me he went above and beyond. We spoke about when we worked with Ando in Cart. He knew his stuff. So sorry to hear the news.
