Tribute to rally champ Colin Grewer (From York Press)

Tribute to rally champ Colin Grewer

10:13am Friday 11th May 2012 in Motorsport

FORMER champion caravan rally driver Colin Grewer has died.

The 71-year-old, who once owned a motor garage in York and previously lived in Stockton Lane, passed away in Ireland following a long fight against Motor Neurone Disease.

Grewer, also known as ‘Dan’, won the Caravan Club International Road Rally at Silverstone in 1975 and launched a bid to become caravan rallying world champion. Also known for his safari rallying in East Africa, he competed at a golden time for rallying in the city, said friend Tom Hanson.

“When I started rallying in the 70s the first race I went on was with Colin,” he said. “He was a first-class guy and he was one of the best rallyers around here. He was a character and was unbelievable behind the wheel.

“He once did a race in Ireland, closed the garage on the Friday night, jumped in a car, drove to Stranraer, went across on the ferry to Ireland and all he had on him was a suit and his own clothes. That’s the sort of bloke he was.”