David Thexton Retires?

**GTRMagic** · 16 Feb 2005, 09:02 (Ref:1226923)

Whispers from around the traps suggest that Mr David Thexton, affectionately known as "Speedy", "Thecko" and "Sir Speedy Thexalot" seems to have chosen to retire from motorsport as a driver, with immediate effect.

It seems that the cleanout of the Thexton Motor Racing workshops of the V8 Supercar cars, engines and equipment, and a lack of interest by competitors in the "Racesmart" Porsche Carrera Cup preparation opportunity, has driven poor old Speedy from the sport....

A shame really... for a driver whose best V8Supercar result was a 16th at Bathurst in 2003.... Thecko had an almost cult following of fans, willing on the ever-learning privateer to great heights. The fan club will be crushed and devastated, should this prove to be correct.

Vale Speedy...

D.R.T. · 16 Feb 2005, 09:09 (Ref:1226926)

A sad day for Aus Motorsport.

Another privateer with a passion for this industry has been lost and were the worse for it.

mitchie · 16 Feb 2005, 09:20 (Ref:1226942)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

A shame really... for a driver whose best V8Supercar result was a 16th at Bathurst in 2003.... Thecko had an almost cult following of fans, willing on the ever-learning privateer to great heights. The fan club will be crushed and devastated, should this prove to be correct.

I think it is fair to say that had is the correct term to be using when referring to the fans and or following

TSR · 16 Feb 2005, 09:41 (Ref:1226978)

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

A sad day for Aus Motorsport.

Another privateer with a passion for this industry has been lost and were the worse for it.

Can just hear it now coming out of Aussie Bernie mouth, another one bit the dust, one less to care about.

As said before a sad day for Ozzie motorsport.

mmciau · 16 Feb 2005, 19:48 (Ref:1227533)

Poor old GTRMagic will have to now consign all the "Speedy" memorabilia to the bottom drawer of his bedroom cabinet!

A sad occasion indeed

Mike

stoned pony · 16 Feb 2005, 22:49 (Ref:1227715)

"As said before a sad day for Ozzie motorsport." - TSR

Why? Motorsport chews-up a lot of people and spits-out the remnants so why is this rumoured departure of Mr Thexton any different? Can't recall anyone being terribly sad when Kevin Heffernan pulled the pin, as an example.

Crash Test · 16 Feb 2005, 23:48 (Ref:1227759)

Heffo never really pulled the pin, he's still out there racing, in fact even this weekend at Morgan Park in his Torana..

Bob · 17 Feb 2005, 05:44 (Ref:1227875)

I was heartbroken, still am, when Kevin left the v8's but it was the Jackson's decision to sell the v8. Thankfully I can still see him race, he was building a HG Monaro at one stage so we may still see him race a v8 again albeit in the Group N's
Everyone has fans and they all miss there heroes racing

Ellery31 · 17 Feb 2005, 07:31 (Ref:1227910)

Very tragic news

dandman · 17 Feb 2005, 07:40 (Ref:1227919)

You'd think he had his racing license cruely stripped from him... not been unable to qualify for 90% of the racers should not really invoke sympathy...

SORF's are looked upon with scorn on this site, but millionaire gentlemen racers aren't? Stevie Johnson has more circuit racing talent in his pudgy little finger than this guy ever displayed...

Marcos Skaife · 17 Feb 2005, 07:50 (Ref:1227926)

He was actually pretty good coming onto the back straight at Puke 03. He almost always got it sideways and managed to catch it!! He was also very polite and pulled over to let the frontrunners go whenever it was neccessary!!(only three times per race) All critisism aside,at least he had a go and more to the point the lucky ******* got to have a go.

Good luck in your future endevours Dave.................

Speedy is gone-----long live speedy!!

D.R.T. · 17 Feb 2005, 23:49 (Ref:1228879)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandman

You'd think he had his racing license cruely stripped from him... not been unable to qualify for 90% of the racers should not really invoke sympathy...

Its sad because by the looks of it, He is now lost to motorsport. The sport survives and thrives on guys with passion and the desire to give it ago. The sport wont survive on guys that display arrogance and disrespect WPS, Avesco etc

peckstar · 18 Feb 2005, 09:35 (Ref:1229120)

he was an old man well past his prime, who had one thing going for him and that was cash. he was not ever competitive and was a waste of a good spot on the track

this year we will have 34 cars with the ability to qualyfy within probably 101% of the fastest driver

naughtymutt · 18 Feb 2005, 10:31 (Ref:1229171)

Does anyone miss the Lusty brothers?

naughtymutt · 18 Feb 2005, 10:32 (Ref:1229174)

Quote:

Originally Posted by peckstar

this year we will have 34 cars with the ability to qualyfy within probably 101% of the fastest driver

and then follow each other nose to tail for 1000km,

peckstar · 18 Feb 2005, 10:40 (Ref:1229180)

well that depends if its marcos ambrose or steven richards comiing 2nd dosnt it

pete55 · 18 Feb 2005, 10:42 (Ref:1229182)

Quote:

Originally Posted by naughtymutt

and then follow each other nose to tail for 1000km,

That's about the strength of it sadly. I think AVESCO will stuff 'GTP' and the Utes too.

