Gerry Marshall

Gerald Dallas Royston Marshall (16 November 1941 – 21 April 2005) was a British racing driver. He was commonly referred to by the nickname Big Gerry. According to a 2002 edition of Motor Sport Magazine poll, he was one of the best drivers of all time. According to the 28 August 2019 edition of Motorsport News, he is the United Kingdom's number one British motorsport hero. He was awarded the BARC Gold Medal in 2002, the first saloon car driver to be presented with the honour and was a life member of the prestigious BRDC. He took 625 overall and class wins and countless championship wins throughout his motor racing career.

Marshall was also well known in motoring circles for his successful car dealership, Marshall Wingfield, originally located on the Finchley Road, London, before moving to Brook Street in Tring and through his adult life lived in Harrow, Chiswell Green, Bricket Wood, Hemel Hempstead, Northchurch, Aston Clinton and Pitstone.

Marshall's ashes are buried at St. Leonards Church in Southoe, where his grandparents are also buried - he was relocated locally during the Second World War.

Career Marshall's professional driving career spans five decades, in 2000 chalking up his 600th win in a race at Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Norfolk in an Aston Martin DB4. His first Sprint victory was in 1963 driving a Mini, with his first race win following in 1964 (again in a Mini) and his last (and 625th) on 11 September 2004.

Marshall is probably best remembered for his flamboyant and crowd-pleasing style during the 1970s driving for Dealer Team Vauxhall in the racing Firenzas "Old Nail" and "Baby Bertha", and also the V8 Holden-Repco Ventora, "Big Bertha". He also won the 1971 Escort Mexico championship, beating future Formula 1 World Champion Jody Scheckter and finished second in the 1974 Avon Tour of Britain driving for the same team as the equally respected rally driver Roger Clark.

Marshall's style has been described as "sideways, on-the-edge cornering that was to distinguish his driving in any car, large or small, front or rear drive." This outward appearance belied an extraordinary cool-headed ability and intelligence behind the wheel.

Marshall's first biography, published in 1978, is titled Only Here For The Beer and a tribute edition was re-issued shortly after his death and his new biography (published by Haynes and written by Jeremy Walton and Gregor Marshall) was released in April 2010.

Marshall died of a heart related illness whilst testing the ex-Richard Petty's IROC Chevrolet Camaro at Silverstone. His son, Gregor, is also a race driver and he also has two daughters.

Racing record

Complete British Saloon / Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts Class 1965 Newtune Ltd. Austin Mini Cooper S BRHRet OUL SNE16 GOO SIL? CRY5† BRH OUL 12th 14 4th 1970 Shaw & Kilburn Ltd. Vauxhall Viva GT BRHRet SNEDNQ THR12 SIL7 CRY10† SIL9 SIL28 CRO16 BRH13 OUL8 BRH BRH 37th 6th 12th 1973 United Service Garage Portsmouth Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 BRH SIL THR THR SIL ING BRH SILDNQ BRH NC 0 NC 1974 London Sportscar Centre Chevrolet Camaro Z28 MALRet† BRHDNS 33rd 4 NC Capel Continental Expresses Stock Cars Ltd. Vauxhall Firenza 2300 SILRet OUL 11th The Vauxhall Motorist Racing with Capital Motors Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 THR9 SILRet THR? BRH12 INGRet† BRH OUL SNE5† BRH 1976 Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 BRH4 SIL14 OUL?† THR4 THR7 SIL5† BRH3 MAL6† SNE3† BRH2 3rd 58 1st 1977 Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 SIL6 BRH4 OUL?† THR8 SIL9 THR8 DONRet† SIL6 DON6† BRH4 THR6 BRHRet 7th 27 3rd 1978 Triplex Safety Glass Ford Capri II 3.0s SIL2 OULRet† THR BRH6† SIL4† DONRet† MALRet† BRH18 DON6† BRH THR 23rd 14 8th Ford Capri III 3.0s OULRet† 1979 Team Triplex with Esso and Motor Triumph Dolomite Sprint SIL OUL8 THR17 SIL9 DON9 SILRet MAL DON BRH? THR? SNE OULRet 17th 23 5th 1987 AGK Motorsport Toyota Corolla GT SIL OUL THR THR SIL SIL BRH SNE DON OUL9‡* DON SIL NC* 0* NC* 1989 BBR Motorsport BMW M3 OUL SIL THR DON7‡ THR SIL SIL BRH SNE BRH BIR DON SIL 35th 6 9th † Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

‡ Endurance driver.

Endurance driver – not eligible for points.

Complete Bathurst 1000 results Year Team Co-driver Car Class Laps 1977 Bill Patterson Racing Basil van Rooyen Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 3001cc - 6000cc 107 DNF DNF

Complete Spa 24 Hours results Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 1977 Dealer Team Vauxhall Peter Brock Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 -2500 276 2nd 1st 1978 Triplex Allam Motor Services Jeff Allam Stuart Patterson Ford Capri III 3.0s +2500 ? DNF DNF