FACT!.. shame he died... always sad for the ones closest to him.. unfortunatly there wernt a lot left!
Well, I don't know how he behaved in business in Australia, but here in UK, he left a bitter taste for many people who worked for him, or were owed money by some of his companies. Walkinshaw did some very 'creative; accounting and managed to borrow quite a lot of money to build his car dealership empire and his racing and engineering companies. After the whole empire collapsed, the audits found that he had been borrowing from one company to prop another and transfering money through his business in turn to disguise massive exposure, and excessive borrowing. The whole thing was based on fraud and false accounting. He conned many people and left a huge trail of unpaid bills here in UK, managing to default on Jaguar, Ford, BMW, Hewland, etc... The way he obtained the Jaguar racing contract under the nose of Group 44 was also another example of dishonesty; you should read Bob Tullius about it. The story of the Jaguar XJ220 became famous: he was to assemble them at his factory at Bloxham. Announcing it at the car show as a 4WD V12 supercar, Walkinshaw took many deposits to later deliver a 2WD with a V6 turbo from a Rover Metro! Feeling cheated, many buyers wanted to cancel their order and asked for their money back. Some took him to court, and, at huge cost, Jaguar had to step in to save the marque from embarrassment! At some point, as a member of the British Racing Drivers Club, he tried to take over Silverstone too, but was prevented at the last minute, thanks God! When his bankrupcy came to court, the judge declared it dishonest, unfit to lead a company and banned his from any directorship in UK.
It is ungentlemanly to speak ill of the dead. He will have to atone for any misdeeds from Someone much more important than any of us. Have a good thought for his family and friends, and leave it at that if you have nothing nice to say.
Not everybody can be a sycophant and praise unreservedly someone like Tom Walkinshaw. The other side of the story has to be heard too! I didn't know him personaly, but I certainly heard enough about him from people who became victims of his shenanigans. A brilliant con-artist maybe, but a dishonest megalomaniac too... and not a gentleman either!
But ........difference down here is that V8 supercars is full of conmen and TW was just quicker to the draw. RIP,I would prefer to remember his exploits with Jaguars rather then his and others business dealings. My experience of the motoring business in the UK is that its full of conmen,guess he was smarter then the others.
+100,000,000.00. Start another thread for christ sakes! Did not know him personaly but you want to dishonor him vicariously on a thread that is meant to honor him in his passing, very mature.
Why don't you start a thread on his way of doing business. This isn't Hitler or Hussein we're talking about; have a bit of respect or just shut the F up.
I was with Castrol during the IMSA GTP days and was part of the corporate side of the IMSA, TWR Jaguar team. Tom ran our team like a Swiss watch ! His planning and execution was unreal. We won our first race , 24 Hrs of Daytona, right out of the box. We tested at Daytona during October and won the race in Jan. Tom was old school, he lived racing !!!!!! I feel privileged to have known and worked with him !!!
Absolutely, the people I know who came into contact with him still obsessivley brush their teeth such was the bitter taste he left.. And I noticed in this thread that his main defenders are located outside the UK.. Respect is due for his passing, though not for his reputation or the mess he created I'm afraid!
I know a bit about the 'business' deals he has done, and yes, it may have affected some people in their pockets, but no reason to cheer for ones death almost. Like I said, if it was someone like Bin Laden or Kim Jong-Il (and at a push perhaps Porno Maxxx) dieing a cheering thread would have been appropriate
Absolutely! You hit it on the nail! There were quite a few small firms peripheral to the car industry and motor racing in UK, that were owed hundreds of thousands of Pounds by Walkinshaw, when his empire collapsed (just like Maddoff!). Most never saw a penny from the liquidation of the TWR group that had hardly any assets, but massive debts, unprotected loans and a pile of unpaid bills. Some of his creditors went under and lost their business out of it. But Walkinshaw was allowed to pick up his bag and restart in Australia, like if nothing happened, probably with money he had already siphoned from his ailing enterprises and spirited abroad illegally. .
Not cheering at all Bas.. but i have seen all to many "great man" comments about him.. sad to lose anyone in motorsport, but it was not sad to lose him from the business.
Yep, I was there. That was awesome! Agreed that I heard and knew people that had a lesser opinion of the man, but he was a mover and shaker.
