Thomas Maldwyn Pryce (11 June 1949 – 5 March 1977) was a British racing driver from Wales, famous for winning the Brands Hatch Race of Champions, a non-championship Formula One race, in 1975 and for the circumstances surrounding his death. Pryce is the only Welsh driver to have won a Formula One race and is also the only Welshman to lead a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix: two laps of the 1975 British Grand Prix. Info from Wiki
Bio by Stephen Latham
Born in Ruthin, Wales, Tom Pryce was a talent lost in a horrendous accident before his promise was really fulfilled. He took an interest in cars while young and informed his parents that he wanted to be a racing driver. After he left school, his mother insisted that he take an apprenticeship as a tractor mechanic at college, as it would give him a trade or career to do in case he did not make it as a race driver.
He started racing in 1970 after winning the Daily Express Crusader Series, the prize for which was a Lola T200 Formula Ford. The series was decided at the last round, at Silverstone, and he qualified on the third row for the race, which was held in wet weather. His father Jack remembered that Tom was rubbing his hands in delight as he loved racing in the rain and when heavy rain came he won the race by a comfortable margin. He took his car to Brands Hatch, where he was allowed to house it in an old stables and he himself moved to a guesthouse near the circuit. He won the 1971 Formula 100 Championship in a Royale, plus drove his Lola in Formula Ford, then raced a Royale RP9 for Team Rumsey Investments to the 1972 Formula Super Vee Championship with victories at Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Thruxton. He made his F3 debut at Brands Hatch but missed several races after being injured in the Monaco GP F3 support race. His car had broken down but as he was standing by it he was hit by another driver and knocked though a shop window but despite breaking a leg he was back racing again within six weeks.
For 1973 he joined the Motul Rondel Racing F2 team, racing well for them, and his best result was a second place finish at the Norisring. At the end of the year he received the Grovewood award for his efforts during the year.
In the following year he joined the Token F1 team for the non championship International Trophy at Silverstone and made his Grand Prix debut in the Belgian GP, though retired with suspension problems. At Monaco, his entry was refused so Tom drove in the supporting F3 race and raced an Ippocampos March 743-Ford to a dominant victory. After the race, no fewer than four F1 teams wanted him to sign for them but he joined the Shadow team for the rest of the season. He qualified third in France in his second race, then had a superb sixth place finish at the fearsome Nürburgring, achieving his, and the team’s, first world championship point. During the year he also raced in F2 with Chevron, where he qualified on pole at Salzburgring, and finished third at Mugello.
1975 was his first full season with Shadow and he won the non-championship Race of Champions (battling snow and heavy rain) at Brands Hatch and qualified second for the Monaco GP. He started on pole at the British GP, then took points finishes with third place in Austria, fourth in Germany and sixth place finishes in the Belgian, Dutch and Italian races. However, during the German GP, he had been running second behind Carlos Reutemann despite fuel leaking into the cockpit during the final laps, reportedly searing his skin and almost blinding him with fumes. He would later receive the Prix Rouge et Blanc Jo Siffert award for this achievement. Also that year he and John Watson raced a Mirage GR7 at Nurburgring 1000 Km, though did not finish the race. Prior to the start of 1976 he competed in his only rally, racing a and Dave Richards raced a Lancia Stratos in the Tour of Epynt with Dave Richards. Unfortunately they crashed into a bridge during the first stage but after the car was rebuilt were able to compete in the afternoon stages.
Staying with Shadow the following year, with the team having lost their UOP sponsorship, he finished third in Brazil, took a couple of fourth place finishes, plus qualified on pole again for the British GP. He also finished second in the Race of Champions and fourth at Silverstone’s International Trophy.
In 1977, there were strong qualifying sessions in Argentina and Brazil but they were hindered by mechanical problems. But then came the South African GP at Kyalami and in qualifying Tom outperformed everyone, including World Champions James Hunt, Niki Lauda and Mario Andretti. Tragically, in the race, team mate Renzo Zorzi had stopped his Shadow at the side of the track and two marshals on the opposite side of the track crossed over to help. But then, unsighted Tom and Hans-Joachim Stuck crested the brow at full speed and though Stuck’s car missed them, Tom could not avoid the young marshall, hitting him at high speed and killing him instantly. However, the marshal’s fire extinguisher struck Tom on the head, wrenching his helmet sharply upwards, and he was also killed instantly. His Shadow continued down the main straight then left the track, scraping the barriers, before veering back onto the track where it hit Jacques Laffite’s Ligier, sending both cars into the barriers.
Tom was buried at St Bartholomew’s Church in Otford, Kent and many people were affected by his death, and its horrific nature. His performances in an F1 car earned him much respect amongst the F1 paddock and a Tom Pryce Award was created, which is given annually to Welsh personalities who have made an outstanding contribution to motoring or transport.
The Anglesey Circuit in North Wales named part of the circuit the Tom Pryce Straight and a trust was established in 2006 to create a memorial to him in his home town, Ruthin. The memorial was unveiled on 11 June 2009, on what would have been his 60th birthday.
Info from Dave Jones
When Tom attended Motor Racing Stables school and at the time he won the Lola T200 Formula Ford in the Crusader Championship in 1970 he was living in Ruthin with his Dad. When asked where he came from he rightfully stated Ruthin (he only lived there for about 18 months). Jack had been posted there from Denbigh where the family had been living for 6 years.
They had since Tom was about 3 years old until he was about 8 lived in the small village of Nantglyn which is about 3 miles from Denbigh.
Most of Tom’s childhood including schooling was spent in Nantglyn and Denbigh.
Last year there was an exhibition held at the Denbigh museum (Tom’s old primary school) celebrating Tom’s life and achievements, it was a wonderful success and had visitors from all over the country and beyond.
Due to the success of the event a group of local people including myself thought it would be fitting and deserved if Denbigh and its people could have a permanent tribute to our hero. Our intention is to erect a fitting tribute to Tom in what he achieved from humble beginnings, but also to inspire the young (and not so young!) that great things can be achieved by hard work, commitment and determination.
This summer we attended the local primary school in Denbigh (Tom’s old school) where we gave a talk to a class of pupils about Tom’s dream of becoming a Grand Prix Racing driver and his determination, hard work, commitment and of course his immense skill to achieve that dream. It was a great success and was enjoyed by the children and teachers! Hopefully maybe one child or more was inspired and gave confidence to the fact that they could achieve their dream.
The campaign may take a long time for us to achieve our goal but we hope on our journey we will inspire many, our strap line for the campaign is #whatsyourdream.
So as you can see Mark, Denbigh and it’s people played a big part in Tom’s early life.
We are not ignoring as you say, the wonderful tribute to Tom in Ruthin, every time I drive past it (which is as often as I can!) it brings a smile to my face in the knowledge that Tom is still remembered and that the inhabitants of Ruthin must be so proud of the racer from Ruthin! We are all indebted to the group of people in their efforts in erecting the tribute and in particular Mr Eddie Knipe from Sevenoaks.
Quite frankly Mark I’d be more than happy if there was a tribute or memorial to Tom in all the villages or towns he had lived in Denbighshire.
Gallery F1 F3 and F Atlantic Other
