Obituaries
DENNIS PRIDDLE 1945-2021
World-renowned drag racer Dennis Priddle has died at the age of 75.
Known as ‘Mr Six,’ in 1972 Priddle became the first drag racer to break the seven-second barrier outside North America, achieving the 6.995 secs milestone at Santa Pod just five years after his first taste of the ’strip.
In 2016 he became only the second Briton inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, a decade after he was among the inaugural inductees into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Priddle retired in 1985, but remained a prominent and popular character in the category.
BOBBY UNSER 1934-2021
American racing legend Bobby Unser died at the age of 87 on 2 May at home in New Mexico. Unser, older brother to Al and nephew of nine-time Pikes Peak Hill Climb winner Louis, is one of 10 drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, having crossed the famous bricks first in 1968, 1975 and 1981.
The longevity of his success is matched only by Rick Mears, who like Unser won the great race in three different decades.
Unser followed his uncle up the intimidating Colorado Springs mountain and set Pikes Peak records, claiming 13 class titles and 10 King of the Mountains, including six in a row from 1958 to 1963 – five of which were in his ‘Unser Special.’ His varied career took in stock-car racing, open-wheelers (including a one-race foray into Formula One), sports cars and midgets.
Bobby Rahal, president of the Road Racing Drivers Club, led the tributes to fan favourite ‘Uncle Bobby,’ saying: “We at the RRDC are saddened by the death of a national hero and icon, and one of our long-time members.
“Bobby Unser was a champion race-car driver, a beloved and charismatic curmudgeon and, above all, one of the rarest of breeds in the racing world. He’s done it all. He will be missed.”