Kerri · 18 Feb 2005, 16:18 (Ref:1229457)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete55

That's about the strength of it sadly. I think AVESCO will stuff 'GTP' and the Utes too.

Why do you think that Pete?

Surely TC knows what he is doing by having them on the program.

pete55 · 18 Feb 2005, 19:21 (Ref:1229606)

I just think that GTP won't be the same anymore. Restricted grids, too controlled. It will never be allowed to get too big or it will take away from the V8's.

As for the utes, it all depends on how they run it i guess. For TV they need the same comentators and a bit of showmanship. I'm not sure they will get that under AVESCO. Time will tell i guess.

Gaz170 · 18 Feb 2005, 19:47 (Ref:1229631)

Quote:

Originally Posted by naughtymutt

Does anyone miss the Lusty brothers?

Yes, what happened to them?

**GTRMagic** · 18 Feb 2005, 20:12 (Ref:1229661)

They still make semi-trailers, but with other people these days... the Lusty business had some financial difficulties at some stage, and a new direction was required...

D.R.T. · 19 Feb 2005, 03:23 (Ref:1229901)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete55

I just think that GTP won't be the same anymore. Restricted grids, too controlled. It will never be allowed to get too big or it will take away from the V8's.

I agree Pete.

I think it will lose that special something it had over the past few years. GTP will be controlled and told what to do while under the Avesco thumb. How long is their contract for ????

**GTRMagic** · 19 Feb 2005, 06:00 (Ref:1229932)

Anyhoo.. back to topic...

... it seems Mr Thexton's legacy shall live on.. in the #26 Fujitsu BA for Jose Fernandez to run in the V8 Development series....

... not sure where the ex-PHR ex-Paragon AU has ended up... but it too has a new home...

The legacy of Speedy

Just Do It! · 19 Feb 2005, 07:19 (Ref:1229949)

David Thexton came to our great sport from rallying. He was really laid-back and approachable and a really nice guy to go with it. Whilst his race car talent - both rallying and racing - might not have had the edge and raw speed of the likes of Chris Atkinson or Greg Murphy, but he had the cash to allow him to pursue the dream that had helped drive him for many years in the juice business.
During this time, he was active in New Zealand rallying with Rio Racing, but all the time he kept an eye on V8 Supercars, for that was his ultimate goal.

David acquired the Paragon operation after the late-season, sudden departure of their VIP Petfoods naming rights sponsorship, and having just cashed up his joint venture juice business with Cerebos Greggs to the Coca Cola empire, he was cash rich and establishing the fledgling online health store, www.thexton.com.au

David drove with all his passion, and whilst his efforts outside of the car may not have necessarily been 100% correct, he had a vehicle to promote his new venture whilst pursuing the passion that had helped him forge out a significant market share in the NZ beverage market. Sadly the track position did not reflect the desire of the man to succeed, and when given the option to put another driver in the car, he decided that if it wasn't with him, then it wasn't to be.

The AU race car lacked no straight line speed, with even Mark Skaife overheard to complain that whilst the car wasn't fast through the corners, he couldn't catch it on the back straight at Pukekohe, which is obviously a power circuit.

The TMR BA Falcon, and I am prepared to go on record saying it, is a fine piece of race car engineering that will do well in the right hands. Mr Partington and Mr Amos did superb jobs in their respective areas to ensure that David had the best gear, and David in typical David fashion, settled for nothing less.

If David has indeed decided to hang up his helmet, then we can all be a little saddened for David epitomised a piece in each of us who ache to have a go behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar. The fact that he won't be running a Porsche is somewhat hard to comprehend, and you have to wonder where he may pop up next.

Rest assured, some of us will miss him, others will feel blessed that he is gone - no one can please everyone.
For the moment, motorsport has lost a competitor with some colour, QLD has lost a team, and hopefully his team will find alternative income sources soon.

Bye dear Speedy. It was great to see the guts and determination of a man pursuing his dream and it won't be forgotten for a long, long time!

retro · 19 Feb 2005, 09:01 (Ref:1230002)

Maybe he could see his way to put up some sponsorship dollars....at least then he is not totally lost to the sport.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
team thexton	protoge	Australasian Touring Cars.	49	11 Nov 2003 22:32
David Thexton Wins 2003 Bob Jane Tmarts 1000	The Tool Man	Australasian Touring Cars.	16	9 Oct 2003 13:27
Thexton	HarvestMotorspt	Australasian Touring Cars.	93	23 Aug 2003 12:48
Thexton	andrewmizzi	Australasian Touring Cars.	27	8 Jul 2003 09:21
Who is David Thexton???	BAGT	Australasian Touring Cars.	16	15 Dec 2002 03:45