Obituaries
Bernard Cahier
Renowned Formula 1 photographer Bernard Cahier has died aged 81. Between the photos of Bernard – which he started taking of F1 in 1952 – and his son Paul-Henri, the Cahiers have chartered almost the entire history of the sport. Ron Dennis expressed his sadness at his passing, but reminded us that his death was also a “momentous occasion, because, although the word ‘legend’ is often over-used, in this case it is entirely appropriate. As a photojournalist he was without peer. His pictures captured better than those of any rival, before or since, the majestic blend of speed, spectacle and passion that made me fall in love with motor sport as a youngster. He will be missed by all who knew him, and mourned by all who work in motor sport, whether they knew him or not.”
Ian Walker
Ian Walker is best remembered as a highly successful team owner of the 1960s and a man who set standards of preparation and presentation well beyond his time. Ian Walker Racing entered cars for drivers like Clark, Hill and Stewart. Walker raced and rallied in the late 1950s, including racing a Lotus 11, and that led to a close association with Colin Chapman’s cars. He formed IWR in ’62 and ran cars across Europe, including the famous ‘Gold Bug’ Lotus Elan 26Rs. The team later developed a fast-back Elan, raced by Stewart, and ran an early Lotus 30 for Clark. The race team was folded in 1968, and was replaced by a successful operation manufacturing engine parts. Today, that operation is FAI Automotive and is run by Walker’s son Sean, a successful and respected racer in his own right.
Scott Kalitta
NHRA Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta was killed at Englishtown, New Jersey, on June 21. Kalitta, 46, was the NHRA’s 1994 and ’95 Top Fuel champion. He was the son of legendary drag racer Connie Kalitta and cousin of Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta. Kalitta’s Funny Car caught fire midway through his run at Englishtown before exploding. His parachute failed to deploy, apparently damaged by the fire. Kalitta started his drag racing career in 1982, running his first race at the same track where he would perish 26 years later. He retired at the end of 1997 but returned to racing in 2003 and finished second in his last race at Joliet, Illinois. Kalitta is survived by his wife Kathy and two sons, Corey and Colin, as well as his father and cousin.