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F1 FANS RALLY TO HONOUR TOM
FORMULA ONE fans across the UK are calling to honour the life of a Vale of Clwyd F1 driver on the 30th anniversary of his death.
The F1 fans have joined forces to back Ruthin Town Council’s plans to pay tribute to Thomas Maldwyn Pryce who was tragically killed in South Africa in 1977.
The Free Press coverage of the work of the council to provide a fitting tribute to Tom has stirred readers of the Autosport official website into action.
An online forum led by Eddie Knipe of Kent, who initially contacted the town council to ask about a tribute to Tom, has seen a number of fans log on to the campaign.
And a Free Press web poll on who readers would like to see a statue unveiled to has seen almost 80 per cent of people voting for the F1 driver.
Tom, born in 1949, started racing in Formula Ford in 1970 and moved on to the Super Vee formula and Formula 3 in 1972.
He hit the F1 stage with Token F1 team in 1974 and after reverting back to F3 for a supporting Monaco race, he was offered a drive with the Shadow F1 team.
Tom, the son of a policeman, won the non-title Brands Hatch Race of Champions and claimed pole position at the British GP in 1974. His top drives came with a third at the Austrian GP in 1975 and another third at the 1976 Brazilian GP.
He tragically lost his life at the 1977 South Africa Kyalami GP, when he collided with 19-year-old marshal Jansen van Vuuren who was walking across the track.
A fire extinguisher carried by the marshal hit the visor of the driver killing him instantly, Tom’s car carried on to the next corner hitting Jacques Laffites’ Ligier.
Ruthin Town Councillors Murray Bragg and Bob Costain revealed this week that the council has received the backing of the F1 driver’s parents to honour his life.
“Councillor Costain and I went to see Mr and Mrs Pryce. Firstly we have had permission to go ahead, we gave them copies of the paper,” Cllr Bragg said.
Cllr Bragg revealed although Tom was born in Rossett because it was the area’s hospital at the time of his birth, his mother was well-known in Ruthin.
The family also lived at Hiraethog for a period before moving on to Nantglyn, Cllr Bragg said
He added: “It is a Vale of Clwyd thing more than Ruthin but it is our opinion that something should be done and it should be something done in Ruthin. The Pryces are happy with it.”
Cllr Costain urged the council to consider a tribute to Tom.
He said: “Mrs Pryce was quite keen to do something she said there was a memorial service in Ruthin, nearly 1000 people attended. We need to do something to encourage the younger generation...he was a model in what he achieved.”
Cllr Costain suggested placing a model of Tom’s F1 car at the site of the new Ruthin skatepark as a tribute to the former driver
Ruthin Town Council is calling for suggestions from the public for a fitting tribute to Tom in the town.
Anyone with suggestions can contact Town Clerk Dafydd Williams on 01824 703797 or email
ruthintowncouncil@denbighshire.gov.uk
