Ray Quincey

In OBA issue 95, we featured the life of Ray Quincey, son of a famous father, and a rare motorcycling talent whose racing career was cut tragically short. That life came to an end on 20th June, 2022.

After a short but stellar career racing in Australia Ray tasted international competition when he journeyed to Jakarta in 1977 for the Indonesian Grand prix, which he won on the Yamaha Dealer Team TZ750, then took in the final New Zealand Marlboro Series, winning the very last race at Ruapuna. Those experiences convinced him that it was time to try his hand in Europe, which he did in 1978.

Ray never let the paralysis he suffered as a result of a crash in Belgium in 1978 affect his determination, and despite being confined to a wheelchair thereafter, forged a highly successful business career in Melbourne. He even took up racing again, not on a motorcycle but initially in a go kart and later in a BMW M3. Both of these had been modified with hand controls by his friend Rod Tingate, with a twistgrip and buttons for gear changing in the BMW.

Ray’s business in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, became the largest used motorcycle outlet in Australia, and he continued trading until 2013 when he sold the property and retired. In 2021,

Ray suffered a stroke and although his fierce resolve carried him through the trauma at first, it proved to be a losing battle. His last public appearance was at the annual Ken Blake Memorial Lunch in Melbourne on 9th June, 2022 but soon after was admitted to hospital where he succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 67. ■